Monday morning was a rush of packing the camp gear, getting Bonnie Dog to the kennel and leaving word with the neighbors who keep an eye on stuff when we are away. I pleaded with my friend who comes to use the pool to please not forget to water the herbs. (Those new mints for mojitos are doing great so far!!!)
The trip from Orlando to the Keys can vary greatly depending on the traffic once you hit Florida City. Much of the drive on US 1 from there is two lanes...although the new bridge opened at Key Largo the day we left. If there is any kind of traffic snafu, the trip can take from 6.5 hours to 8 hours to get all the way to Key West. This time we were lucky--we were only going to the Middle Keys and the traffic was moving along fine.
I stopped to see my friend and customer, Susan, who owns a jewelry boutique in Tavernier. I had to drop off a wholesale order and just take a couple minutes to say Hi. But we were under a 5pm deadline to get to the state park to get our spot and get set up, so, it was a really quick "Hello and Goodbye".
Weatherwise we were looking at temps around 90 for the four days and nights maybe at 80 degrees. We got lucky on Monday--it rained a little while we were driving...and it stayed partly cloudy, so, the temps were managable. The best part was the sea breeze! It was blowing nicely, so even when it was hot, you didn't feel it as much. It also kept the mosquitos away...but not so much the no-see-ums! I am a magnet for anything that bites, and this trip was no exception.
Set up went fine...we have put this tent up so many times and in so many different wind conditions, that it is a piece of cake. The screen room is a different ordeal...it is newer and we just don't have the routine down yet. BUT, we did manage to do it with no ripped screens and no fighting match between Rod and I!
Because of the drought conditions, there was a no campfire rule in effect...so my gourmet "campground slop" dinner was done on an electric skillet. I had planned to use my backpacking stove, but, it is no where to be found--ah, the house gremlins are at work again. Luckily we had brought the skillet for pancakes. The dinner was great--although Rod is begging me to change the name of my favorite camp meal. BUT, it is a tradition so I can't!
The evening was an early one mostly because I was dead tired, but, also because it is turtle nesting season and the parks discourage you from using outside lights. (The turtles head for the light instead of heading for the water.) The breeze was still blowing nice and with our fan it was quite comfy in the tent.
Tuesday we mainly bummed at the campsite. We swam, snorkeled, caught up on our reading and just hung out. Despite sunscreen, parts of both of us got burned. Much of me was already bug bit BUT it was still a great day. We drove into Islamorada for a quick stop at the Bass Pro Shops there to see Hemingway's wood boat (actually the sister to the original boat) Pilar and to window shop. Then we watched the sunset from the Islamorada Fish Company drinking beer and mojitos (made fresh and excellent by our bartender). Then we ate dinner out on the patio by the water. Good food, good drinks...tired and very happy we headed back to the campground.
The only interesting thing was trying to open the padlock on the gate at the State Park. I know I am getting old when I couldn't read the four digit code on the padlock!!! Even with a flashlight, I couldn't see it. Then Rod jumped out and tried with no luck. Then the guy pulling the boat who pulled in behind us couldn't read it either. LUCKILY his much younger wife COULD!!! LOL So us "oldies" now have a magnifier added to the list to read the padlock. When did I get THAT old!!????
Wednesday was a repeat of Tuesday's swimming/reading until lunchtime. Then we got cleaned up and made the hour drive down to Key West. If you have never been--you have to go!!! Like much of the Keys, the charm is in the diversity of the surroundings. Part old world fishing port, part Bahamian village, part top of line resort, part gay bathhouses--there is something different around every corner and something for every taste. Great restaurants (our favorites are Pepes and Turtle Kraals --and it is so sad that Pancho and Lefties is gone!!!) We were a little weirded out by the gay culture the first time we went over 20 years ago, now we look forward to the outrageousness of all parts of the community.
We made our mandatory stops at Key West Books (513 Fleming St.) for used books and things Rod loves (Hemingway, beat generation authors), then for my shopping at Fast Buck Freddies (corner of Duval and Fleming Sts), Margaritaville (next door to Freddies) and finally to our favorite Hangout Sloppy Joes (Duval St. you can't miss it). Both of our favorite music acts were there--Terry Cassidy playing excellent banjo and guitar and "Pete and Wayne" who are just too hilarious for words. We also walked by our favorite haunts--Eden House (the best place to stay in Old Town), Pepes and Captain Tony's. Then enjoying a beautiful sunset on the way home (only slightly ruined by paying $3.00 for a 10 pound bag of ice and $4.07 for gas!!!!) we headed back to the tent at Long Key.
Thursday morning we were up and about early. We got our camp packed up, got the van loaded and headed out. A quick stop at McDonalds and we were heading home. We made the trip in a speedy five and a half hours. Bonnie Dog survived puppy jail. We are happy and wishing we had just one more day in paradise!
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