Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf Key, FL:  A quiet day today and our usual Monday.  Mike went for donuts and then played shoes in the afternoon.  I did the cleaning and some reading.  Over for happy hour tonight at the KOA.  Think we’ll go over early.  Then to Boondock’s for dinner.  A beautiful, warm day—even as the rest of the country is inundated yet again.  Mid-80s today.

View from the end of Blimp Road.  One of the mangrove islands out there (not visible in this picture) was inhabited by monkeys--used for some kind of research.

The two guys we met yesterday out for a sail.

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf Key, FL:  Today started out uneventful.  We went to the grocery store which was slammed, and then on the way back Mike wanted to drive down Blimp Road because Fat Albert was down.  I forgot how pretty it is down there.  At the end of the road is a boat ramp and the water is real shallow and crystal clear.  There were a couple of guys getting ready to go out in their little sail boat.  We decided to go put our groceries away, put on our bathing suits and water shoes and come back and spend the afternoon.  And it was beautiful out there.  We set up our beach chairs, waded out in the beautiful crystal clear water which was pretty warm.  Sat there enjoying the view and listening to the water lap up on the shore and feeling the wonderful breeze caressing our bodies.  What a wonderful afternoon.  Last night we did go over to Karen and Jim’s site and enjoyed some cocktails and conversation. Fun time.  Mid-80s today and fantastic.

Fat Albert down.

Pretty view of all the mangrove islands.

The beautiful crystal clear waters.

Beautiful day for a sail!

This guy put in his kayak and was wearing just a thong.

Fat Albert going back up.

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf Key, FL:  Took my walk this morning and then came back and tried to cool off.  The rings I ordered for Carmen arrived in the mail, so I took them over to her.  Then I rode my bike for the first time which went pretty well.  Came back and Carmen was at our site and she stayed for a while.  Then she wanted me to come over and look at some pictures, which I did.  She has a nice home in Baltimore.  Came back and had some lunch.  Howie is playing at the KOA tonight.  Not sure if we’re going or not.  We may just take a bottle of wine over to Karen and Jim’s site.  I do want to celebrate getting back on my bike.  Mid-80s today and perfect!

Doors of Key West.

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf Key, FL:  Drove to Summerland Key this morning to have breakfast at the Galley Grill.  Hadn’t been out for breakfast in a while and it tasted pretty good.  And there were huge puddles in the parking lot, so they must have gotten inundated with rain last night or this morning.  We sure didn’t get any on Sugarloaf.  In the afternoon I was sitting outside enjoying this beautiful, warm day and Carmen came over for a bit.  She had just made breakfast and wanted to know if we wanted some.  Told her we’d just eaten, but thanked her profusely. I think she gets lonesome a lot. After she finished her breakfast she came back over and sat with me for a while.  Pasta for dinner and we’ll watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics.

A beautiful Keys sunset.

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf Key, FL:  Drove up to Big Pine Key for lunch at Pizza Works and then headed back to our park.  At 3:00 we headed over to the clubhouse for a wine tasting hosted by our neighbor, Richard.  We were tasting cabernet this time.  After that we all went out for dinner at Mangrove Mama’s.  Sandy played her harmonica with the guy providing the evening’s entertainment.  She was awesome as usual.  Back home and settled in.  Mid-80s today.

Sandy finishing her set at Mangrove Mama's.

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf Key, FL:  After our morning ablutions we walked around the lake.  Wes was walking Mutley and walked with us.  We had been told that Mutley chases the Iguanas right into the lake.  And lo and behold, there was an Iguana and Mutley chased him right into the water and jumped in after him.  He swam around and around looking for it, but they are way too fast for Mutley. Stopped by Karen and Jim’s site for a while since Karen was sitting outside.  They just got here a couple of days ago from North Carolina.  After walking around the lake, I continued down Johnson Road and picked up trash and Mike went back.  Lazy Lakes is very unique because we’re surrounded by a wildlife and natural area.  There are all kinds of water birds and some migrating birds.  Once when I was walking a neighbor’s dog, we scared up a huge land crab.  Scared the crap out of me.  They’re big and kind of ugly.  Our Netflix was in the mail, so in the afternoon we watched “Last Vegas” which was really funny.  They’re showing it tomorrow night for movie night here in the park.  A beautiful, warm and sultry day today.  In the low 80s.  

Cudjoe, our coconut fish.

Carmen, our 95-year-old neighbor.

She puts us all to shame.  The other night at the KOA she danced every dance all night long.  She loves to party.

Lazy Lakes RV Park, Sugarloaf Key, FL:  Really warm and breezy today.  We decided to do the laundry at the KOA today.  I walked over and Mike drove over. We got that out of the way and then sat outside reading.  Watched some big clouds roll in and then roll right out to reveal a beautiful blue sky.  Went into Key West and had dinner at the Conch Republic Seafood Co. on Schooner Wharf.  A couple of 80+ ladies asked if they could join us at our table.  One is from Boston and the other from NYC.  They’re here for a couple of weeks but had a terrible time getting down here, what with all the snow storms going on.  One of them spent the night at the Atlanta airport.  They are looking forward to getting home.  We had a great dinner.  I had snapper and Mike had raw oysters and stuffed shrimp.  Chocolate covered strawberries for dessert.  After dinner we walked around the wharf for a while.  A beautiful night.  It was still 81 at 8:00, tempered with nice tropical breezes.  A perfect day!

Hello...

Balcony decorated with a bicycle--Old Town Key West.