Figured I'd better get "Legal" down here and see if I need a "Cruising Sailing Permit" to sail down here .. Don't need it around the great lakes just got to check in the the US Customs each

time you go across the Lake to the NY side. So off I go this morning to the US Customs and Border Security office here in Marathon... Well !! what do ya know .... you got to go to Key West office to check in ! Nice that I have wheels to get me there.

Key West is quite the place and I never get bored visiting the town so off I go (43 miles down Key) Find the office is in the Federal court House Building. Parking is hard to find in KW so I am 15 mins walk from the office .. no problem I need the exercize anyway. Get in the front doors and its like an armed camp .. X ray machines 3 security guards and gates to the offices.. I noticed a sign on the main doors .. NO Cell phones ! I tell the guards I am looking to get a "Permit" and they say no problem .. show me some photo ID.. I happen to mention.. I have a cell phone on me and could they retain it for me at the front desk so I can go get the Permit ?? Not a chance they say ... I can leave it somewhere "Outside" only.

OK ... I leave an take the phone back to the truck and return for the Permit. I asked them if they wanted to "Frisk" me and they decline ( not really true ) On in I go and show my "Ships Papers" to the (Armed) Customs officer ( behind a security screen) No problem .. As I am such a nice guy.. he issued me a one year sailing permit for the entire US of A and said have a nice day. No cost for the permit by the way.

That took up most of my day today so we will see what tomorrow brings. On the drive back up Key my eye caught this UFO just north of Boco Chico Key.. Ya .. its a "Blimp" but doing what out in the middle of the mangroves I cannot figure out !! Its real close to the US Naval Air Force Base so who knows .. maybe their going to draw a pic of OSAMA on it and use the sucker for F16 target practice !!