Return To Old Bahia Honda

I wasn't surprised when I got around to taking Rusty back to my favorite, and only hilltop walk in the Lower Keys and I found a feeble representation of a fence closing off the trail to the viewpoint overlooking the crumbling old bridge. 

The fence's intent is perfectly plain and in a society dedicated to safety at al costs I was quite surprised it took this long to show up after Hurricane Irma wrecked the area. I did see some people wandering the other side but I am law abiding enough I didn't cross the line. 

Rusty and I went for an early morning wander with my camera.

Some intrepid souls drove off road to create  a campsite by the water with a dog not much exercised apparently as he woke the occupants of the tent barking while Rusty padded silently by. 

I am no great fan of driving and drinking coffee but I have to admit I am quite fond of Tervis tumblers. My wife is a connoisseur of  drinks containers to go but I am not. So imagine my surprise when I found out one of these insulated plastic cups makes an excellent tea brewing container. Much easier than using a teapot. One tea bag, ht water sweetener milk and the tea neither stews nor chills. Someone threw one of these irreplaceable cups into un-reachable place in the bushes. Unreachable by a man with a titanium pelvis.

And so the old Bahia Honda Bridge, more than 100 years old in fact is still there for now, looking photogenic as the state allows it to crumble. What an excellent bike path that would make. 

Now that I am 61 I get to ride buses for free around Key West and pay reduced fare on the Lower Keys shuttle. Neither of which do much good when I have Rusty as  dogs get to ride tranist only in Europe. 

Not that he minds, he has me to chauffeur him around.

We wandered a while, alone, me with camera and Rusty without. 

Sometimes young Rusty needs to let off steam:

The old scout camp on West Summerland Key wrecked by Hurricane Irma:

People crossing the fence just end up doing what they have always done: take pictures and go fishing.

And after all that who can blame the little bundle of joy for needing a  nap.

Summerland Mangroves

My legs are strong enough and the ground is dry enough for me to get lost on the rough trails of the back country occasionally:

This neck of the woods is filled with old vehicles dumped decades ago:

It's an old quarry setting in the middle of nowhere:

A school bus returning to nature:

Some other car happily decomposing at a rate that might surprise some people:

They used to tell us that discarded cans will last five hundred years:

Not around here where the salt air seems extra corrosive:

Except for my dog who is at home sniffing around close to me:

Change and renewal all around on the dry earth that will soak up rain in the wet season to come.

Around William Street

I paused in the middle of the street:

The Southernmost Peace and Prayer church that looks like a fort:

Commuting Key West style:

To attract tourists or not? That is the question.

Tin roof and Florida louvers, very traditional.

I saw this Chinese scooter that looked like it had taken a spill. Pity because it looked quite good.

Another bicycle commuter. I enjoy my half hour ride out of town but lots of people don't. 

I find a separation between home and work is refreshing...silly me!

When we lived in Key West itself I missed the drive. 

Key Lime Square

Sunset and Key West starts to light up. This little square is just off the 500 block of Southard Street visible in the distance. 

By day it would be hard to miss with its lime green sign.

It used to be well known for Lobos, a sandwich and wrap shop, but that closed as change once again struck a Key West institution.

Not to worry, one goes and in its place comes another. This tie the second expression of the rising star called Cuban Coffee Queen.

B y day it attracts customers as effectively as...

...the original coffee shop at The Bight, where boats are parked and tourists come and go. 

Cuban Coffee Queen is also busy roasting coffee astonishingly enough in Key Lime Square. Baby's Coffee started out doing that directly on Duval a few decades ago then they moved to Bay Point and moved their roasting operation to the mainland. Check this out:

We have friends who totally agree. Me? I prefer tea at home but I do drink coffee in public as I find not many coffee shops understand the necessity of a rolling boil when making tea. In any event I am told it's worth making the trek here to get coffee if you drink the stuff at home.

It has a rather satisfyingly industrial look with the giant chrome thing offering up coffee in the back of the tourist offerings up front. It looks real.

And of course their slogan brings it all home. Stupid...Faster...Established a decade ago. They must be doing something right in a town where change is endemic. 

Oh and A Cuban Coffee Queen sandwich is head and shoulders above a  late lamented Lobos wrap. Sorry but it is true.