Sailing Kathryn: The Keys…Marathon and Key West

It’s a BEAUTIFUL day in Paradise as I begin my blogging this AM. As they say, “What’s not to like?” Blue skies up above, warm temperatures and MANY interesting people to meet and enjoy!

As I had mentioned in my last blog, we had just arrived in Marathon. Marathon happens to be a very likeable place for boaters to spend the winter, leave for the Bahamas from and a fun place to party, so…..we found “no place in the inn”. We did find safe harbor in the city marina, but were given #13 just to be in line for a mooring ball. This place almost looked like a city in its self…..hundreds of boats for as far as you could see. SO, we spent two days there anchored and then decided Key West was in our best interest. In the meantime, we had fun riding around in the dingy and finding fun little places and a restaurant with a pull up dingy dock. A local (or probably I should say Gulf Coast) singer/band leader, Eric Stone owned the Dockside Bar and Grill. He’s the chef as well as the entertainment in the evening. As we sat at our table we were entertained by a manatee swimming up to the dock. They are such graceful creatures and seem to be everywhere down here.

Kathryn at Anchor in Marathon

Dingy Dock in Marathon

Lunch at Dockside

Manatee Stopped by for Lunch Too

Wednesday we headed out into the Atlantic for our sail to Key West and Stock Island Marina. I couldn’t wipe the smile off of Steve’s face, as this was our all time best sail EVER! No motor, just sailing along at around 6.8 to 7.4 knots (for you sailors out there) surrounded by aqua colored water and the Keys to our right! It is about 40 miles to Key West from Marathon and we made it in record time, also!

If You Look Real Close You Can See She is About Ready to Feed the Fish, But She Didn't

Stock Island Marina is very new and we are loving the facilities! We are a ways from downtown Key West, so we’re using the local bus system. That, in its self, is an adventure! One quickly learns to appreciate the little things in life, like a car in the garage that you just hop into and go! BUT the interesting people you meet on the bus is a “hoot”. Some locals, some boaters and tourist….one never knows. In fact, one evening we met a couple who had lived in Chesterton, IN and he had been a professor in education at IUN until he took a position in Texas! Small world, heh?

Key West is known for its quirky side and you just never know what you’re going to see or who you will meet. With that in mind, I’m going to give you a few examples of some of our favorites!

*Another “bus adventure”. We met an artistic couple waiting for the bus. They had just finished their “gig” on Mallory Square selling their wares. (You have to be asked to be there, and then draw numbers for where you can set up.) We talked to them the whole way to our “stop” at the marina, but saw them on Mallory Square the next day. We were like their long lost family and just had to have a picture taken with them!

Our New Artist Friend Lucinda

*Mallory Square is known for all of its “acts” or “talents” to watch while people wait for the sun to go down! It’s one busy place. We stopped to watch a young acrobatic juggler perform and Steve was picked to be in his act. They not only have to be quite talented to do what they do, but they, also, have quite a comedy show to go along with their act. Steve and two other fellows had to hold his unicycle while he mounted it and juggled a sword, burning torches and an ax!

*The Green Parrot Bar….As we walked into this infamous establishment, it was PACKED! A very friendly gentleman told us there were two bar stools next to him and we could have them! He was quite sure Steve was Kenny Rogers (Gee, have we heard that before???) Anyhow, he was VERY outgoing, or maybe had been at the Green Parrot a little too long, but he had to tell us who he was! For you sports fans of the 70’s this might jog your memories! Louie Griammona came out of Utah State (now a Hall of Famer there) to play for the NY Jets and the Philadelphia Eagles as a running back and has a Super Bowl ring to prove it. Oh, the people you meet! Just to prove it, Steve had to buy a tee shirt J

Nancy and Her New Friend, Louie...

I could probably go on and on, but won’t bore you with any other quirky things we have had the pleasure to do or see. It’s a great life in Key West and the weather is wonderful.