Conch Republic Independence Festival

First, the story.  I will paraphrase.

The Conch Republic was established by secession of the Florida Keys from the United States of America, on April 23rd, 1982 in response to a United States Border Patrol Blockade setup on highway U.S.1 at Florida City just to the north of the Florida Keys. This effectively isolated Keys Citizens from the U.S. mainland since the blockade was on the only land artery to and from the mainland. This roadblock portrayed Keys residents as non-U.S. citizens who had to prove their citizenship in order to drive onto the Florida mainland.

So, the Mayor and other citizens went to the Federal courthouse in Miami to seek an injunction to stop the roadblock, but did not succeed.  So, upon leaving the courthouse, the mayor announced that at noon the next day, the Florida Keys would secede from the Union.

So, at noon the next day in Mallory Square, the mayor announced the secession of the Keys from the Union, symbolically broke a loaf of Cuban bread over a 'navy officer'.  Then promptly surrendered to the Admiral at the Key West Naval Air Station and demanded $1 billion in foreign aid to help with war relief efforts after the long Federal siege.

The story has a few more crazy details, you can read them here.

But in true Keys tradition.  One action becomes a chance to become an annual party. And not just that, a week long celebration.

This year, we were finally in the right place at the right time and got to witness a few of the events.   We could have participated, but

1. Couldn't get my husband to dress in drag.
2. Didn't think we should participate in the boat race considering the weather conditions.
3. Didn't have a four poster bed handy.
4. Was fresh out of pirate gear.

Friday night there was the "Longest Parade in the World" going from the Atlantic side of the island to the Gulf side.  However, I'm not sure that pans out because by the time we saw the parade at the end of Duval (MM 0) there were very few parade people left. But I don't think most of them made it down Duval before diving into a bar.

Schooner Wharf Pirate Contingent

Man on a bike with an Ostrich
What more can you say?