Day 5 - Pub Crawlin with the Cajuns

Well, here it is our first full day in Key West, and the first order of business is to find an outfit to schedule a snorkel trip. CK 'n I had both been snorkelin before, but this was to be Cuz 'n Loosie's first real view beneath the enchanted sea. The docks are a good bit aways on the west side of the island…ok, a "good bit" bein further than our lazy asses wanted to cover on foot…so we fire up the scoots and head that way. We're out early so we find it pretty easy to land parkin spots for the bikes…I said easy, not cheap…nuttin's cheap on island time. We meander 'round thru a few arts 'n crafts type shops before stumblin onto the booths bookin the snorkelin trips. We settle on one that seems to fit our needs, buy four tickets for tomorrow's afternoon trip, and proceed to stroll along the wharf's boardwalk where we discover the Conch Republic…a rather large waterfront bar 'n grill. It's still only 'bout 10:30 or so, but whadda hell, we're on island time remember?! What's one li'l ole margarita gonna hurt? That one li'l margarita led us to meet two Cajun couples that had just ridden in from from Lafayette, LA…which led us to 'nuther marg…and 'nuther…and well, I just lost count after a while. Yep, we met some Cajun bikers…and they were professional pub crawlers…it's gonna be a good day. hehheh

We proceeded to wear out our welcome at the Conch Republic, and move on to equally well stocked pubs…endin up at our favorite so far…Willie T's. But, not before hangin out a while at a place called B-O's. Now, I've been to hole-in-the-walls…but this place didn't even qualify for that prestigous title…no, it was more like a hole-in-the-sidewalk kinda place. A ramshackle collection of sticks holdin up a mish-mash of tin roofing, of which none was solid enough to keep out any rain, 'cept for the part right over the kitchen. Yep, you heard right, kitchen. Fish 'n chips and beer was the common fare of this humble establishment…ok, humble is stretchin it a bit. But, the missus says don't let appearances fool ya…as she claimed B-O's had the best fish she had tried the whole trip. I can't attest to that, seein as I don't care for fish…but I can tell ya they had some mighty cold beer…and a right relaxed atmosphere. I headed to the window where ya place yer orders for 'nuther beer. When I rounded the corner, there was a line out to the street. 'Bout that time a gal was headin thru the door to the kitchen, so I asks her if'n I gotta wait in that line just for 'nuther beer? She says, "Why no honey…come on up to the window and I'll get ya one." I step back 'round the corner and she's nowhere to be seen…so I reluctantly get in line. I'm standin there for a couple seconds, when I gets hit upside the head with a piece of ice. I look up, and there's my beer gal wavin me up front for my beverage. I think I like this place.

Anyways, the eight of us…remember our Cajun friends are now in tow…continue our early pub crawl and end up back over on Duval Street…all of this and it ain't even 2:00 yet! I love bein on island time! The cajuns seem to be on a pretty strict liquid diet with few pauses or breaks in the action, so we decide to start pacin ourselves a bit and head back to the condo for a little break before continuin our efforts at drainin the over-abundance of alcohol upon which this little island seems to float. But, we promise to meet our cajun friends for an early dinner at their place before headin out to Mallory Square for the sunset celebrations.

After a much needed rest…ok, so we're wusses compared to our newly acquired friends…we head over to the temporary French Quarters for a bite to eat with our new friends. Seems the "bite" was just for us, as they continued their liquid intake while we all woofed down what I remember bein a very good meal…just can't remember what it was…but it was good…I think. After we get fat 'n happy, we head down to Mallory Square for the freak show. I swear ya could find most any kind of non-main-stream entertainment ya desired…a fellow with trained cats…a juggler with chainsaws…and I can't even remember what else, as we were once again tryin to keep up with the cajuns' liquid intake. After a while, we just gave up and headed back to our scoots. Cuz 'n Loosie wandered off on their own, and the missus and I rode down for a late eve pic by the Southermost Point Bouy. This is where things got a bit entertainin for the folks 'round the island, as CK 'n I rode the perimeter of the key singin Jimmy Buffet songs at the top of our lungs…at least, what words we could remember. We got many grins 'n giggles from folks strollin along the shore…and just thoroughly enjoyed our island tour.

When we left them, our cajun friends seemed to be catchin their second wind…but we were done for the day so we headed back to the condo. See ya on the boat tomorrow…remember?...snorkelin?