March 27, 2014

Yesterday we explored our island - which is called Pine Island by the way.  It is a nice island depending on where you are.  I do appreciate the setting of our RV park now that I've seen a couple others here on the island.  Later we drove out to Sanibel Island, our true destination on this western coast of Florida.  Well,  as we saw in Miami, it was bumper to bumper traffic.  Although THIS time, that was a good thing.  Often when we are slowed down to a crawl, Paul opens the side windows so the dogs can enjoy the breeze and all the new smells.  And to refresh your memory...

because they like it, especially Miss Maizy.

The road was a small two lane highway.  (again, a GOOD thing)

You just have to picture the earlier bumper to bumper traffic.

Paul and I had just wondered if we needed to worry about Maizy jumping out the now open window.  That question was answered almost immediately.  The answer:  YES!!!  She did indeed jump out the window on this crowded road ( because she spied a cool bird) - nearly giving us heart attacks.   Paul slammed on the brakes,  I jumped out of the truck, running, screaming her name.  She of course looked over her shoulder and ran quickly....in the opposite direction!!!  I headed back to the truck for my secret weapon..crackers.  I have discovered she will come if she sees a cracker in my hand.  As I rounded the front of the truck I was grateful to see that the opposing traffic had stopped...because Maizy was now in the middle of the road BEHIND the truck!  Paul called and she came toward him, but avoided his outreached hands and, thankfully, came to me for the cracker.   I Grabbed her, tossed her in the back seat (mostly gently) and we continued on our way.  I wonder what the people behind us said when they saw this little dog fly out the window??  From this point on the window will stay up at all times.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

I'm sitting here, with a mostly great view of sunrise from my "dining room" window.  I see the palm trees "swaying in the tropical breezes"...kind of...they're being blown around by very cold breezes  - if the temp is below 70, or as of this moment, below 60 (!), can they be called "tropical" breezes.  I did not come to Florida for this!  Although the folks in Sonora would appreciate it since it was 47 there yesterday.  Brrrrrr.
I had begun to make fun of these Floridians when I heard the weather report about a "dramatic drop in temps"  -  all the way to the 60's  - but then it dropped to 50 Tuesday night and I had to turn on the heater.  So, no more jokes at their expense.    I just heard it's supposed to be 79 today!  Yay - but, "spotty" showers coming in off the Gulf ...  boo.  Oh well, I'm not workin so it's all good!  Plus I'm trying to live by this bumper sticker thought....

here...

comes...

the sun.

March 26, 2014

Traveling with pets is always a challenge.  We have to stop every few hours - we usually know when it's time because Chloe puts her head over the dog "barrier" and noses Paul and Maizy "talks" to us!  On this trip Callie has us somewhat concerned - several times when we have stopped and deployed the dogs she has started eating plants like she was starving.  I always remember my dad saying dogs know which plants to eat, I hope he was right.  We don't know if she's had an upset tummy or what.

Chloe continues to decline - she separates herself a lot these days, preferring to go up and sleep in the bedroom so we just put her bed up there now.  The other dogs seem to know it too as they sometimes go into be with her - comfort "nurse" dogs?

But she still likes to get in the truck and go and get out the leash, she's wagging that tail.  

In Orlando we did something we've never done, we hired a dog "nanny".  We called several businesses and chose "Wag Watchers".  Tracy (an expat Brit) came over and interviewed US about our dogs.  It was funny how detailed her questions were.  She was great with the dogs and would send us texts every time she saw them as well as pictures.  It was worth the peace of mind and we didn't have to take time to come back to walk the dogs.  We got maximum park time that way.  More about the parks next blog.  Going to explore Pine Island and Sanibel Island!

March 25 #2

Today we drove along Highway 41 from Kendall (near Miami) to Sanibel Island.  We aren't really ON Sanibel Island because their RV parks are outrageous.  Paul found a small (and I do mean SMALL) family run RV park on the island above Sanibel (I forgot the name of this island).  The people are very friendly - as soon as Paul got us tucked in they invited us in for a fish fry - yummo.  I just ate the slaw and pasta salad.  It's right on a channel that goes directly into the Gulf of Mexico.  I tried to get pics of the dolphin that were feeding right off the end of the dock but they were too quick - chasing their fish dinners.  Speaking of fish dinner  = I forgot to add a pic I got of a gator eating his sushi yesterday in the glades.  Will post that and the pics of the gators we saw today - they were literally just a few yards off the road - yikes - wouldn't want to break down on highway 41 at night!!

Sushi for lunch!!

  

Sugar Sands RV Park

I saw dolphins off this dock.

 And here we are, on the left.  See what I mean - this is the whole park!!

March 25, 2014

Florida continues to be a surprise.  We visited the Everglades National Park yesterday - I always envisioned a palm tree studded swamp - well it is a swamp, but there's a lot of prairie grass.  It was a quick drive through for us so I'll just show some pics and short explanations.

 Didn't see any panthers but seeing signs weird.  Heard on radio today they had to trap and move a panther back to a more remote area of the glades.

 Crazy - vultures apparently eat tires and rubber around windows!!  No vulture trouble for us.

 This bird is called an anhinga.  It's fascinating.  I love its blue eyes.  I watched one swim under the water for several minutes searching for prey.  It's called a water turkey too because of its tail feather which looked really cool fanned out under the water.  My battery was dying and the light wasn't right for me to film that.

After swimming the anhinga spends a lot of time

                 drying its feathers with wings extended.

Gator gathering place!!!

Imported beach - Paul reading with trombone style

 Fresh coconut available - one sharp machete!

 Sunset entertainers

                                                                            Black Skimmer

 Sunset watchers

 St. Patrick's Day revelers

Laundry cat  :)

March 27, 2014

I was told I forgot to mention snorkeling in last post - we did snorkel - not as good water clarity as Hawaii or Bahamas, but still fun.  Did see parrot fish and huge black fish with electric blue edges and another barracuda - a small fry compared to the one I saw years ago in the Bahamas.

And to answer another question, Yes Matt, it WAS the best Key Lime pie I've every had!  Very "limey".

Even though Key West is on the east coast because it's down on the peninsula and curves west so there is a great sunset area.  Every night in the wharf area there is a sunset celebration and many, many people come.  There are great restaurants there, street performers  trying  to make a few bucks and artisans and craft folk selling their wares.  After the sunset it clears out pretty quickly.

Duval Street is the hopping tourist area - tourist trap stores and bars/restaurants.  Last Monday was St. Patrick's day and we knew it would be hoppin and it was.  We went on our tour that day and the tour guide had to stop talking as we drove past two bars because it was SO LOUD.  It's rolling Spring Break so there were a TON of young folk enjoying their liquid refreshment that day!!  The tour guide said it's a problem that happy hour doesn't start until 7....7:00 a.m. that is!!  We didn't stay in town very late that day - didn't want to deal with the amateur hour young folk.  :)

One surprising fact  we learned  is that Key West is essentially an island made of coral - so no sand beaches.  All the beaches were created with sand that was imported from the Bahamas!  Our guide said he would appreciate it if we would shake out our towels very carefully and leave as much sand as possible since it was a very pricey investment for the citizens of Key West!!  Next post - all pics.

We're gettin old but we're still busy and adventurous!  Paul watched the weather like a hawk and planned a trip for us on the least windy day - winds were usually 10-15 miles and felt good because of the humidity.  We however, wanted to go snorkeling and wind stirs up the sand and makes the water murky - this day was great unless you count the sailing part - had to motor out on the catamaran.  Many tours go out to the coral reef that is about 8 miles out because that's where the pretty fish are!  The reef also stops a lot of wave action from hitting Key West.  We were busy from 10:00 until 4:00.

We also jet skied and got on the water trampoline - but we just reclined on that with some lovely ladies from Ohio and enjoyed our wine!
Great day - so fun.  Also had fun with this couple from Boston on the "banana" - she kept wanting the ride to go slower and he kept giving a secret signal to go faster!  I just laughed the whole time and could hardly see a thing because the spray kept hitting me right in the face!!

Sunday, March 23, 2014

We have officially left Key West - it was fun  - weather was great until last two days then we got a taste of humidity down there!  Paul says "You get used to it"!  I don't wanna.  I will do a brief summary of Key West highlights.  Key West is one of a string of barrier islands - it is only 2 x 7 miles and packed with people.  Main industry used to be wreck salvaging (in olden times), sponge harvesting (also gone), and cigar making.  A major fire back in early 1900s took out the whole community including cigar factories so the economic decline began.  One enterprising man built a railroad and brought the tourists down - ta da - now they salvage and harvest tourist dollars!  Lots and lots of midwesterners and northerners escaping their snowy, icy winter.  I told Paul next to them WE looked tan!!

There's a lot of Key Lime down here - pie of course, frozen chocolate dipped, and yestereday I saw an ad in a cigar window for Key Lime cigars!!

 We had to try the pie of course since it's one of Paul's favorites!!

 This is a picture of the line in front of us and then in back of Paul.  We are all in line to get a picture of the southern most point in the continental U.S.  Butttttt, this really isn't the southern most point.  It's out on a Navy base (the round ball thing below).  The Navy frowns upon tourist visits - so the town fathers demanded that something be built for the tourists and ta-da, the big red/black/yellow weird shaped thing was born and we all go to get our picture there!  :)