Birthday Celebration; Kids Cruising Into Key West 12/15/2018

The day started the same as most Saturdays for us in Venture Out and that is with a pancake breakfast.  The Saturday pancake breakfasts are a fund raiser for the recrecation committee of VO.  Randy likes going because I have stopped making pancakes because of the amount of sugar in the pancakes and in the syrup and I like the breakfast since I don’t have to cook.  

I enjoyed the day doing exactly what I wanted to do–just relaxing at the RV, including a nice nap!  The kids accepted a invitation from our friends Peter and Paulla for a cruise to Key West on their boat.  Peter and Paulla left our marina earlier this fall and have been slowly making their way South.    For the last several days, they have been anchored out near us.  Their next destination is Key West for a month.  Just as they planned to go the skies opened up and it started raining so the kids bundled up in rain coats and Randy took them out to meet “The Cottage.”  By the time Randy got back from dropping them off he was needing dry clothes and some hot coffee.  The kids said it was an awesome (and fortunately dry) cruise from Cudjoe Bay to Key West.  I know they enjoyed Peter and Paulla’s hospitality.  

Wet boat ride
Wet ride out to Peter’s boat that is anchored out in Cudjoe Bay
View from the bridge on “The Cottage”
Underway. Headed to Key West
The view from the stern of “The Cottage”
Starboard view. Headed to Key West
The crew heading to Key West aboard “The Cottage”

Arriving in Key West, Peter docked his boat in Key West Bight Marina.  As is his typical luck, he got an awesome dock assignment.  A perfect place to watch the evening’s Key West Christmas boat parade.  Before the boat parade, we met everyone for dinner at a nearby restaurant, Bistro 245, where we celebrated my birthday.  The restaurant is part of Margaritaville Resort & Marina on Front Street with breathtaking views of the Key West Harbor.  The dinner was very good, even if the waiter was not very social.   We thoroughly enjoyed the Key West Christmas boat parade; however, this parade did not seem as organized as similar parades we have been to in Baltimore and Annapolis.  But it was so much better being in the warm weather!  

Peter always gets the best places. Perfect for watching the parade
Key West decorations
Key West Christmas decorations
Decorations in Key West
Peter in front of more Christmas decorations
Peter and Paulla in front of Christmas decorations as we made our way back to the boat after dinner to watch the boat parade.
Decorated boat in the Key West Christmas Boat Parade
Decorated boat in KW Christmas Boat Parade.
Decorated boat
Underwater lights show off the fish at Key West Bight Marina . Randy does not know it yet but he is getting a similara underwater light for a Christmas present from the kids

This was one of my best birthdays. I was surrounded by family and wonderful friends that helped me celebrate.   I would not have changed a thing!