Bike Ride and a Manatee visit. Not much going on last couple days, been a bit windy but still temps in the low 70's. We biked into town to the post office to return some stuff, then stopped by the bike shop to get some lights and bottle cages for our bikes. We even stopped  by TJ Max and Ross Dress for Less to score some discount threads and a new backpack for Yoli. This morning we had a Manatee come visit us and we gave him some fresh water as they love fresh water. Your not supposed to do that or they don't leave, so we will have curb that behavior, it was just cool to see them roll on their back and suck up the water from the spray nozzle. Yoli spoiled him good.

Wounded Warrior Ride

Wounded Warrior Ride

Today, the Wounded Warrior Bike ride came to Key West and we greeted them as they rode in. It was a big deal, blocked the road into Key West for over an hour. We were on Bikes so we just hoofed it back to the boat easily, cars? not so much, it was a jam. We finished our day at the Tiki Hut with fellow loopers grilling our best proteins. We chatted and caught up on all things boating and surprisingly talked alot about RVing as we had a couple visiting from a local RV park that are full time RV'ers, Steve & Kelly Heinzman. 

We also has a non-looper boater join us, a single woman that bought a 1981 70' Hatteras Motor Yacht "Shay La Vie". Amazing to see someone with no boating experience to speak of, go out and buy a 70' yacht and take it from Fort Lauderdale to Key West. Now understand, she is in year 3 to go this far as she spent the first year or two just getting the boat sea worthy. The boat was rough and need a lot of work, bless her heart for taking on that challenge and now living in Key West.

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ShaylaVieHatteras/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ShaylaVie

Wounded Warrior Riders

Morning Coffee on the Patio

My little morning coffee buddy on the docks

R&R and New Friends

Today we really did not do much of anything, we hung out at the Tiki Hut, then hit the pool and beach for some down time key west style. We finished up the day at Dock's Seafood Market and Restaurant with fellow loopers. We biked over and had a nice dinner. I had a seafood cauliflower bake which was basically a seafood pot pie and it was yummy. Yoli had grilled grouper and was not to thrilled with it and thought it was a bit over cooked. We had docktails with new looper friends then headed the bike posse back to the boat in the dark. A good day for sure, we just did a lot of nothing, we will work on finishing up  that tomorrow.

Old Friends, Gooder Times

 

Gina & Dean on the Flybridge

Today was a Gooder day, we met up with Gina and Dean our friends that used to live next door to us in Grapevine and moved to Florida a couple years ago. We wanted to meet up with then in Punta Gorda where they now live, but we came through there Marina on Christmas Eve and they were back in Texas visiting family. Coincidently, they were in Marathon this week celebrating Gina's Dad's 80th birthday. So we hooked up for a sunset cruise this evening. Gina, Dean, Gina's Sister Cindy and husband along with Gina's Mom and Dad. The eight of us loaded up the boat and cast the lines at 4:30 from Stock Island and made a short dash to Key West 8nm away to watch the sun set. We passed by Mallory square where we watched the sunset days before with Tom and Nan. Every day hundreds if not a thousand people flock the docks at Mallory square in Key West to watch the sun set. We got to watch them watch us and the sun set tonight. It rained a bit and was cloudy so sunset was questionable all day, but when the time came the skies cleared enough for a beautiful Key West sunset. After the sun set, I put Gooder Days on Plane and hauled butt back to our Stock Island Marina as with the clouds and sun set, it was getting dark and crab pots are hard if not impossible to spot in the twilight and darkening hours. I pushed the throttles full speed ahead, it was not as bumpy on the return as it was on the way out thank goodness. We has 1-2 foot seas and 13kts of wind, right on the edge of not being comfortable but certainly safe and doable. I just did not want to have a bad experience for our guests. We pulled into the dock, tied up and the dinner prep began. Gina made a tasty chicken pasta meal that has been simmering in the crock pot for hours,  it was delish! We sat around and caught up with old friends until 8 or 9pm then they packed it in and headed back to marathon as it was a 45 minute drive for them. It was a fun day and nice to get the boat out and work the engines. Could have been a smoother and sunnier day like it has been all week, but hey, it was still a Gooder Day with good friends. Tomorrow, sunshine and R&R with no plans but flip fops, sunscreen, and maybe a cold beer or two.

Mallory Square - Key West

Sunset Pier

Cruise Port

Provisioning Day

 Today we rode the bikes 3.6 miles to Quest so Yoli could get her blood drawn. Next to Quest was a busy little Deli serving breakfast so I snagged a window table waiting on Yoli next door. I had the most awesome omelette, and Yoli had Eggs and bacon. After filling our bellies and more coffee, we straddled our Zizzo bikes once more and headed for Publix the local food bank. We loaded up on groceries and stuffed 30lbs of grub in my backpack and Yoli carried another 10lbs or so in hers. Off we went back to the boat all loaded down pressing the limits of our little 20" tires. All back safe and sound, just glad we did not have to buy water, that would of overloaded us for sure. We are now making water with our water maker on the boat, or using a neighbor's SpotZero water filter on the dock. So no buying and lugging drinking water this month. I did make a run for wine coolers and Kaluha and that was no light load for sure. Only being about 2 or 3pm we hit the pool for some sun and pool time and maybe some beach sand toe wiggling. Another good day in the keys. This was just an average day, not Gooder, but still plain old good. Yeah, a good day for sure, now where's my wine cooler?

No pics today, guess I did not see anything picture worthy, but still a sun and fun good day.

Sun, Fun, & Boat projects

 

We removed the Bose sub woofer and stereo today as it was just taking up prime cabinet space and we never use it, so out it goes on the dock for hopefully someone else to enjoy. We reorganized the space as that is always an on going project in a boat or RV, finding optimal storage strategies in small odd shaped places. After that morning shenanigans and coffee on deck, we mounted the bikes for an excursion to Dock's Seafood market where we tasted some tasty crab, lobster, and seafood dips and eyeballed some fresh fish and shrimp we will surely purchase another day. We then headed to Perry's Hotel and Marina where we caught happy hour at the dockside bar. Not sure how happy hour pricing turned into $80 worth of drinks and a wing appy, buy hey, it is key west. As sun was setting, we headed back to the boat on our trusty Zizzo folding bikes checking our zig and zag from our happy hour buzz to make sure we make it home safely. It was a short 2 miles back and we all checked in safely. Fund in the sun and a bit of cardio to boot today.

Bye Tom & Nan

 

Tom and Nan went home today after a fun filled week in Key West. We did boat projects, Toured KW, had some great food and good times. Bye Tom, Bye Nan, until next time.