Going backwards

Because once again, I've been bad - we did have minimal internet due to lack of hook ups (electric) last week - yeah yeah yeah excuses!

We left my Elks lodge in the Keys (where we'd been since 12/30) on Monday February first. We headed down to Key West for a day or two ~ well that turned into five days. We left there Friday February 5th and went back to the lodge to get the trailer and bikes (we'd only taken the coach and car to Key West).

We were reserved at the KOA in West Palm Beach (Loxahatchee) on February 7 and we were not able to get into our site early because someone had reserved it for the weekend and was not scheduled to leave until Sunday so we stayed two nights "dry camping" (no hook ups) at the Miccosukee Resort and Casino in Miami (west Miami/Homestead). It worked out quite well - no cost to park there, sign up for their "players card" and get $20. free play each (we won $16. between us) and they gave us a dinner and a breakfast buffet! I think I may be getting really "thrifty" in my old age about some things!!

I'd always thought I really could not stand to dry camp AT ALL - well I did pretty darned good for six nights last week .. the downside was lack of internet (only because we were trying to conserve power - of which we did have plenty but we needed to run the generator to charge the batteries - I am not a fan of running the generator, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do!)

So, going backwards ~ one of the last days we were at the lodge we headed down to the Outback restaurant in Islamorada, where they have an outstanding outside patio and beach area. Not to mention the hammocks around the property - got a picture or three of yours truly chillin in said hammock BUT the camera was set on video and I can't seem to load a video here and can't figure out (if it's even possible) to make a part of a video into a still shot, so guess there will be no photo of anyone chillin' in the hammock.

Anyway, the photo above is at the beach looking over the small wall there into the water at a grouper sloooooooowly going by ...

On the way back we stopped at Long Key State Park to check out the dump site facilities that we'd need on our way down to Key West. The photo above is of one of the camp sites there (there are 60 sites). Not bad huh! The down side is they have to be reserved, on line only I believe, a year ahead and they are $43. a night - seriously!! Remember when state parks were $5. or $10. a night!!! Oh yeah, I guess I'm showing my age for sure aren't I.

After that stop we took a break at Anne's Beach in Islamorada (perhaps the best natural beach in the Keys) and watched the wind surfers (I think that's what they are called)

Great relaxing time we had that day. When the tide is high at Anne's Beach there is no beach, so glad we were there at low tide. Also, there were many people there so Sir was preoccupied with all the activity and surprisingly had no interest in water play!

I will try to get all caught up with posts over the next few days.

Rick is flying to New England for the funeral of our Bethie's dear Grandfather. Rick returns on Sunday and I fly out Monday for my doctor's appointment in MA. I plan on doing some major major cleaning (don't do a lot of that with no hook ups!! - how's that for an excuse!) and blog posting! Seriously, I am going to try!