Historic Home (circa 1843)--Old Town Key West

Sugarloaf Key: Didn’t sleep too good last night, so felt wasted all day. It was a beautiful day—80s and very little wind. Wanted to rent some kayaks and paddle around the mangroves on the Gulf side. Just couldn’t get up for it. So, sat around and read most of the day. I’m reading “Term Limits” by Vince Flynn—a political thriller. It’s so hard to put down. Went to the Kingston Clam Bar on Sugarloaf—not far from us. It’s on Bad George Road. Ya gotta love it. I had a fillet and Mike had stuffed shrimp with a lobster sauce. Very good. We sat outside by the pool. Beautiful night. A bunch of people are playing jokers at the clubhouse tonight. We passed.

Our Pool

Sugarloaf Key: Decided to just kick back today. The show last night was great. I went over to the pool for a little while. Mike played spades on the computer most of the day. Another beautiful day. Left-overs for dinner tonight.

Sugarloaf Key: Drove into Key West to do our laundry this morning—stopping at Sugarloaf Lodge for breakfast. On the way back we did some exploring—driving down a road on Big Coppitt Key where there was supposed to be a beach. The road ran just south of the Naval Air Station along a beach—well, as much beach as there is down here. The road was barricaded to car traffic right after the “beach” area but continued on for bikers or walkers. It goes right by the end of the runway. We walked to the end and then continued on a path. Saw a naked man down there sunning himself. Saw a fort some energetic and enterprising person made out of rock and drift wood. Pretty impressive. Saw an old boat that some Cubans used to escape to the US. Can’t believe they made it in this thing. While we were down there 4 jets took off. Not sure what they were. Not F-18s. Think they were British or something. And when they take off they are really low. Just over the tops of our heads! Woo hoo!!! We have dinner tonight at the clubhouse and then we’re going to the Tennessee Williams Theater to see “I Love a Piano” tour. All Irving Berlin music. The girl that was two sites over from us who drives a fancy bus for various rock stars and other entertainers is driving their bus (the group playing at the theater). So, she gave us two tickets as her guest. All because we helped her when she pulled in here with her camper. Pretty nice, huh? She also gave me some flowers before she left. Pretty nice lady. Should be a wonderful show. Wish we could see inside this luxury bus.

Yard sign--Old Town Key West

Sugarloaf Key: Mike played shoes this afternoon. So I thought I’d drive to Big Pine and go on a home tour. Homes $500,000 and less. But when I got there, they were going to caravan to the different homes. Decided I’d pass. Went to Mangrove Mama’s for dinner. Another beautiful day—especially since the NY Giants won yesterday.

Brown Pelican--Key West

Sugarloaf Key: Just hung out today waiting for the Super Bowl to start. Rooting for the NY Giants. They’re having a big Super bowl party at the clubhouse. We opted to stay home and watch. Mike read in the paper that people consume more food on Super Bowl Sunday than Thanksgiving—not to mention alcohol. Wonder how many people call in sick on Monday? Another beautiful day.

Blue Hole--Big Pine Key

Blue Hole--Big Pine Key

These little ditches were dug in areas throughout the Keys. They're only 12-18 inches deep, but the little Key deer fawns fall in them and drown. That's how small they are. They're trying to get rid of them. Notice the rock. It's very hard to plant stuff down here. You need a jack hammer to dig a hole.

Sugarloaf Key: Went to Sugarloaf Lodge for breakfast this morning. Decided since the bikes are still on the truck that we’d go out and bike to the Blue Hole. A spectacular day! Biked down to the end of the road past the Blue Hole and then hiked the Buttonwood Marsh trail for a little way—through a transitional buttonwood marsh and mangrove forest. Biked back up the road and stopped at the Blue Hole. Saw 2 key deer. Bikes back on the truck and we stopped at the bicycle shop on Big Pine Key and had new rear-view mirrors put on the bikes and he adjusted my seat. Then we went to Pizza Works and ordered a spicy chicken stromboli for two. This thing is wonderful—a huge bread thing stuffed with spicy chicken, two different cheeses, chopped tomatoes, and jalapeño peppers. Brought most of it home for Superbowl Sunday. Back home with a detour to Venture Out—a private community with modular units and they also have RV sites for rent and for sale. Very nice place. A little too big for our tastes, but if Lazy Lakes closes down we need an alternative. This is only one key away—on Cudjoe Key. Our attorney owns a place there. Back home and made a reservation for brunch at Little Palm Island next Sunday. Floyd and Terry and going with us. Will either kick back tonight or play jokers at the club house.

Chicken hanging out on a fence--Whitehead Street

Sugarloaf Key: Just relaxed and hung out today. Washed out some things. There is a woman in the park that uses an assist dog. She’s blind. The dog is a beautiful golden lab. Yesterday while we were gone a motor home came in with a pit bull. While the woman was walking with her assist dog, the pit bull attacked the poor thing. They had a hard time getting the pit bull off of him. When I found out about it I was livid, because the park manager let them stay. We went over to the office today and expressed our concern. Everyone in the park is upset. Mike suggested she check with the insurance company which she did. And they were told to leave. Thank goodness. Why would anyone want a pet that could kill them? A beautiful day today—in the 80s.