BEWARE OF BIKERS

Just read "Get Out of My Way" (Cover story sidebar, by Anne Arsenault, March 22-28), and I have to say: Brave. Very, very brave! I am seriously impressed with your level of bravery on that one. I'll leave it to other Bay area bicyclists to rake you over the coals for it (as I'm sure they will). Instead, I'll offer you this: If you ever need to do a bit of research on practical bicycling in the Tampa Bay area, please feel free to give me a call. I do it every day. I've been riding a bike to work here in Clearwater for over nine years now, and rode one across America 30 years ago. I have a small collection of bicycles that dates back to 1896 and I do the guidebook for the Pinellas Trail. I also write for The Wire Donkey, a newsletter on bicycle commuting out of Nashville, Tenn. So: If you ever want to see the road from the other side of the windshield, just let me know. I promise to not be the least bit snarky about it. I mean, after all, I also do a fair bit of driving myself.

Chip Haynes

Clearwater

REALITY CHECK

Regarding the letter writer who wonders "Where's the good eats?" (Going Postal, March 15-21), may I suggest a reality check. We're on a planet in an endless universe. Somehow, life arose here and we are blessed to have a short period of life before our demise. There are people all over the world under siege of war, others with nothing to eat, others dying from diseases. And this letter writer has the gall to wonder desperately, "Where do the gourmands eat?" The writer should be thankful to be alive, healthy and have something to eat, instead of having the condescending, selfish, poor-me attitude wondering where all the high-class establishments are to satisfy his delicate taste buds. How nauseating.

Gary Orlando

Clearwater

WILDS' TIMES

Although possessing no maritime boating experience myself, I nonetheless write to commend Travis Wilds on a thoroughly engrossing and well-written article, "Sail Away" (Cover Story, March 8-14).

Readers who found Mr. Wilds' narrative similarly engaging might also be familiar with Harlan Hubbard's Shanty Boat: A River Way of Life, 1953 and William Least Heat-Moon's River Horse: Across America by Boat, 1999. The latter two books and doubtless others with which I am not conversant make for pleasantly complementary reading to "Sail Away." In fact, I've cut out Travis' article for future reference. Thank you Travis for an excellent read. I await your next article.

Robert O. Ball

Bradenton

FAN MAIL

We very much enjoyed your recent article, "Sail Away," about the esoteric sailing trip on the ancient Dutch boat. I've sent it on to British friends of ours who winter in Punta Gorda. They are veteran sailors and keep their custom-made sailing yacht down there for their use the six months they live on this side of the pond. They used to sail in the North Sea when we first met them while living in Belgium. So they, being veteran sailors, will really enjoy your story.

Sylvia Knight

Sarasota

G'DAY FROM OZ

I just wanted to congratulate you on your Rosa Rio article (Arts Feature, "She Improvs With Age," by Cooper Cruz, Feb. 22-28). I am a young theater organist in Brisbane, Australia and have written to Rosa over the years. I became a fan of hers after finding out she was still playing in 2001. I had seen and copied a photo of her at the Brooklyn Fox Theatre Wurlitzer in all its and her glory. I keep it in my expanding file. It was from an old state library book I was going through. I NEVER expected someone in the photos in that book to still be playing or even be alive, a fact she found very amusing! It's hard to keep in contact with the rest of the world down here. I'm glad you are keeping her and theater organs in the loop over there.

David Bailey

Brisbane, Australia

This article appears in Mar 29 – Apr 4, 2006.