A Sunrise From 2010

West Summerland Sunrise

I have been attracted back to this spot quite a bit lately. I enjoy standing at the top of a thirty foot "hill" and looking out over the water. Cheyenne likes wandering at her own pace smelling the smells so we are both happy.On returning home from work several days ago I got it into my head to drive the fifteen minutes from house to enjoy what promised to be a spectacular sunrise. I missed the arrival of the orb above the horizon but I got some lovely colors reflected off the water.
Pelicans are back for the winter.
It was a lovely still morning of low humidity, abundant dew and temperatures hovering around a perfect 70 degrees (20 C).

I photographed anything that moved and a few things that didn't.

The morning glow gave everything a particular brilliance. The stop sign marks the edge of the Overseas Highway atop the embankment.

Cheyenne was busy in the dawn's early light.

The old Bahia Honda ("deep bay" in Spanish) bridge looked sepia tinted in the light.Then an exceedingly odd thing happened when Cheyenne started nuzzling my legs. I stepped away from her and she followed insistently nuzzling my legs. I looked down and found my Labrador patiently picking sand spurs off my uniform trousers. She pulled one, spat it out and went back for the next of these nasty spiky little buggers. She was taking care of me the same way I take care of her when she starts limping from getting one of these things up in her pads. I have never had a dog take care of me like that.I am very fond of my Labrador.I quite like living in the Keys too. I wonder what the attraction of snow and gray skies are.

We enjoy the bright colors of winter down here.

The state of Florida manifests the most wicked sense of humor unexpectedly. Who would think to park an RV overnight on this vegetated slope?

See your blizzard and raise you another sunny day in Paradise.

This was Ramrod Key from the Overseas Highway as we arrived home.

There are no mountains or deciduous forests or winding twisty roads, but that's okay. We have sun sea and enough sand to make it all worthwhile.

McConnell's Pub

My friend George likes Irish pubs which is funny as he lives in the land of the world's best Pilsner beer, the home of the Original Budweiser, the Czech Republic.

Finnegan's Wake used to be the meeting place of choice, in the days when this place was Bogart's but McConnell's on Duval at Olivia does a fine job of filling in. With the added benefit of some people watching on the 900 block of Duval.

George ordered a burger, which is no mean meal of course but in a place like this I feel one has to step out a bit. One cannot keep lamenting the passing of Finnegan's especially when this lot offer Smithwick's on tap with a vast plate of bangers and mash.

George has lived most of his adult life in Europe and done well raising a family, keeping friends and enjoying a proper snowy Christmas from time to time in a fairy tale city like Prague. He makes me crazy with stories of quick excursions to Italy just a few hours from his home. The huge variety of European cultures in a relatively small area is a delight for the traveler.

Then there's Key West which exerts its own fascination. George keeps a house here with all the work that entails. I think his children will do better growing up in Prague speaking English, rather than growing up in the US speaking Czech but I appreciate the desire to keep a toe hold in the old country. When I was a child my time was split between Italy and England and I'm glad my parents didn't take away my choices. In the end of course I chose my own path elsewhere but that's been my way all my life.

We talked, I watched the leaves blowing through the door, winters autumnal leaves, victims of a sudden windy summer storm. The little dry crisps fluttering on the dark wooden floor gave the place a comforting non - urban air. We were far from Duval Street.

Another tradition: when we meet it rains. It did too on the ride home. But lunch was good. Very good. Till next time, George.

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Ohio Key

This spot is a mile south of the Seven Mile Bridge, close to the enormous flagpole hovering over the Ohio Key  RV park. There are no signs but I remembered this spot from the good old days when Cheyenne was active. 

I don't know if my pictures do the seawater justice, but the colors are amazing. Even for Rusty the dog that doesn't swim. 

The old Flagler Bridge is closed to bikes and pedestrians until it's refurbished. Underneath, it looks good. We wriggled ANS slid and got passed the water pipe and under the new road bridge. 

Outside it was hot and sunny. An iPhone panoramic shot: 

Rusty was in heaven, chasing his tail and wearing himself out. He fell into a deep, snoring sleep on the couch that evening. 

And I played with the iPhone camera to please myself. I hope you enjoy them. 

PS Regular gas at Ohio Key was $2:07. What weird times we live in, gas is cheaper than water. 

The Edge Of Key West

It's time for a few seascapes and luckily I have some I took recently. The Key West harbor looking west from Truman Waterfront. It was dawn actually even though the sky was pink in the west.

The Coast Guard Cutter museum is still here, well worth a visit: Ingham Link on my blog.

In this picture taken a little later the direction of the sunlight from behind me is much clearer on the clouds. on the horizon there are a number of mangrove islands which offer protected shallow water boating and kayaking. These guys have a good reputation though I've never been out with them: Danger Charters Link.

Further north I check out Mallory Square and there was a cruise ship approaching, led by the pilot boat. Pilots are used to guide ships safely into harbors, a specialized job that has been around as long as there have been large ships. If you want to know more: Harbor Pilots Link.

My sidekick is getting much better at walking around town and enjoying the experience. Rusty is much less jumpy as you'd expect after two months living with me and walking everywhere. He is a great dog.

The master of his domain: this time Mallory Square:

It was a morning worth taking pictures:

You can watch the sunset here and order drinks and everything. You won't find Rusty at Sunset Pier as we aren't guests at Ocean Key Resort but we took a quick peak. Might have to bring my wife before a play or something.

Slowly slowly the cruise ship approaches.

And life on the Key West waterfront carries on regardless.

Gone fishing.

 

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Spring In Bahama Village

Key West is settling into that time of year which defines Spring in the land of endless summer.  This is the time of year between Winter, when people flock here to escape profound cold Up North and Summer when people lock here with their families for waterfront vacations in the sun. Autumn is the other quiet time when the Summer folk leave to go back to daily lives of routine, yet it's before the Winter hordes come rushing back after the first snowfalls. 

So for anyone who imagines the four seasons in Key West look like they do in more temperate climes, I hope I have disabused you. No lingering ice patches here, no bravely thrusting daffodils, no lambs gamboling in fields, no gradually longer days promising summer twilight. Well, it's true that nightfall comes later now, around eight o'clock, but that's thanks to the imposition of summer time (daylight savings) as the sun doesn't move that much north and south of the Equator at these latitudes. 

Spring time sees cool nights and gradually warming days, fewer cars, and more space. Crowds are thinning though there are still plenty of people in town. Walking down Fleming and turning onto Thomas behind the courthouse (The "Freeman Justice Center") I was alone with my phone camera. I recommend long night time walks in Key West, they give you a whole new view of the city and you can stand around and take in the details of anything that catches your eye.

We live in fear filled times  so I have to justify my pleasure as an eccentricity but I find many small pleasures are sacrificed in the name of "safety." While it's true crime is everywhere I have never found myself confronted or accosted or even bothered by anyone on my night time rambles. Perhaps like Ghengis Khan they see me coming and tremble in fear at my awesome reputation. Which seems rather unlikely so I am forced to fall back on my belief that there really aren't bad guys lurking everywhere. You may be less lucky.

The sorts of crimes that Key West excels in are the petty thefts and drunk mis-behaviors that aggravate. Bicycles get stolen almost in front of the owners's eyes if they are left unlocked for a second. Scooters vanish and are reportedly chopped for spare parts, so beware if you ride a popular model. And for many people in Key West a scooter is the daily rider so scooter theft is a serious problem. Lawn furniture vanishes, fruit is picked off trees (a major no-no in Conch culture, so don't do it) and drunks may pass on out on strangers' porches. But if you can look past these intrusions you can wander the streets and bring only a camera, and a dog if you have one.

I am not a devotee of beauty supplies but this store fascinates me as it reminds me of the shops will see in the true Caribbean or the Bahamas (which islands are not actually, like Key West. in the Caribbean Sea which lies south of Cuba and Puerto Rico).

They have a special tax fund in Bahama Village to support the comunity that holds out wedged between Duval Street and the military base and the now gated community of Truman Annex. Lately there was a big debate over whether or not to create a museum on civil rights at the Douglass (sic) Gym. There was a more practical use suggested as a band room which ultimately won out. The Village, historically African American is also home to the city's swimming pool, parks and the only mosque (Masjid) in Key West. All services offered including historic buildings getting the repair treatment:

In a town that seems to be reveling in transformation at the expense of history, at least in architecture, Bahama Village is honoring it's past and I like that.