#Summer2021 Trip to the Keys: Reflections

 Reflections

It has been almost a week since we returned home from our epic summer trip to the Keys.  

In the end we covered over 3200 miles, and spent just under $1200 in fuel.  Tolls totaled around $90 with the SunPass.

Some of our reflections from the trip:

* With an RV, know your limits on how much road you can cover.  Ours was 400 miles, or settle in by 4 pm - whichever comes first.

* We prefer the RV.  The room will always be nice at the end of trail.

* Schedule in a short day after a long day or two, or better yet, a day to stay put before continuing on.

* A TMPS (tire pressure monitor) is a huge factor in peace of mind while traveling.  We use TireMinder.

* An RVLock system is not necessary, but super convenient and more secure.  Very helpful!

* Plan gas stops ahead, since finding a gas station that can handle a 30 foot rig are often hard to find.  The two lane roads were less crowded for fuel than interstate stops.

* Toll roads, while expensive, do often cut down on the distance.

***

This was a trip that was totally unique compared to all of our others, and I hope it will not be the last.  While travel is slower and gas usage greater, this was a more relaxing trip than the rust to a hotel, haul it all up and haul it all down, and move on to the next stop after that.  The journey is as important as the destination. 

And we will be returning to the Keys.  The water, sunsets, and history are things that call us, and we will certainly be answering that call again.

#Summer2021 Pensacola to Ruston, and Lincoln Parish Park

Day 16

The drive from Pensacola to Ruston, Louisiana - 401 miles.

We left around 8 am, after hitching up and having a quick breakfast, and traveled through Mobile and up Hwy 49 though Mississippi.  The roads through this part of the state were good, but good luck in finding a rest area or place to pull off with an RV.  We finally pulled off in a closed-down restaurant's parking lot for a quick bite to eat (picnic sandwiches) and a rest.  

At Jackson, Interstate 20 was awful, and continued to be through Louisiana.  At places it was so rough we worried that we might break something as we traveled on.  

Around 4 we arrived at our destination - Lincoln Parish Park.  It is a hidden gem, and at $35 a night and full hookups, it is a nice destination for our final night.  After gassing up the truck, a quick supper of sausages on the grill, and a check in with home, we took a walk to see the park.  A one mile path around the lake was accessible from our campsite.  There are other paths, but we will have to check them out a later time.

We decided by the end of our stay that this would be a good long-weekend destination.  It is about 250 miles from home, so about 5 hours.  If only we could avoid Shreveport and these Louisiana roads!

Lincoln Parish Park is certainly a good option for a stop over or a long weekend.  Certainly one to mark on our go-tos.

#Summer2021 - The trip home begins

Day 13

This begins our journey home.  From Sugarloaf Key this morning.

We left out early and drove US-1, back through Marathon and Islamorada, and through Homestead in our best attempt to avoid Miami. There are many toll roads, so I am not quite sure how much this has cost, particularly due to the extra axles on the camper.

Traffic was heavy on almost all roads south of Orlando. We took the Florida Turnpike, while the rest took the interstate in an attempt to avoid the tolls.  We arrived at our campground - Orange Blossom KOA Journey - a full 2 hours before everyone else.  We hoped to swim a bit, but a thunderstorm and heavy rains came up, and it was still raining when we all came together again.  Quick supper, then off to bed.

All told, it was uneventful.

The campground itself was very nice.  The owners were kind and helpful, and the sites were spaced out well.  Because it is a Journey, the sites were also long which allowed us to not unhook before a morning departure.

Day 14

After pulling out, and mapping a route without tolls, we immediately were separated.  After a while was within about 15 miles of our convoy, and arrived at Avalon Landing RV in Milton, Florida, within minutes of each other.  This was a nice part too, with a saltwater fishing lake and bridge, laundry room, and nice pads.  The WiFi was poor and unreliable, though.  

We all drove to Pensacola Beach, paid the toll to cross the bridge, and put our name on the list for a table at Peg Leg Pete's Oyster Bar and Restaurant.  There was a 3-hour wait, so we walked the beach until a rainstorm drenched us, so we returned to the car and later play area to wait on our turn.  It was well worth it.  It was probably the best seafood we had on our trip!!!  5 Stars!!!

Day 15

Mom and Dad, and Brandon and family, left out from Avalon Landing around 8:30 am.  We decided to stay another day in Pensacola in order to explore Fort Pickens and the Gulf Islands National Seashore.  It started out raining but cleared a bit after lunch, which meant we had some time on the beach.  This was a nice beach - perhaps the nicest we have seen on this trip.  We saw dolphins and a stingray swam right among the swimmers.  Little moon jellyfish started washing up on the beach, but the lifeguard said there was not really anything to be concerned with.  It is the wrong time of year for the dangerous ones, such as the Man 'o Wars.  A large sea turtle next was cordoned off on the beach, so that was neat to see.

We returned to the campground, fixed supper, and settled in.  Tomorrow we set out for home. After tonight, just one more night on the road.

#Summer 2021 - Key West

 Day 12

This morning is a chance to explore Key West properly.  Mom is still on the hunt for a good family picture, so we donned our family shirts and parked in the free parking on Fort Street.  We put a lot of distance underfoot today.  

First, we walked to the Southern Most Point buoy, where we had pictures made.  A black family from Alabama, whose mother's maiden name was also Ford, took our picture.  We wished them safe travels, took their pictures, and set out for the Mile 0 sign on US-1.  More pictures.  

Then we did some shopping on Duvall St.  It is much nicer during the day.  In the evening it is a bit too much like Bourbon Street.  We had iced Cuban coffee at Grand Havana Coffee Shop, bought Stephanie a Conch Republic tank, and Fergus a collar at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville.  Then we walked the Ernest Hemmingway Rum Distillery for a tasting and bought a bottle of Papa's Pilar golden rum.  All told, we were in Key West about 4 hours.

Many houses are very old.  And very cool!

Then back to the car, and back to Sugarloaf Key.  We did stop by the Verizon store, where the employee took out the sim on my dead phone, and salt poured out...  The rice was a fool's errand.

Pool, then a nap.  

Hamburgers for supper and drinks around the table.  

Tomorrow we begin the trip back home.  Next stop - Orlando.  Goodbye, Keys!  Until we return.

#Summer2021 - The Dry Tortugas National Park and Key West

 Day 11

This morning we got up early and drove the 30 minutes or so to Key West to catch the excursion ship Yankee Freedom III to the Dry Tortugas National Park/Fort Jefferson.  It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places in the world.  It is 70 miles or so west of Key West, and is a little-known chapter of our history.  There are also great places to snorkel and bird-watch.  I took many pictures but unfortunately my phone, with pictures, took a swim in the Gulf of Mexico.  It remains to be seen if it will recover.  

Perhaps Stephanie will have some pictures I can share!

****

We left the camp around 6:20 and arrived at the parking garage and the wharf around 7 am.  After checking in, we boarded around 7:30 for an 8 am departure.  The ride was nice and much smoother than our fishing trip.  

We arrived at the Dry Tortugas around 10:30.  Our "cruise director," I supposed (Hollywood) led a 1 hour, 20-minute tour of the fort and helped Sadie with some of the Junior Ranger answers in his talk.  After lunch aboard, we went back into the fort for some things we had not seen and then borrowed snorkel fins to explore the outer moat wall.  I forgot my phone in my pocket, and the resultant swim killed the phone.  I will be without one for a week or so.

Dr. Mudd set John Wilkes Booth's leg on the night of Lincoln's assassination.  He was sentenced to life at Fort Jefferson.  He served about 4 years.

The approach to Fort Jefferson and Dry Tortugas

Our ship as seen from one of the casemates

View of one of the bastions

Artillery would have been placed in these casemates.  Cisterns for the fort were beneath the floors

This place is beautiful!

The boat departed back for Key West around 2:45, and we were back by 5:30.  We walked the harbor walk where the boats are, and a bit of Duvall St., bought a fridge magnet and a Christmas ornament and headed back to the car by way of Caroline St.  

So many old houses!  Some of the shops were questionable, and we left Key West a bit disgruntled.

Back to camp, and hot dogs on the griddle.  And an early to bed.  Brandon and his family went to Mallory Square and got home late.  They were so tired that they did not really get to enjoy it.  

#Summer2021 - Southward to Key West!

Day 10

We are on the road again today.  We have enjoyed our time at Jolly Roger and Stephanie has decided that we need to come back again next year.  I will not argue against that!

After a big breakfast we hit the road, and left Jolly Roger at 12 noon.  We passed through Marathon, crossed the Seven Mile Bridge, and was on Sugarloaf Key around 1 pm.  This KOA is newly reopened after being destroyed by Hurricane Erma.  It is very nice and very luxuruous!  Also expensive, even with a 25% "docking first" discount.  

Got a sticker though.

We set up and went to a restaurant/bar right across the road - Mangrove Mama's.  The Shrimp St. Jacque and coconut shrimp were excellent.  Then back to camp to finish arranging things.

And then to the pool.  There was a poolside pub.  I considered a drink but didn't want to pay the price.  Besides, I have drinks at camp.

We spent the rest of the day in camp, and tomorrow we will spend the day away on our excursion to Fort Jefferson and Dry Tortugas National Park.  It will be an early one, but certainly certainly bucket list item!

#Summer2021 - More Marathon and Sombrero Beach

Day 9

Today was our last day in Marathon, and you can bet we will be back.  Since this summer is our 15 year anniversary, we have even discussed making this trip a 5 year plan.

Since the forecast had the rain holding off we went to Sombrero Beach with Fergus, after returning to Publix for Sadie and Stephanie sunshirts.

Sombrero was not as nice as St. Pete, but it allowed dogs so that was a plus.  This must be seaweed season and the Atlantic waters were cold!  We visited with Beach goers before leaving.

And since there is a strong Cuban influence here, we went to L Ninas for Cuban cuisine.  Stephanie had salted garlic chicken with fried plantains.  I had a traditional Cuban sandwich.  Sadie had Cuban tamales.. Then a Cuban coffee: coffee so strong it is served by the shot! 

We returned to camp to do laundry.  It was more humid this afternoon but the salt breeze was nice.  It did not take long for most clothes to dry.

One of the neatest things about Jolly Roger is the snorkeling area just off the campsites. Steph particularly enjoyed that!  In fact, she saw a skate, numerous parrotfish. And even a large sting ray.  And some of it was captured on the GoPro!

Brandon and family spent the day in the Everglafes and Biscayne, so we fixed supper - salmon cakes on the Blackstone.  Then, to bed early since they were spraying for mosquitos at 9.  

We leave tomorrow.  But we will be back!

#summer2021 Fishing in Islamorada

Day 8.

We left home one week ago today.  

This morning was an early one.  We have scheduled to go fishing on the Kay K IV with Captain Don.  The water was rough with a wind and he offered to let us out of our reservation, but this was our only chance. Six of us went: Sadie, Stephanie, Mom, Dad, Brandon and myself.

It was fine until we reached the last channel marker, but it got rough soon after.  Steph, Sadie, Brandon and I rode topside until we were told to go below.  

Sadie caught the first Mahi, but got seasick soon after.  Steph caught two before the seasickness got her.  At the farthest out we we're at 12.8 miles from Islamorada.  

In the end, we had 18 keepers. We would highly recommend this charter. You can find them HERE.

The captain and mate cleaned the fish into filets.  Guess what we planned for supper.

While it rained on us on the sea, it stormed back on land.  When we got back home we bagged the fish for freezing in a FoodSaver.  Then a nap.

Mom and I went to Publix for a few items and a Marathon shirt.  Then back home.  Although it was later than usual, we fixed some of the Mahi with lemon, salt and pepper, wild rice and a bit of mango.  So good! No picture - we were too busy eating!

And then the nightly ritual.