Conch Republic

While awaiting the “bloody battle” we did the remaining tourist attractions missed on our last trip here.  Went to Earnest Heminghway’s Key West Home and learned about six toed cats.  These cats are the descendants of Ernest Hemingway’s six toe felines.  A veterinarian has long visited the museum once a week for routine procedures such as ear mite treatment, flea spraying, worming and annual vaccination.  To keep the cats “on display”  the museum had to obtain a license and keep the cats in individual cages each night, tag each cat for identification and build elevated resting surfaces for the cats.  The Museum sued to challenge the federal government’s assertion of jurisdiction over its cats but the US District Court in Miami ruled, on appeal,  in favor of the US Government and stated the museum was an “animal exhibitor”.   Our tax dollars at work.   I digress...six toed cats are thought to be good luck thus Ernest Hemingway liked to have them around for positive karma.  It must have worked because Key West is where he wrote  Farewell to Arms, To Have and Have Not,  For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Green Hills of Africa, The Snows of Kilimanjaro and a couple of other lesser known works.

Hemingway was known for his fishing here and his record catch of 54 marlin in one day.  Fishing is plentiful and we were located near several charter fishing vessels.  We recently  had Yellow Fin Snapper thanks to the local fisherman who  was generous to give the fish along with the proper cracker crumb batter ingredients.

 The Butterfly Exhibit/Conservatory was enchanting and a rainbow’s spectrum of color.  The beautiful winged ones were very playful and friendly.

Went to some of the event celebrating the Conch Republic.   The “bloody battle” is a fun dramatization of the founding of the Conch Republic.   The Conch Republic website notes "dedication to the fundamental American spirit of a people unafraid to stand up to ‘government gone mad with power’ that embodied the founding of the Conch Republic in 1982. As the world’s first fifth nation, a sovereign state of mind seeking only to bring more humor, warmth and respect to a world in sore need of all three, the Conch Republic remains the country who succeeded where others failed.”   The Key’s succession was in response to a Hwy US1 blockade established to show proof of  US citizenship prior to entering  Florida mainland.   Mayor Wardlow proclaimed secession 4/23/82 and establishment of a new independent nation, Conch Republic.  After one minute of rebellion (stale Cuban bread was the weapon of choice), the now, Prime Minister Wardlow  surrendered to the Union Forces and demanded one billion dollars in foreign aid and War Relief to rebuild the nation after the long Federal siege.  Nothing short of PR genius, was this 1982 event.    

The week long celebration includes the “bloody battle” where planes and boats throw stale bread, toilet paper roll bombs and shoot water cannons.  There is a craft fair, Bed Races, Longest Parade and various other activities which culminated for us in the “Taste of Key West” venue.  All a lot of fun and good eats!

The fun continued as we were on the Committee Boat for the last Wrecker’s Race of the season.   The Wrecker’s Race is a seven mile (to Sand Key)  reenactment of the time in Key West history when wreckers would race to a disabled ship, rescuing the crew and laying claim to the cargo. The day of the race,  winds were averaging 15kts and conditions were perfect for sailing, thus a large participation  of 50+ boats.    Thank you Jeff, Diesel and Capt Kelly for the great experience! 

Boat projects continue but now occupy less of our time.  We are busy preparing for our much anticipated trip to the Bahamas.   Fellow cruisers who have returned from wintering in the Bahamas and USVI report  it has been an unseasonably cooler and windy winter.  Perhaps our delay in going will be to our benefit.   We feel like kids anticipating a trip to Disney World.  As I write this we have returned to the mooring field in Boot Key Harbor at Marathon Key.  We will transit to Rodriguez Key one or two days prior to a "weather window" to cross to Bimini in the Bahamas.  Once the weather window has been identified we will post an update with our float plan.