The largest crawfish in the south
Friday, December 31, 2010
Key West heading back to camp
On the way back Ellen was hoping for a swim at Bahia Honda Beach. However, by the time we stopped on our way back up the keys the wind was blowing so hard that the beach was covered with weeds and the water was mucky. So we walked the trails to see another perspective of the old railway and went on our way.
The largest crawfish in the south
The largest crawfish in the south
Key West
We finally made it to Key West . We are now as far as we can get from Seattle, only 3800 miles to home base. 
On the southern most beach
As far south as we can go, almost to Cuba.
Southern most house in the US
A lady having fun!
On the southern most beach
As far south as we can go, almost to Cuba.
Southern most house in the US
A lady having fun!
Everglades Day 2
Friday Dec 31
We jumped back in the truck for a day-trip down the Florida Keys. We saw lots of fields of beans, palms and other food crops. It was interesting to see the little (and large) towns along the way. We were amazed at the undertaking of building a railroad down the entire keys. However, the Labor Day hurricane of Sept 2, 1935 destroyed much of the incomplete project and it was never completed. The newer Seven Mile Bridge parallels the old rail line.
Sections that were still stable have been converted to walking/cycling paths and fishing docks. Other parts are left to the birds for a perch and the ravages of Mother Nature.
We stopped to watch some very skilled kite-surfers as they sped back and forth leaping many feet into the air. We even saw one guy sail over the bow of a sailboat. It was really amazing.
Pelicans just hanging out
We also watched with fascination as these huge pelicans took to the air and then came down in a free-fall nose dive into the water. It seems they were hitting the bottom with their beaks in order to stir up the bottom to release hiding things that the pelicans wanted to eat.
Pre dive
Touch down head first!
We jumped back in the truck for a day-trip down the Florida Keys. We saw lots of fields of beans, palms and other food crops. It was interesting to see the little (and large) towns along the way. We were amazed at the undertaking of building a railroad down the entire keys. However, the Labor Day hurricane of Sept 2, 1935 destroyed much of the incomplete project and it was never completed. The newer Seven Mile Bridge parallels the old rail line.
Sections that were still stable have been converted to walking/cycling paths and fishing docks. Other parts are left to the birds for a perch and the ravages of Mother Nature.We stopped to watch some very skilled kite-surfers as they sped back and forth leaping many feet into the air. We even saw one guy sail over the bow of a sailboat. It was really amazing.
Pelicans just hanging out
We also watched with fascination as these huge pelicans took to the air and then came down in a free-fall nose dive into the water. It seems they were hitting the bottom with their beaks in order to stir up the bottom to release hiding things that the pelicans wanted to eat.
Pre dive
Touch down head first!Thursday, December 30, 2010
Everglades National Park
Thursday Dec 30, 2010
On Thursday we left Pompano Beach and the sights and sounds of the city to travel further south to the Everglades National Park. We stopped in the first campground inside the park, Lone Pine Key. The campground is beautiful with tall pines, palms and lots of other vegetation not familiar to us. The campsites are really large and grassy, very welcome after the tight quarters of the last two RV parks we’ve stayed in.
On Thursday we left Pompano Beach and the sights and sounds of the city to travel further south to the Everglades National Park. We stopped in the first campground inside the park, Lone Pine Key. The campground is beautiful with tall pines, palms and lots of other vegetation not familiar to us. The campsites are really large and grassy, very welcome after the tight quarters of the last two RV parks we’ve stayed in.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
A day in South Beach, FL
Wednesday 12/22/10
Today was a glorious warm and sunny day in southern Florida. We joined friends Stoney and Claudia at their home in Miami Beach. (We met them in an RV park while traveling this summer).
Stoney took us on the million dollar tour on bicycles to look at a beautiful harbor/marina and over to the pristine white sands of South Beach (also known as Lummus Park). This day there were mostly tourists on the beach although our friend told us that this is the place you can often find topless supermodels and other beautiful people. ( We did not see any) There is a clothing-optional stretch of beach on the north end.
Looking North on South Beach
Today was a glorious warm and sunny day in southern Florida. We joined friends Stoney and Claudia at their home in Miami Beach. (We met them in an RV park while traveling this summer).
Stoney took us on the million dollar tour on bicycles to look at a beautiful harbor/marina and over to the pristine white sands of South Beach (also known as Lummus Park). This day there were mostly tourists on the beach although our friend told us that this is the place you can often find topless supermodels and other beautiful people. ( We did not see any) There is a clothing-optional stretch of beach on the north end.
Looking North on South BeachWe had lunch at the News Café www.newscafe.com , a sidewalk café/restaurant, bar, newsstand located at the corner of 8th Street and Ocean Drive in the Art Deco Distract across the street from the beach.
This was an excellent vantage point for watching scantly clad sun worshipers and hot cars (Stoney guaranteed we’d see at least 1 Bentley, Rolls Royce, Maserati, and Lamborghini, which we did.
We drove by the former residence of the fashion designer Versace who was gunned down in 1997 outside his Miami Beach mansion.
Who can visit here without a picture with the pink snails (although I was looking for pink flamingos).
We stopped for a stroll through the gallery of Stoney’s favorite artist, Romero Britto who is well known for his representation of life through vibrant colors and hard-edged compositions of the joyful, positive side of living.
Ellen also took a quick look through AllSaints Spitalfields, a high-end British clothing store, although she was looking at the floor-to-ceiling rows of hundreds of antique sewing machines. The entire open mall area was lined with interesting little cafes and fun stores. A girl could spend hours there.
After our bicycle tour, we picked up Claudia and boarded their 50 foot yacht for a lovely trip to view the Miami Skyline from the water. We saw many different amazing mansions on the water, several different beautiful birds such as pelicans, seagulls, herons, sandpipers, egrets, ibis, etc and enjoyed the sun and water.
Piloting the Yacht
As the sun set we returned to shore where Stoney made us giant gin and tonics (Ellen had 2) and we were treated to a yummy Cuban dinner of chicken, black beans and rice and delicious fried bananas, followed by Claudia’s wonderful Christmas cookies. The whole day was such a treat from the sights and sounds to the most excellent company.
Ellen enjoying her little Gin and Tonic!!!
This was an excellent vantage point for watching scantly clad sun worshipers and hot cars (Stoney guaranteed we’d see at least 1 Bentley, Rolls Royce, Maserati, and Lamborghini, which we did.We drove by the former residence of the fashion designer Versace who was gunned down in 1997 outside his Miami Beach mansion.
Who can visit here without a picture with the pink snails (although I was looking for pink flamingos).
We stopped for a stroll through the gallery of Stoney’s favorite artist, Romero Britto who is well known for his representation of life through vibrant colors and hard-edged compositions of the joyful, positive side of living.
Ellen also took a quick look through AllSaints Spitalfields, a high-end British clothing store, although she was looking at the floor-to-ceiling rows of hundreds of antique sewing machines. The entire open mall area was lined with interesting little cafes and fun stores. A girl could spend hours there.
After our bicycle tour, we picked up Claudia and boarded their 50 foot yacht for a lovely trip to view the Miami Skyline from the water. We saw many different amazing mansions on the water, several different beautiful birds such as pelicans, seagulls, herons, sandpipers, egrets, ibis, etc and enjoyed the sun and water.
The Crew working hard
Piloting the Yacht
As the sun set we returned to shore where Stoney made us giant gin and tonics (Ellen had 2) and we were treated to a yummy Cuban dinner of chicken, black beans and rice and delicious fried bananas, followed by Claudia’s wonderful Christmas cookies. The whole day was such a treat from the sights and sounds to the most excellent company.
Ellen enjoying her little Gin and Tonic!!!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Back in Ft Lauderdale
It was nice to be away from work, the computer and the cell phone for a week.(Ellen) We are now back in Fort Lauderdale at our R.V. Wednesday we will join some friends (Stoney and Claudia from Miami Beach) who we met last summer for a short excursion in their yacht. We’re hoping for a beautiful day to take in the Florida coast. We’ll move from here to another park on Thursday. We’ve been invited for Christmas dinner at Stoney and Claudia’s. We wish all our friends and family who follow our blog a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Friday, December 17, 2010
Caribbean Cruise
The next day we arrived at Princess Cays, a private resort on the SE of Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas. The day was sunny and nice. We were treated to a barbeque lunch, browsed through some shops, and spent the rest of the day in the shade of a palm tree enjoying the nice weather. Marv rested while Ellen went for a swim and read a book.
we were tendered off of the ship
View from the beach
our self portrait from the beach
Ellen getting ready for a swim
Ellen floating in the sea
getting ready for lunch
our ship waiting for our return
we were tendered off of the ship
View from the beach
our self portrait from the beach
Ellen getting ready for a swim
Ellen floating in the sea
getting ready for lunch
our ship waiting for our return
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Caribbean Cruise
Dec 16th, 2010
The next day we rested up during a day at sea and dressed up for our second “formal” evening.
We took our own formal shoot
After dinner we changed in to comfy clothes and headed out for drinks and bingo.
We lost
The next day we rested up during a day at sea and dressed up for our second “formal” evening.
We took our own formal shoot
After dinner we changed in to comfy clothes and headed out for drinks and bingo.We lost
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Caribbean Cruise
Dec 15, 2010
Next stop at Cozumel Island, Mexico. The wind was blowing and the seas were rough, so we took a very rough and wavy ride on a high-speed catamaran ferry over to the Yucatan Peninsula where we boarded a bus at Playa de Carmen to travel 30 miles to the famous Mayan ruins of Tulum located on the cliffs above the beautiful pristine blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. The view is breath-taking and the ruins incredibly interesting. The downside was that we needed more “free” time to explore the ruins.
Our Mexican lunch
Ellen enjoying the hot beach weather
when we got back there was a cruise ship traffic jam
someone has parked next to us
this is the Allure of the Seas with Royal Caribbiean (the largest cruise ship in the world)
Next stop at Cozumel Island, Mexico. The wind was blowing and the seas were rough, so we took a very rough and wavy ride on a high-speed catamaran ferry over to the Yucatan Peninsula where we boarded a bus at Playa de Carmen to travel 30 miles to the famous Mayan ruins of Tulum located on the cliffs above the beautiful pristine blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. The view is breath-taking and the ruins incredibly interesting. The downside was that we needed more “free” time to explore the ruins.
We were then taken to a beach for a traditional Mexican lunch. We were supposed to enjoy the beach, but it was cool and the wind was blowing, so rather than get into the water, we watched some braver souls attempt wind surfing. (We took lessons in Hawaii a couple of years ago, but we’re not talented enough to attempt the winds and waves at this beach).
Our Mexican lunchEllen enjoying the hot beach weatherwhen we got back there was a cruise ship traffic jam
someone has parked next to us
this is the Allure of the Seas with Royal Caribbiean (the largest cruise ship in the world)
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