The Green Bike

Two years ago, we cruised down to Key West and set up shop for the year. 

Backtracking a bit, the kids were not two wheel capable on a bike a few years before that.  They were just four and under.  It did not stop me, however, from picking up a free green bmx style bike on the side of the road as we drove by it.   Yes, it would take years before the kids would be tall enough to ride it, but it was a perfectly good bike and it was free.  I hauled said bike around for a very long time and eventually brought it to Key West.   Sadly, it became apparent that some work would need to be done on the bike and I was not the girl to make it happen.  Into the dumpster it went.  

We had many neighbors in the Stock Island Village Marina.  One couple four boats down had actually constructed their vessel from ferro cement with their own hands in Russia and sailed her to our southernmost point.  Her mast resembled a telephone pole post and her hull had a personal touch.  They accomplished a major ocean crossing with their own handiwork; we were awestruck.  Yes we had a language barrier, but nothing a smile couldn't overcome. 

We were the youngest marina crew in the vacinty.  One day after the bike dump, the captain on the Russian vessel waved the kids down.  He graciously presented them with a shiny green two wheel bike complete with a new (and lowered) seat, new tires, and a sparkle that only a through detail would reveal.  He was so proud and the kids were beyond thrilled.  He muttered something along the lines of "Someone didn't know what they were throwing away- thought you could use this"...  laden thick with a Russian dialect.   He never knew that he took our dumper bike and regifted it to us after some tlc.  The kids from that day on spent hours taking that bike up and down the marina drive much to the delight of our neighbors: entertainment for all.  

When cruising, you cross paths of many, and most go out of there way with wonderful acts of kindness.  The act of being neighborly is strong and true amongst us.  We appreciate all of our amazing friends out there and look foreword to meeting many more.   

Yes, the pic is not pertinent to the story, but this is how we spend our free time as of late... Constructing amazing forts only to take them down and rebuild them again... Plus we ride bikes or roller blade...  And we go beach combing for beach glass... Etc etc.