The Evolving Truman Watefront

The Mohawk has gone, dragged off to an unhappy fate to be sunk off Samibel Island to make way for a fancy new marina and shopping center planned to occupy the waterfront.


The floating museum is no more, a survivor of World War Two, packed with memories and mementoes of a fascinating life afloat. The space behind the canon is where the Mohawk used to be.


Now it is just empty waterfront.


No doubt the old Navy Warehouse will be the next to go, plans for a farmers market and a tree filled lark have been swept aside in pursuit of a high end development.


The worst of all hazards is to be in the way of Progress.


The old launch that used to sit here, blocked up, has vanished.


I was glad to see quite a few people visiting the remaining floating museum, the Ingham, a rather newer Coastguard Cutter than the venerable Mohawk.


It was a ninety degree afternoon and I had nom clue where to stash my dog were I to take a leisurely tour of the ship.


So I contented myself with watching from afar.








Cheyenne seemed more impressed by the force of the sun,


...unlike the brave visitors on the ship.


She ducked into the shady grass for a rest.


I like the bright white sunlight of summer.


Even the parking lot was full


The common complaint is not many people come by here so they might as well build the expensive marina. It's time tom prove them wrong before the Ingham suffers the same ignominious fate of the Mohawk.



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Emma Street, Truman Annex

Lovely isn't it?


Truman Annex is a world apart, a gated community built specifically to separate the sheep from the goats.


This is a garden community with none of the irritations of the real Key West...


No bums, no chickens, no trash, and no spilt beer smell the morning after.


It used to be part of the Navy Base years ago and incorporates old naval buildings, the solidly built officer quarters now luxury condos and this beauty now a guest house


It used to belong to Uncle Sam:


The Little White house is in Truman Annex, the former Navy Commandant's home used by the Commander in Chief during Harry Truman's frequent visits. Little wonder the Annex got it's name.


It is peaceful enough but in claiming exemption from city short term rental restrictions the Truman Annex Master Property Owner's Association (TAMPOA) has opened the flood gates to groups of hard drinking visitors from time to time.


On the whole though this is an adult community, dog free except for residents, gates closed at ten o'clock at night and insulated from the chaos of Duval street crawlers.


The style, initiated by developer Pritam Singh, is Key West cute, including I was surprised to see this mock eyebrow home.


The overhanging roof didn't work as advertised and instead of flowing cool air through the home trapped hot air inside. Here it is reproduced and well air conditioned no doubt.


Ship's port holes...


...nice porches,


...and a stone's throw away, past the guard hut on Southard Street, the real Key West.


Hot sweaty and noisy. And exciting, much better to be a goat than a sheep in my estimation.


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Oops! Vespa Down

My wife sent me an e-mail this afternoon "Fell off the Vespa. Not hurt." Apparently she was turning in gravel at one mile per hour and did the classic that we have all done and flopped the scooter over the front wheel, which slid out on the pebbles. She said she had the bike back up before she knew it and was dusting off her undamaged clothes and bruised ego before anyone noticed at her work.



The ET4 suffered no damage but my wife is at home nursing a couple of bruises and a graze on her leg. I asked her how she was doing and she texted: "Sore. Badge of honor."

She's right, and now she's dropped the scooter after 7,000 miles of riding I am a lot less worried about her commuting to her new work site next school year, ten miles up the Overseas Highway. She showed the same determination when she got her motorcycle licence and she has earned the right to ride the 150cc Vespa wherever she pleases.

1200 Royal

I do not let my Bonneville tires get this smooth. Certainly not the front one whatever you do. But most likely the bike gets little use so anything goes.


So many people own motorcycles and rarely ride them. I am amazed by all the blogs that talk motorcycles, accessorizing them, selling them and "upgrading" yet so many people ride so few miles. The used market is packed with low mileage toys, and I think it's a shame. Modern motorcycles are great tools to reduce congestion and travel with fun but there is always an excuse it seems, to not ride. A bald tire would be a good reason! Rain is not a good reason, nor is darkness. The more you ride the more skillful you become. Parking a motorcycle doesn't make you a rider.


This is the post snowbird season when winter residents leave behind well buttoned up homes.


Hurricane season starts now and runs through November when the snowbirds will start to think about coming back.


Until then their homes are battened down against the chance of hundred mile an hour winds.


Summer is also a good time to sit outdoors in the shade and enjoy sudden squalls of wind and dramatic rains.


Drama aplenty when a street cat spots a big yellow Labrador stumping down the sidewalk.


There she is ignoring the frightened feline.


It seems a shame so many conch cottages go unused all summer long.


Key West is at it's best right now, not many residents and not many vacationers and everyone gets to relax a little until school gets out and families flood into town for summer fun.


Bright sunshine and bright reflective white paint.


Pretty hot for an old dg in fur coat.


This is the time of year when even indifferent dog owners need to pay attention to their companions' needs. I let Cheyenne lay down and rest anytime she needs to. Slow and steady keeps her happy.


Bicycles own the roads when the cars are away.

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Catherine Street

It's that time of year when poinciana trees are in bloom.


The orange flame trees are known as royal poinciana in this town and their blooms make a right mess as summer progresses and they shed all over the place.


Cheyenne hugs the shade this time of year. This is the time of year when car covers magically appear shamanistically hoping to protect vehicles from the vicissitudes of summer while their owners enjoy the grandchildren Up North. They'll be back when the snows return and they will expect the cars to start right up.


Cars in use sit in direct sunlight.


Clean and swept of potential flying objects that could cause damage in a hurricane.


This snowbird uses the newer plastic see through hurricane shutters. I like aluminum but being inside the house in darkness when the aluminum shutters rattle in the wind is a little spooky.


I never cease to wonder why people leave Key West in summer.


Cheyenne likes it eve. Youth she keeps to the shade and...


...I keep the walks short.


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