Weathered in in Key West

What a difference a day makes! We heard from Glen early this morning that a transmission had been located and ordered already! Many of our CCYC friends back home were doing a bit of investigating on their own and found just what Sevilla needed. It should be here by the end of the week and the yard said they'd have it installed within 48 hours of receiving it. Needless to say their mood has lifted dramatically. They offered to drive me to the outskirts of town to get a haircut which I gladly accepted and while we were at it Dan decided to join me. We got both heads cut in less time than it usually takes one of us! Supercuts should be called Speedycuts. I must say they could also be called Shortcuts in my case - - - oh well, hair always grows out. While we were in the salon, Glen ran over to Sevilla to make sure the yard agreed that the ordered transmission was the right one. He returned just as we finished getting scalped and insisted on buying us lunch.

The weather today, first of all kept us from heading back to Marathon - - - 20-25 on the nose with rain showers, but also didn't cooperate with our evening plans. John and Betty, who have been to Key West before insisted we should all experience the sunset at Mallory Park on the western tip of the island. They talked about all sorts of vendors and entertainment in the plaza as crowds wait to watch the sun sink into the Gulf of Mexico. There was a lite spritzing at 5 as were trying to decide whether to go or not, but it didn't stop us. We hiked through town with only one wrong turn and arrived in plenty of time, BUT the view (and half the plaza) was blocked by the Ryndam cruise ship. There were very few vendors and only a handful of entertainers -a fire juggler, sword swallower and a circus basset hound doing tricks, but we decided to stay and watch. We soon realized the Ryndam was slipping lines and preparing to leave (they had a 6:00 pm departure time and sunset was at 6:10) so we watched that show instead. It was amazing to see the 720 foot ship push away (bow, midships and stern thrusters) from the dock, slowly back up, turn around on the spot and head off - not into the sunset (which was never visible, ship or no ship) but to the east without any help whatsoever. We headed back to our Marina where Glen and Maureen had dropped off a complete dinner before we headed to sunset corner and once again ate like royalty! ~~~_/)~~~M&D

Watching the Holland American Lines ship Ryndam depart from Mallory Park was quite a sight. I kept waiting for a tug or two to show up and help push her away and turn her around, but she did it all herself. You can see the stern thruster pushing her away from the dock in the center left picture.

After finishing my shower (they are located up on the second level of the Conch Harbor Plaza) I thought the pool and surrounding bars looked too pretty to pass up. No one has ventured in the pool since we've been here, it's too cold. I know, I know, whaaa, whaaa, --- we definitely are glad we're here and not at home!