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!

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf, FL:  Another fantastic day.  Low 80s.  We had enough sun yesterday, so we just hung out most of the day at our site sitting in the shade and reading.  Walked over to the clubhouse and stopped to see Charlie and Johanne for a little while.  Walked around the lake and then back.  Mike worked on some chores and then biked back over to Charlie and Johanne’s for a while.  A quiet and relaxing day.

Key West Botanical Garden

Key West Botanical Garden

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf, FL:  A beautiful day today.  We decided to go to Key West for the day.  Took our beach chairs and umbrellas and started at Ft. Zach park and beach.  Got our spot under the pines just back from the beach.  Set up our chairs on the beach and people watched for a while.  Mike went over to the Key West Speedway and did a few races while I stayed at the beach and read my book.  A bunch of zodiac-type boats went by with a bunch of guys in wet suits.  Very military looking.  I know there’s a Navy Frogman school here.  Also watched the F-18s doing their thing flying in formation against the deep blue sky.  Quite a few people in the water—brave people, since the water temperature was only 69.  Walked down to the concessionaire and bought a hot dog for lunch.  Shortly after that Mike returned and after another half hour or so of people watching I went down to the bath house and changed from my bathing suit into shorts and a tee shirt.  Then we headed over to Pepe’s for a late lunch/early dinner.  Walked around the wharf for a while looking at all the schooners and yachts.  Then back home.  82 today.  

Ft. Zach beach

Mike striking a pose

Picture-perfect day

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf, FL:    Another beautiful morning.  Charlie stopped over with Maple.  Mike went off for his dental appointment and I spent the morning taking care of some chores.  I was just heading outside to relax with my book and Mike came back.  His appointment went fine and he even got to meet the dentist’s Portuguese Water Dog, Vincent, who he brings in the office with him.  After sitting outside reading for a while, we headed to the GMC dealer in Key West to pick up a wheel cover for the truck.  On the way back we stopped at the Botanical Gardens and walked around there for a while.  It’s the only frost-free tropical garden in the continental U.S.  One really interesting exhibit there was a bunch of “boats” that Cuban refugees made and made the journey over to the U.S.  It really displayed the ingenuity of the Cuban people in making these craft and then having the bravery to negotiate the Florida Straits to gain access to the U.S.  Left there and headed to the Square Grouper for dinner, but they don’t open until 5:00 for dinner, so we went home.  A beautiful day which hit 81.

Pretty little flowers

Cactus in bloom

Fossilized brain coral

This one looks dangerous.