CHRISTMAS WRAPUP

December 29, 2020

The winter storm (Elliott) kept everyone in Key West inside for 2-3 days, and there has been a flurry of activity in town as the nice weather returned:

• More boats arrive every day…the marina is almost full now.

• More people on the sidewalks, as all those folks who stayed home for Christmas are now showing up.

5The harbor is very cute this time of year – it’s ablaze with Christmas lights.

Christmas trees everywhere!

The tree at the Truman White House -look closely and you’ll see ornaments that you had as a child!

We didn’t have a tree, but we did decorate the boat with lights!

Like everyone else, we were ready to have some fun, after being cooped up.  So yesterday we joined our friend Tom (of Tom&Hank fame) on a sail aboard the America 2.0, a modern version of Sir Thomas Lipton’s boat that created the America’s Cup challenge.   Check her out online to learn more about her.

The sailing experience was exhilarating!  The wind picked up to 25 knots during our sail, and the boat was screaming along, even with a single reef in the sail.  You can see how much sail she carries in the photo above.  The crew puts her nose into the wind to raise the sails.  Then, as the captain lets the bow fall off the wind, the sails fill and the boat surges to life.  The sheer brute power of the boat is palpable as she “gets the bit in her teeth.”

Looking up at the main sail.

Despite all the days and weeks we have been on the boat, this was very different and very exciting.

After the sail, we had dinner at First Flight, just next door to the tiny cottage where Pan Am was inaugurated in 1927.  

Then around the corner to the Comedy Club.  A mix of local talent…some good, some boring.  But Guinness got a callout from the stage!  He is always in the limelight.

It’s nice to see the return of sunshine and 75 degree weather, and we feel bad about the folks who died as a result of the storm.  We have it pretty good down here, and we are grateful.

TTFN