This Week on the Island 08/28/2005

'This week on the Island' is written by Doug Bennett and is an update to friends about happenings in Key West last week. Everything is true except for those parts that are lies.
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The picture above is Wyleigh Coyote. She had her 12th birthday (that's 84 in human years) at Schooner Wharf Sunday. Photo's at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KeyWestPictures/ click 'Wyleigh'.

The Weather: Hurricane Katrina came to visit. Key West was not suppose to be hit by this storm. It formed in the Atlantic and came ashore north of Miami. It was suppose to cross the Everglades and go into the Gulf and then head north. Instead it hit north of Miami and headed south west. Since Key West was not expecting the hurricane, no one had time to close up their houses. It came off the coast of Florida north of the Keys, became stronger and sat north of Key West and beat us up as it changed from a category 1 to a category 2 storm. We missed the eye of the hurricane by about 50 miles, but for about 24 hours we got lots of rain and wind with gust up to 84 MPH. All the news people were in Miami to report the storm, so none were here. Everything in old town flooded and lots of trees down. Saturday morning it moved 180 miles west of Key West but is now a category 3 and we are still getting rain and wind, but the tide has gone out and pulled most of the water from the streets. Sloppy Joe's, Rick's, The Bull, and Schooner Wharf were the only bars we could find open. Picture's at" http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KeyWestPictures/ click 'Kathrina'.

The Hawaiian Tropic Swim Suit Contest for Friday night has been postponed until next week.

This weeks book was 'Key West 101' by Chris Shultz and David Sloan. These are the same guys that wrote 'Quite Your Job and Move to Key West'. Both are great books and I would suggest that you read them.

We had some folks in visiting this week. They have been here before so we spent time doing UN-tourist kind of things. Riding tricycles around the island, going to the beaches, going out on the water. Hanging around the pool at Monty's, Going to local hangouts, visiting the graveyard, Kayaking, Lobster at Geiger Key Marina, etc. They really enjoyed the hurricane.

An American salt water crocodile was swimming at Fort Zackery last Sunday. Monday it moved to Casa Marina. It is an endangered species and will probably go back into the mangroves soon.

Burger King on Front Street next to Duval has closed. Looks like a Ron Jon's will be next in that building. Martha's Steakhouse and Benihana's out near the airport will also close soon. They will be torn down and 50 more condo's will be built.

Our local Parrot Head Club had a sunset cruise on the Sebago last Sunday night. Pictures at http://www.sphckeywest.com/photos.htm

Key West, You have got to love it
'Meet me at the end of the road' - Conky Tonkin'- Jimmy Buffett
Doug Bennett
Lat 24.5597N, Long 81.8016W