PIRATE INVASION!

We have been meeting some really great people here in Boot Key while waiting for our parts to come in and get them installed. There is a cruisers net on VHF 68 every morning at 9 AM and they share a lot of information such as introducing newcomers, saying goodbye to those leaving, making announcements about special events, helping each other with boat problems and buying, selling or giving away boat stuff. One of the special events was a Pirate Invasion of Fort Zachary Taylor on Key West! "Pirates" dress up in vintage era pirate clothes and set up camp inside the fort for the weekend. The camp is set up like the pirates would have done in the 1800's with all kinds of historical displays and, of course, shop tents to sell pirate stuff. They have demonstrations on the pirate life, "pirate" music, and even a mock battle with cannons, muskets and swords and sailing ships. Of course, we couldn't resist going to this and we planned on taking the bus Saturday (December 1st) to Key West to make a day of it. The bus goes from Miami to Key West and you can ride one way for $4.00, or if you're over 60, $1.50 to anywhere in the Keys! We caught the 7:50 bus at Mile 49 along with about 8 other cruisers from the marina. There were a few stops along the way and there were a lot of colorful locals that hopped on and off the bus. There were also two young Russian kids who caught the bus in Miami. They were interesting and fun to talk to and one of them carried a guitar. The bus driver helped us find the best place to get off the bus and walk over to the fort, which is on the West end of the island. We got there just as the opening ceremonies were beginning. They had bagpipes as they raised the flag and gave a special ceremony for lost sailors, and in particular, the loss of the HMS Bounty in Hurricane Sandy. Everything was very authentic looking with excellent costumes, canvas "sail" tents, cooking "pirate" food, and of course, washing clothes and all the other chores that need to be done, even for pirates. There were food booths and dozens of displays from cannons to flintlock pistols. There were storytellers, strolling minstrals, and a camp crier who roamed the camp with his bell ringing as he announced the next activity. The battle started at 2 PM and one of the pirate ships was a boat we kept running into along the coast of Florida. They made an impressive show of strafing the onshore battlefield with their cannon, as well as one unlucky "British" ship. On shore the pirates surrounded the british and with superior firepower forced them to surrender so they would not have to give up the fort. The pictures will tell a lot more, so enjoy! A Pirate's home on shore.

A Cannon Firing Demonstration

A "lady" of the camp

Pirates with too much rum

Denise's favorite Pirate

The ships take chase

Our sailing friend strafing the shore with cannon fire while single handling his boat!

More pirate ships come to the rescue

She really was washing everyones clothes

A gathering of pirates after the battle

And Finally, they had to get me on stage to become a pirate too!

After we left the fort, we hitched a ride with a pirate (in a car) to take us to Duvall Street. From there, we wanted to go see where our mooring was. It was a very long walk, and once we got there, we found we could not see it from shore anyway. We talked to a cruiser who lived on the moorings for 10 years and he said it was definitely the best place to stay for safety and convenience, as long as we didn't mind the long dingy rides into shore. With that, it was time for cocktails and we saw a bar across the street. Inside it was a small Thai sushi bar, and of course, it was happy hour. We found that we would have to go all the way back to Duvall street to make sure we caught the bus back to the marina. Fortunately, a couple offered to give us a ride on their golf cart. We started a great conversation with them and finished several more drinks before we headed off to downtown. Larry and Donna had been visiting Key West for many years and just recently purchased a home downtown. Larry was really into guitars and wanted me to come to their house and see his collection and play a few songs. We got a golf court tour of the town and got to see their beautiful home and had a virtual studio with several beautiful guitars and a Ukele, which he allowed me to play. They are great people and we plan on getting together with them when we get our boat moved down there. We did have to get back to the boat though, and we wanted to catch the 8:30 bus. We were dropped off where the bus stop was supposed to be, but it went by the other direction and we wound up chasing it for tw blocks before it stopped again. The bus was almost full of locals and other boaters going back home. There was a young kid in the back with a guitar, so I went back to listen. He was pretty good and he even let me use his guitar. You can imagine what happened after that! It was a great party all the way back to Marathon. Everyone was singing along and having a great time. Our Russian friends came on at the next stop and he wound up joining our little jam session. It was a great time and I really enjoyed the chance to play and sing with such a fun group. When we got back to the marina, we were asked to go to The Dockside bar for a nightcap. It seems they have an open mike night there, so you know where I will be!