Gulf Waters Bicycle Riders Club.  Lakes Park Farmers Market.  Ft. Myers.   March 6, 2015.    Click to see who’s who’s who . Photo by Paul Goldfinger.  ©

.By Paul Goldfinger from the Tropicana Forum.

They came into the rest area single file, or close to it, slowing down as they rode around me.  “Hey, you better get out of the way,” said a man sitting at a table nearby. He was promoting the Bible, but instead of saving a soul, he was trying to save me.  I realized then that I should stop daydreaming, so instead I starting shooting photos.

The Gulf Waters Bicycle Riders are a social group from a nearby mobile home community.  “Candominium” corrected one rider referring to the metal construction of their houses which are  not far from Tropicana Park which we wrote about recently.  They didn’t seem tired, because they apparently take their time as they ride about 10 miles to get to their destination—the  Farmers Market.

They saw me taking pictures, so they requested a group shot. They assembled in about 5 seconds. It shows how fast  a group of seniors can move when they are asked to pose for a picture.  One said, “Don’t put us in Playboy.”   Another called out, “We need to show more leg.”

I call this a “Coaster shot.”  That’s when  persons stand in a horizontal row and grin at the camera.

But I did them a favor and then discovered  this was my best shot, achieving a high rate of smiles due to some ribald remarks coming from both sides of the camera.

One of the group, Artie Johnson, stepped forward and asked me to be sure to send them a photo which he would share.  He said he was from Calverton, NY and he handed me a card that identified him as an Ambassador for the USA Pickleball Association.

I didn’t  know about that, but there was a merchant at the market who sold only pickles. I went up to him and made an offer, “Will you sell me half-sours for half price?”

He replied, “I’m not going to fall for that one.”

Sometimes my jokes fall flatter than a fluke in winter at the Belmar Marina.

I mailed Uncle Artie the photo and a link to this site.

Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.

BETS MALONE    from the Marvelous Wonderettes