SSK, WEEK 2, DEC. 7-13, 2009

 

 

Hard to believe that our second week here at Sunshine Key has gone by.  We’ve done lots of relaxing and reading and a couple of more projects—washed our boat cover and added more outdoor carpet around the motorhome.  We’ve been walking and riding our bikes every day.  It’s been especially delightful here in the sun and warmth while watching the huge storm system sweep across the US bringing cold and snow to many of you—we feel so sorry for you!  Hank and Jimmy spent part of Monday fishing off the old bridge.  We’ve seen all kinds of rays and even watched an iguana swim across the channel one afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We took the boat out on Tuesday and fished off the Bahia Honda Bridge.  We caught lots of grouper—unfortunately, none were keepers.  We also shared much of our catch with a shark who circled our boat and then settled under the bridge.    As soon as we would catch any fish of size and start to reel them in, he would come up and bite them right off the line.  Hank put on a heavier leader and line and then caught the shark a few times!  He would put on quite a show as he ran the line out. leaping in and out of the water before getting off.  I’ve posted a picture of a yellowtail we were able to snatch out of his mouth and you can see the nasty gash he left down its side.

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All of the Newmar coaches left on Thursday and we can see the water again from our site.   Thursday night we joined Gary and Pat, a couple we met at Ortona 2 years ago, for dinner at the Keys Fisheries in Marathon.  They are camped down at Bahia Honda and scheduled to move up to Curry Hammock next week.  On Friday, I helped Gabby, our social director, set up miniature Christmas trees on each of the tables in the clubhouse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We hit the Flea Market again Saturday morning and Hank is so happy as he now can get cinnamon sugar on his donuts there.  Not too many people had ice cream Saturday night at our clubhouse and I am sorry I did not get a picture of all the servers in their Santa hats!  Sunday Hank and I had dinner up at Sparky’s on Key Colony and then watched the annual Key Colony Beach Lighted Boat Parade.  Even with my night setting, my camera failed to take clear pictures, but I hope these somewhat fuzzy photos will give you a sense of how festive all the decorated boats were.  We especially liked the one lit up to look like Rudolph.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Again, sorry about those blurry photos!  Here are two more shots from our island paradise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SSK, WEEK 1, NOV. 30-DEC. 6, 2009

 

As we drove south on 29 on our way down to the Keys, we saw a huge black bear standing by the side of the road in the Panther Refuge Area.  I am so sorry I did not get a picture of him—we have never seen a bear in Florida before.  Hank pulls the boat behind the motorhome and I follow along in the pick-up truck.  It’s always so thrilling to get to the first bridges and see that beautiful turquoise water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We checked in and were warmly greeted by everyone at the front desk.  Our section up front was almost empty except for Chris and Toby two rows behind us.  We hooked up and then rode our bikes around the campground.  Lots of great improvements—pool has been retiled, roads have been repaved, clubhouse has been resided and the new exercise room has opened.  Hank and I had dinner that night at Chappy’s—the new restaurant that was opening at the end of the 7 Mile Bridge in Marathon last spring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’ve slowly been getting all our chores done and settling in.  I washed all the screens and Hank scrubbed down the top of the motorhome.  Chris has also been recoating the top of their fifth-wheel.  A Newmar Rally has moved in and we are now surrounded by 60 of their huge coaches.  Nice group of people and they are enjoying exploring the Keys while they are here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The old bridge towards Bahia Honda is closed down and we’re not sure what they will be doing there.  Also, the gate to the marina from Highway 1 is now kept locked and we think that we will have to drive by the tennis courts in order to launch our boat at the marina—maybe that will change in January.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This first week has flown by.  I’ve been passing out the SSK Cookbooks to everyone as they arrive.  We’ve been swimming twice and Hank was horrified to discover he had left his iPhone in this bathing suit pocket.  (We made an emergency trip to Key West to replace it!)  We’ve been up to Home Depot and the library in Marathon and bought fresh vegetables at the Flea Market on Big Pine Key.  The grill has reopened and there was a party with free beer to celebrate that event on Friday.  A huge storm came through Friday night and forced the Saturday pool party to be held in the Game Room.  I also took photos of the flood at Blaine and Reney’s site—am happy to report the water was gone by the next morning!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’re very happy to be back in this special place we love so much.

 

WEEK 2 AT FRANKLIN LOCK, NOV. 23-29, 2009

 

We spent much of the last week at Franklin preparing for the coming holidays.  After receiving our first batch of mail on Monday and getting it all sorted out—no Christmas cards yet—we went into Ft. Myers on Tuesday to finish our Christmas shopping for the grandchildren.  We roamed all over Toys R’ Us trying to find the perfect gifts.  We then had lunch at Sweet Tomatoes.  Gierharts had introduced us to this restaurant and it is one of our favorite places to eat in town. 

Our 8-pound turkey JUST fit in the convection oven on Thursday and it was delicious and provided lots of left-overs.  I spent the day finishing a Christmas stocking and starting to address our Christmas cards and, of course, we watched some football.  We thought longingly of all of our family and talked to many of them on the telephone.  We truly have much to be thankful for.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Saturday, we made our final shopping expedition to Camping World, Bass Pro Shop and Costco before driving down to the Keys on Monday.  I especially enjoyed seeing all the children enjoying the Christmas activities at Bass Pro Shop.

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We always enjoy this island campground and the only drawback is that there are no individual sewers at the sites.    Hank’s favorite task, while here, is emptying our portable tank at the dump station.  We saw many turtles and the manatees continued to swirl around the waters beside our coach on a daily basis.  Tomorrow, we will set off for our drive down to the Keys.