Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf Key, FL:  A beautiful day to start the new year.  We didn’t do much.  Had a turkey dinner with all the trimmings.  Watched a Netflix movie, “Rounders” with Matt Damon.  Stuffed ourselves.  Our Canadian friends, Esther and Gerald, stopped by later in the afternoon.  Cracked a bottle of red and we sat around talking and reminiscing.  A great way to start the new year—sharing wine with friends.

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf Key, FL:  A beautiful, pristine day under a clear blue sky.  We had an early dinner in Marathon right on the Atlantic with a beautiful view of the setting sun.  I had crab stuffed yellow tail snapper and Mike had hog fish with scallops and shrimp—all topped off with a creamy key lime sauce.  After dinner we planned on stopping at the KOA Pub to see the band, Reach.  Mike started feeling bad again, so he dropped me off and then went home.  I stayed for a couple of hours and then walked home beneath a sky sparkling with stars.  A beautiful, balmy night.  Still in the 70s.

The last sunset of 2011.

Happy New Year!

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf Key, FL:  Drove to the Publix in Key West this morning to pick up a turkey breast for our New Years dinner.  I also checked out some new faux wood blinds for the RV.  Around 3:30 we headed back to Key West to the San Carlos Theater for a concert--it was actually more of a jam session.  Had dinner at Mangoes on Duval and then we headed to the San Carlos.  Picked up our tickets and got our seats.  The show started at 7:00.  John and his wife sat with us.  The show was excellent.  This small, intimate little theater was perfect for this venue.  The performers included James Slater, song writer, singer, and piano player; husband and wife duo,Joey and Rory, country song writers and singers extraordinaire; and of course Howard Livingston—just Howard and his guitar, no band.  After the show we walked down to the Smokin’ Tuna where Howard and the rest of the performers were headed.  Had one drink and left.  Mike still not feeling great.  Fun night.  82 today.

The beautiful, historic San Carlos Theater

This historic building used to be a school.  It was built by the Cuban government and they taught in both Spanish and English.  It was one of the first bi-lingual integrated schools in the country.


A great line from one of James Slater's songs--there is no town drunk in Key West.  We all take turns!  That about sums it up.

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf Key, FL:  Had set up an appointment with Stanley Steemer to do the carpets tomorrow, but they showed up today which is better anyway.  He did a great job.  After he left we pretty much stayed inside.  Chilly today.  And Mike still not feeling really great.  Watched a couple of movies on Lifetime.  Made chili for dinner.  Good night for it.  71 today, but really sunny.

Schooner Jolly Rover

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf Key, FL:  I was laying in bed last night watching the Kennedy Honors special when a scroll came across the bottom of the TV screen indicating a tornado warning for the lower Keys.  Switched over to the Weather Channel, and sure enough, a water spout had been sighted and it was bearing down on us.  Was supposed to hit Shark Key in 5 minutes and Sugarloaf Key in 10 minutes.  So I got up, dressed, and headed over to the shower house—the only building here with cinder block construction.  Started raining while I was walking over.  Now I’m wet, cold, and miserable.  Thankfully, nothing ever happened.  Mike walked over with an umbrella after he took the awning down and put the chairs away.  He was soaked also.  And the roads in the park all flooded.  After the rain let up we walked back.  Today we took care of the laundry and grocery shopping.  We were supposed to go over to the KOA to see Howard and the band, but Mike not feeling so great and it’s really cooled down.  68 today.  We’re going to see him at the San Carlos Theater on Friday anyway.

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf Key, FL:  We took out our bikes and biked down to the burned out bridge—the old state road past the KOA.  The pavement ends after a mile or two and the conditions deteriorate rapidly—with lots of ruts and pot holes.  But at least it hadn’t rained much lately so there were no water hazards.  A pretty bumpy ride at times, and I was worried about my camera which I had in my bike basket, not to mention my butt, but we made it down there.  The current in the channel here is pretty fast at times.  Seemed pretty good today.  There was a couple down there in their personal water craft who had just gone for a swim.  Talked with them for a while.  They’re staying at the KOA.  Told them about the MM24 band playing there tomorrow night.  Biked back and stopped at the KOA pub and had a couple of sodas and talked with Lee, the bartender, for a while.  Back home and relaxed the rest of the evening.  Cold front coming through tonight.  81 today.

This beautiful gated property is at the end of the paved section of road--right on the Atlantic.   Very peaceful and quiet down there at the end of the road surrounded by nature.

Mike on his bike.

Such a pretty ride.  Hard to believe it used to be a major road back in the day.

The old burned out bridge and channel.

A couple and their daughter in their personal water craft--had just gone for a swim.

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf, FL:  A beautiful, sunny day.  Sat outside reading, relaxing, and snoozing.  Bastion, the dog belonging to the couple across from us, came over for a while.  They were washing their RV and he didn’t want to be anywhere near that hose.  He’s a really good dog.  Today was cleaning day for me, and Mike went over and played shoes at 1:00.  He’s still not feeling so great.  No happy hour tonight.  Watched the Missouri bowl game.  They creamed North Carolina.

Beautiful Christmas eve sunset.