This Week on the Island - August 15, 2004

This week started with 'The Battle of the Bars'. It took place on Sunday, from 12:00 noon until 6:00 PM, on Lazy Lane behind Schooner Wharf Bar. There were 37 bars represented with teams of 7 members each. The weather was hot and sunny and Lazy Lane, out back of Schooner Wharf Bar, was covered with 3 parachutes to help produce some shade. It was a timed event with teams from two bars competing against each other until all bars had competed. Then the bars with the top times went into the semi-finals, and then again into the finals. The winning bar was Turtle Kraals.

The event started with team member #1 mixing a margarita, member #2 carried it to the table. Member #3 drank the margarita. Member #4 cleaned the table and ran to the trash and picked up a bag and ran to the recycle bins where they separated the colored glass, cans, and trash. Member #5 rolled a keg to the table and taped it. Member #6 drew 7 drafts, member # 7 took the drafts to the team members that were all in a line. Each member had to drink their beer before the next member could start theirs. When the last member finished their beer the timer recorded the times. The best time was for Turtle Kraals and was less than 2 minutes.

On Friday the 13th we had a visitor named 'Hurricane Charley'. Thursday morning the weather was sunny and hot. As the Dogs (Wyleigh and Sassi) and I went on our walks we notice many people leaving the islands. There were NO Cruise Ships in the harbor and the fishing boats and the fun cruises were tied to the docks. We walked down Duval Street and watched people board up their stores and take down their awnings. There was a mandatory evacuation for all visitors and tourist. It was a beautiful day. Thursday night the weather changed and the wind blew, I went to bed. Friday morning at 8:00 AM, Charley is passing over the Dry Tortugas, about 70 miles west of Key West. We got a little rain and some strong wind but very little damage to Key West. Friday at 1:00 PM, Charley is headed north and the sky is starting to clear. Our Mayor, Jimmy Weekly, signed an order that no alcohol could be served after 10:00 PM Thursday night. He lifted the ban at 2:00 PM on Saturday. (A good reason NOT to vote for Jimmy in the next election). The weather service is already talking about Tropical Storm Earl.