Ship's bLog: Ship's bLog Glorious Weekend in Florida Keys!

Ship's bLog: Ship's bLog Glorious Weekend in Florida Keys!: "Ship's bLog February 19, 2011 We are really hopping from boat to boat this month and the next! If you are planning to stay with us, bette..."

Ship's bLog Glorious Weekend in Florida Keys!

Ship's bLog February 19, 2011

We are really hopping from boat to boat this month and the next! If you are planning to stay with us, better call now for April and May.

Weddings will start booking too, so if you or a friend have a wish to be wed on the water, I can do it; I am now a 'captain-minister' for at sea weddings.

Key West is one of the top locations next to the Las Vegas wedding destination for weddings. I can put it together really quick and easy; we have wed over 60 couples in recent years, so let me take the stress out of your dream tropical wedding. I do everything, flowers for the bride and groom, nice cake with star fish and shell appointments made out of icing, help you find the court house for the license and answer any other questions.

Today's Weekend Trivia:

What is a catamaran? Looks like two boats put together!

History Review: KEY WEST'S LIVELIEST 4 CORNERS!

Key West was at one time the richest city in the state of Florida. If you stop at the corner of Front and Duval, you will see two things that are a part of Key West. First the large First Union Bank originally built in 1886 with the huge mahogany balcony; how the heck did they get that up there?!

Next, if you stand on this corner long enough you will probably see every kind of transportation we have on the island. Taxi cabs, ped-i-cabs, automobiles, trucks of all kinds, shuttle bus, city bus, tour bus, two wheel bikes, three wheels and tandem bikes, mopeds, motorcycles, conch trains, trolleys, roller blades, skateboards, and walking. That is at 17 so far. To the left at the end of Duval you will see glass bottom boats.

Continue on Front Street to the boardwalk. At the foot o Front Street is A & B Marina. Here you will start to see all the forms of transportation we have in the water. Look for catamarans, sailboats (we are at the historic seaport near Schooner Wharf), schooners, motor boats, yachts, cabin cruisers, cruise ships, charter boats, tug boats, military boats, ferry boats, canoes, kayaks, row boats, water taxis and jet skis.

You know for a two by four mile island, we certainly like to have a lot of options to be on the move!

Get out on the water and sail with us! Join us again - Back tomorrow with another segment on the history of Key West and how we are doing sailing!

Tell your friends to follow us for Key West trivia, fun and reports about sailing on Twitter, Face Book & Ship's Blog

www.keywestsailingadventure.com

Captain Albert, owner/operator, with

Ronda, wife, first mate, chief bottle washer, laundry, boat cleaner, chair psychologist office manager, et all

Ship's bLog Friday its the weekend in Key West its cookin' 2/18/11

Ship's bLog - Missed yesterday's history lesson but got a lesson in folks that drive crazy in Miami!!! back in the Keys, safe and sound ready to take on the world again.....This morning, Pete who stayed with us called at 7:30 am to say he had a wonderful sailing excursion yesterday and to please save him a spot in April.  We are almost booked totally for this month and March, with a tentative on the only time we have open! So if you sailors plan to board, ye better get shakin' argh me mateys! hoist that sail mind your way out the harbor....

Fun Phrase of the day; since we missed our history lesson - Key West Vocabulary and did you know that...
CONCH TRAIN TOUR TRAIN WHICH TAKES IT'S NAME FROM A SEA SNAIL THAT MOVES SLOWLY, THAT IS FOUND IN THE WATERS AROUND KEY WEST...mind that you plan to move slow when behind the conch trains.

Today's History Lesson:  
1845-1867:
Alright class, take your seats whilst this cap'n tells you about our history lesson back a long time ago...
Florida became the 27th state in the United States during this time period.  1849 was when the first turtle cannery opened and Key West was the richest city per capita in the state of Florida also this time period.  In 1856, the first US Navy station was established in Key West.  Then in 1958 the Coast Guard Building was completed.  The State of Florida seceded from the United States / UNION during the Civil War (and Key West still has that Conch Republic mind even today).  During this period Key West was the deep south seaport that was held by the Union.

Folks were starting to find ways down to the seaport town, and a much larger population of 2,302 called Key West home.

See you next time, in the meanwhile, get down to Key West and get out on the water sailing!

Ship's bLog Key West History Lesson 2/16/11

Ship's bLog 2/16/11 -Today Capt. Brad and "Frenchy" - (Nancy from Canada) was happy to report brisk but very good half day sail with 15 knots of wind and perfect skies. "The color is so blue in the skies today" remarked Captain Albert, "that it doesn't even look real!" he exclaimed. That's how it is; colors change daily both in the sky and on the water. Five French Canadians down from the frozen north enjoyed a wonderful day.

Today's History Lesson from 1822-1829 (Key West)

The island of Key West was sold to John Simonton for $2,000.00 (guess we know why we have Simonton Street) now you could not even buy a square foot for that! Anyway, back to the lesson; In 1822, Key West was established as a "port". Cubans moved here with their cigar making businesses. Another business was letting sea water into the marsh lands, waiting for evaporation and then harvesting the salt. Many of the retired pirates became carpenters or workers in the wrecking business which was the main industry at this time. (Also wrecking was "glorified and dignified way of being a pirate" my wife Ronda said). The first Post Office opened in 1829. A conch Shell was blown if mail arrived which it did unless there was a wreck or a sea turtle was sighted.

Population was growing; now a busy little sea town and port of about 300 total residents.

Warm and Wonderful Key West Historically speaking...

February 15, 2011

First Mate Nancy said it was so much nicer out and that sunset sail on Sunday, February 13th was incredible. We had a bit of chill the day before, but we all think we are freezing if it is less than 70 degrees.

HISTORY LESSON OF THE DAY:

Today's history from 1513 - 1821

The first important name connected to Key West was PONCE DE LEON who claimed it for Spain. (I did not realize that, did you?) The Indian tribe living here at that time was called CALOOSA or may have been known as Calusa. Pirates used the waters off Key West to rest between attacks and to hide their loot. Fish and sea turtles were part of the daily food. The US Coast Guard was here in Key West from 1820 chasing out pirates, wreckers and rum runners. In 1821, Florida became a territory of the United States.

That's your daily history lesson! Join us again and post anything you want to share.

The Southernmost point in the United States Key West, is located 157 miles from Miami and 90 miles from Cuba. This island is one mile wide and only three and a half miles long! You can be anywhere in Key West by bicycle or even by foot is little time. You are on "Key West Time" and we like it a lot more relaxed and much slower here.

Ship's bLog..KWSA 1.6.11

"What a wonderful sail Captain Albert" Nancy first mate reported ..."Yesterday, Capt. Brad and I were with our group and all of the sudden, a pod of dolphins jumped and played all around the boat! Everyone was all smiles!"

Another day in the Florida Keys with temps in in the 80's and today a small front will slightly cool it down to the upper 70's but that is what we love too, relaxed days, and sea breezes.....

Key West is warming up-January 1, 2011

Ship's bLog We got yet another call a second time this morning and our guests on one of the boats -Obsession, extended their stay; again! They wanted to go on board Wild Thing for their last night with us. Having stayed already two more days, they just cannot bear to leave. We have a sunset sail for another group going on the the Wild Thing Sail boat (needed a bit of cleaning and fluffing up, as our guests had a marrrvelous time last night!)

We did too; listening to breezes and fireworks, watching the hammock swaying outside our sliding doors overlooking the swim canal. Ahhhh - LIFE IS GOOD my wife Ronda said.

Picture yourself HERE in the Florida Keys, and in Key West!