Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf Key, FL: Sandy and Dan came over this morning and we headed down to Key West again. Took the trolley tour and stopped at the Hemmingway home and toured that. Then back on the trolley and continued on the tour over to the schooner wharf and walked around there for a while. Had lunch at the Conch Republic Seafood Restaurant on the wharf and then walked over to the Customs House museum, but they were closing in an hour so we just went over to the Cuban restaurant on Mallory Square for drinks and then drove back. Sat outside for a while enjoying the balmy evening. Some friends stopped by we haven’t seen since last winter. Sandy and Dan headed back to Marathon and we’re planning on going back to Key West and the museums tomorrow.

Powder Puff Palm (I think)--Hemmingway Home

Lily Pond--Hemmingway Home

Hemmingway Home

Key West

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf Key, Fl: Sandy and Dan drove over to us this morning. After getting turned around a little they found us. They left their car here and we drove the truck into Key West. Had breakfast at Azur and then Sandy and I walked down to the Truman Annex while Mike and Dan drove. We walked through the Annex and toured the Truman Whitehouse. Then walked over to the Mallory Square area and Sandy and I shopped for some tee shirts. We met back up with Mike and Dan and Dan had a little surprise for Sandy and I. Picture below. Had a drink at the Roof Top Café and then Mike walked back to the truck and picked us up. Back to our place and we played spades. A fun day and great weather.

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Sandy and Dan hamming it up in front of Pepito's Restaurant

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf Key, Fl: Headed to The Hammocks to pick up Sandy and Dan and we went to the Stuffed Pig for breakfast. Then we drove to the Dolphin Research Center and ended up spending the rest of the day there. A great time. There are over 20 dolphins at this facility—and one just born two weeks ago. They put on several demonstrations with the dolphins and you can swim with them if you want. It was a great entertaining and educational experience. Back to the Hammocks and had a couple of drinks at the tiki bar there. Then had sandwiches for dinner, played spades, and we headed back home.

Dan & Sandy

Mike & Me

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf Key, FL: Threatening weather this morning. Tornado warnings out for the Keys. We had breakfast at the Galley Grill and then planned on going to the flea market on Big Pine, but with the weather threatening we decided to head to Marathon to meet my sister and her husband. They’re staying at The Hammocks on Marathon. Stopped to check out a new restaurant just over the 7 mile bridge. This place is a huge tiki-style building with lots of outside seating and it even has a pool if you want to swim. A huge pool. On the Atlantic side. We will definitely check that out. Then drove down to D’Asign Source to check out the dates for the home tour this year but they were closed. So we headed to The Hammocks to meet Sandy and Dan. Their accommodations are really nice—two bedrooms, living/dining, full kitchen, two baths and a large deck. Played spades. Had some sandwiches for dinner. It stormed pretty good while we were there. A good day to stay in.

The Hammocks

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf Key, FL: Mike not feeling so good this morning, so I headed to Big Pine Key and got my hair cut. While I was there I checked out the Laundromat there which has been a dump. But someone else bought it and totally gutted the place and put in all new machines. It’s even got a couple of big flat screen TVs. So I thought I’d go back, get our laundry and get that done. Did that and came back and relaxed the rest of the day. Mike slept off and on all day. Still really humid, but nice. My sister, Sandy, and her husband, Dan, are down for a week—staying in Marathon. We’ll be ramming around with them for a few days.

Thu, 12/3/09:

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf Key, FL: We were sitting outside this morning and Richard from a few sites down stopped by. He went to Alaska over the summer and was relating his trip to us. He had a great time. Drove over to Big Pine Key and hit the liquor store and picked up a few groceries. Then stopped at the Blue Hole and walked around. Supposed to have thunder storms today. But never happened. Back home and put things away. Very humid today. Think it hit the mid-80s. Humidity about the same. Always breezy though. Feels great!

Wed, 12/2/09:

Lazy Lakes RV Park; Sugarloaf Key, FL: Walked around the lake early this morning. A pretty, warm, and breezy day. Sat outside reading. Mike trimmed the palm trees in our site. When we left last year we left the little white lights on the palm. We plugged them in and they still work! Debbie stopped over and brought her dog, Rusty, over for a visit. He’s as wild as ever. Had some lunch and then continued sitting outside reading. Enjoyed looking at the beautiful blue sky and feeling the warm, tropical breezes. Fiona—our wonderful Irish singer-- stopped over for a while and invited us over for drinks this evening with her and Walter. Looking forward to that.

W. P. Franklin Corps of Engineers Campground, N. Ft. Myers, FL, to Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf, FL: A beautiful morning. We got going early and were out of there by 8:00. I drove first. We drove through Alva and then picked up Rt. 80 east and then 29 south through the beautiful Big Cypress Preserve and got on I75 heading east. Then 27 south to the Florida Turnpike. Mike saw on the map that there was a full service area on the turnpike so we planned on stopping there for fuel and something to eat. We saw signs for it and nothing about it being a left exit so I stayed in the right-hand lane. One half mile before the exit for the service area the sign said to exit left so I had to hustle over two lanes of traffic to make the exit. They could have had the left-exit indicator earlier. That was the first CF. Then I pulled in and followed the signs for diesel and ended up in the wrong lane and had to back all the way up in order to get to the fuel pump. We finally fueled up and then were told the restaurant was in that big building over there. So we parked the truck and the RV and walked over to that big building and it was all closed up. No restaurant—it had been closed for 5 years. So we got a couple of pre-packaged sandwiches at the food mart where we bought gas and then were on our way. Pulled into Lazy Lakes around 2:30. There were no empty sites around us so we had to turn around by the club house and then backed all the way over to the other side of the lake in order to get in. We finally made it and got set up. Then we drove to Bahama Mama’s for a much needed drink and something to eat. Back home and Floyd and Terry stopped by to say hello. Was still 81 when we finished dinner.

Lazy Lakes

Moon rise over Lazy Lakes