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!

Visitors from Afar

More Mayberries have arrived in Marathon....Eston and his lovely wife Tammie and baby Will came from Chattanooga to visit paradise for a few days with his parents on Optimystique. Sweet Will got his first dinghy ride and went to Sombrero Beach to suffer in the Keys.

Kathryn, Jim, James and Max Freund arrived from Bradenton to spend a few days too, and of course the whole group was obligated to visit Key West along with Rick, Debbie and Beau Duggan from Wide Awake (seen in front of Rick's obligatory first stop at the Raw Bar for oysters). Eston celebrated his birthday the whole weekend, and was admired by many in Key West for his hat (worn by each family member on their birthday, with a decoration added each time).