Days 106 and 107 - The Stuffed Pig

Miles cruised 0, fuel purchased $0, slip fee $133, daily high temperature 76*f, low temperature 68*f.Wednesday morning in Key West was overcast and cool. Further up the keys it was raining. Jeff and Stacy rented a 7 passenger Kia minivan. That means "Road Trip". Off we went at 8:00 am heading up US 1 to the Stuffed Pig in Marathon for breakfast. The lobster omelette was outstanding. Then we visited Bud and Mary's marina in Islamorada. There are some amazing fish killing machines there.The next stop was Outdoor World which is a Bass Pro Shop on steroids. They have the sister ship to Ernest Hemingway's fishing boat Pilar on the sales floor. The original Pilar is in Havana, Cuba. Ernest Hemingway owned the 38-foot (12 m) fishing boat named Pilar. It was acquired in April 1934 from Wheeler Shipbuilding in Brooklyn, NY for $7,495. "Pilar" was a nickname for Hemingway's wife Pauline and also the name of the woman leader of the partisan band in his 1940 novel of the Spanish Civil War, For Whom the Bell Tolls. Hemingway regularly fished off the boat in the waters off Key West,the Marquesa Keys and the Cuban coast. He made three trips with the boat to the Bimini islands wherein his fishing, drinking, and fighting exploits drew much attention and remain part of the history of the islands.The original Pilar in Havana.The highlight of our day was a visit to the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida. The Turtle Hospital is a fully functioning veterinary hospital for sick and injured sea turtles. They rescue, rehab, and release sea turtles in the Florida KeysTurtles that get hit by boats get a symptom called bubble butt where they fill up with air and cannot dive down in the water.Back at the boat it was docktail time and dinner at the Water Front Brewery. We now enjoy the frequent diner 10% discount. We are fishing with Captain Joe on the Jolly Roger II on Thursday morning at 7:00 am. A sandwich making frenzy is underway in our galley getting ready for tomorrow. The wind has died down and the seas are starting to flatten out. It should be a reasonably flat ride. I hope.On Thursday morning we were up and out at 6:45 am to go fishing with Captain Joe. Mate Stan helped us onboard and by 7:01 am we were headed out to Sand Key. The seas were calm. King Neptune had smiled upon us. Andy caught the first fish and we all took turns hauling in Abaco Jack, Cero Mackerel, Mahi Mahi and Baracuda. Once again we had the fixin's for a U hook 'em we cook 'em feast. This time we went to the Half Shell Raw Bar.Jeff, Stacy, Priscilla, John, Andy and DaleJohn and Priscilla put fish in the boat.Andy caught the first fish.Dale and a mahi mahi.John's fish Priscillacuda's fish and she has three hands.U catch 'em, we cook 'em - Half Shell Raw BarBonus photo - King NeptuneCarl ( Chef ) Wooden - quote of the day.On the beach, you can live in bliss. - Dennis Wilson of the Beach BoysDennis Carl Wilson (December 4, 1944 – December 28, 1983) was an American musician, singer, and songwriter who co-founded the Beach Boys. He is best remembered as their drummer, as the middle brother of bandmates Brian and Carl Wilson, and for his brief association with murder-conspirator Charles Manson.