At around 4pm today people all around Mallory Square were looking into the sky at this waterspout which formed from a pretty fast moving cluster of storms. I took this video from the Key West Shipwreck Historeum Tower. The waterspout lasted for several minutes while the cluster of storms moved North.

This picture shows the waterspout as it began to dissipate. The only thing I forgot to do was holler, "Wreck Ashore".

Back in May I signed up to ride in the Smart Ride 2008. The ride is from Ft. Lauderdale, Fl to Key West, Fl for AIDS Awareness. For more info check out the link http://www.thesmartride.org/3/. The ride takes place on Nov 14 & 15 of this year. I have begun training, as you might imagine 165 miles in 2 days is alot. So far, my longest ride is 60 miles. I ride with the group pictured below. In this shot we are at Baby's Coffee, the first of several stops on our Sunday training rides. That is me third from the right! Yes, I do wear the tight shorts and shirt, funny shoes and a helmet.















In signing up for the ride, I pledge to raise over $1250.00. All of which is used locally. If you would like to make a pledge (family required, no matter how distant). You can be as far away as Utah, Toronto, Pa. (PennSYLvania takes up alot of space), New Jersey, Maine, Nova Scotia. You get it I think. If you only have a couple of $$$$ fine. I need (they need) as much as we can raise! Click on the following link https://www.thesmartride.org/3/pledge/ and enter my name or rider number, # 166. I will be posting more pics of me training as well as short videos of what it is like to have a semi pass you on the highway at 50 mph, only inches away. Maybe feet, but it sure feels like inches! By the way, this is great exercise, I have already lost 15 pounds!
If you want to see my ride follow this http://www.bianchiusa.com/08_c2c_nirone_tiagra.html. I never knew riding a road bike was so much fun. The pic below is on one of the old railroad bridges of the Florida Keys. A surprisingly comfortable place to stop and replace what else...a flat.

Today Julie, Parker, Lynly, Josh, Colbin and I went to the County Jail to visit the animal farm which is run by our friend Jeanne Selander. Jeanne takes care of animals which have been claimed by law enforcement and several other groups. The farm is open to the public every other Sunday from 1 to 3pm. Some photos below...

Nice snake...

My two Ladies...

Colbin looks hungry...

Plenty of Quail to go around. Maybe we can eat them in several more weeks...

Albert the tortoise...

a day of fun. On a side note, Parker got bite by her first red ant today. She did not like it!

So in case you hadn't heard, Julie, Parker & I evacuated for Hurricane Ike several weeks ago. First time for me. We went to Disney with many other Kaunches. We spent 3 days and as you can tell from the photos we had a great time. First, the 3 of us went on the merry go round. One of P's fav's. That is only a sippie cup of P's juice I am holding.
















The next day we went to the Animal Kingdom to comb goats.
















Parker really loved the goats, particularly when they pooped!
















I would say, from this look, it looks like we are in for one heck of a ride with this little lady!
















And at the end of it all, one little sleepy head. Actually, three sleepy heads.















Til next time!