Sun, 2/24/08

Sugarloaf Key: Had breakfast at Sugarloaf Lodge this morning. Another very warm day. Just wanted to hang out and read. But we got invited to play jokers. Jokers and spaghetti. We said yes, but my heart isn’t in it. We’re going to meet at the clubhouse at 4:00. Should be fun though.

The pretty little lagoon Mike found...

The little lake (actually not so little--maybe 10 acres)

(actually it used to be a quarry--probably to make US #1)

The old road bike path

Sat, 2/23/08

Sugarloaf Key: A really warm day. Since we had only a short bike ride yesterday, and the bikes were still on the truck, we decided to go out again today. So we drove the short distance to Sugarloaf Drive and parked the truck. Rode on the bike path through the residential area and then down to the old road. Stopped at the bridge over the canal and watched some 20-somethings diving off the bridge and swimming in the canal. Looked very inviting. Rode the bides to the little lake. Mike took the shorter, dirt road and I took the longer paved road. Met at the lake but didn’t stay long since there were a bunch of 20-somethings hanging out with their radio blaring. But Mike found a beautiful little lagoon just off the dirt road so we rode over there. We sat there and had a bite to eat and I dangled my feet in the water. It felt so good. Wished I’d had my water shoes on so I could have gone swimming. Rode back to the truck and then back home. Shower felt good. Sat outside and read my book the rest of the afternoon. We’ve had the warmest winter down here this winter. It’s been great. 84 here today.

Key Deer along Long Beach Road

(her back came up to about my thigh)

Sugarloaf Key: A nice, warm day. We put the bikes on the truck and drove over to Big Pine Key and biked Long Beach Road. Wasn’t a very long ride—only about 5 miles round trip. Saw several key deer. We stopped at a campground on that road where our Canadian friends’ parents stay and visited with them for a while. They stay down here about 5 months in a modified van with no hook-ups. Don’t know how they do it. But they love it. There was a key deer right in their site. Came back and read outside for a while. Debbie and Craig, the couple across from us in the motor home, invited us over for a couple of movies. They had their big screen TV outside.

The old "Overseas Highway"; Pidgeon Key

Sugarloaf Key: A grey, iffy morning—but warm. So we decided to head to Boondocks and play miniature golf. Got there and there were so many kids we decided to forget it. Apparently the whole northeast is on a mid-winter break. We never had that when we were in grade school. And then in April they have spring break. Jeeze, they’re working these kids too hard. So we went back and tried again late afternoon. By now it had cleared off and the temperature was 84. And still lots of kids. So we had dinner and went back home. Guess we’ll try next week.

Historic Strand Theater; Duval St.; Key West

(now a Walgreens)

Sugarloaf Key: A grey, cloudy, but warm day. We were sitting around reading and decided to head to Key West and go see “There Will be Blood” at the Tropic Cinema. Parked at the parking lot at the old Navy docks and walked to Eaton to the show. The movie was good and the male lead did a fantastic job. After the movie we walked Duval for a while and hit a couple of galleries. Started sprinkling so we headed over to Meteor for some dinner. Walked back to our truck and headed home. Stopped at the beach and got out for a while. Supposed to be a lunar eclipse tonight, but will be too cloudy to see it. A warm night tonight.

Private Home in Old Town Key West

(you can't even see this huge home for all the lush vegetation)

Sugarloaf Key: Got a lot done today. Had breakfast at Sugarloaf Lodge and then drove to Key West (new town), did the laundry, grocery shopping and other errands. Then came back and put everything away. Hung out for a while and then went to Bobalu’s Café for dinner and then off to the Tennessee Williams Theater and saw “The Great American Trailer Park Musical”—the funniest thing I’ve ever seen on stage. It was hilarious. We thoroughly enjoyed it. A really nice day—cloudy off and on but in the upper 70s.

Cute little cottage in Old Town Key West

Sugarloaf Key: When we got up this morning it was already 77 degrees. I did some cleaning and Mike went over to play shoes. Grilled steaks for dinner. Went for a walk around the lake after dinner and saw a beautiful sunset. I think it got up to 84 today.