Fun with Al and Charli

Our good friends from the loop (and Seminole Florida) Al and Charli came to visit us.  They completed the loop when they arrived back in their home port of Clearwater around Christmas.  They can’t seem to stay away from boats – and parties – so they drove down to join us for a few days.  We had a potluck dinner the first night and invited others from nearby marinas, so new Loopers and old could all meet.  There is never a shortage of conversation as everyone compares notes on everything from grandchildren to propellers to mosquito repellent.

Sunset Grill, outdoor pool and dining on the ocean

We spent a day here in Marathon and Al and Dennis went to a seminar on “Offshore Energy Management” and “Wind and Solar Energy Systems”.  In the evening we went to the Sunset Grill for dinner- what a beautiful setting.  We met a couple of twin sisters from the Netherlands over breakfast.  They were on a south Florida trip to see the state in seven days – driving from Orlando to Key West and everything in between.  I guess you see what you can in the time you have.  Al and Charlie noted that it took them six hours to drive here and it would have taken six days by boat.

Key West beckoned and we drove down yesterday to enjoy several stops including;

Pepe’s for lunch, where we met Joe and Debra from “Free Wheelin”. They are doing the Loop in pieces.  Last summer they were turned back at the Erie Canal by the lock closures and so they spent this year on the East Coast. 

Pepe's Charli, Debra, Al and Joe

The southern most point

We did some shopping and toured the Shipwreck Museum and the Key West Lighthouse.  A lot of the early economy of Key West depended on the trade in salvage that came from wrecks on the reefs surrounding the Keys.  So the Lighthouse emphasized their attempts at preventing wrecks and the Shipwreck Museum told how the Captains and residents profited from the over 500 ships per year that ran aground before Lighthouse and navigational aids were developed.

At Sunset we gathered at Mallory Square with the other hundreds of tourists and watched the street performers and musicians, while a large cruise ship departed and mojitos were enjoyed by all.   Finished the day at a great Cuban restaurant and drove back to the Coral Lagoon. 

Character at the shipwreck museum

   

 

Nice Displays

Sunset Key from the Shipwreck Museum Tower