Friends here from Missouri - what a visit!

The girls looking good poolside!

Hanging out at Sunset Grill - catching some rays

Catching up with everyone

Fresh stone crabs - can't beat it!

chowing down on the stone crabs -
don't think Capt Mike wanted to be interrupted!

Everyone happy - "good friends and good food"

Yes, that's foil - getting a few "highlights" poolside

Interesting Elk painting in the
Key West Elks Lodge

Sunset at Mallory Square - Key West

Last night together - cooking up the fish
Quite a feast!

Capt Mike practicing his casting skills

Dick honing up his tennis skills
Notice the flip-flops
Serious game!  Ha!

On Friday – November 30 the whirlwind began!  We had 3 couples from Missouri here for a visit.  Scott & Julie got here about 4:00 and Dick & Debbie and Randy & Julie got here around 6:30.  First thing we did was hit the liquor store!  Then once they dropped off all their stuff at the condo – it was off to Dockside for dinner and drinks.    Their condo was really nice and less than a mile from NautiNell – just down the road a spell.  We enjoyed catching up with everyone.  The food was great and so was the band.  You can always count on Dockside and it’s only a short walk away.

Saturday morning we were all up early and headed to Key West for the day.  What fun!  We stopped at the local Elks Lodge for a drink and ended up having ribs for lunch.  They were cooking them out on the grill in front of the lodge.  This Elks Lodge is an IBPOEW.  “Improved BPOE of the World” A little different from ours back home – that’s all I’m gonna say.  Everyone was really friendly and they made really good drinks!

We had dinner at Hogs Breath and several cocktails in several places in between.  I really wish I had taken a picture   - on the east end of Duval Street it is rather “colorful” – Key West Style.  Right outside this “gay bar” was a Santa – (man) dressed as a woman would dress if she were dressing as Santa – right down to “his” red fishnet hose.  What a sight!  Something just isn’t right seeing Santa that way!  LOL!

On Sunday we spent most of the day at Sunset Grill here in Marathon.  The bar/restaurant has really good food, a swimming pool and a sandy beach area.  You literally can spend the entire day here and we did.  It was too windy to take out our boat.  We really wanted to give everyone a boat ride but 5-7 foot waves dictated that we didn’t.   The rest of the week didn’t look too good as far as wind goes either.  Oh well.  

We hung out at the condo mostly on Monday.  Their pool is heated and it was really nice to just relax a bit.  However, that didn’t last very long.  Randy and Julie had to go back home.  Sorry to see them go.  Guess some people do have to work, huh….!  For lunch it was off to Hurricanes.  Really busy and it took a while for lunch but it didn’t seem to matter.  It gave us more time to visit. 

That night we celebrated the sunset at Keys Fisheries with some really fresh stone crab.  Then it was back to the condo for more visiting and “a little more partying”………..! 

It’s really good to have a friend that’s a hairdresser.  Julie fixed me up and made me look “beautiful” again!  Pretty cool getting my hair highlighted poolside.  That’s a first!  While we girls were playing – the boys went fishing in the whaler.  Think it turned out to be more of a boat ride.  We hit Sparky’s Landing for happy hour and dinner.  I had a coconut Margarita that was out of this world.  Sparky's Happy Hour has wings and shrimp for 25 cents from 2-4.  Pretty good place to be!  We'll be back!

Wednesday the seas were supposed to lay a bit so the boys chartered a boat to do a little fishing out by the reef.  From what I could tell the ride was a little bumpy out there.  They came back a little green and not wanting lunch.  They did catch several yellowtail, mutton and a black grouper (grouper not a keeper) While they fished we girls shopped.  Perfect day. 

We spent our last night together at the condo with a wonderful fresh fish dinner.  Julie has way too much energy!  She dove in and did most of the cooking – fresh fish cooked three different ways, along with potatoes, rice, salad and all the works.  Can’t beat that!  AND Mike and I ended up with all the leftovers!  Yea!

Now it’s Thursday afternoon and I’m still catching my breath.  They left out this morning about 10:00 heading to the Miami Airport.  Miss them already!

The good thing is though – during all this “chaos” – Jeremiah (Jeff and Linda) and Seamoore (Carlton and Becky) finally made it in to the marina.  Good to see them.  We traveled with them while traveling the Loop last year.   They're staying here a couple of months too.  Think there may be a happy hour tonight…..!  We’ll see.  :-)

Till next time!

Admiral "C"