Going North

It's time to pack up from Bluewater Key and head back to North Carolina.  We had a beautiful sunrise this morning.  Then after getting everything picked up, packed up, and getting the cats ready for a day of travel, we are off and headed up US-1 back to the mainland.  It's time to put the Conch Republic behind us for this year.

We encountered very little rain as we made our way north on the Florida's Turnpike, then after Ft. Pierce, I-95. 

I do have a question for any Floridian's living in the Keys:  Are tourist the only ones expected to obey the traffic laws on US-1 in the Keys?   We had several rude and nearly dangerous experiences with drivers on the Overseas Highway, both while driving the RV and while driving the Chevy Tracker during our stay.  Most of the incidences were relating to dangerous passing while I was driving the posted speed limit or even 5 MPH or so above the limit.  Do people think if they intimidate you, you will will break the law so they can get someplace a few seconds quicker?  I really don't get it.  Furthermore, in most of the cases, we pulled up next to them or right behind them again at the next stop light.

We stopped for the night in St.  Augustine Florida, at the Stagecoach RV park.  It is very near the interstate and is relatively easy to get in and out.  We unhooked the Chevy and decided to eat a meal out at a St. Augustine restaurant.  We drove over to the beach just as the sun was going down and made a couple of pictures.   All the surf and sand is quite a bit different from the calm, clear waters to which we became accustomed in the Keys.

 With the clear skys, the moon was perfectly visible in the early evening sky.

There was another couple on the beach that was able to take our picture for us.

So tomorrow we head home after a full two weeks. 

Upgrade

Saddle  Bunch Keys, Florida

We did a little swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking today.  We had a brief shower and accompanying thunderstorm in the morning, but the afternoon was beautiful.

We drove over to the seafood market on Summerland Key and while we were there we looked at a few houses for sale.  Wow is all I can say.  The prices of even very modest houses here anywhere close to the water are very high!

My last picture was of the fresh shrimp we grilled.  Tonight we upgraded to fresh Keys Lobster.  I had not grilled lobster before so I was asking a couple of people including the lady at the seafood market for some tips.  Its really pretty simple...cut the shell of the tail down the middle and grill using the shell as the holder.

We seasoned them with just a small amount of melted butter and lime juice, and a little pepper. As you can see, the results were very tasty, and didn't last long!

The evening was mild with a little breeze from the south.  The Moon has been rising very early in the day and we could not see it, but last night it was visible and I tried (with not so good results) to get a picture or two.

One more day in Paradise then we have to head back to North Carolina!

Pink Shrimp on the Barby

Saddle Bunch Keys, Florida

We had another lazy day in the Keys.  We spend most of the day at the RV park swimming and kayaking. 

The wildlife here is amazing.  I mentioned earlier the number of birds we see daily.  Lower Sugarloaf Key also has a lot of fish.  Earlier today we heard a noise that sounded like a boat blasting through the water.  It turned out to be a shoal of mullet escaping from some other predatory fish.  About 4 or 5 waves of the mullet looking like ocean waves breaking on a shoreline continuing for 30 seconds or so until they were in deeper water.  Of course I didn't have the camera so no shot of that.

Anything watersports oriented is available and done here in the Keys.  Seems that every house has a boat or two in the yard or in the carport.  Paddle boarding is popular here as well.  We saw this guy coming across the sound with his dog on the board with him.

 I have not tried paddle boarding but my sense of balance is not all that great.  I think I would have a hard time standing upright and paddling by myself, much less with a dog on board!

Mid afternoon we drove up to Ramrod Key to a fresh seafood market and bought a pound of Key West Pink Shrimp.  We grilled those for our dinner.  We had a bag of broccoli slaw (just add mayo) and some whole wheat tortillas.  This combination made some very good fresh shrimp tacos.

We are headed back to that same seafood store tomorrow go pick up a couple of Florida Keys fresh Lobster for the grill.

Sightseeing Day

Today was the first day in a week that the  clouds didn't move out with the arrival of the sun.  It rained pretty hard during the night, and when we awoke this morning, the wind was blowing from the southeast and there were heavy clouds.

We decided to tie things down and take a day trip.  First over to Key West to see what was going on there.  As usual, lots of traffic and lots of people.  We drove out to the Truman Annex and Fort Zachery Taylor to see the beach.  At the gate we were informed by the nice security guard that we would have to pay the $7 entry fee to drive in and look at the beach.  We decided we didn't really need to see it that bad, but here is an aerial view according to their web site.

 We continued back to Duval Street and wound our way around some of the other more scenic streets in Old Town. 

After that we decided to head back up US-1 toward Marathon.  There were a couple of shops there that we wanted to check out.  And I always enjoy crossing the Seven Mile Bridge.   My question is: Why do people think the MUST pass on that bridge?  I was actually going 60 MPH...5MPH over the posted speed limit.  There was a line of cars in front and plenty behind.  Three different cars felt the need to get in front of me.  Of course they couldn't get any further ahead than the few cars in front of me, so at the first traffic signal in Marathon, I pulled up right behind them.  I guess I just don't understand.

Just north of Seven Mile Bridge is a quirky gift shop with a nautical islandy theme.  A lot of pottery, Sun art, and yes, PINK FLAMINGOS!  We have been looking for a pair to decorate our RV space wherever we are, so we stopped and bought a pair.

 

These are the cheap kind, pink plastic with metal rods for legs.  Very tacky and just what we had been looking for.

On the way back we took a right off of US-1 at Middle Torch Key.  This leads to a short causeway on Dorn Road that goes north for several miles on Big Torch Key.  This has to be one of the most isolated Keys in Florida with a paved road on it.  Very few houses in this area.  I'm not sure but it looks like the ones that are there are self sufficient with their own power and water cisterns.

Not too far from the end of the road we pass a "compound" carved into the mangroves and Live Oaks.  It contains a building that looks a bit like a Buddhist shrine, and a very interesting sign on a pole near the road.

In case you can't read it, it says "Watch for Children"  "They Taste Like Chicken"!


 

The Daily Air Show

Saddle Bunch Keys, Florida

A very lazy day in the lower Keys for us today.  We really took it easy.  I mean the easiest of the take it easy kind.  Well I take that back, we did wash a load of clothes in the laundry room here at Bluewater Key, and we took a short ride over to the Atlantic side of Sugarloaf Key. 

There is a small park with a boat launch and a parking area where Sugarloaf Creek runs into the Ocean.  Sugarloaf Creek is the way to get from Lower Sugarloaf Sound to the Atlantic Ocean.  Just offshore is the reef and a light tower.  There are a couple of picnic shelters at the parking area.  Here is a picture of Pam in one of the shelters with the Atlantic Ocean beyond.

We talked to a couple of guys unloading their kayak for a trip out to the reef for some diving.  There is alot of wildlife in the area.

Here is a picture of the coast looking NorthEast:

 And from the same spot looking in the opposite direction out toward the reef.  That is Sugarloaf Creek in the foreground.

Back at the RV park, we did some of our own swimming.  Here is Pam doing some Keys Noodling.

I mentioned the daily "Air Show".  There are always plenty of birds in the keys.  This fellow spent the afternoon watching us from the dock next door:

And of course, there is always Fat Albert, a tethered blimp with a somewhat mysterious background.  Stationed at Cudjoe Key, we can easily see the blimp from our RV site.  Pictures are very difficult to get due to the distance and the fact that he blends in with the sky.  Here is Fat Albert almost down from his fully tethered position.  Look hard and you can see him:

It is very hard to get the proper scale on a shot like this, but that blimp is about 7 or 8 miles away, and is only about 20% of his normal flying altitude!

The "air show" also includes the fascinating buildup of those big puffy clouds as the wind brings the moisture from the ocean.

We also watched an Osprey fishing in the sound today.  After several dives he brought up a pretty large fish in his talons.  Of course, I didn't have the camera ready for that one. 

Another part of the air show is watching the occasional flight of jets based out of Boca Chica Airbase.  Those pilots are awesome and to see their speed and the way they fly in such close formation is amazing.

Oh well, as I said, another lazy day in the keys.  Goodnight Bobbi.