Late July: Key West

In late July, Debbie and I drove to Florida to see my parents in Jacksonville, and we drove on down to Key West to see Bryan. Bryan is living the life of Riley, which is actually an understatement. Living on a pilot's salary, plus a second job as deckhand on a tourist submarine, he is able to spend time voluntering with the local aquarium and the local marine science ecology center. Here is a picture of his submarine, along with its tender. This photo was taken approximately 2 miles off the coast, as our ferry approached the submarine preparatory to transferring passengers from the ferry to the sub.


Below is Bryan on the sub. Yes, it is yellow, but no, Bryan doesn't actually LIVE on it. Beatles, eat your heart out.




Here is a view inside the sub, at approximately 100 feet below sea level.


Bryan is also a member of the Key West Sailing Club, so he gets to "check out" or borrow all kinds of sailboats and yachts. Here he preps one, to take his parents on a quick jaunt into the bay.



Bryan is an expert yachtsman. He expertly brought the boat into the slip, easing it up alongside the dock, smooth as silk, even though the wind was almost a dead calm. He can maneuver on a dime, regardless of the wind direction or speed. VERY impressive.


He also scuba dives... part of his work helping with maintenance on the sub, I guess. In his spare time, he scubas and snorkels the reefs. He has brought in several specimens to donate to the local Key West Aquarium. Here is one of the Octopii (sp?) he brought in, enjoying its new home.