Category Archives: Travel

Lunchtime Key Largo

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Lunchtime Key LargoLunchtime Key Largo

It’s lunchtime in Key Largo. There wasn’t any concession stand in John Pennekamp State Park but when you pay your entrance fee they give you a receipt that you can use for re-entry. I’d picked up some of the tourist guide magazines and seen ads for the Fish House Restaurant. It was less than a mile from the park. I figured I’d go there.

Outdoor Seating?Lunchtime Key Largo

I admit I was a little self conscious as my bathing suit was still damp  but the waitress told me not to worry. The seats were waterproof. There were a few tables outside so I thought I might sit there but table service was all inside. There were whimsical statues outside like a parrot, a frog, and even a fisherman.

 

 

The Menu looked Great

They had everything…conch, shrimp, scallops, oysters. They even had New England Clam Chowder! I was stumped as to what to order until I saw Florida Lobster. That was it. I knew what I wanted. The waitress said the lunch portion was smaller than the dinner portion and that was fine with me. I didn’t need a huge lunch. I placed my order and settled back to wait.

Lunchtime Key LargoThe Decor

Waiting for Lobster to cook gave me chance to look around. The ceiling was covered with strings of fish lights. Any thing under the sea was included. They even had a jelly fish lamp hanging from the ceiling. Lunchtime in Key Largo, at least at the Fish House, was a fun and colorful affair. After I finished staring at the ceiling I looked around at the walls. There were paintings and artwork of all kinds all glorifying the sea. Lunchtime Key Largo

 

 

Lunchtime!

The lobster arrived! It looked scrumptious and it turned out that it was as good as it looked. I made short work of it. That should have been enough but I’m in the Keys! You have to have Key Lime Pie when you are in the keys.  A true Key lime pie is not green. Its a very pale yellow custard. Usually it’s topped with a whipped topping but the Key Lime Pie at the Fish House was topped with meringue. So yummy! I am definitely going to come back here again before my vacation is over! Lunchtime Key Largo

 

 

 

Snorkeling with My New Hip

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Snorkeling with my new hipJohn Pennekamp State Park

Now that I have my doctor’s approval I am about to try snorkeling with my new hip. I’m a little nervous. The last time I’d tried snorkeling I was swimming lopsided because I couldn’t really kick with my left leg. I’m pretty buoyant and when I’d get tipped over it was hard to get back on track. I arrived at John Pennekamp State Park first thing in the morning. If I messed up I didn’t want witnesses laughing at me. The dive shop was open and quickly outfitted me with rental fins, mask and snorkel. The dive master warned me that there wouldn’t be a lot to see but I assured him it was just a test for me to try out my new hip.

Snorkeling with my new hip Cannon Beach at John Pennekamp.

Cannon Beach is not very big. There are some picnic tables but mostly you stake out a section of sand. I went down to the far corner of the beach where I saw another snorkeler enter. It was pretty rocky. Most of the shoreline was covered with chunks of coral. With the waves about to knock me off my feet I gingerly worked my way into the water. Once I was in deep enough I sat down and pulled on my fins. Then the mask and snorkel and I was off. Lots of little fish in the shallow water. As I went deeper those became more scarce. After what I thought was about 10 minutes I turned around to head back to shore. My test was a success!

Getting out of the WaterSnorkeling with my new hip

I was feeling pretty good about the way my first snorkel went. It felt good, my kicks were strong and balanced. But I hadn’t thought the whole thing through. Although I managed to get in the water without injury getting out was turning out to be a whole different matter. I explored along the shoreline but it was all sharp coral. Finally I just went for it, for about 2 steps. A nice lady with flip flops on came down the beach. She took my fins from my hand and took my arm to help me over the sharp coral rocks. Oh Man it hurt! But with her help I was able to limp back to my things.

Snorkeling with my new hipNot 10 Minutes

Back at my beach towel I dried my feet and stuffed them into my shoes. My watch lay on the sand with the time staring up at me. I thought I’d been in the water about 10 minutes, just a short swim but it was closer to two hours. It was actually lunch time! Except for my feet my muscles felt better than they had in years. I think I can handle the snorkel trip to the reef once they give the go ahead. 

 

Wildlife Abounds in Key Largo

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Wildlife abounds in Key Largo

Key Largo seems to be a pretty urban setting for wildlife. There are souvenir shops all along RT 1. Mixed in with the Denny’s, Wendy’s and McDonalds are local restaurants , resorts, marinas and fish places. Not exactly what you’d expect for a wildlife nature reserve. Still when I pulled into Ocean Point the first thing I spotted was a feral cat. Definitely feral it was shy and very scruffy looking. The next thing I saw was a sign saying “Don’t feed the Raccoons.” OK both are urban wildlife but wait till I tell you what happened Monday Morning.

Wildlife aboundsMonday Monday

As I was pulling out from my overnight parking something dark slipped into the brush. I froze and watched but didn’t get another glimpse of it. Raccoon, feral cat or something else, I couldn’t tell you. Back in my car I headed for the local Publix (Grocery store) to pick up some breakfast items.  When I came out of the store there was a chicken on my front bumper. Now chickens roam wild in the Keys. Key West is known for them so I wasn’t too surprised to see it there. What did surprise me was when a big huge hawk came swooping down right in front of me trying to grab that chicken! Feathers flew and that chicken started squawking but in the end she avoided becoming the hawks breakfast. I admit I was flabbergasted. I’ve never been that close to the action so to speak. (Unless you count being chased by Buffalo in Yellowstone.)

Wildlife abounds in Key Largo

 

 

 

Wildlife in Key LargoLittle lizards and all

In the afternoon I stopped into John Pennecamp Coral Reef State Park to check out the snorkeling, scuba diving and glass bottom boat trips. It’s been windy so they’ve been canceled so far. They told me to check back on Wednesday. This happened when I was in Key West too. They do have shore snorkeling at Cannon Beach for free.  You just need to rent or buy gear. But watch out for crocodiles.  The Keys and the southern tip of the Everglades are the only place in the US where we have crocodiles and alligators.  I didn’t see any today but I did spot a couple of iguanas and a little anole.

 

Wildlife abounds in Key Largo

Ocean Point Resort

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Ocean Point Resort

Building 5 Ocean Point Resort

I’m here! Ocean Point Resort on the Island of Key Largo in the town of Tavernier, FLA. My GPS took me right to the door. First stop is at the gate house. Once the attendant opened the gate and gave me directions to check in I knew I was on the last leg of the journey. 

Check in

Check in was on the 2nd floor of the administration building. That’s also where the Cafe is located. I trudged up the outside stairs, my knees screaming all the way. Check in was surprisingly quick and easy. Much faster than some places I’ve stayed. Before I knew it I had keys in hand and directions to my room.  The room number is all coded to help you remember where you are. I’m in 5406. That stands for building 5, 4th floor room 6.  As I was leaving reception I spotted an elevator.  My knees weren’t done protesting so I took the elevator down.

Exterior Stairs Ocean PointBuilding 5

Building 5 is the first building when you leave the Cafe. As I parked another guest started up the stairs. With fingers crossed I went in search of an elevator. I didn’t think I could drag my bags up 4 flights of steps. I even wondered if I could drag myself up that many stairs! My knees were letting me know that I have really overdone it today. I was on my last energy reserves.

YES! There is an elevator

Thank you, thank you,  thank you Elevator Gods! There is an  elevator and its only 3 rooms down from my suite. To my surprise I have a 2 bedroom suite for just little old me. I checked my reservation to make sure there wasn’t some mistake and I did reserve a 1 bedroom. Maybe all the one bedroom Ocean Views were taken? This one is lovely even if it is bigger than I need.

I have 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. There are 2 little decks, one that opens from the main suite and one that opens from the Master Bedroom. I am going to enjoy sitting out there in the evening.ocean point deck

On The Road- Let the Vacation Begin!

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On The Road to Key LargoSouthernmost point Key West

I’m finally on the road to Key Largo. Let the Vacation begin! I’ve escaped the never ending circles of the rental car garage, navigated my way through the road construction in Miami, passed Homestead and Florida City and reached the end of the Florida Turnpike. Whew! My GPS says only 66 more miles to Key Largo. I’m on US 1 aka the Overseas Highway. I’ll follow this until I reach my destination at Ocean Point Resort. If I keep on to the end I’ll end up in Key West. The road ends near the Southernmost Point. But I’ve been there so I don’t think I’ll do that this trip.

US 1 Overseas HighwayIt’s just 1 Lane

US 1 is just one lane each way in most places. There are a few designated passing section that quickly merge back down to a single lane again. The speed is between 45 and 50 mph. In some places the water seems to be at road level, only held back by a little strip of shoulder. Today is nice and sunny but I’d hate to be on this road in a storm! I’m making good time until I see a helicopter heading south. I wondered if it was a traffic copter or maybe a sightseeing tour.

Life Flight

Suddenly the copter swung over the highway. It swooped right over my car with a woop woop woop of the rotors. My heart nearly stopped as I grabbed for the cell phone. I wanted a picture to show how low that thing was but before I could do that I had to stop. Everyone was pulling over and getting out of their cars. The chopper set down in the southbound lane of US 1. As we watched we could just barely make out emergency lights on the northbound side. It didn’t take long before the copter was in the air again heading back toward Miami. It was now apparent that this was a Medical Life Flight copter taking injured away from a crash.

On the Road Again

The southbound side was opened up very quickly after the helicopter took off. As we passed the crash site it was clear that it was a nasty accident. Northbound the traffic was stopped for miles but at least those of us heading into the Keys were on our way again. I’ve had enough excitement for one day. I’m ready to get to the resort.