When a friend said her and her husband's apartment would be empty for the next two weekends, I couldn't pack fast enough. I love them both and they are great people, but to have a free place to stay in Key West that's a 2 to 3 minute bike ride from Duval Street, I wasn't going to mind the 3 1/2 hour drive. 1/2 the fun of Key West is getting there.
I was also happy to see this weekend was the Conch Republic Independence Celebration. Part of the festivities was the annual Conch Republic Red Ribbon Bed Races, now on its 32nd year and hosted by Bourbon St Pub. I stumbled around to some of the interesting and touristy places in town, had lunch, more adult refreshments, and then went to the street beside the Bourbon St Pub to get a glimpse of this year's ten entrants.
The Crowd was a good mix of every sweaty inhabitant of and visitor to Key West. There wasn't a feel of this being a gay event but just yet another reason to drink in the afternoon and watch people do stupid things. Even Wonder Women showed up to participate.
After the parade of beds, I went out back to check out the clothing optional pool area, became distracted, but was able to make my way back to Duval Street to see the last heat in the heat fly by.
Times were recorded and compared. Who won the race? I'm not sure for I was off to partake in another Key West favorite activity, an afternoon nap. Bars are open until 4 AM. And the boys wearing the yellow undies? They'll be dancing tonight on the bar. I promised them some dollar bills as payment for the pic.
