Day 88 - hogs breath — Captain Father John

Miles cruiser 0, fuel purchased $0, slip fee $133, daily high temperature 74*f.

Big northerly blow coming through for three days. The VHF radio lit up with distress calls about drifting boats and boats looking for safe anchorages in the dark. We watched the 100′ gaff rigged schooner America 2 tack with all sails raised in 25 kts of breeze. It was a sight to behold.

After docktailing to celebrate my son JP’s arrival in Key West, we ( JP, Chris and Kirstyn ) did the Duval crawl. That is the term for bar hopping in Key West. Duval Street is the main drag. Our first stop was Grunts to hear Henry play with the Bubbas. Grunts is a nice local bar with a food truck in the back yard that was featured on the Food Channel. They have amazing tacos.

Henry Fuller playing percussion for the Bubbas at Grunts in Key West.

Then we went (crawled) our way to Sloppy Joe’s, Captain Tony’s and the Hog’s Breath Saloon. The motto of the Hog’s Breath Saloon is “hogs breath is better than no breath at all.”

JP Simons cruising Duvall Street.

I could not help myself. Had to get my picture taken with a ukulele playing mermaid

Captain Tony you will be missed. Tony Tarracino owned Captain Tony’s bar in Key West. The citizens of Key West elected him mayor. Jimmy Buffett wrote the song “Last Mango in Paris” about his experience at Captain Tony’s bar. Much of it took place on the mens room wall.

JP was counseled by the KWPD. There is a long tradition of tossing quarters into the mouth of the Goliath grouper while standing backwards. After several attempts JP was successful. At that very moment a Key West police officer pulled up in his squad car and said JP’s toss was illegal. He needed to stand with the back of his heels on the yellow line on the curb to go in the record book (without an asterisk).

Chris and Kirstyn Weber flew out on their private plane to attend a friends 40th birthday party in Sarasota. Due to the winds and large waves no pleasure boats will be on the gulf today. They chose to follow the land route from Key West to Marathon before heading west. That way in the unlikely event of a water landing they would be near shore.

Tony and Taylor Forns and Mark and Pam Sholtes arrived at noon. We went to BO’s Fish Wagon for lunch. We ordered the square grouper sandwich which is vide for extra large filet. Locals get free fries with their meal so Tony chatted up the cashier with historical Key West chatter and we all bit free fries. The roosters that were absent from Blue Heaven have found their way to BO’s. They were everywhere. After lunch we went to the Waterfront Brewery for dessert.

Taylor Forns, JP Simons, Tony Forns, John Simons, Mark Sholtes, Pam Sholtes (not shown).

Bonus photo – Captain Santa Pirate.

.Carl (Chef) Wooden – quote of the day.

“I know who you are, but you’ll have to wipe your feet.”
– Capt. Richard Brown of the schooner America to Prince Albert of England, 1851