As we’ve passed the 1-month mark since Hurricane Irma struck the Florida Keys, folks here are still deep in dealing with the fall out.
We’re in a location here at Burdines where we have to look harder to see signs of the destruction. Even the water is returning to that gorgeous green/turquoise color and marine wildlife have been paying visits again.
Basically, we’ve been able to return to some normalcy a lot sooner than others (well, for as much as a nomad can have a normal).
While we’re still chasing down leaks, repairing small items, picking up debris and volunteering – we’ve also grilling out on the cockpit, returning to our normal work hours, pampering Kiki and doing a bit of exploring.
That’s not true for others, even in own harbor or just a couple blocks away.
Blue tarps still cover what was once roofs. Walls and furniture are covered in mold lining the streets.
Re-floating boats, salvaging what is left and preparing for dreams to be literally crushed.
Standing in long lines in the brutal heat (yes, it’s still climbing into the 90s here) to receive assistance.
Massive clean-up continues for so many who will not be able to return to anything resembling normal for quite a while.
Some are even choosing to leave the area all together and rebuild a life elsewhere.
Moments of Normal Mean so Much
But as the days draw on and more businesses open up – folks are able to take a much needed break for a few moments of normalcy.
This weekend, in our very own backyard, a bit of that normal returned to the Keys.
After weeks of hard effort by the crew here at Burdines Waterfront, where our boat has been docked since mid-August – they re-opened the Bar & Grille.
It’s a local treasure, loved by locals and visitors alike.
It’s good for the staff to get back to work. It good for the owners for income to resume.
And it’s good for the locals to come out, enjoy a meal, some tunes and hang out with friends.
The re-opening limited menu includes their famous green chili cheeseburgers (influenced by Burdines New Mexican ties, and we can attest that the chilies are roasted onsite!), grilled fish sandwiches and Fried Key Lime Pie (they claim to be the original).
We were thrilled to be part of the re-opening.
There was amazing local music by Joe Mama, delicious food served (holy crap the Poke Tuna was AMAZING!!), lots of community, lots of tears, lots of laughter and lots of love.
Burdines welcomed us to live cast the opening night to share with you on our YouTube channel – which was super fun!
Here’s the archive if you’d like to kick back for some virtual old-school Keys lifestyle. It includes a little taste of it all, including some drone footage of the area (sorry, we couldn’t share the food with you too!):
When we arrived to the Keys a couple months ago, we were only intending to be at Burdines for a few days to meet our long time blog reader Randy (who is at the heart of this place), pump out and get a lay of the land.
Never would we imagine a lady named Irma would endear Burdines and Marathon in our hearts forever. It’s the people, the events and the memories that keep our adventures fueled – not necessarily the backdrop of a location.
We truly are blessed.
Serendipity always points us precisely where we’re meant to be.
That’s a lovely phrase that’s it’s the people, the events, and the memories that keep your adventure fueled. That’s such an important point. I Know in our beginning we had a tendency to judge our travels by the major landmarks we experienced. But it’s been the unexpected moments in areas I had never heard about that really stay with me. I love that you have been part of the community there during this experience. As awful and scary as it was you will never forget this time period in your life.
Anyways it’s been very interesting read and I really appreciate your opening up and sharing the experience.
Trace
It’s so easy in the beginning to base your travels around the places – we did it too. I think what keeps many of us on the road long term is the experiences however.
Natural disasters can bring out the best (and worst) in everyone….we are so glad to know you are in the former group not the latter! Happy to see recovery even in little baby steps! Fair winds and following seas our friends!
Good to see that you and the rest of the Keys are recovering well !
Wonderful to see the place coming back to life with spirits renewed and hope for the future.
Oh the great memories of days (and nights) at Burdines, thank God you both and Y-Not are safe. Love the moments.
Burdines is a magical little place!
I’m glad you find yourselves in the midst of community in this situation. Giving and receiving are great ways to build friendships.
It is good to see the community here coming together.. but it’s definitely an odd position we find ourselves in, and a difficult one for outsiders like us to feel part of.
A-w-w-w Great to know things are improving.
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“Serendipity always points us precisely where we’re meant to be.”
Perfect! and it’s lovely that you are where you are. See you again someday we hope!
Exactly… sometimes the experiences may not be the most worthy of gorgeous photos and travel tales, but it’s the stuff that is real.
Great to see you enjoying yourselves again and to see the Keys recovering !
We try to take moments to appreciate the beauty too… but there is still much destruction around.
Hello, As we were planning our RV trip to Alaska last year. We ran across your vlog, and have been following you since. I love how you made the leap and working on the road at a younger age…
Thanks for coming along.. .and enjoy Alaska. Such an amazing journey!