With private campsites In the Keys going for $70.00 through $112.00 per night, we decided to find a CG in Florida City. It had excellent reviews, but looked pretty seedy to us, looking more like a CG for the homeless. The electric didn't work in the first two sites we tried, but the third was the charm and in short order we were set. It didn't take long for a "domestic dispute" to erupt in the trailer next to us. In about 15 minutes, tempers seemed to settle and we enjoyed dinner and a movie in the confines of our little boat. We were awakened at 0700 by more yelling and crying. It seems the woman decided to leave the trailer. Her belongings were thrown out of the unit while she and another male picked them up off the ground. It about ten minutes she was driven away by the other male, thus ending the drama. All the while I'm thinking we could easily be hit by stray bullets from the very angry guy right next to us!
On the day we drove 360 miles in 6 1/2 hours.
Thursday, January 7, 2016 Let the Fun Commence!
Free range chickens in Key West!This was to be our first launch using the Extend-A-Hitch apparatus. Unfortunately, the trailer jack doesn't have enough rise to allow its use. We aborted the attempt and launched the normal way. The truck had about two inches of the rear rims in the water. We were able to pull the boat off. She started right up (this is the first time I've started it since it was repaired).
Our first lunch in Key West was at B Os Fish Wagon where chickens roam freely, even on the dining tables!
Friday, January 8, 3016 Boat Projects!
SUNSHINE is back in her element! Key Wesy City Marina at Garrison BightMany of the liveaboards on our dock have stopped to to comment on how sweet our boat's lines are. One suggested that SUNSHINE is the talk of the dock and that the consensus of opinion was that she is the cutest boat in the marina!
Saturday, January 9, 2016 Long Walk and A Movie!
The rain showers of the past two days have vanished, leaving us with a mostly sunny day. The temperature climbed into the low 80s making it rather warm for this time of year.
Our day began with a 3 mile round trip to the local Publix and K Mart. After stowing our purchases, we set off for old town. Our ultimate destination in the Tropic Movie Theater so we could see The Big Short.
Along the way, we lunched at Schooners Wharf while listening to the offerings of Mike McLoud and friends. We always enjoy Mike when we visit Schooners. He performs there as far back as we can remember.
The movie was entertaining but boy oh boy was it ever intense. It's the kind of movie I could watch a few more times!
Sunday, January 10, 2016 Still Getting the Lay of the Land!!
During our many visits to KW, we have never spent time in the Garrison Bight area. Today, we continued our exploration of the area. There are two Publix grocery stores, a K Mart and Sears within walking distance. Tony's Mini Cafe, a highly rated locals breakfast nook is located in a gas station mini mart and has no tables or chairs. The food and beverages may or may not be good, but the atmosphere for enjoying a cup o Joe stinks. There are a couple of bagel stores and Kim's Kuban that we have to check out, but it's hard to imagine anything better that sitting in the cockpit enjoying the view while sipping from a cup. It's moments like this that make living on a boat so enjoyable.
Ready for my speciality, Key Lime Scallops!We walked again today and found ourselves back a Schooners this time to watch a few minutes of fool all on their giant TV. We we returned to Sunshine, it was time for a little R&R after which, I whipped up one of my speciality dishes, Key Lime Scallops. The meal was delicious!
Monday, January 11, 2016 Some Boat Projects!
Finally got the brackets to hang some boat poles!
Tuesday, January 12, 2016 Grouper Ruben: My New Specialty!
The weather cooled off yesterday and it became cloudy in the afternoon. It rained, hard at times overnight, through the morning and into the afternoon. If it weren't so cool (low 70s), it would be a good day for the movies.
Rather than that, we decided to stay aboard, watch Netflix and cook dinner ourselves. We tried to get a four mile walk in, but the rain thwarted our efforts. Instead, we went to the local Publix to purchase supplies for dinner. I decided to try my hand at one of our favorites, a Grouper Ruben.
By the time we returned to the boat, it was 1630 hours. We had a very light breakfast and no lunch. We were hungry. We started dinner with a shrimp cocktail. Our fresh, homemade cocktail sauce had quite a bite!
My new speciality, Grouper Ruben!I then set about making dinner. With Anna Marie's help, we were ready to eat by 1730. The following is the basic recipe we got from the Travel Channel Website:
Ingredients
* 6 oz. filet of grouper
* 2 slices of marble rye bread
* Thousand Island dressing
* Slices of Swiss cheese
* 3 oz. sauerkraut
* Cajun seasoning (optional)(I used Emeril's Cajun Seasoning)
Directions
* Dip filet of grouper in melted butter and dredge in cajun blackfish seasoning.
* Place filet on hot flattop griddle for about 5 minutes and then flip over.
* Place slices of marble rye bread on flattop, top each with Thousand Island dressing and slices of
Swiss cheese.
* Place sauerkraut on flattop.
* When the cheese is melted and the bread toasted, place filet on one slice of the bread.
* Top filet and the other slice of bread with warm sauerkraut.
* Remove sandwich from griddle, cut on a bias and plate with a pickle spear. Additional Cajun seasoning is optional and makes it a little spicy!
Wednesday, January 13, 2016 Dinner with the Serlins!
Bien - a Caribbean/Latino RestaurantIn the afternoon, we met David and Susan Serlin for a tour of the Hemingway House. It was fascinating. The tour guide provided pearls of trivia, most memorably the one about the urinal!
Following the tour, we took a walk. We had almost two hours to kill before our dinner reservations at Santiago's Bodega. Since we were all ready to eat, we strolled to the Restaurant and asked to be seated early. They gladly accommodated us and we had a delightful meal and sparkling conversation. We vacated our table shortly after 1800 hours. As we exited, we observed that there wasn't a sea left in the house. It seems to be a pretty popular place!
Again we walked, until Susan's sore foot started to really bother he really. At this point, we said our goodbyes. The Serlins returning to their hotel while we continued to walk.
Ukulele night at the Green Parrot!At about 1915, we went into the Green Parrot for Ukulele night which was to start at 20000. We got the last two seats in the house. By the time the Ukes started to play, the place was packed! I fact, there were a few dozen folks who couldn't fit into the place, standing on the sidewalk watching through the large open windows. There were at least 50 Ukes in the crowd with several more on the stage. It was a fun night, but we left shortly after 2100 for the mile and a half walk back to SUNSHINE!
Thursday, January 14, 2016 The Revenant!
It rained most of the night and most of today. We enjoyed a lazy day aboard stepping out at 1530 to head to the Regal Theater in Searstown. The Revenant was entertaining, but almost unbelievable. It hard to believe that was a true story.
Friday, January 15, 2016 VW Beetle Key...
I ordered a second key for the VW convertible (fixmyvw.com) before we left NJ. It arrived a few days ago. Shelley reported that the key didn't work properly. I sent the company a description of the problems:
Greetings,
The above referenced key (Order #17097) arrived a few days ago. Since I'm on an extended stay away from home, I asked my daughter, who is watching over the Beetle, to make sure the key works properly. She has reported to me that it does not.
Here are the problems she reported:
The key...
1. will not electronically lock or unlock the doors;
2. does, however, lock and unlock the doors manually;
3. Starts the engine, but the engine will not keep running (note that when she uses original key, the car runs fine).
Please advise at your earliest convenience.
William Martin
They sent me directions to program the key. I'll get to it when we return in the Spring.
