Old County Road

Tue, 12/30/08

Sugarloaf Key: Another beautiful morning. Floyd and Terry wanted to get together with us and go biking, So at noon we headed out to the old county road. Parked just off Hwy 1, rode through the residential area, but instead of turning left onto the blockaded part of the old county road, we went right and biked to the end of that road which goes by some pretty impressive properties right on the Atlantic. The road dead ends and then there’s a hiking trail through the mangroves which goes for quite a way we’re told. Biked back to where the road is blocked off and rode to the lake, which is not as crystal clear as it was last year. Stopped at the little lagoon and had some snacks. Then started back to where we left the trucks (several miles). But, at about the same spot as on Sunday, my front tire went flat. So, Terry and I walked back to the blockade and Mike and Floyd biked back and drove the trucks to us. We were all really thirsty, so we stopped at Mangrove Mama’s and had a couple of drinks. Get back to the campground and it is like a zoo. There were people everywhere. Can’t wait until the holidays are over and things get back to normal. The new owner must be really happy though. Oh, and Mizzou won last night in overtime. Mike is very happy.

Cruise ship in the process of turning around...

Mon, 12/29/08

Sugarloaf Key: Sat around outside reading my latest book. Hard to put down. A beautiful, sunny day. Went to happy hour at the KOA. Biked over there. It is absolutely packed here at Lazy Lakes and at the KOA. Biked back in the dark with a buzz on. Had to get back in time to watch the Mizzou bowl game.

Bicycle decorating someone's upper deck

Sun, 12/28/08

Sugarloaf Key: Walked around the lake this morning. Did absolutely nothing after that. Hey, it’s the Keys.

Sugarloaf Key: A beautiful day here in paradise. Turn on the news and there’s pictures of people shoveling snow and sliding around on the ice. Ya gotta love it! We headed to Key West around 3:00, parked at the Truman Annex, and walked over to the Meteor for dinner. Then walked back and headed over to Fort Zach Taylor for the concert. Howard Livingston and the MM24 band. Sitting outside with the water all around, sloops heading out for their sunset cruise, wonderful breezes blowing and listening to the tropical sounds of MM24. A great evening.

Sugarloaf Key: Drove into Key West late morning and did the laundry. Everyone had the same idea. The place was crowded. Poured down rain for a while. An iffy day all day today. Took the videos back. The only good one was “The Women”. Very good. 80 today.

Sugarloaf Key: Merry Christmas! A quiet day today. I did a pork loin roast with mashed sweet potatoes, a vegetable and apple sauce. Opened a bottle of wine. Was hung over by 4:00. A good day, considering that an ambulance hauled off a girl down the way who it was rumored was doing drugs and drinking last night—along with dieting. Also a guy down the way from us who just pulled in a couple of days ago got a call this morning that his son had died. Not sure how. Very sad. The place is full. Most of them will leave after the holidays. Nice weatherwise—low 80s.

Sugarloaf Key: An iffy day again today. Drove to Big Pine Key and picked up some groceries, stopped at the video store and rented 3 movies, and had lunch at No Name Pub on No Name Key. Back home and relaxed outside reading for a while. Started spitting rain. Guess that was a Keys snow storm. 81 today.