To amuse ourselves Norm have hired a car for a few days. Besides making shopping and getting bits for RT easier its enabled us to range further afield and get know the area. At the moment we are in Key West, well at least 25 miles out from KW on Big Pine Key at the Big Pine Motel. The Motel is what you can imagine in out of town American. Concrete, two storeys and functional. Last night it was full and we picked up one of the last rooms. This might be something to do with the price, $100 compared with the going rate of $400 a night in KW.

KW is a fair old distance from FLD. Over 200 miles. Its like everything here, always much further than you imagine. To think we sailed past all of the Keys during our passage from Cuba. Access to them is anything but straight forward for a keel boat with shallows to the north and south of the Keys.

 

The drive here is bordering on tedious with flashes of interest. Like the 7 mile bridge and some of the bay but the real star is KW itself. Twee in many parts, beautiful suburbs, fantastic night life, lots of music, bars and a marina which just oozes charm and history. We had intended to do the trip and back in a day but that would have been to rush things so here we are breaking the journey at the Big Pine Motel. One of the big things in KW is to see the sunset from Mallory Square. There is a big gathering with jugglers, street performers, etc to witness the great event as the sun disappears below the horizon. It supposed to be something special and sunsets surely can be. Norm and I have witnessed many stunning sunsets out at sea. The shock was that the sun at this time of year sets behind an offshore island as seen from the square which was a bit of a disappointment. Also there was a lot of cloud about so not the spectacle we hoped for. After the subset we headed off to a restaurant for another of those monster salads than Norm insists on topping up with fries. This time it nearly beat him but not quite. He was groaning and rolling on the floor in the end. I jest. So after we headed off into the night to the Big Pine Key.

 

There is a cafe associated with the motel so I can’t wait to ask for my breakfast eggs sunnyside up.

 

There is an ice plant opposite. $2 for a 16 pound bag. Americans consume and incredible amount of ice. Judging from the number and size of eskies they lug around that’s not surprising. We were once asked if we wanted ice for RT. Norm and I looked at each other and thought for what. Once it melted it wouldn’t half cause a mess. I know Norm would like G&T with ice but that hasn’t happened yet. The only tipple on board is wine and whiskey plus a few exotics we have picked up on the way. American beer really needs to be ice cold which we can’t do so that is a land based treat.

 

Once Norm gets up we will be on our way back to FLD. Norm isn’t the greatest at getting up in the morning. In the whole of this time sailing which will be clocking up nearly 2 years by the time we get back I think he has got up once before me. I can’t remember why, I must have had a bad head or something.

 

Not a lot is happening here. I’II go and rattle Norm’s cage and get over to the cafe for those sunny sides up.