If you've been following this blog, you know that I cycle to and around Rockaway Beach fairly frequently. In the summer, of course, it's crowded with swimmers, bathers and families. However, at this time of year, one sees the more eccentric--and, to my mind, interesting characters.
One of them rides this bike:
Notice the hooks attached to it. On them, he hangs the buckets he uses to haul his fishing poles--and, on his way home (wherever that is), whatever he catches that day.
I have seen him for about as long as I've been riding to Rockaway Beach--about two decades, give or take. As you probably figured, this is not his first bike. However, those hooks have been attached to every bike I've seen him ride.
In all of that time, I have not talked to him--or, for that matter, gotten much closer to him than I did the other day, when I took those photos. Any time I've seen him, he's been fishing at the point where the surf meets the beach.
He would be interesting to talk to--at least to me, anyway. But somehow I think he'd prefer to be left to his fishing. Also, I imagine that he would find my style of, and reasons for, cycling to be utterly preposterous.
Chacun a son gout. Still, I'm always glad to see him. Somehow I think the communities of Rockaway Beach--and cycling--would be poorer without him.
One of them rides this bike:
Notice the hooks attached to it. On them, he hangs the buckets he uses to haul his fishing poles--and, on his way home (wherever that is), whatever he catches that day.
I have seen him for about as long as I've been riding to Rockaway Beach--about two decades, give or take. As you probably figured, this is not his first bike. However, those hooks have been attached to every bike I've seen him ride.
In all of that time, I have not talked to him--or, for that matter, gotten much closer to him than I did the other day, when I took those photos. Any time I've seen him, he's been fishing at the point where the surf meets the beach.
He would be interesting to talk to--at least to me, anyway. But somehow I think he'd prefer to be left to his fishing. Also, I imagine that he would find my style of, and reasons for, cycling to be utterly preposterous.
Chacun a son gout. Still, I'm always glad to see him. Somehow I think the communities of Rockaway Beach--and cycling--would be poorer without him.
