Night Landmarks

I took this picture for reasons I cannot remember, perhaps because I haven't eaten there for a while and a night photo might make up for it.


Then I thought to myself as I rode back toward work, there are lots of night time landmarks in Key West, I wonder how many I can spot. The Truman-Margaret Laundry at the corner of those same streets (nothing to do with the late President's daughter):


Saint Mary's minor basilica further down Truman.


And here in Truval Village at the corner of Truman and Duval I saw the new burger joint coming to life. Its called Five Guys Burgers and Fries and it is much anticipated.


It will be across the street from a night time institution open twenty four hours, Denny's, never closed:


Heading outbound on Truman, Don's Place a dive that's open till 4 am and reopens at 7 am for people who need their beer in company at that awful hour.


Before I turned in to the Police Station I stopped on the sidewalk for a pause at the west end of Garrison Bight.


I'm not sure the Bonneville counts as a landmark but I wanted to include it.


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Cloudy Overseas Highway

Driving toward Big Coppitt Key, Mile Marker Ten, on a cloudy afternoon threatening rain as we approach Key West.


The houses on Shark Key, an exclusive gated community next to Big Coppitt.


These are the views that zip by at 55 miles per hour on the modern two-lane highway.


One of the 42 bridges that connect Key West to the mainland 120 miles away.

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Another Day On No Name Key

Cheyenne took me by surprise stretching what I expected to be a short walk into a long one. So we rested for a while.


A cyclist came by pedaling with determination and noticing us sitting in the dirt.


Missing the native fauna who popped out when she went by.


We sat by the side of the road and watched the locals at work and play.


The No Name locals continued on about their business.


Unmolested by my fearsome attack Lab. "Kill! " I order Cheyenne when idiots ask if my dog is 'dangerous.'


"I'm training the world's first attack Lab," I tell them. "Kill!" and no one seems to get the joke. The little Key Deer seem to.


Hitting one with a motorcycle would not be good but they are cute to look at.


One wonders what a diet of gravel does for them but they seem to enjoy it on their Saturday morning off work.


The Key deers' job is to stand around looking cute for tourists but at this early hour they get a meal break to brace for the onslaught later in the day.


The experimental power poles are still there waiting for wires as the debate continues over who and how and when and if grid electricity will be brought to the island.


The bridge connecting No Name to Big Pine Key is getting some cement work done to the parapet.


Salt air plays havoc with the rebar in cement over the years.


But the essential pastime of bridge fishing continues as always. It's the essence of what people do on No Name Key. Stand around and wait for something to happen. Just how they are coping with the imminent "threat" of mainland electricity.


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Peacon Lane

This wasn't always called Peacon Lane, once known as Grunt Bone Alley.


This is quite the mural for an apparently ignored corner of this little alley between Caroline and Eaton Streets.


It's been around a while has the lane, because the former name is believed to be related to the Depression era diet of grunts and grits.


Grunts are small white fleshed fish, easy to eat if you can get past their numerous bones. In his book The Streets of Key West J. Wills Burke says the name likely came because this charming spot was probably a dumping ground for those numerous bones.


The poverty diet of grunts and grits kept people alive with fish protein and cornmeal. Nowadays some restaurants serve the same dish, slightly recast for modern wallets with polenta sometimes, shrimp or Parmesan cheese.


The original, like so much of Key West's history was rather drier and less flavored than the modern reincarnation.


The fish is known for making grunting sounds when speared and in it's death throes. I have killed them when out sailing, much to my regret, and I never heard them grunt. But what do I know. I prefer to buy my fish already dead, as I dislike eating creatures I had previously seen alive.


Richard Peacon according to Burke's book, was a big shot grocer once upon a time in Key West.


He also had the so-called Octagon House at 712 Eaton Street.


In 1980 Calvin Klein the fashion designer paid a million bucks for the house which is another claim to fame in our celebrity struck world.


And for the rest of us we have the colors of nature to keep us happy.


Lots of that in Key West.


And shady vegetation whose name as usual escape me.


Peacon Lane is a short walk full of history.

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Contemplating The Bight To William

I didn't do a very good job of spotting old friends chatting. The idea is there but then woman in the straw hat didn't really, have a tree for a face. I hope one day to grow old and calm enough to spend an afternoon sitting around talking in the public space at Key West Bight while ignoring all the bustle around me.


Cheyenne does a good job of ignoring all the noise of daily life. She ignores signs too when it's important to her.


I spend I am sure altogether too much time at the architecture.


I know I have spent far too many pixels photographing the Peace and Prayer church at Fleming and William. Seen here from the William Street side, it's a church with battlements.


A pick up truck bed loaded with the essentials of Key West life, beer and gasoline containers, yet unmolested. I could only believe they were empty.


I remain fascinated by the art deco former gas station. It was Chodzin Roofing for a while until Chodzin decided on the spur of the moment to favor his back over his business.


Now it seems firmly established as the Eaton Street source for fresh fish.


And the lovely clock hints at another purpose for this landmark.


Too much walking and too little contemplating requires a breather.


Cheyenne is feeling the heat already. Aren't we all...



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The Boulevard

Sometime soon this main artery into Key West is supposed to be torn up for the next 900 days. When done it will be smooth, it will drain during rain storms and it will be landscaped, so the state says. Imagine the multiple-opinion controversy in little Key West.


Quite aside from the length of the roadworks which will screw up traffic for almost three years, the plans call for a new traffic light at Searstown and that has some people riled. Others are upset because a new seawall will incorporate an ugly metal railing which will impede the view in an attempt to save idiots from themselves. The plan calls for different palm trees to be planted though that little newspaper furor may have saved the coconuts.


I'm enjoying the unimpeded access to and from the city while I can. The unimpeded view is nice too, besides I've never felt the need to drive my car into the salt water despite the lack of a "safety" railing.



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