Ready to head North (at least to Miami)

April 7 

Saturday

We're getting ready to leave.

We both are excited and a little sad.  We've enjoyed a wonderful winter here, in spite of the sometimes not so perfect weather.  Primarily, the biggest issue with the weather has been the wind.  We've had many days when it has been too windy to get out on the water and enjoy it - especially going to Sand Key.  But even today the wind is marginal for taking our new Hobie kayak out to sail. 

We're challenged to figure out how to get 4 kayaks home.  Obviously, we didn't plan to have this many.  So now it's time to figure it out.  Still not sure of the solution.  We may have to bring the 2 smallest inside the coach as we travel.

We've met some wonderful new friends and enjoyed getting together with friends from earlier years.  It is so easy to meet new people here. 

Tomorrow we'll drive to Markham County Park in Broward County near Miami.  We'll leave the coach there while in the Virgin Islands.  Bob and Lynn will be staying in the same park and we'll all pack into his truck Monday morning to head to the Miami airport.

Key West sunsets 

This has been our view the past two weeks.

We take our dinner across the street to the shore.

Each school morning, the kindergarteners walk by, each holding on to their place on the roper.

Dinner at the Maccaw

We enjoy going to the ship to watch sunsets

Party Barge

April 4

This morning, we glanced out the windshield, and a party barge came puttin' by.

We have seen it several times downtown, but not over here.

New Kayaks

April 4

Both of us have been looking at Hobie Mirage Kayaks for some time.  These are kayaks that you can sail, peddle, or paddle (and add electric motors to if you want to).

When we moved to Hollywood (front row), there was a small Hobie Sport kayak sitting across from us.  It had been sitting there for weeks and no one was using it, nor did it seem to have an owner.  So we talked to the Camp Host and decided to move it over to our site.  It sat there a day or so and finally a guy (Joel Walton) came by and said it was his.  We explained that we had moved it (at the host suggestion because nothing is supposed to be left on the grounds) and he thanked us.  Clara suggested that we were interested in buying it if he was interested selling.  He was and we did ($600).

Clara immediately took it out and loved it.

I tried sailing it (it came with a sail), but almost immediately flipped it (no outriggers)

So, now I want a new kayak.

I found a dealer and started looking at one for me.  The dealer (Sunset Water Sports - Rich Welter owner) is the largest water sports rental company in Key West.  Initially, I thought I wanted a small kayak like Clara's Sport, but Rich convinced me I needed a bigger one - the Revolution 13.  So after some research, I decided to buy one that he had in stock.  He offered it at dealer costs ($650 off retail) of $1899.  Additionally, I could order all extras at dealer costs.

The Sport came with a sail and the sail is universal for all Hobie Kayaks.  So I've transferred the sail to mine. And I bought outriggers!

And I'm loving it.

Both kayaks out together

Sailing after sunset

March 16

Today has been an active day.

After a regular morning and a workout at the gym, we headed downtown to the Smokin' Tuna Saloon to listen to Scott Kirby.  Slade had heard the singer when he was here for his 30th birthday (which has been entirely too many years ago) and had continued to follow him.  Slade suggested we might enjoy listening to him and he was scheduled to play this afternoon.

Clara and Scott

We really did enjoy his performance.  He plays and sings somewhat like Jimmy Buffett.  After one of his breaks, I went up and spoke to him filling him in on the story of how we can to be there.  He was very appreciative and commented later in the show that "this is for the parents".

We came back to the base, stopping on the way at the Sunset Lounge for a couple hours of St Patrick's day celebration with Steve, Linda, Bob and Pat.

Lynn in disguise

Papa going incognito

Unfortunately, one of good friends here, Vince Ulrich was taken to the hospital this morning by his wife Candy.  He has been diagnosed with an infection of (at this point) unknown origins.  Apparently, he has worsened throughout the day and is now in ICU

Dolphin Research Center March 4

March 4

On our first visit this year to the Dolphin Research Center, we decided to join the non-profit.  Primariy, this was driven by the fact that you can visit for free and bring 2 guests.  Thus when we took Anna and Evan, we enjoyed a nice free day.

On Sunday, March 4, the Center held its' member appreciation afternoon.  It so happened that Tony and Jill are driving down from Fort Myers to visit a few days.  So we decided to meet at the Center, enjoy the afternoon and then drive on down to Key West.

I had never seen this before - a dolphin twirling a hula hoop.  And he did it quite well.

A flying, spinning backflip

Snipe Point February 17

February 17

We have been waiting for the winds to die down a little so we can rent one of the boats at the on-base marina and get out on the water.  Finally they have so Steve and I go bright and early (6:30AM) to the marina office to wait for them to open at 7:45.  The boats are first-come-first-serve, so we won't to be sure to get one (there are only 2 center console and 2 pontoon boats).

Well, we were too late to get both center consoles, but we could get a pontoon.  The center consoles are allowed to have 6 people on board and the pontoons 10.  We opted for the pontoon so all of us could go out at the same time.

The center console boats are allowed to go out to Sand Key, but the pontoons have to remain on the west (Gulf) side of the Keys.

We followed last years trip, going to Snipe Point on the Western side (Gulf) of the Keys.  The Point had changed quite a bit as a result of the Hurricane, but otherwise everything was much the same.

We enjoyed a nice day of snorkeling (not much to see), walking ashore and just generally enjoying a beautiful day.

Butch and Marlie hand out on the bow

Marlie keeps a lookout for us.

Parties

It seems (and in reality) that there is a party or some type of get-together every night.

A few years back, someone created a Facebook page for the park called "Sigsbee Shufflers".  The name plays off the fact that every day, there are RVs moving from one spot to the next.  The reason for the daily movements is that, although there are 90 full hook up sites, there are another 300+ "overflow" (no hookups) sites.  To be fair to everyone, you cannot stay in full hookup but two weeks at a time before "shuffling" to a "no hookup".  So, there is always a large movement of RVs just about every morning.

Anyway, the Facebook page allows for a lot of communication with all those that are signed up for it.  And if anyone wants to have a big party, they just post in on "Sigsbee Shufflers" and then 25-100 people show up - BYOB and Food.  All the food gets put on the table, everyone eats and drinks (and sometimes some of the campers will bring their musical instruments and there's music.

In addition to the big parties, small groups of friends and neighbors will get together for an improptu social.  This is especially true if one of your "group" gets a waterfront full hookup site.  Then it becomes a sunset party central.

It doesn't take much of a reason for a get-together.  It can be Sunset, the last day of the month, the first day of the month, the first day of the week, the last day of the week, someone going UTR (Up The Road - leaving) tomorrow, someone coming DTR (Down The Road - arriving), or most any excuse.

So, there's always a party!

The pictures below are from a big party with a band.

There's usually ample wine available!

Sometimes, there may be a sideshow - Push Up Contest here

Then there are the sunset parties with small groups of friends.

This party is the result of a sale at Publix Grocery on Stone Crab.  So we had a stone carb sunset party.

And then there is the USCGC Ingham Sunset Party.  The US Coast Guard Cutter Ingham is a Maritime Museum and National Historic Landmark located on the waterfront at Key West.  You bring your own food and they sell beer and wine.

And then there is the Sunset Party because the sun is setting party

And the NC Bar B Que  because Tony and Jill are visiting party.

And the newly discovered Up The Road Bucktooth Rooster Party

Anytime, anywhere, we're all up for a party