Day 25 – April 24

Today is our last day in Key West.  We have a window to go north and we have decided to go back to Boot Key harbor as there is another blow coming.  We were thinking of going to Big Pine Key, but the all of the anchorages are not protected on all sides.  KW harbor is protected on all sides but the north, but the mooring field lies in the middle of this bay and winds can whip up chop in all directions, not only from the north.  Beth and I agree that KW is one of our favorite cites to visit.  There is so much to do, and off we go again today, heading to the southernmost point in the continental US.  The southern part of Duval has several art galleries, including Wyland’s, and we see several pieces of art that is amazing.  We walk into the gallery which has works by Pam Hobbs, (we have a couple of her prints in our kitchen), and see some of her new works.  Another gallery has a wave where you are in the tube looking out at the coastline, only $1500, and others that we both liked, equally expensive.   We pass a mother hen with her chicks on the side walk and she moves them into an alley where there is a small garden.  

We walk to a hotel where we stayed a couple of years ago, and then to the southernmost point, where a couple just got engaged.  He proposed at the landmark buoy.  Afterwards we went for pizza, and it was very good, almost as good as NJ’s.  We walk back down to the harbor and find some gifts along the way and come back loaded down.  Another cruise ship has come in overnight and Beth is amazed at the size. (Since we have our own cruise ship, why would we want to go on one of these?)  We are there when the boat departs, watching them toss the lines holding the ship in place into the water, and there are no tugs, just a harbor pilot who monitors the traffic.  Now these ships have serious bow and stern thrusters as the boat literally moves away from the dock at 90 degrees, until it is far enough away to where the bow thrusters turn the boat 180, and they head out to sea.   We walk through Mallory Square and the roosters are everywhere. 

Back at the boat we have soy burgers and get ready for leaving tomorrow.  We are hoping that the pump out boat comes early as they missed us today.  Another beautiful and windy sunset.