Sunset from Publix parking lot in Key West

Sugarloaf Key: Another beautiful, warm day. We went to Sugarloaf Lodge for breakfast and then came back and just hung out and enjoyed the beautiful day. I sat outside and read for a few hours but Mike headed in to the air conditioning and played spades for a while. Then we headed to Key West to the historic seaport and had drinks and dinner at the Conch Republic Seafood restaurant again. Had more of the Key West pink shrimp. Checked out a beautiful yacht out of Rhode Island. The tall ships were all leaving for the sunset cruises. After dinner we stopped at Publix and bought groceries on the way home. In the mid-80s today.

Chicken hanging out by our table

Key West Pink Shrimp

Schooner Hindu sailing by Mallory Square

Wed, 3/5/08

Sugarloaf Key: Craig and Debbie left this morning heading to Atlanta for a Nascar race. They’ll be gone for a week. We won’t see them again until December. Thought they’d have a hard time getting their motor home out because we’re across from them, but no problem. Seems funny with them gone. They left around 8:30 and we headed to Key West to do the laundry. Saw a large refueling tanker taking off from the Naval Air Station at Boca Chica. A few days ago we saw some parachutists—thought maybe Cuba was invading us. Turns out it was some Navy Frogmen training or something. Then went over to the CVS and bought a Sun Pass. Should make it much easier heading back this year. Came back home and put all our clothes away and then hung out for a while. Then headed back to Key West Bight and had dinner at the Conch Republic Seafood restaurant. A beautiful, warm evening. Ate on the deck and had some wonderful Key West shrimp. After dinner we ended up taking a sunset sail on the Appledore. A fun, beautiful evening to be on the water. Back home and crashed.

Tue, 3/4/08

Sugarloaf Key: Just hung out today. Rib night at the clubhouse tonight. Really good. Some people played Jokers. We hung out with Craig and Debbie and talked until the wee hours.

Sunset from the campground

Sugarloaf Key: Drove to Big Pine this morning and got my hair cut. Then came back, read for a while, and then put on my bathing suit and headed to the pool. Mike is playing shoes today. Went for a swim, came back and changed and went back to the clubhouse and watched shoes for a while. Back home. Pork chops and sweet corn for dinner. Went to the KOA for the first time for happy hour. Fun. A beautiful day!

Sugarloaf Key: Just hung out today. Sunny but really windy. Finished “Pillars of the Earth” (great book) and started “Love in the Time of Cholera”. Mike played shoes with some of the guys. Wild and exotic bird rescue captured an injured pelican on our lake. Hope he’s okay.

Where we have breakfast on the deck overlooking the lagoon at Sugarloaf Lodge

A dolphin named Sugar lived in the lagoon for about 30 years.

Sugarloaf Key: Morning started out cool but warmed nicely in the afternoon. We had breakfast at Sugarloaf Lodge and then went to the flea market. Bought a bunch of stuff. Then drove around for a while. Back home and hung out reading. I sat in the sun for a while. Then we changed and went back to Sugarloaf Lodge for dinner. Had prime rib. Pretty good. We both brought most of it home. Debbie and Craig invited us over for a movie, but think we’ll stay in. They lent us “March of the Penguins” to watch. Think we’ll watch that and then go to bed. Another beautiful day in paradise. We made our reservation for next year. We’re coming in on December 1 next year.

Chickens of Key West

Sugarloaf Key: A little warmer today, but still pretty windy. Mike slept in very late. We went over to the key deer refuge on Big Pine Key and walked the trail there. Saw five key deer. They are so tame—which is probably why they get killed. Pizza Works for dinner and then back home.