2025-01-22 Key West, FL
In the marina at Garrison Bight, we slept in. It was chilly, windy, and foggy. Dan walked to Ace Hardware for supplies to finish the forward holding tank plumbing and to get the proper venting for the marina pump out. Finishing off the holding tank plumbing was a battle, but Dan was victorious. After Dan was finished, I cleaned and disinfected the area and relocated a bunch of stuff to make room for Dany and Elyse. Liam peed in the cart—I cleaned the cart. I watched crime shows and cleaned up—leftovers for dinner.
100 nights to go
2025-01-23 Key West, FL
Dan worked. I cleaned up and got things organized for the arrival of Dany and Elyse. Liam peed in the cart again—I cleaned the cart again.
Dan put a plastic tub in the cart for Liam to sit in. That will be much easier to clean than the cart. My poor puppy. Dany and Elyse arrived. After they stowed their stuff, we all headed to Mac’s Place for some lunch. Later in the evening Dany, Elyse, and Dan went to Sister’s Noodle House for dinner. I stayed back to take care of Liam.
99 nights to go
2025-01-24 Key West, FL
Liam is not doing great. He can barely walk, and I feel guilt-ridden that Dany has to see him this way after just losing Piper. I am also not being a great host because I am severely depressed. We all walked to Key West proper with Liam riding in the plastic tub in his cart—since he has been peeing without warning due to how much water he has been drinking. We went to lunch at Frita’s Cuban Burgers place—it was weird but good. Our waitress was originally from Needham, MA! Elyse and I had Cubans, Dan had a signature burger, Dany ordered chicken empanadas and street corn. The empanadas never showed, so we had to ask for them, but the food was tasty. After lunch, Dan, Liam, and I trudged back to the boat after stopping at Ace Hardware for a more suitable plastic tub for Liam’s cart because the one we had was too tall. Dany and Elyse explored the town, then came back to the boat sporting new tattoos. Dan walked to the Winn-Dixie to pick up some chicken thighs, while Danyand Elyse used a tarp to sew a cover to shield our terrible cooler/deck box from the rain. Leftover shipwreck and Maura’s chicken Caesar salad for dinner. I am doing my best, but I’m tired and depressed. Dan hurt his rib trying to get Liam off the boat.
98 nights to go
2025-01-25 Key West, FL
Everyone slept in (except for Dan, who tended to Liam). Finally, it was a bright sunny day in Key West—but I’m still cold. Dan, Dany, and Elyse headed across the street to secure the rental golf cart. Dan called and said that they were upgraded to a six-passenger cart and asked if Liam and I wanted to join. I declined—I wanted them to have a good time, and I certainly did not want Dany looking at a messed-up corgi while trying to have fun without being reminded about Piper. While they were gone, I cleaned up, got all the trash together, and watched some crime shows. I took Liam out for two pees and a poop. It’s really difficult for me to lift him from the ground because he can no longer “come up”—his back legs are virtually useless. So, so sad. I then got cleaned up since we were going to a drag show at seven. Dan dropped Dany and Elyse off and then headed to Winn-Dixie to pick up some steaks for dinner. We had steak, potato salad, mushrooms, onions, and green beans for dinner. Dan and Liam dropped Dany, Elyse, and me off at the drag show venue. The show was amazing and we all had a blast. Earlier in the day, Dany, Elyse, and Dan had procured four different slices of Key lime pie from Kermit’s, Key Lime Pie Co., Moondog, and Key Lime Pie Bakery. Dan and Liam picked us up from the drag show and we went back to the boat and had a taste test. Elyse liked Kermit’s, I liked Key Lime Pie Bakery, and Dany and Dan liked Moondog. I liked the Moondog custard, but it had a big, huge meringue topping—which made it a no for me. Moondog wins! I’m glad that they thought of doing that because we’ve been in Florida for quite some time and I had not yet had a slice of Key lime pie.
97 days to go
2025-01-26 Key West, FL
During the night, Liam had to pee and Dan put him in the cart on the hoping that he would pee in the cart—no such luck. We woke to a beautiful sunny day in Key West. Dan and Dany had steak, onion, pepper, cheese, and egg bowls for breakfast. Dan and I planned on watching football, so Dany and Elyse decided to rent bikes to go exploring. Elyse got a tricycle! I cleaned up while Dan checked weather and planned routes. Dan continued sewing the screen for the forward hatch while we watched some really great football games! Elyse and Dany eventually returned to the boat, and we had burgers, mac and cheese, and macaroni salad for dinner.
96 nights to go
2025-01-27 Key West, FL
Everyone slept in (except for Dan, who took care of Liam). Dany and Elyse went out to breakfast at Moondog. Dan worked while I got the laundry organized and cleaned up the kitchen. Dany and Elyse took off around 1:00 PM to catch their flight back to RI. I hope they had a nice visit despite my lack of my usual hospitality. Dan took me to shore to do the laundry. P.S. Dany cut Dan’s hair and Dany did a great job-the hair looks amazing! Originally, I had planned to provision but frankly was too tired and depressed thinking about my little darling and watching Liam decline. We went to Mac’s Place for dinner—BLAT for me, less the “A”.
95 nights to go
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