Key West 2012

Its grand to be back in KeyWest. We're anchored in our regular spot off of Fleming Key, a 5 minute dinghy ride to Historic Key West Harbor.

Dink's patio and the bikes

We left Marco Island around midnight on Friday, May 4th - shouted "Land Ho" the next afternoon around 2 and was safely anchored by 3pm. It was a rougher crossing than we like with the wind above 22 kts until mid-morning and 4 - 5 ft seas all through the night. The passage, which takes you out into the open waters of the Gulf is about 85 nm. We were so tired that there was no thought of joining friends at Louie's Back Yard that night. Instead we went to sleep early and woke up in time to meet Dink at Harpon Harry's for breakfast. After breakfast we rode over to his house on Southard Street and picked out 2 bikes for our Key West cruising. I chose the tricycle this time as I knew we would have laundry and provisioning to do.

Louie's, the "In" place for sunset time

                                                                  Cynthia and her friend Pat from California arrived Saturday evening and we all watched our first sunset at Louie's. Then went to Salute, which is on one of the few beaches in Key West, for dinner. Got to watch the "Super Moon" rise from the sea.

Its been fun palling around with Cynthia and showing Pat the sights. Spent time at Dante's Pool, Restaurant and Bar. This is so fun. It's located right at the Harbor. So we just have to dinghy in and then we're there! We'd been to Key West several times before Nancy found this spot last year. Now its a favorite.

Celebrated sunset on Sunday with dinner on Wahoo. It really offers the very best Sunset viewing at this time of year. Sorry Greg, I forgot to take a picture of the Lafitte Soft Shell Crabs we ate. Damm they were good.

Roy & Pat aboard Wahoo

Sunset at our anchorage off Fleming Key

Went to Mallory Square for sunset on Monday night. Mallory Square is such a circus, with fire eaters, tightrope walkers and every type of one man carnival show. We ended at the end of the pier listening to the mellow calypso sounds of Mustafa (not our first time listening to him.) The schooners sail at sunset. One of them, the historic schooner Western Union, is not a re-creation but the actual ship which served Western Union Telegraph Company laying and repairing cable between Key West, Cuba and the Caribbean. She was launched in 1939 and served for 35 years. She is the official flagship of Key West and on the National Registor of Historic Places.

Mustafa and the scene at Mallory Square

Western Union Schooner sailing past us at Mallory Square

Now Cynthia and Pat have left and we are waiting for Austin and Mary. Roy and I are doing the last few boat chores. Once our new guests arrive we'll spend a couple more days here waiting for the next available weather window. Then its on to points South!

We always anchor in front of Fleming Key. It offers a great sunset view and is a short dingy ride to Old Town. But we've only been here April - August so not sure how it is in winter.
Key West Anchorage 24 34.28N  81 48.11W