Lazy Lakes RV Resort, Sugarloaf Key, FL: A cloudy, cool morning. We headed to Key West around noon and parked by Pepe’s so we could grab some lunch there. They were packed so we walked down toward Key West bight and had lunch at the Island Dogs Bar just off Duval. After lunch we walked over to Caroline St. and toured the Curry Mansion—finally. I’ve been wanting to do this since we started coming down here. And it was a self-guided tour which included three floors plus the widow’s walk at the top. This beautiful home was owned by the first millionaire in Key West. Walked around some more and then went to see “The Single Man” at the Tropic Cinema. I thought this was a very poignant story of a man who loses his partner in a car accident and how he deals with his loss and his pain. Mike wasn’t too impressed. He fell asleep. After the movie we walked down to the Key West Speedway for a while and then back home. Did a lot of walking which felt good.

Curry Mansion--now an Inn

Pocket doors are all Tiffany glass

Main Staircase

Lazy Lakes RV Resort, Sugarloaf Key, FL: Started out cloudy this morning. But it was nice and warm. Sat outside reading. I just finished a book by Dean Koontz, “The Longest Night of the Year” which started out iffy but ended up a really good read. Today I started “Last Train to Paradise”—a book about Henry Flagler and his dream of building a rail line from Miami to Key West. Really interesting. He was an amazing man. It was so great just being outside today after being stuck inside most of yesterday. It was so nice and quiet out there—just the hum of the air conditioners, the wind in the palms, and the occasional splash of an iguana being rousted from his roost in the mangroves. Went for a walk in the afternoon and stopped at Esther and Gerald’s for a while and they joined us with Shadow and walked around the lake. They stopped at our site for a while. Then we all went over for pizza night at the clubhouse. A nice, warm, sultry night. Lots of stars.

Home on Fleming St.

Key West Bight

Lazy Lakes RV Resort, Sugarloaf Key, FL: Started raining at about 5:30 this morning. And it rained and rained. Then it poured. Wasn’t fit for man nor beast out there. Only had to go out once and got drenched. I baked chocolate chip cookies and Mike played on the computer. Didn’t even go over for happy hour. The road is pretty flooded in here. But it was 70-something. So not so bad.

Key West Wine & Food Festival

Cottage on Fleming surrounded with bougainvillea

Lazy Lakes RV Resort, Sugarloaf Key, Fl: Cloudy and cool this morning. Got the cleaning done. Today is party day and we weren’t planning on going, but Chris, the guy four sites down from us, was the entertainment, so we decided to go. Chris is a really nice guy. He taught music for a while in Alaska and plays both classical, 12-string guitar and 6-string guitar plus the harmonica. And he sings. He was quite entertaining. The park supplied hot dogs and beer and most people brought a dish. There were a lot of people there—more than we expected—and a lot of food. We had a good time. Esther and I watched Mike and Gerald play shoes.

Chris

Gerald and Esther

Mike and Gerald playing shoes

Lazy Lakes RV Resort, Sugarloaf Key, FL: Cloudy this morning but really warm. Mike slept in. I took my shower and got dressed and didn’t even wake him. I was on the computer waiting for Mike to wake up and Gerald stopped by with Shadow. Sat outside with him for a while. After Mike got up and woke up we headed to Key West for the Arts and Crafts Show on Whitehead. Everything was all hand made. Some people are really creative. Mike went over to the Speedway and did a couple of races. Walked around for a while and then had a late lunch at Two Friends Bar down by the seaport. I had snapper Bahamian style and Mike had oysters and a sandwich. Walked around Key West Bight for a while looking at some of the mega yachts and then walked back to our truck and back home. Still 78 at 7:00. Great day!

We saw a woman on the street with her African Grey Parrot who took a liking to Mike

Scorpio the African Grey

What a beautiful door!

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf Key, FL: A beautiful morning and Mike was feeling better so we headed to Key West and had brunch at Azur. Then Mike drove over to the Eco Center to park the truck and I walked down Fleming to meet him at the Truman Annex. Beautiful day for a walk. After meeting up with him I checked out what was playing at the Tropic Cinema and decided to go see “No Impact Man.” This documentary was about a 40-ish couple with a cute little 3-year-old living in Manhattan who decided to spend a year cutting back on their carbon footprint as much as possible. I mean we’re talking extreme—no toilet paper, no car, plane, or bus travel; no elevators; they made their own cleaning products, etc. Very extreme. While I was at the movie Mike went and did some races at the Key West Speedway. I met up with him after the show and we walked over to Mallory Square to see if our friend, Mark, was there. No sign of him. Walked up Duval and then we headed back to our parking spot and back home. Still 76 at 7:00.

Cat napping on Fleming St.

Mega Yacht in Key West

A beautiful moon rise tonight

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf Key, FL: A spectacular day. We had planned on going to Key West and spend the day, but Mike wasn’t feeling so great. So I headed to Big Pine and did the laundry and grocery shopping. The Laundromat was packed, but I met a couple there from St. Louis who are staying at the Sugarloaf Lodge until March. Back home and put everything away. Mike still not great. Grilled pork chops for dinner. Tasted pretty good. Think it hit 75 today. Beautiful.

Lighthouse in Marathon