Spending the Winter in Marathon

Cool boat in the Marathon Parade

Interesting cat-rigged sailboat out on the mooring

Lots of lights - Key West Parade

Even more lights!

Now this is a fishing boat!

Having a beer at Sloppy Joes

Okay, it was a steel drum band
just not what we expected

We invaded the beach on a Sunday afternoon

Linda and Jeff along with Molly and Snickers

Now where are we going?  Who's our leader??

The Keys seem much quieter now that our company is gone.  We really did enjoy seeing everyone.   It was just such a whirlwind!!  Haha! 
 

Right after they left – our computer crashed.  We’ve now realized just how dependent we have become on this little machine.  It was only a couple of days before we got it back but it seemed like a lifetime!  LOL!  Thank goodness for my android phone!

The last couple of weeks have been spent enjoying the Keys and the local attitude.  I believe we’ve caught the “Keys disease”.   Not a bad thing!!

We spent one Sunday afternoon taking a dinghy trip to the beach and to the local hangout “Castaways”.  There were six dinghies in number with 14 people in tow.  What a great day!  The weather was great and so was the company.   I was anxious to get to Castaways to see the little puffer fish “Valentino”.  We had seen him back in February when we were here. Unfortunately, the sweet little blue-eyed fish that made everyone smile had been sick and his tank was being treated.  Later that week we heard on the radio that he had passed.  He was quite a local celebrity.  It may seem rather silly but everyone was really sad that the little guy was gone.

We’ve enjoyed several dinners at the local hangouts – Hurricanes, Dockside, Salty's and Keys Fisheries to name a few.  There are about 10 boats here so far and more on the way.  There is always something going on. 

Unfortunately the restaurant here at the marina (Dockside) had to close for a few days – in order to make a few repairs.  The locals told us that it was slowly sinking into the harbor.   It should be open this weekend.  Hope so!  I like hanging out there  - nothing fancy – but there is always some good music and things going on. They plan to be open by Friday so they can hold the "end of the world" party.  There are several of those parties going on around here this weekend.  I'm looking forward to Saturday moring!

Marathon held its annual lighted boat parade.  Although there weren’t really a lot of boats this year – the ones that did decorate were great.  The cruisers here had a little get together (lots of food and drink) and we watched the parade from our dock. 

We’ve had our boat bottom cleaned again.  And Mike spent one entire day power washing the bottom of the whaler.  He can stay busy doing about anything!  HA!  I have been busy shopping and wrapping Christmas presents for home.  They are all bought, wrapped and mailed.  I’m done!  At least, I think I am….. 

Last Saturday, Mike and I along with two other couples (SeaMoore and Jeremiah) rode the bus to Key West to see the lighted boat parade there.  It turned out to be a very long day – fun - but long……  First the bus schedule had changed – we had to literally rush to another stop – only to wait another 30 minutes for the bus to show.  Then off to Key West we went.  No problem!  We hung out at Schooners Wharf where there was to be a steel drum band.  What we didn’t know was that the steel drum band was from an elementary school.  It turned out to be nice enough but not what we had expected.  They kids were good and the singers were very cute.  But after a while we had had our fill.  We finally landed at a place near the bar and on the pier where we could see the lighted boats.  These boats were amazing!  The pictures don’t do them justice.  There were over 65 boats in the parade!  There was a huge crowd and I wondered if the pier would hold us the entire time – but it turned out to be a good time.  Of course, we had to rush to the bus stop to catch the last bus out of town.  It was a long ride home but we made it safe and sound.  Maybe we’re getting a little too old for such adventures….  Maybe not!

Today Mike is going to golf with a few of the guys.  Not that he's a big golfer or anything.  I'm not sure how many guys are going but I do know of three and it's safe to say that between those three - they may have played golf a dozen times in their lifetime all together!  It should prove interesting at the most.  The girls are meeting them for Happy Hour at Sparky's afterwards..... :-)

This is our first Christmas in the Keys.  It is quite different down here.  Not only is the weather different – 80 degrees and sunny about every day – the attitude is different.  The radio has been playing lots of Christmas songs – tropical ones – not the more traditional ones you hear at home.  I’m talking – Cheech and Chong – Calypso – lots of steel drums  - and lots of local recordings – some of them are quite creative!

Although a few are going home, there are several cruisers that plan to spend Christmas Day here.  A great potluck dinner is in the works.  It won’t be home – but it will be good.  Here’s to a very Merry Christmas with 80 degrees and sandy beaches – I can handle that! 

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!  And from the words of Tiny Tim – “God Bless Us Everyone!

Till next time!

Admiral “C”