Fishing in Paradise: Camera Fishing

     I'm asked all of the time if I fish, but I guess I really can say that I do, but not with a spear gun or a rod and reel.     I find that fishing with a camera is an even bigger challenge than to catch them on a hook.    These Parrot Fish are reef cleaners and by eating dead coral and creating sand .   These are not fish that you catch, but rather watch them as the soar in vee like a flock of geese over the reef.   Many of the fish I am looking for while drifting through the mangroves and in the salt ponds around Key West won't be seen by a normal fisherman.  

     I love to stumble across an unsuspecting  Sting Ray and watch as the sands are stirred as it swims away.   The real challenge is to actually be able to capture the image of the fish as they swim beneath the sparkling water.   This is my thrill of the catch, and one that I can look back on anytime I care to.

    Here are a few other fish that I have been able to catch as I have been drifting around the crystal clear waters that make the keys so attractive to me and so many others.  ;o)

St. John, USVI: It's Tough Living

     When you speak of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. John always comes up in a conversation.    St. John is more of a residential island  than St. Thomas, the commercial island  or St. Croix the industrial.   The Virgin Islands National park consumes some 7,000 acres of the island of St. John, giving us some of the most breathtaking and beautiful mountains, valleys and beaches anywhere.    The park also offers history of the many free and enslaved complex civilizations that depended on the land and the sea for survival as far back as 1,000 years ago.   There are many of the most spectacular meeting of the land with the sea with in the park as well.

     The modern civilization live in some very spectacular homes perched on the hills.    These modern day castles boast the ingenuity and skill of the craftsmen that constructed this wonders.   The land appears very arrid, with all of the cacti and other desert like plants that are naturally growing on these hills.   I really don't know who lives in these homes, but there are said to be several well known celebrities that own homes today on St. John.

     I love to travel by boat around St. John and the other islands that make up both the U.S. and the British Virgin Islands.  I love seeing the magnificent joining of the land and the sea plus these "modest" homes that are so interesting as they look down to the sea from the precipice above.

     This is a magic island and one that I never tire of traveling around and seeing the many sights that it has to offer my eyes and camera.   Whether you travel over the land or on the sea you will find more spectacular vistas than you will ever believe possible.    This is a place that keeps drawing me back whether it be in a blog or in person, but either way I keep going back again and again.  ;o)

Day Off in Key West: What Shall I Do?

   There are really so many thing to do here in Key West that it is sometime difficult to try and decide what it is you really do want to do.   I guess that I could travel into town an wander with the tourists and see what is happening on Duval Street, but that would mean that I would be bouncing around with the crowds.    Checking out the entertainment and trying a new cocktail or two can be fun, but the weather is much too nice and it can be hot when you are strolling between the buildings.

     I guess that I can head for the beach and see what is happening down there today.    The sea turtles are about due to be laying their eggs this time of year and it would be fun to see if there are any signs of the turtles coming ashore.   It is always fun to observe all of the different tracks that are in the sands of the beaches.     Maybe I'll just hop into the boat and cruise out to a more deserted beach and maybe get to see more interesting things that are inhabiting these remote beaches and keys.

     I'm really beginning to get hungry, so maybe a trip over to the Hurricane Hole and have some lunch.    There I maybe able to decide what it is that I really want to do today.    It is always easy to sit and have a good lunch and gab with whomever happens to be there.   This will free my mind up and maybe find someone that has something in mind for the afternoon.

     I guess that a trip in the dinghy is really what I need to be doing today to get away from the hustle bustle of this little tourist town that may actually be slowing down with the passing of Memorial Day weekend and heading into the "off-season" and a bit slower pace.   I think that I'll just head out to one of the tiny keys and see what interesting things that I can find there.   Maybe just anchor in the shade of the mangroves and take a nap.

     At the end of the day the only thing that really matters is that I did enjoy my day and I'm ready to return to the Rum Bar and have some fun with my old and new friends that stop by to visit.   I really hate all of these difficult decisions.   ;o)

Diageo to Buy Ypioca

    Diageo, the huge London based distillery consortium has agreed to buy the Brazilian Cachaca brand Ypioca for a reported $453 million.    Ypioca Agroindustrial Limitata is the second largest brand and third largest by volume produces an annual sales of approximately $90 Million in 2011.    Brazil is the real interest for Diageo, who is looking for faster growing emerging markets.   "Brazil is an attractive fast-growing market for Diageo with favorable demographics and increasing disposable income," according to Diageo chief executive officer Paul Walsh.      The transaction is expected to be completed in about a month.    Diageo is also the owner of such brands as Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker, Captain Morgan, Zacapa, and many more in the spirit world.

     Cachaca is the primary ingredient in "Caipirinhas" a cocktail that is a combination of cachaca, lime, sugar and ice.   Cachaca is fermented from sugar cane crushings, fermented and then distilled.     There are two types of Cachaca, unaged (white) and aged (gold).  The white is bottled straight off of the still and us usually a much harsher version and the most prevalent.   There are some of the white cachaca that are aged in wooden barrels for up to 12 months and then filtered back to the white color.    The aged or gold cachaca is usually rested in wooden barrels for up to 15 years in the case of the ultra-premium cachacas.   Like so many other cane spirits, aged cachaca is used in premium cocktails rather than the harsh white.

     This is an important step for Diageo because it can only grow it's sales by expansion into emerging markets where there are few economic conditions that are going to hold back the sales.   Diageo is looking for at least 50% of it's sales from emerging markets.   ;o)

    

Remembering the Days of Flying in the Caribbean

Turks and Caicaos Arrival

Caliche Rum: From the Distileria Serralles

    Caliche super-premium rum is the brain child of sixth generation rum producer Roberto Seralles along with hospitality and night club impresario Rande Gerber.       The March launch of Caliche Rum at New York's Whiskey Park bar, with Cindy Crawford, Gerber's wife, on hand,  provided a "hot launch" for this new super-premium rum.   The rum took 4 years to get the blend the way they were looking for it to be, Gerber wanted this to be a spirit that he could "drink on the rocks" and be able to share with  his friends proudly.    The name comes from a limestone that is quarried around Ponce, Puerto Rico where the rum is produced.

     The rum is made through the use of multiple distillations and carbon-active filtration to produce the cleanest possible rum.   A portion of the rum is aged in American white oak barrels and some in a solera system, then blended for the desired characteristics of the rum.    The rum has a very nice and smooth flavor with notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak.  The rum is more viscous that other white rums and produced by Distileria Seralles.

     I recently received Caliche at the Rum Bar in Key West, and it is a great upgrade for any cocktail that uses white rum as it's basis.    The smooth aged flavors brings any fine cocktail to life.   Try it in a Mojito, it blends well with the mint and lime flavors of the Mojito to yield a perfect ultra-premium cocktail.
Caliche Rum is now available in Florida, New York, Texas, Illinois, and California, but soon to be available in other places.   This collaboration has yielded a truly fine ultra-premium rum that you need to try soon.  ;o)


       

Botran Reserva in the Rum Bar on Saturday

     Saturday May 26th, from 1 til 5, we will be featuring Botran Reserva at the Rum Bar in Key West.   It will be presented in five special Rum Lab created cocktails for only $5.00 each.   These are usually $8 to $9 cocktails at this special price to introduce you to this very smooth and delightful cane spirit.     

     Botran Reserva is a wonderfully full flavored deep copper colored rum from Industria Licoreras de Guatemala.     It features rich aromas of oak, vanilla, fruity, and mild spice flavors followed by a caramelly oak flavor with hints of sherry.  This is a fairly complex tasting rum has a smoothness with a naturally sweet and smokey finish.

     Botran Reserva is aged in the mountains of Guatemala for 5 to 14 years then further finished through the solera system of aging that features a variety of barrels like American Whiskey, recharred American Oak, and sherry casks all adding to the complexity of the finished product.

    The important thing is for you make it to the tasting of Botran Reserva and experience this masterfully blended rum yourself.   The Rum Bar on Duval Street is the location, and I'll be your host and serving the cocktails.  Hope to see you there.   ;o)

Lemon Hart 151: Now at the Rum Bar Key West

   The legendary Demerara Lemon Hart 151 Rum is now as a staple at the Rum Bar here in Key West.     This classic rum is one of the primary ingredients in many of the classic Tiki era cocktails and one that has not been available for a few years here in the Florida area anyway.     The addition of this legendary rum means I have one more tool to create some of the better cocktails from that era.     I'm looking forward to sharing this rum with you at the Rum Bar and I will be doing some work with it at the Rum Lab as well.    This is a tool that will bring many of the everyday drinks like a Rum Runner or a Pina Colada when you add Lemon Hart 151 as a float.

     The Lemon Hart 151 is not "gasoline" like so many other overproof rums, but rather an earthy and old leather flavor premium overproof rum.   Don't be fooled into thinking this is going to be a smooth, woody and complex experience, because it is not.    This is a full blown 151 proof rum with a healthy burn in the back of the throat and an alcohol equivalent of 2 cocktail in one measure.     This doesn't mean that it doesn't have a good flavor though, because it's the flavor that makes it work so well in so many cocktails.     The reappearance of Lemon Hart151 is going to be a great help to the resurgance of the Tiki cocktails that is currently happening all over the world.

     Lemon Hart 151 is still being produced along the Demerara River in Guyana, but now being bottled in Canada.   This is a must addition to your rum cabinet if you are going to be following in the Tiki culture of cocktail mixing.   Enjoy it either at home or stop by the Rum Bar Key West and let me mix you one of the Tiki Cocktails featuring Lemon Hart 151.   ;o)
 

Boca Grande Beach: The Collecting Point

     Boca Grande Beach, to the west of Key West is one of my favorite destinations in the dinghy.   It offers a unique collection of stuff that has be deposited on her sand and driftwood shores.   Her driftwood collection snags so much stuff brought on shore by the tides and the wind blown surf.   I find the blend of nature and the fishing industry makes for some very beautiful scenery as I walk down this beach.    Whether it be a fish net, a crab trap, or some trap marker balls, they all seem to become a part of the scenery that is so colorful against the beige sand and the grey driftwood.

     I don't get to go out to Boca Grande as often as I would like to, but it is a place that always intrigues me because I never know what will appear as I walk around the corner on the beach.   The sea turtles will soon be visiting this beach in the next month or so to lay their eggs on the upper edge of the beach, this is a time that we need to stay away from the beach until the eggs have hatched and the young turtles have made their way to the ocean and relative safety.   Afterward, it is interesting to see how many egg shells you can see and the tracks of the turtles progress to the sea.   This is a sanctuary for birds as well, one of the natural enemies of the turtle hatching's, and signs of the birds taking some of the young turtles are prevalent as well.

      Just writing about this place puts a smile on my face as I run my hands over the keyboard using words to try and describe what I feel for this wonderful little key that lies about 15 miles to the west of my home.    What is wonderful is that it is not littered with beer cans and other trash.   I have to say thanks to the many people that do visit Boca Grande, because they do take the trash back home with them and leave the next people a chance to enjoy the same pristine beauty that they came to enjoy.    Remember you trash bag on your next outing and take your refuge back home with you and dispose of it properly.   If you find someone else's trash lying on the beach pick it up too.   We will all be better for that and the natural events of the key will be able to happen again and again for future generations to see.   ;o)

Botran Reserva in the Rum Lab Yesterday

Botran Reserva, a fine mixing/sipping rum from Guatemala fared very well in the Rum Lab.  It stood up to nearly all of the mixes and ideas that we threw at it.  We ended up with a great collection of new cocktails that you can sample at the Rum Bar in Key West  this coming Saturday, May 26th from 1 til 5PM.    I'll be behind the bar to create any of the five Botran  Reserva cocktails that you wish for only $5.00 each.     This will be a chance for you to get acquainted with the Botran Reserva, a rum that I know you won't want to be without in your rum collection.

Bahama Bob's Botran Cinnamon Sour 

     ·         2 oz. Botran Reserva

     ·         1 oz. Cinnamon Syrup

     ·         1 oz. Sour Mix

Place all of the ingredients in a shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a Collins glass filled with ice and garnish with a sprig of mint.

Island Reserva

·         2 oz. Botran Reserva

·         ¾ oz. Banana Liqueur

·         ¾ oz. Crème de Cocoa

·         1 oz. Pineapple Juice

·         1 oz. Sour Mix

·         2 dashes of Fee’s Bitters 

Place all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled.   Strain into a Collins glass filled with ice and garnish with an orange wheel. 

Botran Surprise
     ·         2 oz. Botran Reserva
       ·         ¾  oz. Lime Juice
       ·         ¾ oz. Agave Nectar
       ·         Dash of Bitters
       ·         Top up with Barritt’s Ginger Beer

Place all ingredients except the Ginger Beer in a shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled.  Pour into a Collins glass and top up with Barrett’s Ginger Beer.  Garnish with a lime wheel or a sprig of mint. 

Coco Botran

·         2 oz. Botran Reserva

·         ¾ oz. Peach Schnapps

·         ¾ oz. Amaretto

·         ¾ oz. Hot Damn Cinnamon Schnapps

·         ¾ oz. Crème of Coconut

Place all of the ingredients in a shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled.  Strain into a Collins Glass filled with ice and garnish with an orange and a cherry.

Botran Reserva Punch

·         2 oz. Botran Reserva

·         1 oz. Sour Mix

·         1 ½ oz. Pineapple Juice

·         ¾ oz. Grapefruit Juice

Place all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled.    Strain into a Collins Glass filled with ice and garnish with a lime wheel.

     Pick up a bottle of Botran Reserva and enjoy it to the max soon.   Try one of my recipes or just create your own, it is a great rum to work with and the results are all really enjoyable.   The rums flavor comes through even with the strongest mixes.   Join me on Saturday at the Rum Bar Key West or get your own bottle of Botran Reserva, but don't miss this gem of a rum.   ;o)

Maybe The Weather is Going to Improve

Panama Red: an Overproof

     One of the latest of the new rums from master blender Francisco "Don Pancho" Fernandez, Panama Red is a wonderful sipping overproof rum and one that is a must for you overproof collection.     Don Pancho is famous for his long standing as a master blender beginning in Cuba and later in Panama and throughout Central America.   This his latest creation is a real masterpiece that I find to be a must in my Rum Lab as well as on the list of fine sipping rums.

The name comes from a legendary bar maid and entertainer named Carolina Cansino, of Spanish decent and the daughter of very talented parents, she became known far and wide for her performances at her magnificent bar and show lounge named Cantina Roja's.     The American sailor and soldiers from the Canal Zone became regular customers and later nicknamed Carolina "Panama Red" a name that she graciously accepted in reference to her long and beautiful auburn hair.   Most of the patrons would come to see her perform and ogle her beauty as she performed on the stage of her club.   Cantina Roja's had become the "in place" in Panama and found many a celebrity showing up there on any given evening.   Ernest Hemingway and his wife, Martha Gelhorn, or even John Wayne was said to have made an appearance there.

     On to the Rum, this is an auburn colored overproof rum of extraordinary quality.     This rum has character unlike the majority of overproof rums and big bold flavor that is truly unique.   This rum is a great overproof mixer for cocktails like Hurricanes or Zombies  where a big bold overproof can really bring the cocktail to life.    This rum has a unique Panamanian flavor that really excites the palate and finishes very smoothly if you can call 108 proof rum smooth.   I really enjoy good overproof rums, and find them so flavorful, something that is missing from many 80 proof rums.   A cube of ice or a little bit of water will open up the flavors and tame the afterburn a bit making the rum easier to sip.     Taking very small sips and spending the time it takes to enjoy the big flavor, you'll find this a very rewarding experience.   ;o)  

Overcast in Paradise

   The past three days have been cloudy and gloomy, but it hasn't dampened the spirits of our visitors much.   Yesterday was one of those fun filled days behind the bar with people from all across the country stopping by to visit and enjoy the spirits of the sugar cane with me.    The rain and cloudiness was just an inconvenience to most of the people that stopped by, and they were still having a fun time in Key West anyway.

     This is the great vibe of Key West, no matter what the weather, people are here to have fun and know how to enjoy themselves in spite of the weather.    You got to remember, it is still nice and warm here even when it is overcast, the warmth is what it is all about, the warmth of the people and the air.   The waters are calm and the fishing is great right now, and the coast line blends right into the sky making this feel like you are in a magic sphere.

     This is just what you need to do in your everyday life, you can look at all the gloom or you can sit high on your perch and enjoy what is laid out there in front of you.   I choose to enjoy and have fun day and maybe just go play with the rest of doom and groomer's heads on the way.     Besides you need some overcast to appreciate the sunny days when they return.   ;o)

Rosy Days are Back Finally

   The weather and the many of us here in Key West have been struggling with a strange flu like affliction here lately, but I'm finally coming out of my funk from this stuff.    I don't do sick very well, and thank goodness I don't do it very often.    Had a fun day at work for the "Monday" of my work week, and it was nice to get out on the water and cruise over to the Hurricane Hole and enjoy a couple of adult beverages last night and begin to feel like a human being again.

    You really don't appreciate how good you have it until you spend some time under the weather and no energy or drive to get things done.    Today I am feeling the best that I have felt in a couple of weeks, and I can tell by the enthusiasm I have today about writing.    I get to start on some new projects and develop some new cocktails during the week and I'm really looking forward to getting this started.    

     The world that you see when you are under the weather is a view from the bottom, and not one you really need to share with others, but like today when you are feeling back on top of the world, it is easy to share these feelings and carry a smile for all the people you meet.     I'm just glad to be back on top of things and feelin' good again.   ;o)

Back in the Saddle

Pernod Launches New Cuban Rum Trademark After Supreme Court Opts To Stay Out Of Dispute

May 14, 2012

With the U.S. Supreme Court deciding earlier today not to intervene in the long-running Havana Club trademark dispute between Pernod Ricard and Bacardi, Pernod has registered a new trademark—Havanista—with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office so that it can market a Cuban rum brand in the U.S. if the embargo with Cuba is eventually lifted.

The introduction of the Havanista trademark follows the U.S. High Court’s decision to leave intact the U.S. Treasury Department’s refusal to renew the Havana Club trademark that was held by Cubaexport, the state-owned agency that produces Havana Club. That decision paved the way for Bacardi to sell its own Havana Club brand in the U.S., which the rum giant has been doing in small quantities in the Florida market for the past five years.

Pernod—which has sold Havana Club around the world since forming an alliance with Cubaexport in 1993—and Bacardi have been embroiled in the trademark dispute since 1994, when Bacardi applied for a U.S. trademark for Havana Club. Pernod sells nearly 4 million cases of Havana Club annually, even though the brand is embargoed from the world’s largest premium rum market.

  I find this to be interesting that there is so much to do about a brand name of a rum that is embargoed from the United States,   Is there something that is in the making that may finally lift the embargo on sales and maybe even possibly travel between the United States and Cuba?   Just wondering,   ;o)

  
  

Caribbean Rum vs USA

   It seems that some friction is developing between the rum producing countries of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) and the United States.     This problem may end up in arbitration at the World Trade Organization. according to an article in the Anguilla News by Sir Ronald Sanders.

     The problem has developed over actions in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico taking advantage of US Government refunds  to them on the rum excise taxes on rum to greatly increase the production of rum and marketing it in the mainland.    It is being felt that the CARICOM produced rums are being squeezed out by the subsidized rum producers make it very difficult to compete in the lucrative US market.  

    CARICOM feels that the use of these refunds is in violation of WTO rules.     CARICOM rum producing governments feel they must pursue this action with the WTO in order to protect their rum producers market share in the US Mainland from the unfair subsidizing and the prevention of collapse of their distilleries and the subsequent job losses and revenue losses of the countries.   This could really hurt relations between the US and the Caribbean nations and the little islands feeling let down by the whole experience.

I hope that this can be resolved between the participants and doesn't have to get to a full blown WTO case.  

Touch Down: Pelican Style

The New Taste of Rum

  " NEAT", an acronym meaning "naturally engineered aroma technology" is about the technology of a tasting glass that is shaped to produce a better sense of the aroma of the rum rather than the alcohol burn in the nose as your olfactory senses enjoy the rum.    This is a patented "pot still" shaped glass is said to concentrate the aromas that you are trying to smell and hold the alcohol away.    This is a taster's tool that is very helpful in giving a consistent level of desired aromas and suspension of the alcohol away from the nose.    The glass has a beautiful shape and a distinctive self righting ability.

    The glass is available through Arsisca Inc. in Las Vegas or on line at http://www.theneatglass.com/  .

   

I carried one around during the grand tasting at this year's Miami Rem Renaissance Festival and enjoyed the glass's comfort and the way it presented the rum to my nose.   You might want to give them a thought for your own tastings or as a gift for your rum loving friends.   ;o)

Bark Juice Looks Like a Huge Success

     The new Bahama Bob's Bark Juice looks to be a huge success in it's first few weeks of sales.   The flavor is much different that of the Root Juice, and a milder and smoother flavor and finish.   This one is actually sippable, not just a shot that you need to slam.

     The process of soaking the barks in the 30% honey and 70% Rhine wine for two weeks then casting it off prior to introducing the 151 proof rum has made a significant difference in the flavor of the Bark Juice.    There is a very strong woodsy flavor to the rum with notes of cinnamon and fruitiness on the nose.   The palate gives you flavors from the Balise bitters barks as well as the other selected barks yielding the really woody and wine flavors in a uniquely complex mix.    The finish is some what hot because of the 151 proof rum, but a very smooth and flavorful conclusion to the experience that lasts for quite a long time.

     I  have to say that as successful as the Root Juice was passing 45 gallons of 151 through the bottle in 28 or so months, I feel like this the Bark Juice is going to do even better and hold it's consistency very well too.    Stop by the Rum Bar in Key West and buy yourself a shot and join the group that is growing every day.    ;o)

Botran Reserva: Great Guatemalan Rum Headed for a Day in the Rum Lab

     This is a deep copper colored rich rum that has aromas of oak, caramel, and some fruity notes as well.  It is a somewhat sweet to the taste, highlighting oak and caramel, but the flavor does change some what with each taste, a bit complex in nature.   The finish is long and complex as well, it has a balanced blend of the oak and the sherry that was rested in the barrels prior to the rum.    This is a rich classic Guatemalan rum with all of the rich and flavorful characteristics of it's heritage.

     Tuesday we will be taking the Botran Reserva to the Rum Lab in preparation for a rum promotion on Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend at the Rum Bar in Key West.     We are excited about creating some new cocktails especially for this event and having our friends stop by and enjoy them at a special reduced price.     One of the best daiquiri recipes we've developed used the Botran Reserva and it has been very popular with the bar crowds as well as with my friends on the boat.



Bahama Bob's Botran Daiquiri

• 2 oz. Botran Reserva
• 1/2 oz. J.D. Taylor's Velvet Falernum
• Juice of 1/2 Lime
• 3/4 oz. Cane Syrup
• 1 oz. Grapefruit Juice

Place all ingredients into a shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled.   Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with an orange zest and a lime wheel.

     Keep watching for more as we examine this fine rum in the Rum Lab next week, this should be a really fun testing for all of us that are involved.   ;o)

Traveling Around Key West

    The island of Key West is a very unique place in more ways than just it's people.   The way that people get around Key West is just as unusual.    Some people use cars, motor scooters, motorcycles,plus a huge number of bicycles.   The other mode of transportation in Key West is almost unheard of in many other places, it 's walking.   This is one of the most common transportation for so many of the people of Key West, especially the ones that live close to work and where they play.  It is very practical on this 2 by 4 1/2 mile island.    It is also very relaxing and very good for you health wise to walk rather than ride.

     The Bicycle is another very popular means of transportation in Key West.    There are bicycle paths in many parts of the island and provide a great alternative to walking for those that live further out than simple walking distance from work or play.    You can party in Old Town and still not have to worry about drinking and driving, you can either walk your bike home or call a taxi with a bike rack and get a ride home for you and your bike.  Either way you are home safely and you are not a slave to the high price on gasoline and the very limited parking on the island.   All you need is a pole of some kind to lock your bike to and you are off for the fun or work.

     The next group is an off shoot of the bicycle, and that is the motor scooter.   This little idea goes back many many years especially in Europe where the streets are very narrow and the parking is also very limited.    These very economical vehicles car carry large amounts of baggage with some creative thinking as well as being able to  scoot you down the road at 40 mph.   This is my personal mode of transportation for my 10 mile round trip to work on Wednesday thru Sunday at the Rum Bar.   I spend approximately $5.00 a week on gasoline and I get to ride with the breezes in my face and the cool comfort of the open air every where I go around the island.    

     The Motorcycle for those who still need the big power on this island where the maximum speed limit is 35 mph.    They are very eye catching and always have an appeal to many people.   Whether it's a Harley chopper or a "crotch rocket" Japanese bike, they are very appealing to many observers on the street.   Duval Street is the primary place to see or be seen on your classy motorcycle, it offers a place where everyone interested can get together for good conversation about their favorite subject.

     So it seems that there is a lot of choices when it comes to transportation here in Key West.   Personally I use bicycles, scooters and an automobile when absolutely necessary.    I love to ride my bicycle when I'm not in a hurry or don't have to be somewhere in a rush.  My scooter is my favor, because it combines practicality with fun of riding and easy of parking.  I also like walking once I get some where.  It provides me with exercise, relaxation and the ability to stop or go into some place at my every whim.    If you are here in Key West you will see what I have been talking about, you get to choose your mode of transportation for your own reasons.   Enjoy the journey.  ;o)

Sorry, Folks

    The flu has had me bed ridden for the past two days, I finally was able to get some food down me today.     I'll return with the regular articles tomorrow.   ;o(

Miami Beach Day

The Day of the Ramblings

     I've been sitting here this morning thinking about what I really want to write about today, but I really couldn't come up with anything that spiked my interest.   I decided I need to ramble about fun bars, beautiful waterways and enjoying life.   I guess that is what this blog is really about any way.    Here we go, heading out to work this morning on the scooter and enjoying the wind in my face as I motor along the streets of Key West making my way to Duval street and the Rum Bar.    I'm thinking about who might show up today at the bar and where the new friend will com to Key West from 

    Monday is my wife Marta's birthday a perfect day on the radar so we are gathering a few friends and headed out to the Marquesas for the day on the Sanity Too.    This always make us happy and is a chance to really enjoy the ocean and the marine life that usually follows us.    A day in the sunshine and snorkeling is always fun.   By the way the boat is well equipped for a day trip, Bar, tanning bed, and a swimming pool off of the aft deck.   No wonder I enjoy journeying out to sea, even though it is only about 25 miles out, it feels like your are in the middle of no where and the world is all yours.

    This leads me to Sunday evening getting off of work and ready for a great fun night at the Hurricane Hole having a few rum cocktails with my friends.    Gary O'Key and Debbie ill be there so we all can make fools of ourselves singing Karaoke  til 10pm.   This is the stuff that really puts a smile on my face and make life so much fun.     I guess that it is the little pleasure that really stand out when you sit down and start rambling through your thoughts and then write them down.    Lots of good friends and a beautiful environment provided courtesy of "mother nature", I really don't believe life could get much better.    I know why I live in this paradise I cal my life.   ;o)