Log 87; Day 238; Jan. 14, 2009; Key West

Our dock at A&B Marina...looking toward the town

This is a shot from our dock looking east...that's Schooners Wharf Bar you see in the backround...a 2 minute walk from our boat.

This is the side of our local grocery store...about 3 minutes from our boat.

Log 87
Day 238
Wednesday, January 14, 2009

5:30 AM EST
Location: A&B Marina, Key West, FL
Weather: 66 and windy

I thought if I got up earlier I’d be able to get the log done before the sun comes up and the crazy urge to walk the docks and talk to my morning friends kicks in, so I did that today...we’ll see how it goes.

It’s very windy here this morning, sitting on the boat I can hear the howling of the winds as it blows hard through the harbor and it is especially noisy because of all the sail boats here. The noise a strong wind makes on a sail boat’s mast is really something. If you’ve never heard it, it’s hard to explain. Two things...it actually howls, and is very eerie...and it makes noises you swear can not come from a mast...but they do.

Yesterday...after having a great breakfast at a new spot (I think the name is Harry’s...but I’ll be going back this morning, so I’ll get it right tomorrow) and then making stops at marine stores ( I bought a great book on how to catch fish in the Florida flats) and talking to fisherman, I finally made it back to the boat and finished the log. The weather was warm and very humid, and you could tell there was rain in the area. Deb and I did our morning ritual (not every morning...but most) she wiped down the windows and stainless, and I wiped down the rest of the boat. Sounds like work...but it’s not. I also went down and cleaned up the dinghy...with plans to go fishing later. As the morning wore on the wind picked up, and it got cloudier, so I decided to bag the fishing for a while and instead do some quick boat chores. At 11:30 Deb and I walked the dock in search of some lunch and ended up at B. O.’s Fish House. I can’t believe Deb didn’t take a picture of this place (I’m sure we will) because it is something. Picture what a corner, one level, shack would look like if you gave a 10 year old boy lots of old lumber; tin; and told him he could go in the junk yard and get anything he wanted; and then build a building. I’m sure most 10 year olds would do better...but it is always busy, and the food is very good...and expensive. Only in Key West. After lunch we found a taxi, and with plans to go to Kmart, and replace the TV we lost in the crossing from Marco to here. After a few miscues, and a $65 cab fee, we did get a replacement TV...which I set up and is back on the back deck. Back at the boat, I again had ideas of either fishing or a dinghy ride, but just as we were getting the life jackets ready it started to rain...so we worked on more inside projects. For dinner we had pork chops on the boat...and the movie was more of a 24 episode that we had recorded.

As the evening wore on last night, the wind continued to build, and just before bed I had to go out a couple of times to adjust the lines. When I got up this morning I checked them again, and they seem OK...but stronger winds are forecasted...so we’ll see how they do. The weather the next few days is not forecasted to be good...at least for the Keys. Based on our friends and family are doing with the awful winter up North, I am not complaining...but it will be very windy (from the North) and temperatures in the mid to upper 60’s (average this time of year is a low of 65 and a high of 75). So I’m sure no fishing or dinghy rides until early next week. This will be a time to get some boat projects completed. Also we can get out the bikes and explore the area.

Well, it’s now 6:20, and time to close this and head out and find some breakfast. The biggest decision of the day for me, is whether to wear shorts or jeans as I head out. The good news is my years of business management trained me for such decisions.

I’ll keep you posted.

Bob