Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf, FL:  A little chilly and breezy this morning under solid grey clouds.  I know that beautiful blue sky is up there somewhere.  But will it show itself today?  Well, my shorts and tee were quickly exchanged for sweats and a sweatshirt.  Blustery and cloudy all day.  We’re off this evening for a sumptuous dinner and great show at La Te Da.  Ralph and Sharon are going with us.  They’ve never been before so it should be fun.

Randy in his Carol Channing persona

Randy in his Cher persona

Randy in his Lady Ga Ga persona

Thurs, 2/10/11


Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf, FL:  Another nice day.  Charlie and Maple stopped by on their way around the lake.  Charlie and Johanne are hosting the dinner tonight, so I’m sure they’ll be busy.  We went over at 4:00 to help them set up, along with Sharon and Ralph.  Their theme was Valentine’s Day and they did such a good job carrying it off.  I guess 60 people showed up for the dinner and they had a band also in the pool area.  The only problem with the band is you can’t really carry on a conversation.  After finishing cleaning up, Charlie, Johanne, Mike and I moved to a table out by the pool and finished off our wine.  A fun night.

Cute centerpiece

Little candies on all the tables

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf, FL:  Cloudy, but warm, this morning.  Charlie and Maple stopped by on their walk around the lake.  We did our laundry and grocery shopping.  After getting the laundry started I went next door and got my hair cut.  Finished up the laundry, did the grocery shopping, and then instead of our usual pizza at Pizza Works, we had lunch at The Square Grouper on Cudjoe Key.  I had their signature square grouper sandwich—pan seared grouper topped with onion rings, lettuce, tomato, and key lime tartar.  Delicious!  Mike had Caesar salad with blackened prime rib and portobello fingers.  Will definitely go back there!  Back home and put everything away.  Then relaxed outside reading the rest of the afternoon.  Low 80s today.

Schooner Appledore sailing past Sunset Key

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf, FL:  Out for a walk this morning and ran into Charlie who was walking Maple, Jo was out with Munch, and the gal with the rottweiler puppy was out.  The puppy is getting huge.  Charlie and Maple stopped for a visit.  Really chilly this morning.  We decided to head to Key West and see True Grit which is at the Tropic Cinema.  The movie was much better than I thought it would be.  After the movie we walked down Whitehead and Mike did a couple of races.  Walked back through Truman Annex to our parking spot and then back home.  71 today.

This cat was taking a snooze in the middle of the street
Truman Annex

The old weather station--circa 1911
Truman Annex

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf, FL:  Another beautiful day today.  The usual Monday fare.  Mike went for donuts in the morning and shoes in the afternoon.  I cleaned and then relaxed the rest of the day.  Happy hour tonight at the KOA.

Little Key West cottage

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf, FL:  Just kicked back today.  While I was sitting outside reading this afternoon Johanne and Maple stopped by.  Didn’t go over to the Superbowl party at the clubhouse.  Had steaks for dinner and just hung out.  Pretty good Superbowl.  We’re rooting for Green Bay.  Looks pretty good—at half time anyway.  83 today under a clear blue cloudless sky.

A little iguana checking us out through 
our back window.

Sat., 2/5/11:


Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf, FL:  We had the best day today.  Decided to take the bikes out in the morning.  Biked from our site, stopping at Charlie and Johanne’s (not home), then over the bridge across Bow Channel.  They were working on this bridge before we left last year.  There used to be a barrier at each end of the bridge which they removed and repaved the whole thing.  You would have to lift your bike over this barrier, which wasn’t easy.  Now it’s gone and is much, much better.  Crossed Bow Channel and then biked all through Cudjoe Gardens residential area.  Biked down all the little side roads and checked out all the homes and landscaping.  All of them are on a deep water canal and for some reason the water in these canals is the most beautiful shade of blue/green.  Biked all over and every once in a while caught the scent of something wonderful—like honeysuckle or jasmine maybe.  Biked back over Bow Channel and then down the road past the KOA where we saw a large snake (dead) in the road.  Biked back to Lazy Lakes and stopped at the clubhouse where the Saturday party was just starting and had a couple of beers.  Charlie and Johanne still not back.  We showered and changed and then left for Geiger Key for lunch, which is just up the road from Boca Chica Beach and the Naval Air Station.  While we were finishing up our lunch and enjoying the ocean views, the Naval Air Station started running some stop-and-go exercises with their jet training planes.  So we quickly paid our bill and drove down to Boca Chica and walked down to where the end of the runway is and watched this constant display of jets touching down and taking off again—right over our heads.  It was like having our own private air show.  This went on for about an hour and then we just walked around enjoying the beautiful vistas from this remote little beach—the ocean shimmering under the lowering sun.  Drove back to Lazy Lakes and stopped at Charlie and Johanne’s who were finally back.  They invited us to join them at Mangrove Mama’s for a little something to eat before we headed over to the KOA where Howard Livingston and the MM24 band was performing tonight.  Got to the KOA at about 7:30 and everything was in full swing.  We finally found an empty table out by the pool and were able to sit there away from the crowd.  Got all sweated up dancing and would have loved to jump in the pool.  What a day.  Temps in the low 80s under a clear blue sky.  Perfect!

This odd looking craft is anchored in Bow Channel just off the KOA.  The guy living here is  running for President of the Earth (unopposed).  Wonder what the inside of this thing looks like?

One of the trainer jets taking off right over our heads

You can see the hook in the back--which is affixed in the up position.

Only one F-18 took off

Beautiful ocean vista from Boca Chica

Keys Morning Glory--Boca Chica

Someone planted this Gumbo Limbo tree in memory of Boca Chica Bill.  Wonder if when I'm gone someone will plant a tree in my memory?  Mike said he would.  I feel better now.
--Boca Chica Beach--

During every performance, Howard auctions off the first margarita for Care Camp--a camp for kids with cancer.  They had Joe (owner of Lazy lakes) bidding from the Bahamas by phone who was bidding against the owner of the KOA and two other bidders.  They ended up auctioning it off for $8,800.  In total they made over $10,000 including the sale of Howard's signature turquoise hat.  Way to go, Howard, and the generous people of the Florida Keys!