Key West - Part 2

On the afternoon of 29 December we were joined by friends from Titusville, FL and Patrick Air Force Base, Eric and Ellen Provost and Tom and Diane Bouthiller. We had a great day hanging around Key West, and had an excellent dinner that evening in downtown Key West.

We had a great New Year’s Eve. All of us began the day by riding bikes around the island. That was quite an experience, dodging scooters, other cyclists, and automobiles, but we had a great time and it was good exercise. We had dinner at Conch Restaurant and Bar, which is about the best dinner we have had to date, and later walked Duval Street that had been blocked off for the evening celebration. It was a sight to see and experience. One of the attractions of places like Key West is that there are fewer rules and laws governing behavior, and you can do pretty much what you want as long as you don’t bother anyone else. Needless to say, the asylum door was unlocked on New Year’s Eve on Duval Street, and much color (and other body parts) was on display. We brought in the New Year unlike any other we have ever had, and then headed back to the boat. Everyone should experience Key West on New Year’s Eve at least once.

When the Provosts and Bouthillers departed for home and jobs (work is such an ugly word) on New Years Day, we did nothing but eat and watch football games. Did I mention that we took several naps too? After resting for a few days, we departed in our car for Knoxville. Two days of doctor, dentist and eye doctor appointments were awaiting us there, as well as visiting Knoxville friends. A couple days of that, plus a couple days visiting Pat’s mom in Alabama, and we were headed back to Key West and our boat-home. Let me mention that while in Knoxville it snowed (briefly I’ll admit, but the white stuff was coming down hard for a while), which reinforced our decision to spend the winter in South Florida.

Upon our return to KW, Butch and Sherry McCall were in Islamorada for a couple days on business. They drove to KW on Saturday and we met them for dinner downtown. We have not seen Butch and Sherry for many months, and it was good to see good friends again and catch up on what is going on with them.

Sunday afternoon, we met Steve and Carolyn Slatas, who arrived in KW and are staying at a nearby RV campground. We met them for drinks that afternoon at Mangrove Mamas located across the highway from the RV campground. Steve and Carolyn are boating friends from Knoxville, and are members of the Fort Loudoun Yacht Club. We enjoyed spending time with them throughout the week, and look forward to seeing them again soon while they are in Naples, FL for a few days. Steve and Carolyn offered to drive our truck from KW to the marina in Fort Lauderdale where we will be staying, so we will have transportation while in Fort Lauderdale for the month of February. THANK YOU Carolyn and Steve!!!

On Thursday, Dave and Leslie Gallaher, who have their boat in Key Largo and are also members of Fort Loudoun Yacht Club in Knoxville, drove to KW, and we and the Slatas’ met them and had lunch at B.O. Fisherman's and then spent the day walking around town. It was a fun day hanging out with these folks. Dave was aware that Pat Lynch and his son Matt, also from Fort Loudoun Yacht Club, were in KW at a marina somewhere. Dave tracked them down and we went to their boat and hung out there for a while.

Our goal for the day was to hang around town and get to Mallory Square in time for the sunset. We, along with hundreds of other tourists and locals, jockeyed for the perfect location to snap a picture of the sun as it was going down. The sunsets are always beautiful and the perfect end to a perfect day!

Our plan was to stay here in Key West until January 23rd, and that day has arrived. We will move ourselves back to the Fort Lauderdale area for the month of February. Stay tuned.