Mile Marker 0 on Highway 1--Duval St. Key West

(we've also been at the end of Highway 1 in Quoddy Head, Maine)

Sugarloaf Key: A pretty, sunny day—but really windy. We just hung out. I went for a walk in the morning. Did some housekeeping chores. Mike played shoes. Temps in the 70s.

Floyd, Terry, Joan & Mike at Little Palm Island

Sugarloaf Key: Went to Little Palm Island today for brunch. Invited our friends, Floyd and Terry, to join us. Drove to Little Torch Key to get the ferry over to the island. Got over there around 12:30. The meal was okay, but not as good as last year. They had a champagne/bloody Mary bar which was nice. Took the last ferry back at 4:00 and then decided to meet at Mangrove Mama’s for more drinks before going home—which is only about ½ mile from our campground. After a couple of hours of sitting out on the patio having drinks we heard a large crash. Some guy had just left Mangrove Mama’s on his bike and tried to cross US 1 and got hit by a car. In trying to avoid hitting him one vehicle crossed over into the other lane and hit the other car head-on. The guy on the bike was a fatality. We waited around another couple of hours because traffic was backed up and we couldn’t go anywhere. The police on the scene said it would be at least another 2 or 3 hours because they had to fly the coroner up from Miami to pronounce the poor guy dead. And, the road to our campground was katty corner from Mangrove Mama’s and the accident was right there. So we left our vehicles there and walked back. The two vehicles were really smashed up. Not sure how badly they were hurt. The poor guy on the bike was still lying in the street covered up with a sheet. A bad end to an otherwise nice day. At least we’re still alive.

Baby (Dale and Sally's dog) coming by for a treat

Sugarloaf Key: Went to the flea market this morning on Big Pine Key. After that we went grocery shopping and then had lunch. Back home and relaxed. Started out cloudy then cleared and very warm and sunny. Playing jokers tonight at the clubhouse.

Bi-Plane ride anyone?

Parasail anyone?

Smathers Beach

Cruise Ship heading out of Key West

Suarloaf Key: Decided to go to Smathers Beach today in Key West. Packed some drinks and put the bikes on the truck and headed out. Our usual concessionaire wasn’t open, so we headed down the beach and rented some chairs and an umbrella from another one. Got set up and relaxed, read our books, and people watched. There are all kinds of activity at the beach. There were two ospreys on the hunt, some parasailers, and a cruise ship heading out from Key West. Bought lunch at a kiosk on the beach and then relaxed and read/watched. A beautiful day—84 degrees! That’s what we’re talking about! On the way back we stopped at Mangrove Mama’s and had a couple of margueritas. A perfect end to a perfect day.

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.