This Week on the Island 05/11/2008

'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.----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The picture this week (click to enlarge) is 'Lobster Gingerbread' on my house.

The Weather: Wonderful

The book this week was 'The Deadlier Sex' by Randy Wayne White. I also read 'Naked Came the Manatee'. It is 13 chapters written by 13 different authors. (Hiaasen, Leonard, Barry, Hall, Buchanan, Standiford, Levine, Antoni, Due, Dufresne, Hendricks, Hospital, and Mayerson) I really enjoyed the book.

Gingerbread, is what you call the fancy woodwork on the porches and overhangs of houses. Gingerbread was used to signify what a person did for a living. As many of the old houses in Key West are bought up and remodeled the gingerbread is removed as it is costly to replace. Now we have few houses with gingerbread. Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ThisWeekontheIsland/ ,click PHOTO and then click GINGERBREAD to view some of the houses in Key West that still have theirs.

I have spent some time on my bicycle this week. Good leg workout, fresh air, suntan, watch the ladies on the beach, take pictures of gingerbread, go to the library, etc. Also went kayaking Friday. Good upper body workout. Fresh air, etc, etc.

Jo and I with Sassi and Boca go for a walk each afternoon about sundown. We try to walk a couple of miles. We carry a 'bubba jug' full of ice water for the dogs. The whole family enjoys the outing. (We have walked most of the streets of 'old town'.)

Skipped the walk on Wednesday and took the family to Higg's Beach. Extra low tide and we could search for treasure (seashells, etc) on the sea floor. The dogs like to chase the little crabs. Jo picked up a few sponges. (Key West used to be the sponge capital of the USA.)

The city of Key West is cutting all the coconuts out of the trees before hurricane season which begins June 1. (coconuts at 150 MPH can cause some damage)

Finally had to buy some gas for the Suzuki Samurai. This is the first gas since March 12th and it took only 4 gallons, not bad for almost 2 months. Jo and I walk a lot and I ride my bicycle to the stores.

Want to get Lei-ed? The worlds longest lei. Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ThisWeekontheIsland/ ,click FILES and then click LONGEST LEI to read the story. This could be a challenge for the Parrot Heads the next time they are in town. A lei from the Atlantic to the Gulf down Duval Street.

Last but not least, if you are planning to drive to Key West and need a guide, go to http://www.buccaneerpress.com and download 'The Florida Keys Adventure Guide'. It is free. It is a list of interesting places to visit between the mainland and Key West.

Key West, You have got to love it

'Living the life that others dream'

Doug Bennett

Lat 24.55967N, Long 81.80169W

You may join this group by going to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ThisWeekontheIsland/