From Marathon to marathon

Many months ago, Linda made plans to run in the Rock and Roll Half Marathon in Miami Beach. I rented a car in Marathon and drove up the keys to join her for the weekend and to deliver John to the airport.

Along the way, we went searching for the "African Queen" -- the original steamboat from the classic movie by the same name. We had read in the local papers that she had a new owner and was being restored. We found her in a boatyard in Key Largo and the young man that was working on her was very friendly. He took a short break to show us what he was doing and even gave me some rust bits from her hull as a souvenir.

The people of Key Largo love Humphrey Bogart from his role in the movie "Key Largo," so years ago someone had brought the "African Queen" here from Africa as a tourist attraction.








I'm sure the restored craft will make her an even bigger attraction.

The marathon was a big event, benefitting St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis. It was a little warm and muggy for a marathon but no one was complaining given the weather in the rest of the country.


Renee and David



Me and Linda at 6:30 a.m before the race



My favorite runner at the finish!

The headline entertainment was an "artist" named Pit Bull." He's from Miami and everyone seemed to know about him but us. He doesn't sing, he raps to a high energy latin beat with overpowering bass and drums. I won't be asking for his CD for Christmas.


Pit Bull



And his faithful fans.

Now I am waiting in the airport for my next crew, David. The weather forecast is calling for more extremely high winds out of the east, so it might be an interesting week! The Florida Keys are windy in December.

-Posted using BlogPress from my iPad