North Star on the Great Loop Journey: Key West

We set out early on Tuesday morning to board the Key West Express that runs from Fort Myers to Key West. The winds were howling and it was a chilly 10 degrees but since the boat is a large fast catamaran, it never occurred to me that they would cancel the sail. They did and apparently the seas were 8-10 feet out on the gulf so it would have been a very uncomfortable cruise.

We were disappointed but we made a reservation for Wednesday and that worked out just fine. We got up early for the second day in a row but it was worth it. The catamaran speeds along at 40 miles an hour and gets us there in 4 hours. We sit back watch a movie and watch the scenery. Emma and I played snakes and ladders all the way there.

Once in Key West, the three of us boarded the Conch train that takes you on a historical and architectural tour of old Key West. Key West boasts of gingerbread design on their gables and verandas as well as eyebrow houses with a roof that comes down past the windows to keep the sun out. They have unpainted houses because these owners paid less taxes than those who painted their houses. We had lunch and then walked around shopping at the tourist shops. We had a beer at a raw bar and then back on the ferry for a 4 hour cruise back home. It was a chilly day but sunny. We all had a really nice time and Emma was happy to have visited Key West for the first time.

We got up early again today to take Emma to the airport for her 8 o'clock flight. Our dock neighbour was kind and generous enough to lend us his car. Thank you so much Barry. It is a little lonely here but I am sure Emma was happy to be leaving this small boat. It is quite a challenge getting on and off the boat at low tide so I am sure she is glad to be on solid ground. I miss her we had a lot of fun. She must be exhausted because I did not allow much down time since we wanted to do so much in a short period of time. Thanks for coming to see us Emma.