Modes of Transportation...

,,,observed at Flying Goat.
OilMan and I love traditions, so we have just created a new one…Sunday morning and an Aztec Mocha at Flying Goat coffee. The parade of humanity passing by makes for great people watching, and the location next to the railroad tracks makes the venue, well, interesting.

This morning we had walked around both Spring Lake and Lake Ralphine in the adjoining regional park, so we arrived rather later than usual and while I was brushing off the dust coating my lower pant legs, a young couple unwittingly took the last of the four tables outside, so Ozzie and I staked a claim to a spot by the tracks. Not ideal…Ozzie wouldn't lie down on the gravel and our Aztec mochas and a scone were right under his nose. Two moves later, our favorite table was vacated and we wasted no time claiming it.

There was a couple with three little boys who caught our attention first because the oldest boy had shoes that had skate wheels in the heels, so by lifting his toes he could turn his shoes into skates. Their table itself was like a perpetual motion machine. Never did I see all five of them sitting at the two tables they had put together. The mother made numerous trips inside for extra napkins. The kid with the wheelie shoes went inside to summon someone with a dustpan and broom when a glass fell off the table and shattered everywhere. The father took the youngest one to the bathroom. They were most notable, however for the fact that there was no device in sight. The parents gave the kids their full attention and at one point there was a conversation about how the rest of the day should be spent.

At another table was a couple who attracted my attention because the man was the classical 'man spreader' sitting in his shorts with his legs spread. For us it was just vaguely gross, but apparently men ho sit this way on crowded public transportation are quite reviled for the excess space they occupy. OilMan, who had a better view, declared him a 'jerk' (not his actual word). I was unable to get him to be more specific. They got up and left leaving their phone on the table, causing an arriving group of women in full lycra bicycle gear to veer off to another table. OilMan took the phone inside and gave it to a woman who wasn't there when the guy came back.   OilMan had to go inside to vouch for him. He was moderately grateful.

A man passed by on a skateboard, coffee in one hand, phone in the other. Somehow he was managing all three without missing a beat. He would have been a great candidate for my series on modes of transportation in/on which people arrive at Flying Goat, except I didn't manage to catch him as he passed.

Ultimately the man with the kid in camouflage sweatshirt, hood up, arriving in the vehicle above was my choice for today. OilMan commented that he didn't think such a vehicle was legal, followed by the comment that he thought it would be a great vehicle to drive to Oliver's, our favorite supermarket. My comment was that I thought one could drive anything to Oliver's and that my understanding was that if he bought me a new red Mercedes I would have to make all necessary trips to Olivers…..

Said car is now aboard a ship, no doubt destined for a West Coast port via the Panama Canal based on the estimated delivery date…..