Bimini is a small island off the coast of Florida with a tiny air strip, a shark study center and fishing boats.  Fresh conch is sold on the side of the dirt roads.  There are a couple miles of sandy beach under bending mango trees, some tin shacks, a one floor motel, a couple airy bars with thatch roofs … and the Compleat Angler!  I took a small plane to Bimini for a long weekend once.  I recall the short flight over translucent blue waters.  Like in a dream, sharks racing with plane’s shadow on the surface below.  Each night, after long days drinking rum in the sun and then a short nap and shower, it was off to the Compleat Angler to see live music and dance.  The house band played island music and covers, including a long, funky, Caribbean flavored arrangement of Barry White’s “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love Babe”.  It always brought the joint to an ecstatic, frenzied peak.  Each night a dozen or so free-spirited, weekend revelers and island hoppers crowded the small dance floor until the wee hours of the morning.  I remember one night stumbling out of the Angler under bright stars, my arms around a beautiful young marine biologist and our long, slow walk back to her dorm.   Later I read that the Angler burnt to the ground.  Finding this record over the weekend magically brings it all back.

(11 votes, average: 3.27 out of 5)

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