From: "Jon Bickel" <papillon31@earthlink.net>

Subject: Papillon update

Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2004 20:35:19 –0500

N 24°42.37 W 81°05.63

Hello from Marathon.

I awoke this morning to the good news that for once I was in the "right place at the right time". I was located in the warmest spot in the country at a balmy 65 degrees. Things are looking up. Despite that encouraging temperature, the winds are still brisk out of the North, the direction we just happen to be heading, meaning we aren't leaving yet. Besides we have a party to go to tonight. It is an after tax season party for the overworked tax preparers, ( 4 hours , one day a week ) , from Marathon. What a better way to celebrate one of those miserable facts of life, death and taxes, than with a party.

Do you know what is so great about this place? Heard this the other day on the radio out of Key West.

People, mostly tourists, began scattering, stampeding some said, during the sunset celebration on Mallory Dock. Now sunset is a phenomenon that occurs each day at "sunset" and includes everything from fire eaters, Houdini wantabes, sword swallowers, food venders, probably a few con artists and my favorite the CATMAN with his trained house kats. As the sun drops on the horizon most heads turn to the West to view the unrestricted sunset and watch for the "GREEN FLASH". Now I have seen the green flash but not in Key West. Comes from hanging out with parrotheads.

Seems these people were trying to get out of the way of a man running around wildly waving a very threatening machete, which he valiantly produced after being pulled off his bicycle , by two men. The two men had accused him of stealing the bicycle and obviously he, the man on the bicycle didn't agree with them. As it was becoming clearer that the machete was intended to harm them , the two men grabbed some garbage can lids and using them as shields began pelting , the man wielding the machete with coconuts. Sounds like a tactic learned while they served in the army under Bill Clinton. Where else could something like this happen. Key West, you gotta love it.

I left out part of the address to Ruby's new web page. The link below should work.

Ruby finally has permitted me to post her kitten pictures to our web site. NOW for your viewing at wwww.liveaboardsvpapillon.homestead.com/rubyspagekitten.html

Check out our Bay Map charting our position on http://liveaboardsvpapillon.homestead.com/Chartourcourse.html

"Goin where the weather suits my clothes"

Capt Jon & Ruby