Glad to hear from another Key West bike riding, Gate bar drinking bubblehead. I remember one or two Triumphs that used to park by the main gate. My memory has faded on a lot of that time frame. I too was an EM2(SS) on the Tirante during that time. 

We had done a yard period in Portsmouth, Virginia in early 1964 and that is where I bought my bike. At the Harley shop just outside the shipyard gate. Rode around that area during our yard time and met some real characters. There was a biker bar south of Portsmouth, called El Chicos I think, that a bunch of us would frequent. A lot of the civilians who used to drink there ended up being the "Outlaws", some real animals. 

I had to ship my bike back to Key West because our XO hated motorcycles and wouldn't give me leave to ride it down. He was really pissed when he found out I had it in Key West. I remember an apartment over the book store, I think some curly haired blond lived there awhile then a couple of Puerto Rican chic's from NY. If I remember correctly and believe me it is getting foggy; I spent a night or two up there with one or all of them. 

My ride thru the Gate Bar was one of my more exciting memories. I don't know if you remember Miss Vicky but she was tending bar that fateful day. It was a Saturday afternoon, warm and humid, and kind of quiet. Suddenly I remembered what a first class Torpedoman had told me, "You are not a biker until you have ridden thru a bar". So I go out side, have a friend stand by the door, and tell him to open it when I come across the sidewalk. In I go down the left side of the bar. That side was occupied by mostly Tirante crewmembers (luck for me) and they had to sit on the bar and raise their stools for me to pass. I went around the back and couldn't get passed the head with my crash bars. So I backed out the back door to turn around and exited the same side I came in on. By this time the place was filling with exhaust fumes, Miss Vicky was pegging bud bottles off my head and the other drinkers were starting to get pissed. It was a crowded place and like I said a lot of them were my shipmates. I burned rubber going out the door and left a 5-foot skid mark that lasted for a long time. I went sideways across the sidewalk into the street and zipped around to the bike parking area. The gate marines later said it was a sight to see, one big red Harley come sideways out the door, rear wheel burning rubber, and a drunken bubblehead hanging on for dear life. I don't think Jack Harnish ever knew what caused that black mark. 

Enough of me, tell me a little more of your Key West memories. Are you a member of USSVI, Inc? Do you know they are having a convention in Reno in September? I have found a lot of old Key Wester's on this computer who are going to be there. Should be a fun time. Respond if you want, those of us who spent time in the old Key West are a fraternity unto ourselves.