The Legend of The Big Bed Pan

It was about 1:30 AM on May 17th, 2017 as Elroy crossed the Georgia/Florida border on I-75. It had been a good trip so far. The night was clear and the traffic pretty lite. Elroy nudged the Kenworth up to 85 and punched on the cruise control.

The big natural gas fueled Caterpillar powered KW rolled up to speed and settled in.  A quick check of all the instruments to make sure everything was fine and Elroy snuggled back into the air ride seat for the last part of his run down to St. Pete.

A few minutes later the CB crackled to life. "Breaker, breaker 19, Hey Elroy you got your ears on?  ..This is Cletus"

Elroy smiled, he and Cletus had been driving I-75 for almost 25 years. Elroy grabbed the mike and responded, "Back at ya Cletus whatch  ya hauling tonight?"

"Break 19,  got a load of beer bottles for a craft brewery down there in Cigar City how about you?"  Cletus barked into the microphone.

"Taken a load of paper goods down to the Big Bed Pan", Elroy replied.

"Ya know I liked it better when it was Wrinkle City", Cletus shot back. "Have you seen that thing?"

Elroy responded, "Ya I dropped of several loads of construction materials while they were building it." "Makes no sense to me."

"Break 19...this is Junior. Did you say you're headed for the Big Bed Pan Elroy?"

"Yep. "Gona drop a load at the Big Bed Pan", Elroy replied.

"Now that's funny", Cletus chimed in.

Junior laughing hysterically, "Break 19, What the hell is that thing anyhow?"

"Art, iconic art", Elroy replied.

"What kind of art", Cletus asked?

"Ionic", Elroy replied. "Art that is supposed to move you and leave a lasting impression."

"You want to see some art that will move you,  pull in that next rest stop and take a look at the nude Bubba painted on my left door. Now there is some art that will make a lasting impression", Junior said.

The CB was silent for a moment and then a soft female voice said "Hi guys.. This is Mary". "My husband I are headed to Tampa/St. Pete for a short vacation." "Is this Bed Pan you are talking about that thing they call the LENS?"

There was a short pause and then a slightly embarrassed sounding Elroy said, "Yep mam that would be The Big Bed Pan."

Mary said, "I'm looking at a picture of the thing and now that you mention it, it does look a bit like a bed pan with a handle." "Is it worth spending some of our short time in the Bay area to go see it?" "What can you do there?"

"Well", Cletus chimed in, "We don't have much time to be tourists, but I took my family over there and it turned out to be a long walk over the water, with not much to do, not a lot to see, nothing much to eat, it was a sunny day and it was really hot. The kids were ready to bolt in about 10 minutes."

"I would probably head for Bush Gardens, then the beach", Elroy chimed in.

"Me, I would head for the Dog Track at Derby Lanes", Junior added.

"Thanks guys". Mary replied. "I always check with the truckers to get the real inside on these tourist sites." "You guys are the greatest."

"What are you driving there Junior? I'd like to take a look at that door."

"10-4",  Elroy replied. "Have a safe trip mam."

Have your say.  Be sure to get a petition for the Pier Referendum and complete it properly. Information and schedule of evnts at Stop The Lens. 
 

e-mail Doc and Elroy at: dr.webb@verizon.net, or send me a Facebook
Friend request.