Day 10 Friday October 21 Key West to West Palm Beach

Lets start with an update on last nights dinner cruise for the Gator Mog aboard the Fury Commotion on the Ocean catamaran.  Andy Leo shared some photos from the cruise

The band set up, then played for the entire two hours.

And the Mogger's grooved to the music

Happy times

Despite some clouds, the sunset lived up to its reputation

And the clouds even added to the beauty of the evening.

Now, back to today.... The journal of our trip continues with this tale of Friday Oct 21. 

While Key West is noted for it's sunsets, the sunrise this morning was equally spectacular over the Florida Straits, in front of our lodging -- The Best Western Key Ambassador.

 

A bit after sunrise we had the cars loaded and off we went, up the Keys and into the raising sun. 

Due to our early start we were going to be in Key Largo before our lunch stop would open, so we dallied a bit at the Bass Pro Shop known as World Wide Sportsman in Islamorada one of the major stops along Route 1. 

World Wide Sportsman has a wide selection of clothing and fishing/camping gear.  Most notably is a huge area devoted to Columbia Sportswear, which seems to be the official clothing of Morgan tourers.  Almost everyone in our Gator Mog tour arrived in Columbia shirts. This is not an endorsement, merely a statement of fact. 

Of interest to the Hemingway aficionados in our group is this centerpiece of the store...

The 'Pilar'.  A sister boat of the original 'Pilar' owned for many years by Ernest Hemmingway.  It's an interesting story.  The boat on display was built in 1933 in Brooklyn.  Hemingway's 'Pilar' was built the next year by a different boatyard just around the corner.  Seems Hemingway fished on the original boat and liked it so well he commissioned his boat to be build to very similar specifications. Both boats shared the same port in Key West in the 30's.  During the war Hemingway changed his port of call to Havana and used his boat to chase German subs in Cuban waters.

Hemingway left Cuba in 1959 and he let a friend take care of the boat, and later gave the boat to his friend.  The boat is now on display at Finca Viga where she is on display at Hemingway's old homestead on the island. 

The 'Pilar' at the store was less documented but has some history.  In 1948 she co-started with Bogart and Bacall in "Key Largo" using the name 'Santana'.  And in the 50's for the remake of the movie, the boat was named 'The Blue Heron'. 

Left to deteriorate the boat went through several owners and attempts to restore it.  In 1994 Johnny Morris, owner of Bass Pro Shops bought it, took several years to have it restored, and placed it in the center of this huge store in Islamorada.

The fishing chair in 'Pilar"

Then off to lunch at the Pilot House Marina in Key Largo.

Aside from the sun hitting him sideways, the food looked really good... and Andy Leo (with Anne) looked charming.

The official's of the tour, left to right,  Barbara and Kathy the SUV back up crew and Mark and Andrea, the tour creators, coordinators, captains and planners.   A great team for a great tour.


After lunch a considerable hop up state through lesser traveled back roads.  Florida sure is flat and today it was a bit windy. 

We passed many sugar cane fields, and trucks hauling cut sugar cane.  The smoke is from a cane field they were burning after being harvested. 

We got to West Palm Beach in time for a reception at the Chariots of West Palm headquarters. 

Chariots is a Morgan dealership and they also handle high end classic cars.

Owner Hugh Bate welcomed the gathered Gator Mog people and explained the basis of his company.

Surrounded by lovely cars, conversations ensued.

The staff had positioned a Morgan Plus 8 and a Morgan 3 Wheeler in the

main showroom.

Much chatter.

Sam Frazee tries on a very nice Plus 8.