Lazy Lakes RV Resort, Sugarloaf Key, FL: Another cool day in store for us. I don’t think it’ll even be in the 70s before we leave next Tuesday. Mike went over for donuts this morning and I backed up the computer. Took two tries to get it done—2 hours total. Esther and Gerald returned yesterday with their nephew, Felix. He and Gerald came over on one of the paddle boats this morning—in tee shirts and shorts. These Canadians are tough! I sat outside in the sun for a while reading, but it was only comfortable in sweats and a sweat shirt. Then when it clouded up I had to go back in because it felt too chilly to me. Mike left at 1:00 to play shoes and I relaxed and enjoyed my solitude. Happy hour tonight. Probably our last one before we leave for the Everglades.

Gerald and Felix cruising

Speeding things up a little (look at that wake!)

Lazy Lakes RV Resort, Sugarloaf Key, FL: Not feeling so great this morning. Either something I ate or all the stuff I took to try and get rid of my headache. So we just hung out and watched the Olympic hockey game in the afternoon. Still cool. Think it hit 61 today.

Orchids at Villa Paradiso--Palms in Paradise 2010

Beautiful metalwork on front door of Villa Paradiso--Palms in Paradise 2010

Villa Paradiso--Palms in Paradise 2010

Lazy Lakes RV Resort, Sugarloaf Key, FL: We had to set the alarm last night so we would get up by 6:30 (gasp!). Left at 8:00 heading to D’Asign Source on Marathon for the 2010 Palms in Paradise Architecture and Garden Tour of the Middle Keys. They had a continental breakfast set up in their store and after that we boarded three coaches that would take us to the seven properties we toured—each one seemingly better than the other. They provided us with a box lunch at one of the properties and then ended the tour at the “Bait Shack”—an amazing estate in Marathon—where we had a Caribbean banquet, live entertainment and a spectacular fireworks display. What a great day!

The main pool has these little caves and grottos you can swim into

The "Bait Shack"--Marathon--Palms in Paradise 2010

Tiki Village--Little cottages where guests stay

The Bait Shack--Palms in Paradise 2010

Fireworks after the dinner at the "Bait Shack"

Palms in Paradise 2010

Lazy Lakes RV Resort, Sugarloaf Key, FL: Sunny but really cool AGAIN today. I’m beginning to sound like a broken record. We were just biding our time waiting for Stanley Steamer to show up. I had made an appointment to have our carpets cleaned today. They weren’t that dirty, but it’s good to get them cleaned once a year anyway. Now we have these little booties we’re wearing inside because it’ll take a couple of days for the carpet to dry. Fortunately, we’re going to the 2010 Palms in Paradise Tour tomorrow all day. Should be fun—even though thunder showers are predicted for the afternoon (sigh). We’re going to tour several large, beautiful homes in the middle Keys. Then we have dinner at the last estate—called the “Bait Shack”. Hope the rain holds off.

Keys morning glory

Lazy Lakes RV Resort, Sugarloaf Key, FL: Sunny, but really cool today. Think the high was only 61. And the wind gusted and howled all night last night. We decided to go to Key West and see “Shutter Island”. Not a very good movie. Back home and watched the Olympics.

Lazy Lakes RV Resort, Sugarloaf Key, FL: Warm this morning but threatening rain. We had planned to do the laundry and grocery shopping, so it really didn’t matter. After finishing that lovely job we stopped at Pizza Works for pizza and then came back home. Was nice enough to sit outside and read for a while, but by the time we got everything put away it had started raining again. Poured for a while and then the winds started gusting really bad. Very scary. Thought we should put the awning away, but Mike said it’d be okay. Okay then. Thankfully, the winds finally died down. Nasty night.

On the Old Road to the Burned-Out Bridge

Lazy Lakes RV Resort, Sugarloaf Key, FL: A beautiful, fantastic morning. After showering and eating breakfast I walked around the lake. On my way back I ran into Dale who wanted to know if Mike was up to playing shoes. Are you kidding? Of course he would. When I got back I told Mike we ought to take the bikes out for a quick ride before shoes, since it’s supposed to rain tomorrow and then cool back down. So we rode over to the old state road by the KOA and then rode part of the “path” down to the burned out bridge. Didn’t go far before we had to turn around because there was so much flooding with all the rain. It’s a beautiful ride though on the old state road which is now grown over with a canopy of all kinds of lush vegetation. And the water in the channel where the old bridge was is a beautiful green/turquoise/blue color. Biked back to the KOA and then to the bridge over Bow Channel. The bridge here is the old Hwy. 1 bridge which parallels the new one. The old one is used for biking, walking, and fishing. Although the water in the channel is pretty shallow, a guy fell off the bridge while fishing and got swept away—the current was so strong. He had to be picked up by boat. Back home and Mike left to play shoes and I relaxed in my chaise reading and watching the buzzards making lazy circles in the sky. Had dinner tonight at the clubhouse—Floyd cooked ribs. Mike was in heaven—ribs and shoes in the same day.

The old state road down to the bridge

Beautiful gated property just before the unpaved state road to the bridge