Key West Amazing Sunsets

It is a tradition among tourists to head down to the dock on the Western most edge of the Keys, on Key West, at the moment of sunset, to enjoy the beauty of the sunset.  The colors of the sky and ocean play on the clouds in such a way that it takes your breath away.  The crowds that gather to watch the street performers gasp at the sight of the sun as it plunges into the ocean, and the festivities continue into the night in that happy hopping vacation spot. 

We spent many a winter vacation in Key West, at a tiny hotel on the water, where Jim used to dock his Boston Whaler, and drive out to fish for the day.  Annalisa was not school age, and we felt fine about extended vacations either at winter time, or in the early spring each year.  My brother, Tyll, had a job guarding an island not far from there, while the owner was not on the premises.  We planned to visit by boat.  I hoped we would be able to find that island.  There seem to be a few islands here and there in the ocean, and from afar they all look alike. The day we rode out to the island we heard a helicopter overhead, and saw Tyll race into the house.  He ran out wearing a Darth Vadar Costume and mask.  He stood on the dock, waving to the helicopter, which circled and then left.  He later explained, "I think they are looking for something, drug smugglers or illegal immigrants, so I try to give them some variety in their lives."

The other issue in the Keys, is the tides and the salt flats.  In high tides it is easy to go anywhere.  In low tide, you have to have a really good knowledge of the deep areas of the Keys, or you get stranded on the flats for about 8 hours, until the tide comes in.  Eight hours is the difference between day and night, and that could also be quite dangerous.

To say we had a few adventures in the Keys would not be exaggerating.  Every time we left our hotel I wondered what would be in store for us.  We packed for emergencies, with buckets, safety equipment, water, life jackets, ropes, anchors, you name it, we had it.  We had fishing gear, lots of it, and we usually went fishing.  We had an umbrella in big bright primary colors, to shade Annalisa.  We lost a few hats, when we started up the boat motor, and hats flew off.  They would float for a few moments, and then as fast as they sank, we could not turn and get them back into the boat.  Too bad for that!

One day little Annalisa, holding the umbrella, had the great idea to open it while we are traveling along fairly quickly.  It took flight, and ended upside down, like a little boat a ways behind us.  Jim makes a quick turn, tries to get to it, but our wake catches it, and starts to sink it.  Annalisa is screaming.  She wants her umbrella.  We are in about 7 feet of water, but clear water, and we can see it start going down.  Jim thinks fast, shuts off the motor, hands me his watch, and dives in.  He swims for the umbrella.  Annalisa is elated, I am horrified.  All I can think is what if I am stranded here with her, something happens to Jim, and I cannot get home?   He dives for the umbrella, figures out how to bring it up, still open, and then empties it of water, to swim it to the boat.  It is a miracle he still has his glasses on! We close the umbrella, and explain, how this is not a good idea, and that in the future we will never again go after umbrellas, hats, or anything that goes overboard(except children!).  My heart starts to beat again.
Several times on our vacation we had engine failure.  The boat motor would not start, and one time we had to get towed in to shore.  That is scary, since the boat is going back and forth in the wake, and sometimes out of control.
One time we were returning from a fishing trip, and it was getting late, and I notice a lot of people on the dock.  They seemed to be pointing at us.  I wondered why, and kept looking for what they might be watching, but we were the only thing in sight.  Jim commented, "Annalisa sure is cute!"  The closer we get, the more curious I get, why we are attracting such attention.  there are OOHS and AAHS and then suddenly a group GASP is heard.  Now it becomes clear.  The sun just went down.  We just happened to come in the same time as the sunset.