May 5th. Cinco de Mayo and all. A cause for celebration, for sure, but then again, what isn't?

Excuse me for a moment while I hike over to the fridge for another Corona and a wedge of lime...

Ahhh. Much better now. Where was I?

Oh yes, May 5th. Oh ho, the memories of this day!

One year ago today...

... I was in Key West with my bro going a little nutty. How can you not in Key West? I mean, c'mon. It's the land of Jimmy Buffett. Margaritaville. Party Central. Hot sun. Beaches. Palm trees. Lazy days.

For four glorious days and three nights we reveled in the sights and sounds of this island paradise. By day, exploring on foot and by old bicycle. Duval Street. The Truman Annex. Hemingway's House. Mallory Square. Caroline Street. Captain Tony's. Sloppy Joe's. The Chart Room.

By afternoon (there was no missing the free happy hour by the pool each afternoon at 4 PM) and night, holed up at the most excellent and comfy and hospitable Eden House. If there is a heaven on Earth it may well be the Eden House. Mike, you guys rock!

Key West is an adventure unto itself. Nirvana, pure and simple. A mis-adventure perhaps. You go and you never want to come back. Or work. Or do anything much useful ever again. You just want to have fun 24/7/365. Become an official citizen of the Conch Republic and tell the rest of the world to go... well, you know.

I like that. A lot. Too much, dammit.

A contingent of Maine and NH crazies were supposed to go back again this year, be there right now, in fact, but we couldn't pull it off. Next year, for damn certain. You can count on it Parrot Heads.

"I went down to Captain Tony's to get out of the heat..." Duval Street, Key West.
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Hanging out with a Key West icon: Captain Tony Taracino.
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The Eden House. Heaven on Earth!
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The pool and palms at happy hour. Oh!
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Hail to the Conch Republic!
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Toughing out the day at the beach.
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Getting around the Keys is easy when you have an old bike and lots of time.
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Hmmm...
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The other end of Route 1. Is that cool or what?
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Sunset from Mallory Square.
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"...strolling down the avenue that's known as A1A..."
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Only 90 miles to Havana.
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Parrot Head Central! Jimmy, we love you man! That's my bro and me, and Tim (middle), our Jimmy Buffett tour guide.
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You been to Key West? Stories to tell??

Thirty-one years ago today...

A scared and lonely boy from Bangor, Maine hiked from Amicalola Falls to Springer Mountain, and made his first camp 0.2 miles further on. It was the first day and night on a 5 1/2 month journey along the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail to Mount Katahdin. My, oh, my!

Btw, what song was popular at this very time? "Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffett! Ironic, eh?

You-know-who at the start of the AT atop Springer Mountain, Georgia, May 5, 1977.
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All these many years and trail miles later...