Florida and the Keys

We traveled the length of Florida in one day - Jennings to Key Largo. Mike was a bit nervous pulling the trailer off the mainland onto an island. But the road was good, wide and not busy.

When we arrived at our RV Campground, and we were able to get a spot right along the Florida Bay. We were basically all by ourselves where we were located. We arrived during the wet season so it was the off season and it was quiet. Upon setting up camp, we discovered that there were giant iguanas living in the trees behind our trailer, but they kept to themselves.

We enjoyed sunsets over the Bay all by ourselves. It was very relaxing to say the least.

On our second day, we went on a boat tour around Key Largo and the Southern part of the Everglades.  Our Captain met us at the boat dock and we were all by ourselves, so we got to go see whatever we wanted. Captain Jim was very informative and had lived there for 40 years, so he knew the best places to go. First he explained how the water ways in the islands were carved out to allow boat traffic across the Keys without have having to travel around.

He took us to see Nurse Sharks in the Mangrove Swamp. It didn't take long before we found our first two laying in the sand along the sides of the waterway.

Then he took us across the the Bay to the North American Crocodile Reserve. Although we had a sign in our Campground that said to use caution in the water due to Crocodiles, we learned that the crocodiles are very shy and hard to find. He was excited to show us a special place that not many people knew was there. We didn't see any Crocs but it was interesting anyway. We also learned that all the water in the Bay is only 4 feet deep.

He took us below the Highway, and came out behind some restaurants into a small bay. It was interesting to see an old sailboat that had sunk and two ospreys had built a nest on the mast. Since it is illegal to bother osprey, the County couldn't remove the wreck, and it had been sitting there for nearly 40 years.

In the same bay,  we saw a couple of Manatees. And 5 minutes later a pod of dolphins "frolicking" in the water.  We got video of both animals.

Later the same day, we drove to the North part of Everglades National Park, and took an Airboat tour. We saw several alligators and lots of fish. We came back to the dock, we were able to watch a wildlife show. The alligators in the show were nuisance animals that were taken out of the wild due to people feeding them. When alligators are fed by people, they start to associate food to humans. They no longer are shy and they will start eating pets or go after children. They will "size up" things and see if it is food or a danger. If they think they can eat it they will go after it. Even during the show, the largest alligator was sizing up a child in the crowd and started moving closer. The handler started pushing down on it's head and pushing it away from the fence and asked the people to move the child.

On our 3rd day we traveled down to Key West.  It is a 100 mile drive from Key Largo. It took us 2 hours to get there because the speed limit was only 45 in most places. You could definitely see the difference between the Keys. As we traveled,  we saw how more relaxed the islands in the middle were. Most tourists go either to Key Largo (closest to the Miami) or Key West (in the Gulf of Mexico).

We walked down through the streets and went to the Southernmost point of tht Continental United States.

It rained hard while we were down there, but stopped after lunch.

On Tuesday, October 8th, we left the Keys and headed North but we didn't take the same road. We headed West after Miami across the Everglades Parkway or also called the Alligator Highway.

As we were crossing over, an old time friend and the Best Man at our wedding got ahold of us. Jay Rethaford proceeded to tell us that he and his girlfriend, Ann were down in Cape Coral on the West Coast of Florida.  We were going to drive right through that area. So, we made plans to go to dinner that night. Mike and I found a spot in Ft. Myers and had a great visit with friends.

So, you may be asking, "What's so amazing about meeting them in Florida?" Jay and Ann live in Washington State and we never seem to make it to visit one another. It's funny that we just happened to meet in Florida.

This morning we headed up into the panhandle to Ft. Walton Beach to visit  family.   Mike had not seen his cousins Sheila and Jim for many years. Excited to see them.

Our visit with family was fantastic,  We shared stories, memories and looked at old photographs.  We also had a great meal.

Next... Louisiana.

Heading to Key Largo from Miami

First Sunset

Mr. Iguana in a Mangrove Tree

Nurse Shark on the sandy bottom 

Great White Heron

Red Mangroves have to have salty sea water

Hidden Canal into the NA Crocodile Reserve 

Jim shows us what the island is made of - Coral

It have fossilized into rock, which is what all the houses and stores are built on

He is pointing out a Brain Coral and some other fossils 

You can see the lines where the rock is cut

They cut out big pieces of Coral and crush it into rocks which is what our Campground was covered with and what we parked on. 

The spooky remains of a Resort that was never finished. This is just one area of the NA Crocodile Reserve. Do you see the falling piece of dock that is a lighter color than the other wood?

That is where a big Crocodile is usually located, sunning himself. 

Sunken Sailboat

Osprey nest with osprey 

Manatee tail

Looking back at our camp from the Bay

We are parked in the trees to the right

Tiki bar and resort

A coconut palm

Christmas Palm grows red berries in the fall 

Airboat ride in the Everglades 

Alligators

Gator Wildlife show

Gator sees little boy

Gator getting as close as he can

This is right before the parents were asked to move the child

Chilling and watching the sunset

KEY WEST

Turquoise water shows where it is a sandy bottom. Darker color is where the seagrass grows

Stormy day

The end of Hwy 1

Decorated old truck

Bar that is covered with signed dollar bills 

The Southernmost Pier

They are serious about their golf carts around here. This is a Ford Mustang cart!

Iguana in our camp 

Sea birds in the morning 

Buddies since forever

Mike, Jay and Nancy

Nearly 33 years ago, he was the Best Man 

at our wedding 

Mike, Bob, Sheila and Jim

Jim, Sheila and Mike

Great time with family