Latitude: N 24° 33' 33"
Longitude: W 81° 47' 03"

It is a speck of rock in a pastel sea. Palms whisper. Songbirds sing. The place has never known a frost. During the day people sit at rest on gingerbread verandas getting a little drunk. Later on Duval Street, drunker than a little. Flowers bloom all year and love is free. It is without a hint of irony that everyone calls it paradise.

The Southernmost point in the continental United States. There are more Southern points but they are either private or military property. So, this will have to do.

The Custom House. If you call it the Customs House, you are obviously a tourist. Learn the lingo.

These God damn fucking motherfuckers. There is no such thing as sleeping in here because these fucking birds will wake your ass up at 7:00 AM and they don't give a shit about what fucking bar on Duval Street you closed at 4:00 AM. God damn motherfuckers. FUCK!

AND you can't fuck with them because they are protected by the federal government. Fuck times two!!!

Edit 2026. It turns out they are not protected but if you fuck with them you can get an animal cruelty charge, which in Florida is pretty serious. I bought a book about the Key West roosters at Key West Island books titled Roosters Are Assholes by David L. Sloan. The book was lame. I bought it solely based on the title and my state of inebriation.

From Louie's Backyard bar. This is looking south towards Cuba, which is 90 miles away. The Southernmost Point is a few blocks away.

This is an interesting museum. I learned a lot about Florida's lighthouses, wrecking and the reef. At the end of the museum you can go up to the top of the lighthouse for, what I have been told, is the best view in Key West. I wouldn't know.

On this trip I had already flown in a small helicopter and an open cockpit biplane nearly twice my age, but I got half-way up the spiral staircase and I chickened out. Apparently I am afraid of heights though I will fly in anything.

As I was leaving the docent asked me how I liked it. I told her I found the museum interesting but chickened out on the ascent even though I had been flying in all kinds of stuff for the first time. She said her husband is the same way and I was offered a sticker stating that I ascended anyway, which I declined. She was a nice lady and I will get to the top of that lighthouse one day!

My first morning back in a year. This was taken from the newly constructed Duval Street pocket park. Facing Southwest looking at the Southernmost Beach Resort.

Departing from Key West International Airport, March 7, 2020.
My plane's name was Pink Sand.

Update: RIP Silver Airways. The airline ceased operating in June of 2025 following a Chapter 11 bankruptcy..