This Week on the Island 11/20/2005

'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 The Bat Tower.

The Weather: Friday morning it was 72 degrees with a little breeze. The locals were wearing long pants and long sleeve shirts.

This week was the 'Off Shore Power Boat Races'. NASCAR at Sea. The races were all week in the waters at Mallory Square. Inbetween races they sit around in their boats and race their engines. They are loud and noisey but these guys have money and the 'wait-people' are glad to see them come to town.

Remember the fight against the large conco complex that was to be built on the old Jabour's camp ground. The area is now full of FEMA trailors.

The Dry Tortugas reopened Saturday. They have been closed since Hurricane Wilma because of damage.

Willie T's, across from Margarittaville has been gutted and is being rebuilt into 'something'?

This weeks book was 'The Guide to Life after 50, 60, 70, & Beyond for Dummies'. I don't think I need to say more.

---------------------------------------------------HISTORY------------------------------------------
The Bat Tower was built to house bats. A guy by the name of "Perky" decided he wanted to open a resort on Sugarloaf Key (MM17), but the mosquitos were so bad he realized that nobody would want to stay there. Perky heard that bats eat lots of mosquitos so he built this tower to keep his bats. Perky imported bats which promptly flew away, never to return. http://www.florida-keys-pages.com/interest.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