Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf, FL:  Enjoyed a beautiful day today under a cloudless blue sky.  Started out with a sumptuous breakfast at Azur.  After breakfast we walked around for a while—venturing down some of the little side streets, which are more like little alleys.  Then we drove over to the Eco Center and toured the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter INGHAM.  Commissioned in 1936, the INGHAM saw a lot of action and was the most decorated vessel in U.S. Service with 18 ribbons.  She was in service for 52 years.  There is a young guy on duty that lives on board because he’s on call 24/7.  He tells people he lives on a 327-foot ship and they don’t believe him.  I asked him if he ever takes a girl on board.  Yeah, why not he replied.  The only lights at night are these red battle lanterns. I can only imagine what that would be like.  Spooky.  While we were there Fiona, the Irish singer, and her husband, Walter, rode by on their bikes and told us to stop over when we finished our tour.  They’re house and dog sitting for friends of theirs that live in Truman Annex—one of their three homes.  So, after our tour we walked over there.  What a beautiful home!  Three levels if you count the widow’s walk on top.  Beautifully furnished and decorated with lots of original art work.  They’re in Argentina right now.  Hung out with them until about 4:30 and then headed home.  There was a big run going on today and the terminus was at the southernmost point at the end of Duval.  What a congested mess!  Managed to work our way through that area, going by Smathers Beach and then finally back home. Football watching tonight—Saints and Seahawks.  Go Saints!.

Breakfast at Azur

Ingham

This guy lives on board this huge ship--all alone

Key West's favorite mode of transport

Bunch of lobster trap buoys on someone's porch

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf, FL:  A nice, sunny day, but chilly.  We left for Key West about 12:30, parked near the Eco Center, and walked over to the Eaton Cinema.  Saw “The King’s Speech”, a really good movie about King George VI’s stuttering problem.  After the movie we walked down to the Key West Speedway so Mike could race, but they were having a private party—actually the owner and his now wife were married across the street at the Audubon House today and were having a little private party.  So, we walked back to where we parked and headed home. It was 70 in Key West.

The Newlyweds at the Key West Speedway

Former Marine hospital--circa 1845

Now condominiums--Truman Annex

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf, FL:  This morning dawned warm and humid.  All night long there was a very strong smell of the sea—I guess wafting in from the flats around us.  We watched “Painted Veil” last night with Natalie Portman.  What a really, really good movie.  It’s about a British couple who move to China in 1925 or so.  The cinematography was fantastic.  Around 10:30 we put the bikes on the back of the truck and headed to Big Pine.  Parked in the Winn Dixie parking lot and biked down the road towards the Blue Hole.  We usually bike to the end of the road and then go back, stopping at the Blue Hole.  Because the weather was turning ugly, we biked a little ways past the Blue Hole and then turned around.  Stopped at the Blue Hole for a little bit and then biked back.  Stopped at QVC and Walgreens and bought a couple of sand chairs and umbrellas to use at a couple of unofficial beaches in the area.  Met our new neighbors—Shelia and Damon from Montana.  They both work at Boondocks.  A nice 20-something couple. Dinner tonight at the clubhouse.  Mexican theme.  78 today. 

The Blue Hole under a leaden sky

Pair of American Coots

Grebe

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf, FL:  Another beautiful, warm day today.  We did our usual laundry and grocery shopping.  After loading the washer I went for a walk on the bike path in Big Pine.  Sure beat sitting around the Laundromat.  After the laundry and grocery shopping we went to Pizza Works for our usual pizza.  Back home and sat outside enjoying this beautiful day.  Mike went over to pay for the rest of our stay here.  We just had salads for dinner.  A beautiful sunset tonight turning the puffy clouds a delicate shade of pink.  78 today. 

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf, FL:  Really socked in with fog this morning.  Like something out of a gothic novel.  Couldn’t even see the other end of the lake.  I wonder if that means a cold front has snuck in during the night while we were blissfully sleeping and dreaming of another sunny, warm day here in paradise?   It was mostly cloudy today but cleared off in the afternoon.  Charlie stopped over this morning with Maple.  Gave her some treats and Charlie had a cup of coffee.  The guy from the RV cleaning service came by in the afternoon and waxed the cap in the front.  Looks good.  The parrots were very vocal today.  The African Gray mimics a cell phone ringing. And they were whistling and talking.  Too funny.  Mid-70s today.

Fog shrouded vista

The other end of the lake is over there somewhere.

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf, FL:  Mostly sunny today.  Clouds rolled in for a while but it cleared off nicely in the afternoon.  I spent the morning cleaning.  And we had the fifth wheel and the truck washed. They come to your site and do it right there.  So, at least the rest of our time here the RV will be clean.  As soon as we hit the road again it’ll be dirty.  Mike went over to play shoes at 1:00.  I put the site back together after the cleaning guys left and sat outside in the sun reading for a while.  They’re coming back tomorrow afternoon to wax the cap on the front.  As soon as Mike gets back from shoes, showers, and changes his clothes, we’re heading over to the KOA for happy hour.

Our group at the Schooner Wharf Bar

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf, FL:  Another beautiful day!  We picked up Charlie and Johanne at 12:30 and joined some other people from our park at the Schooner Wharf Bar in Key West to celebrate Dale and Carolyn’s birthdays. We had drinks and some lunch.  We actually ran into the couple whose table we commandeered on New Year’s Eve.  They parked in the same lot we did.  We left around 4:30 and headed back.  The Sunday party was going on when we got back.  Dropped off Charlie and Johanne and went back home to watch the football game with the Rams and the Seahawks.  If the Rams win, they’ll be in the playoffs.  Hopefully it will be a good game and we’ll win.  81 today.