NBNC>KWFL: December 2016

Pelicans Briefing

Traveling southbound I-95 is always a challenge, especially when you have 57’ of vehicle being driven/towed. While I am skimming across my expansive field of vision and keeping to the tasks of navigating, Dave is tunnel visioned to the front, sides and rear of his world as pilot.  In my skimming I noticed so many silver poles having cameras and look-like-satellite dishes roadside. I have since learned these are part of a traffic management system that will help reduce congestion by alerting travelers well in advance on electronic signs. At first I was suspect, thinking ‘Big Brother’ was now intruding on our vacations, but having read several articles on the system it certainly makes sense; states from New England to Florida are installing these devices. So look up, open your window and wave!

It is funny…ha-ha funny… to be 9’ above the road and glance into passing cars, trucks and motor homes. Nearly every camper/motor home we encounter the passenger, a.k.a. ‘the navigator’, has some form of map in their hands/lap. Which makes me wonder, even though there were native guides with Lewis & Clark, would they have gotten lost if the little woman was with them? Just sayin’. 

Miami-Dade Landfill (not my photo)

Most everyone knows that southern Florida is pretty much at sea level, if not close, so while on the turnpike on the outside fringes of Miami-Dade, the elevation markedly appeared on the horizon. Come to find out it was Mount Don’t-Breathe-the-Air-up-Here.  What we saw was a landfill that is a 225’ high mountain of garbage, not unlike what our Mom’s used to holler at us when we were kids that our rooms resembled. This particular landfill started as a ten-foot high pile of uck in 1965. I would venture to guess there is no amount of Lysol to squelch the foul orders coming from that thar’ mountain.  Can’t help but think there is a lot of Monday morning trash there.

Card Sound Bridge

We hit the last exit mainland before continuing across Card Sound and our trek south watching the mile marker numbers decrease. And the seascapes are truly beautiful. Like watercolors of blues, greens, and violets blended in a puddle on paper.  US 1 is a two-lane, strictly enforced speed limits, always visible law enforcement.  A pleasurable ride for the passenger, and white-knuckle for the driver because cars dart in and out from side roads like hummingbirds.

Jolly Roger

We settled at Jolly Roger on Marathon Key, where we will spend Christmas and New Year’s Eve with splendid Gulf views and the gentle sounds of waves.

Bridge to the Clouds

The Florida Keys = aqua blue waters as far as your eyes can see the horizon on the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Gulf of Mexico following you on the west over ancient coral reef; 200+ varieties of palm trees; a paradise described by those who have spent a weekend to a lifetime;  seasons of humid and hot; forests of gumbo limbo and slash pines; ornamental vines of magenta bougainvillea, the showy red hibiscus. And each Key defines itself from another.

Island Grill

We have become the 21^st century Ponce de Leon’s, exploring each Key and discovering their inlets, coves and bays.  All the Keys were obliterated in 1935 when the historic Labor Day Hurricane, a cat. 5, with gale force winds and high seas stormed the Florida Keys.  Hurricane winds of nearly 200 mph and a storm surge of 18-20 feet destroyed the low-lying islands.

Plantation Key (no my photo)

Plantation Key was settled in the 1870s by immigrants from the Bahamas who raised coconuts and pineapples, which were shipped by schooner to Baltimore and New York City. The plantations of Cuba forced the Keys out of business, but the entrepreneurs of the Keys tapped into Prohibition and its close proximity to the Bahamas and the bootlegging trade. 

Tea Table Key (not my photo)

Tea Table is privately owned by a guy from Chicago who spends just a few days a month at his piece of heaven, which has the price tag of mega-millions.  Tea Table was originally owned by the widower of Laura Ashley, ergo the English moniker.

Long Key Beach (not my photo)

We stopped by Long Key, home of Long Key State Park, where campers are quite literally parked on the sandy beach. Hoping to gander a look-see the park attendant told us that the park will be closed for restructuring campsites because of critically eroded beaches.

Duck Key

Key Colony Beach

Key Colony Beach and Duck Key continue to be our favorite islands along these Keys.  Crossing the causeway to Key Colony we pass through a small town atmosphere with the horizon opening up to beautiful homes and a quiet park offering benches shaded by tall coconut palms fluttering gently with the ocean breezes.  Duck Key actually looks like the head of a duck from the air with its beak aiming southward toward Key West.  With its elevation at 3’ above sea level the exclusive homeowner’s mc-mansions and the ocean combine at the sea’s perspective creating a lovely mirage.

Of course, we have put a dent in Key West, with intentions to visit again this coming week (before the Christmas-ers occupy Duvall Street).  You know how you can travel the same road back and forth and back and forth and by the tenth back and forth you have the trip pretty well memorized, with every mailbox, the terribly painted house, and the vacant lots? Well, when you travel US 1 to mile marker 0 the trip going and coming is never the same. 

  The hues of greens and blues of the ocean and Gulf waters reflect feelings of tranquility, peacefulness, even though the furthest one can see, the immenseness of, the infiniteness of the ocean’s waves, in and out, ripple after ripple, makes one feel slight. Stands of mangroves border the roadway along the Gulf and ocean way on the remote strands of creamy vanilla sands.  

Bo's Fish Wagon

We visited our favorites, Bo’s Fish Wagon and Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville.  We strolled along the uncrowded Duvall Street and meandered through a few neighborhoods.  We will be traveling to MM 0 the week before Christmas to get our last southern-most fix.

Our stay here on the Keys will close on the first day of the new year, when we level up and steer our way northbound to central Florida…home of Citrus Florida, over half million acres of citrus produce, which are handpicked and then processed for you to enjoy with your breakfast or in your mimosa.

So, as you read this ending to the year 2016, we sincerely wish you and your family (ies) a Blessed Christmas Season and a Happy New Year.  See you next year!

LIFE IS SHORT: ENJOY THE RIDE