STORY: STU JONES I PHOTOS: JIM WENGER
For the seasoned veteran, the best news for the 17th Annual Miami Boat Show Poker Run was hearing that the new Post Card Inn was ready and waiting for the poker run mob. But it wasn’t really an entirely new destination, rather the longawaited makeover of the landmark Holiday Isle Resort & Marina, which has been event headquarters for the annual poker run since the late nineties. In more recent years, the property had changed hands, and when plans by the new owners to develop a luxurious condominium resort hotel were later shelved due to the economic downturn…the property fell on harder times. Those were the (ugly room) years, and it caused many repeat participants to look elsewhere for suitable accommodations, or quite simply, stay home and miss the event altogether. But with a recent infusion of several million dollars, focused on complete renovation of sleeping room and building upgrades, along with a chic landscaping makeover, the all new Post Card Inn pleased the once-angry mob, and guests were excited to see the conversion to the trendy boutique style look of the property. The Friday run kicked off at SeaIsle Marina in Miami almost as a cloned replica of the Thursday group just 24 hours earlier, as about three dozen powerboats formed an impressive parade line through Downtown Miami towards Biscayne Bay. I had the pleasure of jumping board with David and Leeann Branton on Team Voodoo, the all-new Cigarette Marauder powered by Mercury Racing 1350’s, and it would be my first ride on this impressive machine. Even more significant was the
fact that this Cigarette had topped a long line of former Cigarettes, owned by the Louisiana couple, who have been members of FPC for fifteen years! (See feature on
David & Leeann Branton, page 80)
The sunny skies made for an amazing day, which was a repeat of the day earlier, and by all accounts from the local weather reports, it was going to continue for the next few days! Awwwwww…February is such a nice month in Florida! After a safe start, the impressive fleet that included everything from agile twin outboard Skaters, to luxurious center consoles, classic vee-bottoms and colorful high-powered cats, was southbound for Key Largo. After some high-speed sprints across the calm bay waters, the early morning adrenaline would temporarily be muted by the tropical vibe of Gilberts new Tiki hut, a hearty buffet lunch, pleasant Buffet-ish tunes from a local entertainer, and that tropical vibe that murmurs a hypnotic message, “You are now in the Florida
Keys. Let your hair down, turn off the cell phone and enjoy the day with your boating buddies!”. Damn that gives me chills just thinking about it. Somebody pinch me!! SJ
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
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