Approaching An Odd End In Key West

Nearing the end of my Key West material, I have a few more odds and ends here. We'll wrap it up with some sunsets and whatnot next time. Above - Fronds!

Carnival cruise ship "Inspiration" under an ominous thunderhead in 2001.

In 2001, we were in Key West about a month after 9/11, and enhanced security was in evidence all around us, starting with the presence of 110-ft. Coast Guard Cutter "Sapelo," above - keeping a close eye on the cruise ships and the Mallory Square sunset celebration.

There were also numerous daily fighter exercises in Fall 2001. Here, three F-15s head home, just in time for happy hour.

Our beach. Just as we like it - empty.

Remembering to check the sky behind me whenever I'm watching a great sunset, I caught this thunderhead lurking behind the Ocean Key Resort (and clearly dealing with some mid-level shearing winds). That little post sticking up from the roof is one of the web cams capturing the setting sun and Mallory Square. www.keyscams.com

Storminess!

Pumpkins and Palm trees! [Maris]'s shot!

In another [Maris] photo, we have little pastel houses and the Key West Lighthouse, in December 2002.

Yes, Joe should have brought the tripod, but he didn't. Hand-held 1/4-second exposure of the Christmas-lit gazebo at La Mer in December 2002.

And finally (for now) -- The obligatory shot of the southernmost point in the continental US, as shot by [Maris].

Back soon to finish off the Keys for a while. :(

Gone Fishin' At Olde Towne Beache, KW

Key West's pelicans are as laid-back as its people, but they have to eat. So, they fish. Key West's seagulls are not laid-back (no seagulls are), and they have to eat, too. In the shot above, there's a gull floating between the fifth and sixth pelicans. This is a common sight, as there is at least one seagull assigned to tag along with each group of pelicans. They follow the big guys around and scavenge for whatever bits of fish fall out of their beaks after each dive. It's the circle of life!

"We've been floating for 30 seconds, guys. Don't you think it's time we got up and did some fishing?"

Key West's cats, many of whom are descended from Hemingway's famous six-toed feline, are pretty laid-back, but they have to eat, too. This cat is thinking about going after one of those plump pelicans. Ha ha ha - no he's not. You should see what he did 12 seconds after this frame was shot.

Seagull pretending to be laid-back.

Frigate Birds are probably laid-back, too. I just can't get close enough to one to know for sure.

Glide, glide, glide...

"I see a fish!"

((SPLOOSH SPLOOSH, GOBBLE GOBBLE))

Three stages of a pelican dive in one frame. What could be better? ("Oh, and we totally see you, gull. Little freeloader.")

How about SIX stages of pelican flight/diving? This group was showing off a little bit, I think. Possibly just to taunt the cat on the beach.

Thanks for looking. See you again soon...

The Key To Happiness - More From Key West

At the end of the Overseas Highway lies a once-sleepy little former cigar factory town. It is Key West now, but I'm sure there are many people, "Conch" or otherwise, who still call it Cayo Hueso. En route to this happy place, [Maris] took the above photo of drift-tree, on the Atlantic side of A1A, just west of the 7-mile bridge.

Storm clouds gather on sunny days, too. This is the hotel "Southernmost on the Beach" in Key West.

I don't know who's more colorful in Key West, the locals or their pets. Here, after what must have been a terribly exhausting sit on the pier, a very cool little dog gets a ride home on her Food Guy's back.

Two frames of my very first (and still only) waterspout. It's not a large one and it only lasted a couple of minutes, but it was still an impressive and oddly frightening sight. This is just southwest of Key West in 2002.

Tiki roofs and palm tree. Key West. Not in Polynesia, but who cares!

The same storm that had dropped the waterspout, now over the southern half of the island. Not to worry - the sun will be back in a few minutes.

First, some rain, briefly weighing down the palm fronds.

A larger and more intense storm cell bubbling up a few miles offshore.

I'll be back soon, possibly with some of Key West's birds. Or boats. Something.

Oh La Mer... (Where to stay in Key West)

Whole-hearted plug time! La Mer Bed & Breakfast, part of the "Southernmost Collection of Hotels" in Key West. Go to there! It feels more like a little hotel-in-a-conch-house than a B&B. Quiet and beautiful, right on a tiny strip of sandy beach and featuring great service (or lack thereof, if you want to be left alone). Above is the fountain and garden path between La Mer and its sister inn, Dewey House.

Key West has lizards! They're still as tough to shoot as ever.

Flowers!

Bananas!

Dewdrops!

Awesome white noise generator at night.

Shot from our porch during one of those 15-minute rain showers, this is the beachside café, finally reopened 3 years after Hurricane Georges.

Our view. No wonder Hemingway loved this town. Sitting on a porch like this in the sweetly sticky breeze, how can you not want to just drink rum and write novels - after a nice nap, of course!