FLORIDA KEYS

Life is easy down here on the Florida Keys, relaxing on the white sandy beaches, drinking, swimming in the beautiful warm crystal blue Gulf & Atlantic waters, eating WAY too much seafood, partying, taking naps while everyone else fishes so we are able to enjoy the stunning sunsets from the boat dock behind our campsite.  We are spending the week in the town of Marathon on Grassy Key half way between Key Largo and Key West.

FRIDAY MARCH 13, 2015 - BAHIA HONDA STATE PARK

This Park preserves a section of the original railroad bridge built as the first land connection between Key Largo and Key West.  In 1928 the Overseas Highway was built on top of the railroad trestle. We could not swim on the Atlantic side of this Key because of an infestation of Portuguese Man of War, otherwise known as a very beautiful but painful jellyfish with LONG tentacles.  The crystal clear bayside water was a warm 78 deg. and with air temperatures in the mid 80's even JoAnn went for a swim.

SATURDAY MARCH 14, 2015 - MARATHON SEAFOOD FESTIVAL

Spend the day wandering around visiting EVERY SINGLE vendor booth, listening to some awesome local bands, and stuffing ourselves with seafood.  Gave my fingers a workout on the peel & eat shrimp while JoAnn cracked crab legs.  We tried Conche-Wurst Sausage and please don't tell me what conche is as it tasted pretty good once I coated it with spicy mustard.  This festival is a BIG deal around here with everyone sticking a pin on the huge map at the entrance to represent their hometown and with the East Coast solid pins we were proud to be the only pin representing Yuma, AZ.


SUNDAY MARCH 15, 2015 - SOMBRERO BEACH PARK, MARATHON, FL.

Another warm balmy day just relaxing on the beach as life in the Florida Keys is really strenuous. Big event is the release of a rehabilitated sea turtle back into the ocean.  They are released about 30 yards from the water as the onlookers cheer it on to the water.  The excitement level of the entertainment around here is overwhelming.  This beach is on the Atlantic Ocean and only 20 miles from the jellyfish infested Bahia Beach and even though I kept a very weary eye out for them I didn't see any.  None of the other swimmers seemed concerned (quickly discovering that nobody seems concerned about anything around here) so maybe some ferocious sharks or water snakes scare them away.  Anyway we survived another lazy day and escaped only with a bad case of "prune" skin from spending too much time in the water.

Most interesting walking through our campground, most campers collect stickers or collector pins to show where they have been, down here they collect buoy's and hang them over their RV's.  Very nice!