Hank's Hair of the Dog Saloon | Where in the world are the Gills?

We left Cornelia parked in the Everglades and motored with Mike all the way south on Hwy 1 to Key West. What a stunning drive! The picturesque ocean water shifts in color to pale blues, turquoises, and teals. Driving Mike through the Florida Keys has been on Sarah’s Bucket List for years and we hope to return post-pandemic to spend several days exploring this gorgeous part of the world.

We arrived in time for lunch and the driver of a beautifully restored iconic ‘57 Chevy convertible pulled up alongside us at a stoplight. He called out to compliment us on Mike and we responded in kind. Just before the light changed, we asked where was a good, safe spot for an outdoor lunch and without hesitating he recommended Garbo’s Grill @ Hanks – a food truck out back of a bar with live music. Instant success! We drove through old town, found the bar, and the server immediately filled up a bowl with fresh water for Molly. The tables were widely spaced outdoors and we feasted on Caribbean shrimp and Korean BBQ. The tropical breeze wafting over us combined with the good music made us feel transported to pre-Covid vacation times. We could have sat there drinking all afternoon!

Part of Sarah’s fascination with Key West is the literary connections of authors like Ernest Hemingway and Shel Silverstein. Hemingway’s house is preserved for tourists, but Silverstein’s house was crushed by a large banyan tree during a hurricane in 2017.

After walking downtown, we drove to the southernmost tip of the Continental U.S. but declined to wait in the block-long line for a photo at the monument. We snapped a picture of other folks as we drove past!

We discovered Dog Beach, where Molly and other canine pals could swim in the warm water. Even Sarah jumped a few waves!

Because this was a day trip, we reluctantly pointed north again but made two more stops on the way back to our covid-capsule at the campground. Kiki’s Sandbar is right on the water with terrific views and strong drinks. Leashed dogs are welcomed! And a trip to a fish market to pick up dinner and a slice of Key Lime pie completed our adventure.