We're back from day two of the Marathon Seafood Festival. For us it was more of a music festival. We enjoyed another great weather day (80's with a 15 knot breeze and bright sun) and four more hours of music. Topping the performers today was Amber Leigh an up and coming Country Music star. She is quite a talent, performing vocals and playing the fiddle and mandolin. She's been performing with her Dad since she was thirteen. She's now twenty-three and seems to have a great future in the music industry. Check out this video:
Sunshine almost always makes me high! (John Denver)
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Howard Livingston and MM 24 and Cowboy Troy
We are on our way to The Marathon Seafood Festival not necessarily for the seafood (okay, maybe) but for the music. Today, it's Island Vibe (Reggae) John Bartus and Storm Watch, and Howard Livingston and Mile Marker 24.
I'll post more about the festival in a day or two, but here's a youtube video of Howard Livingston and Mile Marker 24 with Cowboy Troy from the concert at Lazy Lakes last month. It's hard to remember how cold it was a that concert!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Guys and Dolls
Last night, we enjoyed a great night of community theater in Marathon! The cast was unique. Most were a bit more senior than the characters they portrayed and some were much more junior than their characters (think yon teen with charcoal mustache and goatee).
The show has great songs including one of my all time favorite's, "Adelaide's Lament." Another favorite and one appropriate for mariner's is this classic:
The Florida Keys and the Marathon Seafood Festival
The Marathon Seafood Festival
This weekend is the Marathon Seafood Festival. We intend to go, even though the forecast suggests a 50% chance of rain tomorrow. To see what it's all about, click here for a link to a short video about the festival. Once you get to the Florida Keys page, click on the video in the center of the screen. Photos to be added after the weekend.
We are often asked why we spend the winter in Marathon.Besides the fact that the keys are the only frost free zone in the continental US, click here for the answer, then navigate to the lower right hand corner of the page and click on the sunset.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
A Bike Ride!
Lay Day: Boot Key Harbor, Marathon, Florida Keyes MM 1195.0
Weather: Temp range mid 50s to high 60s; mostly sunny; wind N 10 - 15 knots with;calm in the harbor
Comment: As usual, we did some computer work, had breakfast and listened to the cruiser’s net before venturing ashore. Once there, we freed the bikes from their incarceration in the bike rack and went for a twelve mile ride. Along the way, we stopped to watch some small planes land and take off at the airport. We also found the comdo complex that the Michalsky’s and Elders are staying in and stopped for a visit with Bill and Barb.
Following our short visit, we continued north and stopped a short distance away at the Island Fish Company to buy “T”s for Sandi and Shelley. They didn’t have any “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problems” “T’s” in stock, so we left empty handed. We continued to head north to the Curry Hammock Nature Trail. We walked the trail a bit before heading back home.
On the way back, Anna Marie wanted to pick up a few items from Publix, so we made that stop before getting back to the marina, where we once again chained the bikes up, boarded the dinghy and headed back to SUNSHINE.
We watched the sunset while blowing the conch shell and listening to a bugler play taps. Then, we settled in for a great dinner and some R & R before hitting the sack..
Still in Marathon!
An interesting Marathon sign!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010 Day 151
Lay Day: Boot Key Harbor, Marathon, Florida Keyes MM 1195.0
Weather: Temp range high 50s to mid 60s; mostly sunny; wind N 20 - 25 knots with higher gusts; moderate chop in the harbor
Comment: We stayed aboard today due to the chop in the harbor. Besides playing games and reading, we worked on adding switches to the florescent light fixtures that we are converting to LEDs. The switches will accommodate the night vision LED’s that we’ll install when they are delivered. To date, SUNSHINE has no night vision lights.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010 Day 152
Lay Day: Boot Key Harbor, Marathon, Florida Keyes MM 1195.0
Weather: Temp range high 50s to mid 60s; mostly sunny; wind NW 20 knots with higher gusts light chop in the harbor
Comment: Work continued on the light fixtures. They are now ready to receive the red LEDs. While in town, we registered the dinghy.
Thursday, March 4, 2010 Day 153
Lay Day: Boot Key Harbor, Marathon, Florida Keyes MM 1195.0
Weather: Temp range mid 50s to mid 60s; mostly sunny; wind NW 15 knots with higher gusts; light chop in the harbor
Comment: Following the cruiser’s net and lunch, we went ashore for a bike ride.
Before boarding the dinghy to get back to SUNSHINE, Anna Marie picked up the red :ED’s which arrived in the mail. When we got back to the boat, we installed them and now have lights that won’t destroy our night vision. We enjoyed spaghetti and meatballs for dinner while watching an episode of Cheers. Then it was back ashore where we went to the movie theater to see Dear John. It was not a great movie, but had some particularly poignant moments.
When we arrived back aboard SUNSHINE, we had some coffee and tea, played a game or two, read a bit and hit the sack.
Friday, March 5, 2010 Day 154
Lay Day: Boot Key Harbor, Marathon, Florida Keyes MM 1195.0
Weather: Temp range mid 50s to mid 60s; mostly sunny; wind NW 15 knots with higher gusts; light chop in the harbor
Comment: Bike ride today! After visiting the library, we rode to City Hall.
In the evening, we met the Elder’s, Mickalsky’s and Funstons for the Culinary Arts dinner at the Marathon High School. It was a great reunion with friends we haven't seen for several years!.
Saturday, March 6, 2010 Day 155
Lay Day: Boot Key Harbor, Marathon, Florida Keyes MM 1195.0
Weather: Temp range mid 50s to mid 60s; mostly sunny; wind NW 15 knots with; light chop in the harbor
Several of the performers at the Gospel Explosion!
Comment: Gospel Explosion, a day of gospel music in the park happened today. We enjoyed the day and the music, not to mention the free food. One of the groups even provided free CD’s.
Monday, March 1, 2010
You don't have to die to get here!
Lay Day: Boot K
ey Harbor, Marathon, Florida Keyes MM 1195.0
Weather: Temp range high 50s to mid 60s; mostly sunny; wind N 10 - 15 gusts to 30 knots very light chop in the harbor
Comment: “You don’t have to die to get here!” That’s what the signs and “T” shirts say at the Blue Heaven. But I digress...
We boarded the bus for another day in Key West. After an uneventful ride, we arrived at Searstown and waited 20 minutes for the Green bus to takes us to Petronia and Emma, about one block from our destination, the Blue Heaven Restaurant. I suppose it was around 1000 hours when we gave our name to the Host who told us it would be a 30 to 40 minute wait. We spent the time looking around, visiting the gift shop and sipping cups of coffee and tea.
ey Harbor, Marathon, Florida Keyes MM 1195.0Welcome to the Blue Heaven
Weather: Temp range high 50s to mid 60s; mostly sunny; wind N 10 - 15 gusts to 30 knots very light chop in the harbor
Comment: “You don’t have to die to get here!” That’s what the signs and “T” shirts say at the Blue Heaven. But I digress...
We boarded the bus for another day in Key West. After an uneventful ride, we arrived at Searstown and waited 20 minutes for the Green bus to takes us to Petronia and Emma, about one block from our destination, the Blue Heaven Restaurant. I suppose it was around 1000 hours when we gave our name to the Host who told us it would be a 30 to 40 minute wait. We spent the time looking around, visiting the gift shop and sipping cups of coffee and tea.
Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefers performed on the water tower at the Blue Heaven
Blue Heaven is an outdoor establishment of some fame. In 1996, members of Jimmy Buffett’s band frequently enjoyed breakfast or lunch there. Guitarist Peter Mayer suggested they could perform on the water tower and that he might get Jimmy to be there as well.
On the appointed evening, the band climbed the steps to the water tower to begin a set. The place was packed to standing room only, even though the event was not publicized. At 2200 hours, Jimmy was on his way there from the Key West Airport, where he had just landed. The owner picked him up and the rest is history. Jimmy performed five or six songs to a wildly appreciative audience.
On the appointed evening, the band climbed the steps to the water tower to begin a set. The place was packed to standing room only, even though the event was not publicized. At 2200 hours, Jimmy was on his way there from the Key West Airport, where he had just landed. The owner picked him up and the rest is history. Jimmy performed five or six songs to a wildly appreciative audience.
You can play Ping Pong while waiting for a table
On this chilly morning a jazz guitarist was strumming away. As usual, the place was packed to the gills. Trying to keep warm, we moved from chair to chair in the “waiting area,” complete with a ping pong table in an attempt to stay in the sun.
Blue Heaven serves breakfast until 1200 Noon. When we finally took our seats at the table, it was about 1130 hours! We ordered our meals from the list of specials. My selection was the Lobster Benedict and Anna Marie ordered the Lobster BLT Omelette. Both dishes were excellent and we had a lovely meal in the cool late morning chill.
Blue Heaven serves breakfast until 1200 Noon. When we finally took our seats at the table, it was about 1130 hours! We ordered our meals from the list of specials. My selection was the Lobster Benedict and Anna Marie ordered the Lobster BLT Omelette. Both dishes were excellent and we had a lovely meal in the cool late morning chill.
The Blue Heaven is packed for breakfast
Following our delightful breakfast, we strolled around some of the back streets of town, a couple of blocks from Duval Street. At 1300 hours, we entered the Tropic Theater to see the movie, “The Last Station,” an excellent story about Tolstoy, his wife and some of his followers.
After the movie, we boarded the Blue bus to go back to Searstown, our time in Key West was almost over for the day. The Lower Keys SHuttle was 40 minutes late but when it finally arrived, we boarded with a full load of other riders looking to get back home after a long day in Key West.
When we reached Bahia Honda,the bus driver, without warning, announced that we would be getting off the bus so he could turn around and get back on schedule. He offered that the next bus was only five minutes behind him. All of us sheep got off the bus, I seemed to be the only one grumbling about this inconvenience, and waited in the chilly breeze on a very dark night. The next bus arrived in and the driver made some lighted hearted comment wondering why so many people were waiting in such a remote bus stop. I wasn’t amused!
We were back aboard SUNSHINE by 2000 hours and settled in for a quiet end to our day.
After the movie, we boarded the Blue bus to go back to Searstown, our time in Key West was almost over for the day. The Lower Keys SHuttle was 40 minutes late but when it finally arrived, we boarded with a full load of other riders looking to get back home after a long day in Key West.
When we reached Bahia Honda,the bus driver, without warning, announced that we would be getting off the bus so he could turn around and get back on schedule. He offered that the next bus was only five minutes behind him. All of us sheep got off the bus, I seemed to be the only one grumbling about this inconvenience, and waited in the chilly breeze on a very dark night. The next bus arrived in and the driver made some lighted hearted comment wondering why so many people were waiting in such a remote bus stop. I wasn’t amused!
We were back aboard SUNSHINE by 2000 hours and settled in for a quiet end to our day.
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