You never know

We headed to the Key's Fisheries for a seafood fix, drinks, and sunset with Norm and Vicki on Tide Hiker, and this nice couple was sitting at the bar next to me. As always when we meet someone, we ask, "where are you from?" They said they were from a place called the Quad Cities. The QC's is my home town and from there the relationship began. The do you know, have you been, etc. etc. etc.
They wanted to know where all the fun was in the Keys, so of course we said you need to go down to Key Weird (West). We gave them a list of good places in KW and they decided to go down the next day and we would get together again with them the day after. Well, they had so much fun they didn't make it back that night, but found a place to lay their heads for a few hours and hit it again (first stop Schooners Wharf for AM happy hour) and didn't make it back to Marathon until that following afternoon. (same clothes they started with the day before)
We got together that evening on the fly bridge of September Song for happy hour and lots of stories from their Key West crazy time, and then it was off to Sparky's Landing for prime rib night and great music by John Bartus.
By the time the night was over, we said we would meet up again, maybe in the Islands.
As Jeff and Karen on Taking Paws say, "It's not about the places, it's about the people you meet" and we have met a ton of new friends in our cruising life.
Damien and Michelle are back in the COLD QC's after their short trip to the Keys and I'm sure from the looks of the weather up there they wish they were back in the sunny and warm Keys.
Had a great time with you guys, and hope to see you again.

Look for my next post "The Kimbel's descend on the Keys"

September Song (always fun to meet new friends) out
Bob


Stories of Key Weird on the fly bridge of September Song. If only our fly bridge could talk it would have lots of stories from over the years of happy hours.

Bring on the prime rib!

As always, a great night of music with John Bartus.

Michelle and Damien  

It's official

It's official, well almost. We still need to get our drivers' licenses changed, but we now have the van registered in Monroe County (it will live here in the Keys and wait for us to return each year) and we are proudly flying the Conch Republic burgee. Now we are considered Conchs. If you don't know what the Conch Republic is, check it out on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conch_Republic

September Song (Hail to the Conch Republic) Out
Conch Bob


September Song is proudly flying the Conch Republic burgee.

Our new Monroe County plate.

Still here!

No, we are not in jail, we haven't fallen in, and yes, the party continues here in the Keys.
I don't know where to start. Time is insignificant at this stage of our lives, and it flies when you are having fun, and it has been fun here in the Keys. Again, I'm not going to go through the list of people, places, and food, just know we are still alive and enjoying every minute of our stay here in the Keys, and it is always special when we get a call from Doug and Tammy to say "we are headed to Key Weird, would you like to join us?" The answer to that question is, HELL YES, WE ARE ON OUR WAY!

September Song (WHEEEEE!) out
Bob


Our good friends and cruising buddies Doug and Tammy met us at Schooner Wharf where happy hour starts at 7:00. No, not PM, AM. You can't drink all day unless you start in the morning. Only in Key Weird.

Michael McCloud's little dog Cinderella. She sits in his guitar case while he plays at Schooner Wharf.

Can't go to Schooners without enjoying one of the hand rolled cigars from Cigar Guy.

Great friends forever!

Everything in Key West is the southern most. This is the southern most broken cleat.

Raw oysters and beer at the Raw Oyster. Can't come to Key West without a stop for an oyster fix.

Larkin working his way up the hot scale at Peppers Key West. Notice the sweat on his face. Not me mon!

I think she enjoys watching people in pain. She worked Larkin up the scale until he couldn't speak and fire came out of his ears.

Now that's a beach bike!

A new stop for us (Capt. Tony's) in Key Weird. Funky and cool. 

I see some one else loves Captain Morgan as much as I do.

Only in Key West do you see something like this going down the street.

Joe and Julia on Sea Pearl, Paul and Helen on Lucky Dog, and Stephanie and I at Sparky's Landing in Key Colony for prime rib night and some great music. What a fun pace!

Great night of music by John Bartus.

Are Paul and Helen having fun yet? I think so!

Cocktails on September Song

Steve and Di's cousins Paul and Helen arrived here in Marathon this week. I think they like it here.

Where two or more DeFever Cruisers are gathered........

Eighteen DeFever Cruisers at Hurricane for lunch.

All dressed up and ready to go out and strut their stuff.

Out with Captain Rick to catch the big one. Did we catch any? Don't ask! Maybe next time.

Mama manatee checking us out.

A mother manatee brought her baby by our slip for a visit.

Fun in the Keys

We always enjoy our time in the Keys during our winter layover from cruising. One of the events that we always look forward to is the Key West Seafood Festival. It doesn't take much of an excuse to go to Key Weird. We know a trip to Key Weird is always a party day, so we always have a DD. No, not a drunk driver, but a designated driver. Vicki is always a champ and comes to our rescue. Thanks Vicki! She always gets us home safe. We have been enjoying all of our new and old friends while here and we never lack for something to do. We are looking forward to seeing Sea Pearl with Joe, Julia, and Cassie and Godiva's buddy Salty, who will be arriving this week. The weather has been great and it's supposed to be in the mid to upper 70's and calm winds for the next seven days, so I see some fishing in our future. (Let's go fishing!) Tonight a bunch of us are going to Banana Bay (or somewhere else) to check it out for the first time for some music, maybe a drink or a few, and sunset in Paradise.
I wish all of our friends and family fighting the cold and snow up North could be here with us to enjoy this gorgeous weather and fun.

September Song (Are we having fun yet? Well Ya!) out
Bob

Stephanie, enjoying a conch salad at the Key West Seafood Festival. Not as good as in the Islands Mon, But soon Mon, soon.

Norm, enjoying a cold one at the Festival.

Two beauties at the Festival.

Can't go to Key Weird without a stop at the Half Shell for an oyster fix. Who is that guy behind the sign? That be me!

Fun at our favorite haunt, Schooners Wharf.

Cheese Head in Key Weird. Southernmost Packer Backer.

Always nice to catch Michael McCloud at Schooners Wharf.

OOPS! How did that get into my blog. Oh, I remember now. This one was for Joe. Wish you were here.

They are so cute!

Nice hats, Norm and Vicki.

Just chillin' in Key Weird. Ain't I cool. How about a buck mister. Dog needs a drink!

Only in Key Weird will you see a guy wearing fairy wings