Stone (Crab) in Clearwater

Clearwater and Kona are two pretty different places. On race day its all very similar, swim/bike/run, the m-dot every where, lot's of powergels, too much sun etc. but the places themselves are night and day. They both have ocean but that's about it. Kona has lava fields and stony beaches, Cleawater has white sand and strip malls as far as the eye can see. Hawaii has plush resorts and fit surfers, Florida is home to snowbirds, big haired ladies and faded beach hotels.
There's plenty of new construction going on- after all the beach and the sunset here are pretty spectacular - but the little joints still remain. The Seaside motels built in the 60s, the little crab shacks with shells on the floor and the greasy spoon diners are still here, only now they rub shoulders with brand-new luxury condo towers. Its a mish-mash for now but sadly I think that gradually the condos will take over. But then again maybe not? The people on vacation here don't seem like the million-dollar condo types. I am renting a lovely little cottage right on the water with only one other unit next door. In Kona I had a overzealous rooster as a neighbour, here I have redneck baseball players in town for a tournament. One of the players young son is with them but that doesn't seem to deter them from smoking pot and drinking beer on our shared patio every night. I don't begrudge anyone their fun, but as the smoke wafts into my bedroom window I kind of wonder if Ross Regabliati was telling the truth when he claimed he didn't inhale and his positive test for marijuana really was from "second hand smoke at a party". (although really, if he can win an Olympic snowboarding event while stoned he probably deserves more than a gold medal).
Anyways, other than that I love Clearwater at this time of year - the beaches are empty the weather is balmy and it's stone crab season. Nothing beats a beautiful sunset on the beach with a pound of stone crab pulled from the gulf that very morning. And no roosters.