Spending the day in the Conch Republic

This past weekend Keith and I had an invitation from friends Kristin and Eric Haubert to come to Key West and spend the day with them.  It was Eric's birthday and they were going to take their 32-foot Boston Whaler name "Mutual Fun" to a sand bar off Key West, meet up with additional friends, and relax.  We of course were all in.

Eric and Kristen's Boston Whaler "Mutual Fun" at the sand bar

Lots of other local boats were enjoying the day.

Captain Keith just chillin'

Launching the Unicorn Floatie.  This thing was almost as big as the boat.

The kids were loving it.

A few tunes were in order from their friend Nick in honor of Eric's birthday.  

This was a great day with some really cool locals (conchs).  Although many residents of the lower keys call themselves "Conchs", it is a term most often used by residents of Key West specifically.  There is a funny story about Key West and it's name "The Conch Republic.  For those interested, here goes.

In April of 1982 the US Boarder Patrol set up a roadblock on US highway 1 (the only land route onto the Florida keys).  The roadblock was located just north of the entrance onto the keys.  Visitors and residents alike were all stopped and asked for identification to prove US citizenship.  This created quite an uproar as it interfered with traffic and tourism throughout the keys, but particularly Key West.  Several residents of Key West as well as Key West Mayor Dennis Wardlow went to federal court in Miami seeking an injunction to end the boarder patrol's roadblock.  When their plea was denied, the mayor told TV reporters that the following day the Florida keys and Key West would succeed from the union.  As promised the next day, April 23rd, Mayor Wardlow was declared Prime Minister of the Conch Republic which immediately declared war on the US (symbolically breaking a loaf of stale Cuban bread over the head of a man dressed in Naval uniform).  After about 1 minute, the mayor quickly surrendered to the faux naval officer and applied for 1 billion dollars in foreign aid (that's billion with a B).  Although this was a tongue-in-cheek secession, it did produce a tourist boost and the roadblock was removed shortly thereafter.  To this day Key West celebrates their independence day every April 23rd with festivals and activities.  And Key West residents often refer to the island as The Conch Republic.

Continuing to have some fun with their Conch Republic status, another quirky incident happened in 1995.  In September of that year the 478th Civil Affairs Battalion of the US Army Reserves was to conduct a training exercise simulating an invasion of a foreign land.  They were to land at Key West and conduct affairs as if the islanders were foreign.  Unfortunately no one from the 478th officially notified Key West of the exercise.  Seeing another opportunity for publicity, Mayor Wardlow and forces behind the 1982 Conch Republic Rebellion, mobilized the island for war.    They sent the Western Union schooner out to attack the incoming Coast Guard cutter with water balloons, conch fritters, and stale Cuban bread.  The Coast Guard responded with their fire hoses and quickly put a soggy end to the skirmish.  Leaders of the 478th Reserve unit issued an apology the next day saying they "in no way meant to challenge or impugn the sovereignty of the Conch Republic".  The 478th submitted to a surrender ceremony held on September 22nd.  Once again the brilliant "conchs" had come up with a great and fun way to get publicity for the area of Key West.  (If only our current Washington politicians could find some good humor and camaraderie).  

So you all can see that Key Westers aka "conchs" are pretty fun people to hang out with; and Keith and I certainly had a great time on the beach with a bunch of them.

Our Conch Republic boat flag