Johnny Barnes is an entrenched Bermudian institution -- like Gombeys, codfish and potatoes and flying a kite on Good Fridays.

And Mr. Barnes -- immortalised in the first of a series of statues embodying the Spirit of Bermuda -- has even elevated Bermuda's `good morning' greeting to international stardom.

The Paget resident admits he found his famous spot at the Crow Lane roundabout by accident after being trapped there in rush hour traffic.

"I used to walk a lot and as I walked I used to tell people `good morning' and `hello'. One morning when I got to the roundabout, I got stuck there,'' he explained. "There was a lot of traffic and I couldn't get across so I had to stay there.

"While I was there I thought to myself that this was a lovely place to stand every morning.'' Mr. Barnes said he began spending his mornings down on Crow Lane years ago, before he retired from driving buses.

"I think I was still working when I started going down there,'' he recalled.

"I used to make work at eight, so I would leave home at 6.30 a.m. and get down to Crow Lane about 7.

"I used to do it for just an hour and then the people started to enjoy it, in fact I really started to enjoy myself because it is beautiful when you can make people happy.'' Once he retired at age 63, Mr. Barnes started heading out for Crow Lane at 4.45 a.m., five days a week.

"It's not hard to get up each morning, but I go to bed at 8 o'clock each night,'' he said. "If something special comes up, I go to bed at 11, but very, very seldom.'' And to keep in shape, the 74-year-old, who celebrates his 75th birthday in June, said he follows a strict diet which includes plenty of water.

"I eat twice a day; at 2.45 a.m. I'm getting my breakfast. And I drink nothing but water -- no juices whatsoever.

"I don't eat between meals and I don't drink. I have my meals early so that when I go to bed I'm resting my body.'' Come rain or shine, locals can count on getting a cheerful wave and a heartfelt `I love you' from the living legend.

"Sometimes, I leave home and its rainy and windy and I just say ` Lord I don't mind your rain, I don't mind your hail, I don't mind your wind or hurricanes -- the only thing I don't relish Lord, is your thunder and lightning'.

"Thunder and lightning can be very dangerous, especially when you're outside.

If the thunder and lightning is too much, then I go into the bus shelter.'' And Mr. Barnes insisted he never sought the attention his one-man mission to cheer up morning commuters had brought him: "I'm not doing this for any popularity or fame, I'm not looking for that,'' he pointed out. "I just want to make people happy, that's all.'' But like it or not, Mr. Barnes is a treasured local personality adored by young and old alike.

"I just take it in stride,'' he said. "It all belongs to the good Lord, nothing belongs to me. I am only a little instrument in his divine hand to be used.

"When one accepts Jesus as their personal saviour, they are duty bound to let the light shine in any way they can so I'm just letting my light shine and making people happy.'' And Mr. Barnes admitted that over the years numerous rush-hour commuters had stopped to thank him for brightening their mornings.

"People stop to say `thank-you' all the time,'' he said. "It's an experience, I wouldn't trade it for all the world.

"The best part of it is the boys and girls, making them happy and putting a smile on their faces and even putting a smile on the grown-ups' faces.

"We all need to know that someone cares for us, no one is an island anymore.

We do not live in this world by ourselves, we think we do, but we don't.'' Despite his years, Mr. Barnes pledges to continue spreading cheer to all who pass by on Crow Lane.

"Life is very, very short and we're only here for a little while,'' he added.

"But as long as the Lord is going to keep me here and give me health and strength I'll be willing to keep on doing this.

"I'll keep on doing this until the good Lord says `that's it'.'' I LOVE YOU BERMUDA! -- Living legend Johnny Barnes embodies the true `Spirit of Bermuda' and as a result of his early-morning ritual of greeting Hamilton-bound commuters, a statue of him was placed on busy Crow Lane last year in his honour. The bronze likeness, by sculptor Desmond Fountain, sits adjacent to Johnny Barnes' usual place at the Crow Lane roundabout.