Jan/Feb 2020 – We were able to have several sets of visitors join us in Marathon, and share some bits of Keys life.
First up, Ben’s cousin Alec and fiancee Lena (who had joined us on the Tennesssee River for our Chattanooga side trip). The ladies spent some time at the beach, Alec and I took a dinghy expedition into the mangroves with friend Joe, to see a ‘Cuban drug sub’ (maybe), and we all dinghied across Boot Key Harbor for a great happy hour and dinner. And that was before we drove down to Key West to see some of the sights (Hemingway Rum Distillery, Mel Fisher Museum, Mile Zero, sunset at Mallory Square, Duval Street, Sloppy Joe’s) before returning to our Navy base accommodations in a torrential downpour.
Alec and Lena on the bowBoot Key Harbor sunset (by Alec)Catching a few rays at Sombrero Beach while the boys are exploringMaybe it’s a Cuban drug sub…and maybe it’s not. We heard tales either way. (picture by Alec)Lunch in Key West before a hard afternoon of sightseeingPerusing art galleries in Key West…some fine stuff (picture by Alec)Silver ingots at the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage MuseumUS 1 runs from here, Mile Zero, 2,369 miles (3,813 km), from Key West, Florida north to Fort Kent, Maine, at the Canadian border, making it the longest north–south road in the United States.Well, yes, we had to get some souvenirs from the Hemingway distillery (picture by Alec)The roosters (and their mates and progeny) are everywhere (picture by Alec)Great band at Sloppy Joes, a Duval Street institutionOn the way back from Key West, we stopped at Stock Island to visit friends on Patriot, who had just closed their Loop; this decorated truck was parked outside a local bar.
