Key West, FL (USA)

Slept as late as I could this morning but my neighbors at the Navy Lodge were very noisy...  Had to take care of lots of phone calls before my scheduled flight - changes in itinerary, questions, etc. In the end, I headed over to work around noon. Met up with my crew, finished flight planning (1430) and then departed NAS JRB Willow Grove at around 1500. It is a good thing we (me and Blair) left around two hours earlier than scheduled, because we ended up needing the extra when we got to Florida. [Due to weather ?] I got to try out the pattern an extra time...  By the time we were on the ground at Boca Chica, it was already dark. The fuel truck took another hour and then we learned that we would have to drive across Key West to get our hotel room keys before coming all the way back to spend the night where we landed.  What a pain in the $#@!  Sadly, the rental car wasn't waiting for us either.  Even worse, all the companies (lodging and rental car) had charged our credit cards before we even got there, so we had to live with the bad situation... Finally got checked in at the Navy Gateway Inn (VQ Building CP076).  The Truman Annex was a different place (closer, thankfully) than I've normally used.  It was very chilly - only about 45-50 degrees and I was glad I'd brought a coat to KEY WEST!!!  After finally getting in my room, I rushed over to Duval Street and got a drink at Fat Tuesdays. Walked around looking for the guys from work (they were here somewhere, but never saw them...). Eventually, I settled down for dinner at Kelly's Caribbean Bar (closed last time - see MAY 2008). Had blackened mahi-mahi and key lime pie (mmm...). Afterwards, walked over to a shop (Key Lime Pie Outlet called "Key Lime N' More") I had seen before and bought some local produce and candy for the family. Had a great time talking with the owners (husband and wife) and was still there after their purported closing time. Finally reached my BOQ room very late.  Despite all the running around our crew did today, I hope to one day adopt the air of the locals - people down here are pretty relaxed...