A picture perfect day in the Keys :)

We started our Sunday with a really inspiring message at church.
As we stepped out after the service, it was a gorgeous, sunny,
WARM day like we have not really had in the nearly four weeks
we've been here.  We decided it was a perfect day for a dink ride.

We were not off to the best of starts....the motor would not stay running. We
had a picnic on Marquesa, and Donnie spent the next hour or so working
on the motor.  We finally got off the dock in the dink.  As we left Banana
Bay, the sky was filled with "mare's tails"- a sign that weather is coming
within the next 48 hours.  Uh-oh, here we go again.

Sadly, in our attempt to pass these kayakers, our dink motor died for the
umpteenth time.  They were traveling faster than us with their chutes.

After pull starting the dang motor no less than 20 times, Cap'n figured out
that we could go at least 100 yards with the throttle only half open. 
With only a 3.5 Mercury, today we were NOT EVEN traveling slightly
faster than the speed of smell.  Oh no, as we passed Gull Island,
we were right smack in the smell for what seemed like daaaaayyyzzzzz.

We had a birthday party to get to at the Sunset Grille.  Finally, the seven
mile bridge came into view.  It was a slow uphill climb as we crossed
under the bridge- naturally the tide was running against us.

Today was Kenny's sister, Nancy's 70th birthday party.  Sunset Grille
is the perfect place to party- swimming pool, cornhole in the sand,
music, a BBQ poolside, yummy cold drinks, and of course....

Birthday cake for the birthday girl!
Nancy is seven perfect 10's- this whole year through :)



At Sunset you can party and dance in the pool!

Or you can have a mango daiquiri and twist and shout :)

 

Or, if you're Cap'n, you pause mid-twist for a snack...

Only to leave your wife twisting alone....

At least he caught me before I expired!

Kenny and Fran, our bestest NJ/NC/FL buddies :)

When it came time to sign for the bill, Fran had trouble seeing the check...

So everybody offered their glasses to help her out!

Late in the afternoon, we decided we had better start back to Banana Bay.
We wanted to make it back before dark- we didn't have a flashlight on board!

We putt-putted by Salty's for a view of the fire damage from the water.
It's sad.  It's reported that there are no plans to rebuild in the near future.
It will take six months before the property is even cleared- island time,
I guess.  They are holding a benefit for all of the servers, managers,
and musicians who performed there this coming Thursday at Kirk
of the Keys Presbyterian Church from 5-10pm.  We all plan to attend.



Nothing like finishing a picture perfect day with a trip to the hot tub :)

 

Many thanks to Danny (of Biddi and the Beast) for sending this pic of
the sunset from Sunset Grille.  If I were a bettin' woman, he's still
there partying- long after the sun went down.  G'Nite, y'all!