February 1-7, 2015 – Week 3 in Marathon

 

As we begin our third week in Marathon, we started the week like many other football fans and watched the Super Bowl.  The Childs hosted an 11^th Street Super Bowl party and Thomas’ on Ridge catering assisted with food prep, organizing the food and chef Tom cooking the burgers.  The food was delicious and the conversation lively, however there was some tension and silence during the final quarter of play.  At the end, there were cheers in triumphant and moans of the agony of defeat – fun times for all!!

We often ride our bikes home from 11^th street on Key Colony Beach, often in the dark.  We are prepared in that we have reflectors, white head lights and flashing red rear lights also.  We often pass a parked police car and the officers remind us to be cautious and safe on our ride home.  The bikes are a great way to travel and in the evening we are often the only ones on the path.

Key West was on Colletta’s destination list this week.  The girls left middle of the day and enjoyed browsing the shops, lunch at Willie TEEEs, purchasing some artwork for the house or boat, and enjoying a cocktail while watching the boats, the people and the sunset.  They also went up in the Lighthouse and looked at the view of the water, town and cruise ships in port. 

Fishing was also on the agenda this week.  The boys  fished at a few close stops on Monday and Tuesday Jim took us fishing at the 7 mile bridge. Tom was fishing off the back right past the chum bag and had great luck catching mangrove snapper which we kept for dinner.  Colletta was off the port side up front.  Her line was in the water for about 30 seconds when she too had a bite.  She caught 2 large groupers, however they were not in season so she had to throw them back.   It was great and we had good luck until – Jim got stung by a scorpion fish.  It cut him in the index finger and within a short time period, his hand began to swell so we headed home to seek medical help.  Jim lived thru the experience, which we are thankful for, and also had to take an antibiotic, a steroid and another medication.  No fishing for him for a while – Doctor’s orders.

the out of season grouper that had to go back

Capt. Jim before the scorpion fish attack

Fish on at seven Mile Bridge in Marathon

Fishing by the pilings

 

Thursday was the first day, since we arrived, that it rained all day.  Since the weather was gloomy, Tom decided to do one of his gloomy jobs of rebuilding the aft head.  The motor rebuilt kit went together fairly easy, but the hoses didn’t ………………………….Finally after a little more tweaking on Friday, the head is in good working order and does not leak.  A necessary job completed. 

Tom and I also rode the bicycles a lot this week.  One day we rode to the 7 mile bridge and on the way home stopped at marinas and resale shops and of course a Wendy’s for a frosty.  (a 14 mile bike ride)  We also joined John for Happy hour at Porky’s. Beers were cheap and the local color was priceless. Met and chatted with people from the trailer court across the street.  Porky’s is their happy hour hangout.  Some walk over; some drive over and some arrive by golf cart – convenient.   Since we were on bikes, we thought we should stop a few additional places on the way home.  We stopped at Fara Blanco, which is a new, upscale marina, hotel, and bar.  Nice but too rich for us.  Stopped at Hurricanes, which had pool tables, and a late night band.  Stopped at Lulus which was an outdoor bar on the other side of the street.  It was a challenge for Colletta to cross the street with her bike, but Tom was there to lend a helping hand.  We also had to stop at Walgreens for some nourishment of Snaps candy and ice cream which were both devoured at the condo.  That bike ride was about 12 miles.  No more bike riding for this week.

February 2^nd was Groundhogs day.  Here in the keys, they use a palm tree.  Well, the palm tree saw its shadow which means 6 more weeks of sunshine.   We like it here!!