BELATED FISHING REPORT

Since we procrastinated the entire time we were in Islamorada and never posted that promised fishing report.....here it is! We went offshore in the Feeding Frenzy III twice. The first time we caught a skinny little blackfin tuna (but enough for a fresh seared tuna dinner) and a buzz! For some of you older folks...remember that Alfred Hitchcock movie "The Birds"? I felt a little like I was in that movie at one point :) There were so many birds we could pick them up on our radar!!!

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The second day was considerably rougher offshore. After trolling for several hours we did find a nice weed line with debris and managed to catch about 8 or 10 mahi mahi. Only 3 of them measured (20 inches to the fork) but they fed us for several days :)

The rest of the time we spent piddling, bike riding, on boat projects, and managed to make several Happy Hours:) Sometimes we feel like we get in a rut so made a pact a couple of years ago to try one new place every time we go to the Keys so as to branch out a bit. This trip we decided to head down to the Safari Lounge (the locals call it the "Dead Animal Bar") and give their Happy Hour a try again. We had been there a few years ago and didn't like the place so never went back. Well, it is now one of our favorite places AND is only about 1/2 mile from home!!!! We now are on a first name basis with the two bartenders...Etta & Tim!



When we left Irene was bearing down on the keys so we pulled Feeding Frenzy III out and put her on dry dock for safe keeping until the next trip. Thankfully Irene turned to the east but better safe than sorry! To quote Roni, our FAVORITE bartender at Hog Heaven....we thankfully avoided the "CONE OF DEATH!"

CTM did call our good friend, Freddie Rolle, in Bimini to see how he and his family made it through Irene. According to Freddie, they only had a light breeze...40 to 50 knot winds :) and (quoting our good friend Leann) Freddie reported, "IT'S ALL GOOD!" He did report that Cat Island and Eleuthera had over 100 knot winds and had suffered substantial damage :( CTM and Freddie did manage to chat about winter wahoo fishing during their conversation. I think the ole FFIII will be crossing that Gulf Stream one way or the other come New Year's :)

Catch you on the flip flop...

CJM

ROAD TRIP......

We took a "road trip" getting to Islamorada this time.... First stop was the Margaritaville Beach Hotel on Pensacola Beach.

Heading to Land Shark Landing for a Land Shark...

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Wishing I was there...

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CTM wants to take a walk on the beach so I said, "Goodbye! I'll stay safely here on the step at Land Shark Landing cause you know I HATE THE BEACH!!!"

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CTM coaxed me off the step with the promise of a frosty Land Shark....

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"Come on...YOU CAN DO IT!"

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This one's for all of you beach lubbers out there! I'll probably have to have counseling after this :)

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After the walk on the beach we had dinner at Frank and Lola's Cafe, hit the hay, and headed out early on our road trip. Next stop was Madeira Beach.

Happy hour at Scully's...

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Captain Morgan and Captain Morgan :)

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We struggled a bit finding accommodations. Finally ended up at a hotel in St. Petersburg. Now, from our experience when we used to travel with Forrest and recently with Oscar we found that the only hotels that took pets were SHITHOLES.... When we walked in the door we were greeted by a giant hounddog of some sort and the place reeked of cigarette smoke. I looked at CTM and announced we were staying in a SHITHOLE! His comeback was..."Well, if it is any consolation to you....if you could you would fire up a cigarette and have Oscar by your side." Touche! As it turned out it really wasn't bad at all :)

The next day we continued south and had lunch at the Sandbar Waterfront Restaurant on Anna Maria Island...it was GREAT!

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O.K....now I'll confess....the whole point of this "road trip" was to end up on Friday night at Bert's Bar in Matlacha, Florida to see our favorite entertainer....JIM MORRIS!!! Wow! Matlacha was a really cool little town....kind of a combination of the Keys and Pontiac. There were no "chain" hotels or anything for that matter. We stayed at the Bridgewater Inn so we could stumble back after Jim and not have to drive anywhere. It was a really cool little hotel. It was "Inn the Water" and they weren't kidding!

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The hotel was literally on pilings and people came there to stay and fish off their porch!

Phew! Our road trip was finally nearing an end. Next stop....ISLAMORADA! We spent a couple of days chillin' and finally went fishing on Tuesday...stayed tuned for fishing reports!

Catch you on the flip flop....

CJM

CARDINALS VS. CUBS

Last weekend we were fortunate to have tickets to the Cardinal vs. Cubs in St. Louis on Saturday.....my first Cubs game. We met some old (not "old" in the sense of "age" :)but "old" in the sense of "long time" :) ) friends and Caldwell and Kate there. We had tickets in the Powerade Plaza which included all you could eat and drink....we definitely got our money's worth! A good time was had by all and we beat the Cubs 13 - 5 which was an added bonus!

CTM & John getting their money's worth!!!

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And...Sherry getting her money's worth!!!

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Yummo!

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And...Carol getting her money's worth!!!

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The Newlyweds!!!!

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Knowing hot flashes and 100 degree heat don't mix, Sherry furnished all of the gals with a "Mr. M & M Man Fan!" Here is Tom, Carol, and Carol's new best friend.....

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Kate especially loved CTM's blue and red shirt :)

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As you can imagine....Brittany and her friend (two college gals) certainly got their money's worth :)

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What a difference 40 years makes....the "Whitegate Four!" A side note....there were so many Whitegate roommates over the years I would have had to get out my wide angle lens to photograph all of them!

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How did those guys manage to pick up those "HOT" CHICKS???? Those "Mr. M & M Man Fans" worked pretty well, but, it was nearly 100 degrees! :)

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My "favorite daughter-in-law!" I love saying that!!!!

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Somehow I failed to get a picture of Ian and his friend at Busch Stadium. I think it is because since Ian just turned 21 he was standing in the beer line the whole game getting his money's worth! ":)

And..."The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree!"

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Catch you on the flip flop....

CJM