Pocket knife in paradise.

[jackknife]

So, now in day three of a Key West vacation, I can report that a small sharp cutter is just as nice a thing to have as in a normal day to day life. So far, it has been needed to slice limes for cold gin and tonics, pop open cold beers, nbut most of all, there is the cigar. My son-in-law and I have been sampling the hand rolled cigars here, of Cuban seed long leaf tobacco, and I'm very afraid I could develop a new vice. It's a very nice way to spend a tropical evening, sitting on a veranda feeling the cool evening breeze, the smell of the ocean, and the taste of a fine cigar.

We found a small shop that had hand rolled Dominican's from Cuban seed, ( or so we are told) and brought sue back to the Southern most guest house. Of course, John didn't bring his cigar cutter because no sharp objects on a plane and like us, they didn't pause to check bags. So it was up to my pocket knife. Of course I had made sure it had good edge on to before I mailed it. It made a nice slightly slanted cut, and allowed us to enjoy the smoke. The flat ground SAK blade makes a pretty decent cigar cutter when sharp!

Now off for some boating.

Carl.

[db]

Good to read the Recruit made it down with no problems. Remember to keep drinking alot of water during the day so the nights can be saved for my favorite mixed drink the Jin and tonic. Sounds like a great time wish I was there too.

[Railsplitter]

Sounds like you're having a blast, Carl. That gin and tonic sure sounds good and I haven't had a good cigar in a couple months. Might have to run down to the smoke shop today.

Glad to hear that your SAK is serving you well.

Have fun!

[zippofan]

I'm looking forward to the day when my wife and I can spend evenings on a tropical beach...have a great time Carl!

Cigars, you reminded me, I have to stop at our local smoke shop to stock up for summer camp. While the guys are off doing their merit badges the leaders sit on "the veranda" at our campsite (a high overlook with a view of the bottom half of the camp), smoke cigars, drink coffee perc'd over a campfire, tell tall tales, talk shop, sharpen knives...an all around good time.

[jackknife]

So far, the most important duty of the knife has been slicing the end off the cigars. Since nobody has a sharp edge, everyone has been using my SAK to trim off the end of the cigar. Good smoke in the evening in a very important thing here.

Carl.

[mqqn]

Hi Carl -

Your post brings back memories of my last visit to KW - on my motorcycle for Fantasy Fest. Still brings a smile to my face - that was a great party week!

I had a few knives with me on that trip, but they did not get used much - that was a low-need vacation.

I am not a smoker (anymore) but I do enjoy a nice stogie occasionally - never thought about it while I was down there!

I stayed at the Southernmost as well - nice place with a great tiki bar at the pool and an even better, larger bar out back on the beach!

Picture of the Southermost -



they have some great seafood in KW - as you would expect - I love scallops -



Caroline and Duvall at party time (which is pretty much all the time during the fest)



here, a whale had washed onshore at the Southernmost beach - he was saved though....


Enjoy your trip - I hope you took a camera!

best

mqqn

[jackknife]

Hi Carl -

Your post brings back memories of my last visit to KW - on my motorcycle for Fantasy Fest. Still brings a smile to my face - that was a great party week!

I had a few knives with me on that trip, but they did not get used much - that was a low-need vacation.

I am not a smoker (anymore) but I do enjoy a nice stogie occasionally - never thought about it while I was down there!

I stayed at the Southernmost as well - nice place with a great tiki bar at the pool and an even better, larger bar out back on the beach!

Enjoy your trip - I hope you took a camera!

best

mqqn

Wrong Southern most. We're at the Southern most Guest house, not hotel. An 1885 colonial home built by a cigar magnate across the street. More homey.

Carl.

[Nightshifter]

Enjoy your vacation Carl. Everyone deseves some R&R in this crazy screwed up world we live in at the moment.
Paul

[matt]

Don't forget to stop into sloppy joes,both of them.My swiss champ came in handy in key west this past June.You are now officially the southernmost peanut lover in the us.

[db]

How about a Hemingway night while your down there a bag of limes and a bottle or two of white rum should give the Recruit a good work out slicing all those limes. I like mine with a pinch or two of sugar but I've heard Hemingway liked it without. With the heat as it's been up here I feel like I'm in KW myself.

[thatotherguy]

Wish I was there. Sounds like a great time, enjoy yourself!

[jackknife]

Well, we made it back, and as much as I loved Key West again, it's good to be back in my own place. I ended up leaving the Victorinox recruit with the handy man who worked at the Southern most point guest house. He was working hard mowing the lawn, trimming bushes, and other work, so I felt good leaving it with a working man. I handed it to his as we were leaving for the airport, and he was very exited to get it. His English was not so good, but I got plenty of mucho gracias, and as I was walking away, I heard him call to Mona's son who he calls jefe, and was showing him the knife.

It was a strange kind of experience, being limited to just one knife, but enlightening. I really had very little need of much blade, and any small sharp pocket knife could have done what the SAK did. Mostly cut of plastic labels on suvineer T-shirts, cut the back end of a good cigar, cut a slice of lime for the Gin and Tonics when I wasn't drinking rum runners at the bar caddy corner to the Southernmost point Guest house. At happy hour, they were 3 dollars for a big 16 once rum runner that had a very healthy dose of rum.

The knife got used for slicing open those plastic packs of mustard or ketchup while at the beach over in the Zachery Taylor state park. WE bought sandwich makings and did them up while in the shade of the palm trees.

It was enlightening like I said to realize that a Buck 309, a Case peanut, a Victorinox secretary, or any other similar type of knife would have done the same good job. Knocking about in a tropical island atmosphere, there was need now and then for a sharp blade, but not much of one. Any little thing would do. But then, it's much the same as everyday life. As hot as it was there, with thunder storms every afternoon, clothing consisted of nylon shorts that doubled as swim trucks, light well worn and broken in cotton shirt that was a size or two too big for a lose airy fit, and Teva sandals. If it stormed, we just didn't mind being wet nd cooled down. This of course resulted in being soaking wet, so absolute minimum pocket stuff was kept in pockets. Money, and just the plastic laminated drivers license in one pocket, knife and Fenix EO1 in other. A zip lock bag with a cigar or two and a BIC lighter in a shirt pocket finished off the edc gear.

I think the next time I'm going to mail myself a stainless peanut or a Buck 309, and mail it back home the morning I leave.

Carl.

[dogstar]

Carl, thanks for the stories. It was very nice of you to gift the knife at the end of the trip.

I wonder how a CV knife would have held up on a trip like that... I guess you'd just take more care.

[Doug Add]

A gracious ending to what sounds like a lovely respite. Glad you had such a fine time.

[thatotherguy]

Welcome back GHM!
Great ending to a happy story.

[jackknife]

Carl, thanks for the stories. It was very nice of you to gift the knife at the end of the trip.

I wonder how a CV knife would have held up on a trip like that... I guess you'd just take more care.

I don't know. More care will be needed, for sure. Thursday and Friday the temps were high 80's with moderate humidity. Saturday and Sunday was hot as hades, in the 90's with very high humidity to the point it was like a steam bath, especially after the afternoon thunderstorm with the sun coming back out after. Rain gear was not worn, so the knife would be in a soaked pocket until later when back at the room clothes were changed again. Couldn't wipe down with a bandana because that was wet too. But one tended not to notice especially after heavy drinking.

It would be an interesting experiment to carry a CV peanut next time to see what happens.

Carl.

[Stich2442]

I think the CV would do fine as long as it has a patina, when I've spent time in Jamaica the men I ran into carried Okapi knives which are 1095, plenty of sailors went to sea with carbon blades.

[Halfneck]

Very jealous Carl, Key West is on the top of my list for places to go. Almost went when I had some leave in the Army, but decided not to because of the long drive. One day I will make it there with the wife & enjoy a sunset while sipping a cocktail.

[neeman]

"Grand Muchaba reinstated'

Welcome home glad you had a good time

"and mail it back home the morning I leave"

"so I felt good leaving it with a working man"

Mmmm
Which one??

[mrrampro]

a vacation sounds nice. Have fun and thanks for sharing and makin us jealous!