I used to be in faculty for 10 semesters and a summer time session, however I solely managed to go on a Spring Break journey for my final 12 months (I spent my first Spring Break doing group service). As quickly as lessons ended, six or seven of us piled into “Massive Joe’s” station wagon to move on 95 South for about 24 hours.
We have been all tight on money, so flying was by no means an choice. So, our approach there was by automotive, and we packed as many individuals and their baggage in as doable for the 1,200-plus-mile journey from Faculty Park, MD, to Key West, FL.
Many of the drive is a blur at this level, however I do keep in mind everybody being fairly psyched about stopping at South of the Border, which was close to the border of North Carolina and South Carolina.
In any other case, the driving spotlight was Massive Joe sticking his hand out the window at every state line and shouting, “First one to Virginia,” “First one to North Carolina,” and so on. However, as we waited at a stoplight earlier than coming into Florida, one of many guys with us jumped out of the automotive and ran to the Florida state line and introduced, “First one to Florida.”
Massive Joe was pissed, and all of us laughed in our delirium. We truly thought we have been pretty near Key West at that time. Little did we all know that we have been nonetheless over 500 miles away.
Once we arrived, we discovered our dwelling for the subsequent week, one of many low cost, two-story vacationer motels. I feel there have been 8 or so folks staying within the room, so we determined to make it first-come, first-served every night time for the 2 beds. Everybody else received a spot on the ground.
Our first transfer after dumping our baggage within the room was to exit and lease scooters. To this present day, I don’t understand how none of us received into an accident, as a result of we have been younger and silly and driving drunk everywhere in the island for per week. The remainder of the spring breakers have been, too.
After an evening or two on the ground, I made a decision that I’d keep out as late as I may every night time, after which migrate from the ground to a mattress because the mattress guys wakened. And I’d sleep in some model of consolation till the afternoon.
My late-night custom after the bars was to cease by a fuel station for a field of fried rooster and a 40 of malt liquor. I don’t keep in mind the model, however it was whichever was most cost-effective. I’d take my feast to the Southernmost Level and luxuriate in it earlier than going for yet another lap across the island.
After a day or two of driving the scooter round, I spotted I wanted some sun shades to guard my eyes from bugs and grime. I went to a retailer and acquired a pair of Ray-Bans on my bank card. This can be laborious to imagine, however I nonetheless have these Ray-Bans. I feel they’re my oldest possession.
They got here in helpful that week, and I nonetheless use them, although I don’t put on sun shades fairly often.
I don’t keep in mind ever being on the small Key West seashores in the course of the journey, however we’d wheel in coolers to the motel pool and spend a ton of daylight time floating round and having fun with low cost beer.
At night time, we’d go to the bars I’d heard about from older Pi Kappa Alpha brothers or in Jimmy Buffett songs. The one I used to be most excited to go to was Capt. Tony’s.
Sadly, my cease at that bar was transient, as a result of once I went to the lads’s room and noticed the lengthy strains, I copied another guys and tried utilizing the sink. The bouncers didn’t like that, and I ended up getting tossed.
The drive again to school on the finish of Spring break wasn’t practically as enjoyable because the drive to Key West. All I had in entrance of me at this level was a pair extra months of lessons, exams, after which commencement.
It was a very enjoyable week, and I want I had the funds to go on multiple Spring Break, however I’ll all the time have this one. I haven’t been again to Key West since 1993, however I do need to return there quickly.
My subsequent time in Key West, I plan to have a mattress for each night time, and if I do any driving, it will perhaps be from Miami. In any other case, I’m flying the entire approach.