Keyed up again....and again....

When you're this close to Key West, especially during the Conch Republic Independence Celebration, it's hard not to attend the festivities. Soooooo, back on Thursday for the parade. Wide Awake (Rick and Debbie), Optimystique (only William; Judy is in Tennessee for a bit) and Serendipity headed for the celebration in Rick and Debbie's SUV. We left early in the morning and got back close to midnight, so there was plenty of time to wander around, sample beverages and food, and enjoy the colorful population and activities. We visited the Green Parrot (seen snorkeling on the door) for some great blues (see the guitar and cast of autographers). The Captain even posed with some ladies (oh no they're not) of the evening, one of whom grabbed his backside! The streets were packed with parade onlookers, and candy and beads were flying through the air from the parade participants. The street cleaners in Key West will always have job security!

Since we'd been to KW twice in a week, we didn't plan to go back until we take our boat there in early May on our way to the Dry Tortugas. But.......our neighbors invited us to go back Saturday with them and their company and it was hard to say no since we were listening to our Michael McCloud (our favorite performer at Schooner Wharf) CDs at the time. And we seldom say no to a good time anyway. So, back on Saturday for the Bed Races and the Pirate Competition. One day soon we'll need to rest up.

After a stop by the Big Pine Flea Market, lunch at Hog's Breath, and a glimpse of the entries in the Bed Race, we headed for Schooner's. A gentleman stepped up to our table and took off his sunglasses to say hello, and it was Steve Bacon from Kingston, TN. He and his wife Peggy were visiting the Keys and just happened to be in Schooner's. The world closes in again! It was great to see them again, and lunch plans are already made for Monday.

There were already pirates everywhere, including the trio from Marathon seen at the table, then the gypsies arrived! We seem to run into them a lot lately; once you know them they're everywhere. They're making plans to return to the real world in May, so we're glad they're partying with their friends in the meantime. But we do miss Doug's ponytail.

Now back to that resting up.....

Small world!

Sunday was a good day to recover from the Key West trip, so we had happy hour at Lazy Days. We had crew from 6 boats, so our table was full. The docks are far too high for dinghies, so it was a challenge to get in and out. As we left, Susan decided to compete in the dinghy/dock diving competition. Of course everyone in the place was watching (as they always are when you don't want to be seen), and after compiling the scores she won a gold medal. What a good sport to come up smiling and make the long dinghy ride back soaking wet!

Monday morning we listened to the Cruiser's Net, as usual, and were pleasantly surprised to hear Leap of Faith on the radio. We met Newt and Alice in Clearwater on our way back from traveling in 2007, when we anchored and crossed the Gulf together. When we got to Panama City, they directed us to their yacht club, took us to their home for dinner, loaned us their car, and generally took us to raise. We've stayed in touch over the past few years, and it was a treat to have lunch together and catch up. Unfortunately they planned to leave Tuesday morning so it was a short visit and we were disappointed to learn they'd been in Boot Key Harbor for a whole month. They'd visited Dockside many times (they knew Ed, our resident pirate at Dockside, from earlier days in Panama City) and had walked past our boat on their way to town. The world is small enough to run back into them, but large enough to be within 20 feet of them and not connect!

Monday concluded with a long visit on Miss NanSea with Bob and Nancy. We met on the dock a few weeks ago and they've joined us on a few occasions for revelry. Their gorgeous cat, Buffy, is a magnet for the admiral, but their beautiful boat and hospitality are unrivaled. We enjoyed the evening so much we almost spent the night!

Key West can be a drag

The intrepid crews of several boats hiked to the bus stop (outside the infamous Brass Monkey) for a trip to Key West on Saturday. In celebration of the independence of the Conch Republic, two weeks of festivities are underway. The bus trip is about 2 hours each way (since we circle the hospital a few times and change buses at Publix and stop along the way for pickups and dropoffs), but it's an excellent chance to people watch and hear some remarkable conversations -- including a seminar loaded with not-so-historical facts on the way down by a rasta in the back.

After the required stop by the Raw Bar for lunch, we hiked to the race track (otherwise known as Duval Street). The drag races were performed by some lovely (and some skanky) drag queens in the highest heels imaginable. They included timed trials, navigating through a maze of tires, all while pushing a shopping cart. It wasn't like Tennessee drag races, but well worth a trip to see (photos included later; our batteries conched out and we hope to get pix from friends). We weren't a bit surprised to see that the races had been invaded by....the Gypsies! It was nice to see them again, and they introduced us to some of their favorite watering holes, El Alamo for a cool place to rest and Green Parrot with a great blues band. It was a long day, but fun for all.

No one voted off the island yet!

When we had the rum punch party on the dock last week we missed Survivor, which is the one show we try to watch when we have reception. Even though we found out several of the attendees were taping the episode during the party, we weren't among them. We were able to catch up on the computer the next day, and were warned by John and Susan (Alchemy) that they'd be on our boat the next week for the show (they have no reception in the mooring field). We were then kindly invited by our neighbors Fred and Candy to join them on their boat house (Sunset Dance, described in a previous post) for Survivor evening. Happily, we were all allowed to stay on the island and enjoyed a lovely evening of watching scalawags try to outwit each other. Thanks to Fred and Candy for their hospitality!

Sad to say goodbye

It's always hard to say goodbye to new cruising friends. When you meet other boaters you get to know each other quickly and well, since you know your time is limited. You also have an instant rapport because you have a lifestyle in common and an obvious love of boats and water. The best part of our travels is the people. With very few exceptions (you know who you are), we've met wonderful friends from all different locations and walks of life and have had loads of fun and new experiences with them.

That being said, we had a goodbye party Friday night at Sombrero Resort for the three boats leaving this weekend (September Song, Floating Stone and Sea Pearl). Our favorite performer (Tommy Santelli) was there, and since the ladies made some lovely commemorative purchases on our shopping chick trip Thursday (7 of us in Stephanie's rental car) everyone was properly adorned.

One of the evening's highlights was an invasion of gypsies. We'd heard about the crew of Gypsies in the Palace (Doug and Tammy), and it was good to finally meet them (even though we'd been warned of their tactics). They drove up from their lair in Key West to help with the sendoff, since they'd cruised with September Song for several months on another trip. A good time was had by all, with fun and dancing and lots of promises to stay in touch.

Liver donors needed

The rowdy gang of boaters we've been playing with hope the weather will permit them to scatter hither and yon this weekend. Some are provisioning for the Bahamas, some checking charts on the Chesapeake, and some making plans for visits on the east and west coasts. They'll leave a huge void when they pull out, so in the meantime we're consoling ourselves with music, dancing, food and adult beverages. In moderation, of course. Sunset Grille is such a good place to watch the big orange (go Vols!!) ball drop into the sea, and John Bartus (former mayor of Marathon) is a great musician. We piled (bent, folded) into two rental cars and went for a short 4-5 hour visit.

Todd and Brenda (Life's2Short) are back from Key West, and Todd has recovered enough from his Keys Disease to start smooching up again. William and Judy were obviously happy to be out (and William was spotted dancing...a LOT...not a common occurrence!). It's hard to tell what Captain Jay and Katie were up to, but it was surely one of those ideas that seemed really good at the time.

Thanks Bob (September Song) for sharing your pix so generously. Even if you show off your camera by taking pictures underwater at the pool and through a water glass at the bar, we still appreciate them!

Thanks to Friends for Photos

It's hard to get pictures for the blog when one of us is always the photographer. Our friends, however, have been very kind by sharing pictures of us in our boat, in our dinghy, and in various places and situations. We truly appreciate them sharing their pictures with us so we can cherish the memories and sometimes publish them in our blog. We also appreciate those that have used discretion and good taste (most of the time) in NOT publishing some pictures of us in their blogs. We'll return the favor. And if you'll please get airbrushes we will too.

Biker Chicks and Boogie Nights

Back to hear Tommy Santelli by the pool. His music is perfect for our, um, mature (does THAT crack you up?) group. Bob and Stephanie are enjoying the music (and maybe cheesing a bit for the camera), and John and Susan were obviously surprised by the photographer. The weather has been perfect for pool dips during the day and dancing in a cool breeze at night. Again, we're taking the pressure off those of you who would rather be working to supplement our Social Security. Keep it up! It's plain to see by the walk down the dock with Bob and Katie after dancing that we are NOT having much fun. Notice our dour expressions....

Saturday was another beautiful day (with a boat-cleansing shower at night) for a trip to the produce market at Crane Point. One big truck was there, loaded with lots of gorgeous produce. There was a crowd waiting for the truck to unload (word got out on the Cruiser's Net), and within minutes things were selling out. Good thing the Biker Chicks (Katie, Nancy, Linda and Candy) got there early!

First Bath for Little Dippity

The Captain is so happy with the new dinghy. For those of you who don't know him well, he doesn't make purchases on impulse or without extensive research. ExTENsive research. LOTS of extensive research. For a LONG time. But our new water taxi is wonderful; we can zip along without getting dinghy butt and take friends and groceries and laundry and still stay dry and make good time.

She's so gorgeous, however, that even flora and fauna can't resist her. In a short two weeks she grew fur and barnacles underneath. We took her to Sombrero Beach for a bath (combined with a fun trip with friends and sun and adult beverages), and she cleaned up so well that the Captain grinned with full toothage.

From Groundhogs to Otters

It's hot!!! We're in the Keys!!! Blue jeans and sweatshirts are firmly packed well below the water line and swimsuits hanging all over the boat. Frosty beverages by the pool and at the beach. Now THIS is what we meant to do all along; we must have been using the wrong charts and cruising guides since October. There are always boat projects to be done, but there's something about Marathon that keeps you from working. We've spent all our time enjoying the gorgeous scenery, weather and new and old friends. We've had potluck dinners on the dock, a birthday party at Dockside, swimming and pizza parties at the pool and rum punch parties on the dock. When September Song, Where's Linda, Bombay Lady, Sea Pearl and Floating Stone leave, we'll have to rest up and dry out for a looooong time. In the meantime, we're trying our best to enjoy ourselves enough to compensate for our friends who are working and living in places with bad weather. We hope you appreciate it.

The Easter Lobster arrived

Captains Jaybird, Rick and William decided we should have lobster for our Easter dinner, so the crews of Optimystique, Wide Awake, Alchemy and Serendipity combined dishes and appetites for an outstanding Easter feast on the dock. Our table was scavenged from further up the dock (where it had been scavenged by previous tenants on a walk around the neighborhood). William and Judy's granddaughters Sarah and Gracie were visiting for the Easter weekend, so they joined us for the feast. They also attracted a sweet manatee, who came by for a backrub.

We were later joined (we never seemed to get away from the table) by new best friends Bob, Stephanie, Linda, and Fred and Candy (our neighbors). Bob and Stephanie's gorgeous labs Godiva and Cassie stopped by for a rub and a treat from Sarah and Gracie, so we invited their parents to stay too. After an extended happy hour we were invited to tour Fred and Candy's boat house, and it's so gorgeous we almost had to drug the girls to get them out. The three kitties aboard were also responsible for our reluctance.

Old friends, new friends

John and Susan (Alchemy) arrived in Boot Key Harbor for a week's stay before traveling to the Bahamas. We hadn't seen them since before Christmas, as they were held up with life and broken wrists and dental work and such. It was good to see them again, and we've been swimming and dining and happy houring since they arrived.

We also passed Life's 2 Short in the harbor, with Todd and Brenda aboard. We met Todd and Brenda in TN as they were cruising the river system. They invited us to join them at a nearby tiki bar to hear Tommy Santelli, who used to perform on Watts Bar at our home marina. We met new best friends Bob and Stephanie (m/v September Song), Pete and Linda (m/v Where's Linda?), and Joe (m/v Sea Pearl) and thoroughly enjoyed the music and their company. So much so that the next evening we dinghied to m/v Adventures so Robin and Jim could join us at Lazy Days and Sunset Grille to continue enjoying the company and the music. The best behaved member of the party was Salty, Admiral of Sea Pearl. While at Sunset Grille, Tommy Santelli thanked his Kingston, Tennessee fans for following (stalking) him in Marathon. A member of the audience said "Maryville!" Maryville? Home of our few remaining worldlies and home base and mailing address? He's Russ White (top photo), visiting Marathon every year after falling in love with it on his first visit. Small world!