Tue, 12/23/08

Sugarloaf Key: Really blustery today. But warm—upper 70s. Even though our outdoor reed carpet is staked down, it kept blowing up from the back and knocking over one of the chairs and the table in between. So Mike found a large rock and placed it on the back of the mat and so far it’s working. Decided to go see a movie in Key West. Went to see Seven Pounds with Will Smith. An okay movie—slow at times. Felt lousy most of the day today. Only had two drinks last night, but they were really strong. Got back from the movie at around 5:00 and it was so windy there were white caps on our little lake. Supposed to have showers tonight.

Fleming Street

Fleming Street

Mon, 12/22/08

Sugarloaf Key: This morning was cloudy and nasty looking. But I donned shorts and a tee shirt and walked around the lake anyway. Walked down Johnson Road with my treat for Daisy. She wouldn’t come to the fence, but she didn’t bark at all this time. Came back—stopping at the office to see if my remote had come-- and put on sweats and a sweat shirt. Did some cleaning while Mike took my bike up to get it fixed. Later we headed over to the KOA for happy hour. The KOA is getting busier—people coming down for the Christmas/New Year holiday. We have some at Lazy Lakes also. We actually have children running around. What an anomaly. Guess they’d better clean up the Christmas movie they were planning on showing.

On the Afterdeck at Louie's Backyard

Sugarloaf Key: A beautiful, sunny day. Hardly any wind. So we set out with our bikes to bike the old county road. Riding through this residential area on the way to the old road, we noticed a lot of new homes being built. Not sure in this economy how any of them will sell. Took us a half hour to get to the old road. Stopped at one of the canals and watched some guys fishing. Continued on and noticed my front tire looked soft. My brand new tires—which are supposed to be Kevlar—went flat. At least the front tire went flat. So I walked the bike back and Mike biked back to the truck and came back and picked me up at the barricade on the old road. What a disappointment. We packed a lunch and were going to make a day of it. Oh well. Tomorrow we take the bike back to the bike shop and get the tire fixed or replaced. Took a shower and then relaxed outside with my latest book. First day of winter—80s here. YES!

Private residence--Fleming Street

An unusual "bicycle" on Duval. Dog in the front and back.

Key West Bight

Sugarloaf Key: Went to the Galley Grill for breakfast this morning. Then we checked out the flea market. Bought some books and other stuff. Back home and sat outside reading and watching the iguanas. They’ve been all upset because the owner has had backhoes in here digging holes to plant some palms and buttonwoods. Digging holes here in the Keys is a challenge. It was cloudy off and on today. High in the upper 70s.

Private Residence--Fleming Street

Train Schedule--1912

Sugarloaf Key: Walked around the lake this morning. Mike went with me this time. Made some smoothies and then we headed to Summerland Key to take back the videos we rented. Took out another one—Ratatouille. Tonight is movie night at the clubhouse, but I think we’ll stay home and watch our own. Headed to Key West and parked at Key West Bight and then walked around the wharf for a while. Stumbled on a museum about the Overseas Railroad that Flagler built. It terminated right there at the Bight. Then they would load the rail cars on huge ferries and would continue on to Havana. They also had car ferry service to Havana. This was in 1912. Must have been quite a time. It operated until 1935 when the hurricane wiped out the railroad. Then Key West was isolated again until the Overseas Highway was completed in 1938. Had lunch at the Conch Republic Seafood Restaurant and then walked down to Duval. Made a reservation at the Rooftop Café for New Years and then walked over to the Key West Raceway and Mike did a couple of races on the simulator. He wiped out one time and ended up going around the track the wrong way. Pretty funny. After that we just walked around some of the residential areas on Fleming Street. Some amazing historic homes built in the 1860s. Back home. A cloudy day for the most part, but in the upper 70s.

Mangrove flats around Lazy Lakes

Sugarloaf Key: Walked around the lake this morning and down Johnson Road to Highway 1. Took a treat for Daisy this time. Not sure if it worked or not. Another beautiful day. Sat outside reading for a while and then headed into Key West to get a storage container for all our cleaning rags we keep in the outside storage compartment. Got that and some other things and then had lunch at Bobalou’s Café. Back home and then put all the cleaning rags into their new container. Much better. Relaxed the rest of the day.

Wet area--Lazy Lakes

Sugarloaf Key: Did the laundry this morning at the campground. We usually go into Key West, but all the washers were available here, so we took advantage. A landscape outfit out of Homestead delivered a bunch of palms and buttonwoods that are going to be planted on the point. The new owner of this property is spending a lot of money. A lot going on. After finishing the laundry we sat outside and read/relaxed. After lunch we headed to Big Pine and picked up our bikes. I got new tires, Mike got a new seat and they were tuned up. So we rode the road down to the Blue Hole and had a great ride. We only did about 8 miles, but we hadn’t ridden our bikes since we were down here in March. Felt good. Saw four Key Deer. One ran right in front of a car. Freaked me out, but it was okay. A beautiful day—high 70s.