New Years Day surf

My boards in the back of the F150. New Years Day surf, 2013, Dubai. Translucent fins and leash.

Broken sign Dubai

Broken sign on Beach Road, Dubai.

Fake red beard

Fake 'red' beard.

Best 'whatever-it-was-cause-I-didn't-even-look' dihrams spent in a while. Fake red beard from Choitrams.

My Atlas Goldline

Have had my eye on an Atlas bicycle for years. 280aed from Satwa on Saturday night. Was tempted to keep the wrapping on it - a popular look with gardeners in Jumeriah. I will modify it, like those I've seen in Sri Lanka. Watch for updates.

Made in India (for export). Great painted headtube badge. Atlas was the primordial Titan who supported the heavens, but check out his little shoes.

The braking system is solid. Steel rods, no cables. Stainless steel hood detail on the fork. Functional?

Reflector. Digging the curves.

Frame number on the seat-tube matches the inspection chit. Even the printing is beautiful - block colours and gold ink. Atlas = superior quality, advanced technology. (1951 speak I believe)

Chain guard. The gold lines are actually hand painted. Atlas Goldline. Dubai. 

Beach Road cruiser

My beach cruiser. Bought in 2005 from a bike shop on Sheikh Zayed Road at the base of a skyscraper across from Emirates Towers. The shop is no longer there. It cost me 350aed and the store keeper's sales technique was to tell me that it was hand-built in Saudi. This weekend it occurred to me that I'd never photographed it.

Perfect early morning transport to swim training and night sorties to the mosque shop. The gearing is a little low and the frame flexes like hell with cargo (beach gear in the front or Maisie on the back in the child seat)

White wall tyres look cool. Notice that the model is a Wheels 'Beach Cruiser'. Also have a green female version.

Shades, Birks, beach shorts, 10aed and a bottle of Masafi. Friday morning cruise.

Ivory wingtips

Cole Hann Air Colton Wingtip Oxford in ivory nubuck. Cosmopolitan.

Swiss cheese tower

Green armchair

Wasted as prop in a fashion store at the mall. Deserves much better than that.

Black low-tops

Black suede on black canvas. Vans special edition.

Hummingbird tee

Moka Vans

Breaking in a pair of Vans Slip-on Pro Classics on a beautiful April morning along a Beach Road side street. Coordination on so many levels with my Schwinn Coffee. Transcendence.

Gazebo shade

The octopus

Lunch: straight from the sea and into my hand. Small octopus found on the new Kite Beach, Dubai.

Waxing

Spring morning Sunset Beach ceremony. Waxing up the board with wetsuit half pulled on.

Ninety Eight

Classic metallic green and enamel white Oldsmobile Ninety Eight taking shade under a tree on Beach Road.

Red GMC Sierra Classic

Isn't this simply sweet! Look at that badge, rear wheels arches and the black hubs.

Unimog camper

Seeing more and more Europeans passing thru Dubai on either 'around-the-world' tours or hauls to India. Covered Unimog's are the preferred vehicle. The sandy area behind Sunset Beach is the favorite spot for an overnight stop.

No swimming

Sunset surf sign

Safa sunset

Sunset over Safa park. Spring 2011.