Our pretty little campsite

(it's really dry--grass is brown)

Mon, 3/9/09

Sugarloaf Key to Long Pine Key, Everglades NP: Left Lazy Lakes at about 10:10. Charlie and Johanne stopped over with their dog, Maple, to say good bye. We arrived at the Long Pine Key campground in the Everglades and were set up by 2:00. Cloudy when we got here but it cleared off to a beautiful day. I love being back here. Sat outside listening to the happy twittering of the birds and the soughing of the wind through the pines. Very quiet and peaceful. Went for a walk around the campground and saw a dead Eastern diamondback rattlesnake in the road (yikes!). If we do any hiking while we’re here, I’ll definitely wear my snake gaiters. Of course they won’t do any good against those damn Burmese pythons. Mike grilled Italian sausages for sandwiches and I made a four-bean salad. After dinner we sat outside for a while. A full moon tonight. Beautiful! Listened to our NOAA weather radio and it’s supposed to be in the low 80s during the day and low 60s at night for the next 6 or 7 days. Perfect!

Adios Lazy Lakes

Sugarloaf Key: Up this morning and changed the clocks. Finally, we’re back to daylight saving time. Mike got up shortly after. Made smoothies for breakfast. Then backed up the computer. We won’t have an Internet connection for a while since we’re heading to the Everglades for a few days. Even though we won’t have electric while we’re there, we have an inverter so we can still use it—just no Internet. Did some cleaning then took a shower and got dressed. An absolutely beautiful day. Sat outside with my book for a while. Joe came by and it turns out he thinks Mike and he may be related somehow. He has an uncle named Mike Venegoni who lives in St. Louis. Small world. Went over to the party around 2:00 and had some food and drink. Sat around talking with JoAnn and Charlie for most of the afternoon. We look forward to seeing them again in the fall. Came back and Mike started putting things away. We hope to be out of here by 10:00 tomorrow.

Moon Rise over Lazy Lakes

Sugarloaf Key: Cloudy again this morning. Started getting a few things done in preparation for leaving on Monday. Mike checked all the tires on the truck and the fifth wheel. Truck was okay but he had to put some air in the fifth wheel tires. Also closed up a gap around some piping in the kitchen cupboard. We had a mouse in here last year. Sure don’t want a snake in here (gasp!). Later in the afternoon the sun finally came out and I sat outside and read for a while. It felt good to feel the warm sun and gentle breezes on my skin. Came in and had something to eat and then Charlie stopped by with a copy of a Lazy Lakes DVD for us. A really nice one. There is a large segment on it with Charlie and Jerry playing at one of the dinners. Charlie plays the guitar and Jerry plays the banjo. They are really good together. Charlie also dropped off some cards they had made up with their address, phone number, e-mail address and a really nice note from Jo Ann. Decided to just stay in tonight. Party with free food and beer tomorrow. We’ll definitely go to that for a while.

Lovely...

Old Stone Church

Bahama Village area of Old Town Key West

Sugarloaf Key: Really cloudy this morning. We headed out early to get the laundry done. Came back and put all that away. Then headed to Big Pine to do the grocery shopping. Got that done and went to Pizza Works for their lunch special. One more stop at CVS and then back home. Put everything away. And it looked like it was going to clear off, but the sun would come out for a little bit and then the clouds would move in again. Sat outside reading for a while, but ended up back inside because it was chilly. Salads for dinner. I think it hit 77 today.

Brunch at Azur

Drinks at the Flying Monkey Saloon on Duval

Sugarloaf Key: Drove in to Key West this morning to meet our attorney, Dave, and his wife, Linda from St. Louis. Met at Azur Restaurant for a late breakfast. Left there and drove down to the Mohawk parking lot. They followed us so they could see where it is. Parked and then walked through Truman Annex and walked up Duval to have a drink at the Flying Monkey Saloon. Then they had some banking business to take care of so we walked all the way up Duval to their bank on Union. Then continued on to the Southernmost point and were going to have a drink at a bar on the beach there, but too crowded. So, walked back towards the parking lot and stopped at Meteor for yet another drink. Sat around there until about 6:00 and then we went our separate ways. A really fun day. We did a lot of walking. And a beautiful day. 73 I think.

Key West Lighthouse

Whitehead Street

Mike in his race car

Sugarloaf Key: Still a little on the chilly side, so we decided to go into Key West. Went to the Tropic Cinema and saw “The Reader”. Really good movie—very thought provoking. After that we hit the Key West Speedway and Mike did 4 races. Talked with the owners for a while. Really nice couple. They have a home in Titusville (6200 sq. ft.) and are renting a town home here. They also brought down their 44 foot ketch which they have moored at Garrison Bight. Hope they are still here when we come back in December. Had dinner at Kelly’s on Whitehead. Mike had pork tenderloins and I had penne pasta with grilled chicken and a Jamaican Alf redo sauce with tomatoes. Really good. Walked back to our parking area through the Truman Annex. Saw 6 cats hanging out together. Tried to take a picture but it was too dark. A beautiful evening—lots of stars and a perfect half moon.

Sugarloaf Key: Went out for a hearty breakfast this morning at the Galley Grill. I had a chili omelet and Mike had steak and eggs. I brought about half of mine home. Chilly this morning—low 60s. A very sunny day, but only got up to about 65. We went into Key West to see a movie—“International”. About a corrupt bank. How timely.