Hanging Out in the Sunshine

I know that all you folks up north are getting ready to shovel bunches of snow out your driveways but the dogs and I are enjoying the sunshine here on Grassy Key.   

I was the last to drive in on Wednesday but the folks here are very good at getting you guided to to your site and helping set up.   Since Liz and I had both been too tired to unhook cars and head out to dinner Tuesday night at the last campground we made good on our promise and went in search of seafood Wednesday night. The food was good and we got to watch dive bombing seagulls try to steal foo off the plates of the dinners one table over from us and next to the railing and the water.  We liked out "gull-less" table just fine.  Gloria wasn't sure if they knew to put actual liqueur in a Margarita but she managed to sip hers down.

On Thursday we arranged to drive up and meet up with Nan who is staying at a Thousand Trails campground with her membership pass that is located farther south. Eddie, her grandson, is still traveling with her so we made our way to Key West in two cars.

Eddie took our pictures right after we parked so that we weren't too tired to stand up straight and, well, before we could hit too many bars....

Nan, Sarah, Liz, Tina, Wendy, Gloria.....We did our best to fit in with all the rest of the aging tourists. I know our children would be proud!  Key West did remind me of a large amusement park for grownups, particularly in Snowbird season.  

Yes, Key West is a frost free city and the flowers and trees are blooming.  The guided on the tram tour that we took did mention that the school here does have "snowdays" though.  None of the schools have heat so that several times each winter if the temperatures drop in the low 50's of high 40's, the students get a "snowday/s" until the temps come a little.

More trees...

This tree is between the sidewalk and the street.

After finding a parking spot our first mission was to find lunch.  The lunch wasn't bad but our server was a bit slow. We reminded ourselves between making that observation that we were eating lunch in Key West watching the tourist....with the breezes blowing past us in the restaurant and maybe we should just smile and feel blessed.

Thursday morning included a group trip to Publix for food.  And well there was that T-shirt store with comfortable sandals that fit.   By the time we got back it was time to try out the snorkling on the sea wall and swimming area.  Since I had only snorkeled once before as an adult I thought I should practice before driving out to find a more interesting reef and discovering I didn't remember how to breath.  I remembered.   The water here is sort of boring but accomplished my purpose to try out the gear.

A snorkeling mermaid that looked like Liz.....

There are many many spinney Lobsters that live in the seawall.  They come out to feed at night and are protected, as in we all had to sign a document when we checked in at the office acknowledging that we knew not to kill, capture or bother the Lobsters on the wall.  I had looked Thursday night, and some of those Grandads were big.

After getting out legs their workout swimming, Liz and I decided that it only made sense to give our arms a workout.  SO we headed off in the kayaks.  Lots of pelcans hang around the water front and you will see why soon enough.

The Dolphin Research Center is not too far down the road from us. Liz and I got to see some Dolphin action from the water side.   We could see them jumping and hear their "voices."

Back at the dock we got to see how many campers it takes to supervise two fish cleaners and how many Pelicans it takes to clean up the scraps.....

Liz just stopped by and said that Nan is planning on a snorkeling trip tomorrow.  We might just have to find out phones and go make a reservation. Especially now that I know I remembered how to breath.