March 13, 2014 Marathon, FL

Our plans for rising at the crack of dawn to meet some people at the bus stop petered out somewhere between 6:00am and 8:15am when we woke up.  Curt and Marilyn did indeed make the bus while we, well, missed the bus.

So we were left with rushing around to get everything completed by 10:20 when the next bus to Key West was slated to arrive.

Props loaded and ready to by dragged to the Prop Shop

I had dug out and loaded the spare set of props into the dinghy the previous night. These are a spare set that were dinged up on the Eire Canal. We finally decided to have them repaired here.  So we got into the dinghy dock and hefted them ashore.  I loaded them on our little cart while Mary went off to get change for the bus (they only take singles).  I stared off on the 3/4 mile hike to the prop shop dragging 70 lbs of props on a little metal cart along the highway.  No one batted an eye so I guess it must be common place to see people dragging propellers around town.

The prop guy said he's have to do some welding so the price was a tad high but probably worth it. After dropping them off I had to high tail it the 1/2 mile back to the bus stop where Mary was waiting.  And after a few minutes the bus pulled up and we along with three other couples boarded.  And this was a real bus this time unlike the dilapidated thing we took earlier when we visited Key West.

Bo's

Another 2 hour bus ride and we were once again  in Key West where our first stop was the Olive Oil store (2 bottles).  We talked with Curt and Marilyn who had hooked up with an old friend who suggested we all meet at Bo's.  Ok, so we walked the half mile to Bo's.  Pretty eclectic place but surprisingly really good food.

Cruise Ship 

After lunch Mary and Marilyn did some shopping and I went over to Mallory Square to watch the cruise ship come in port.

Truman's Little White House

Once they were all tied up and disgorging hordes of tourists I  headed over to the Truman Little White House and waited for Mary and Marilyn and Barbara to show up.  We took the tour and it was pretty interesting.

Kathy.  Do you know this Rooster?

We went for some ice cream after and then headed over to the bus top for the return trip and another 2 hour bus ride.  I may have not mentioned the free roaming chickens around the city. They are protected I guess and aren't very skittish.





Since it was late we went out to eat at a little Italian place, Franks, up by Curt and Marilyn's marina in Marathon.  Pretty good!  Took a taxi home which here in Marathon is $5.  And that's a flat rate for anywhere on the island.

Tropical breezes and cheap taxi's.  Life is good!