This was our third year heading to the Keys as winter was getting near but it held lots of surprises and new experiences. Our first stop was just south of Key Largo at the Tavernier Elks Lodge right on the Gulf. There are a dozen or so sites with the most incredible views each evening. We were so excited to finally be staying at the park. It's totally reserved during the months of Jan-April but in November there were quite a few sites available. We were given #6 tucked back against the fence with a this beautiful sunset every night.
We often met with other members down at the tiki hut for a happy hour and sunset, such beautiful warm evenings.
One morning we were inside and heard a thump on the awning and found this little critter stranded on top of our awning. He was huge, and I think as startled as we were. He tried climbing up but the fabric was too slick and he'd just slide back down.
Paul tried nudging the awning a little to get him to move but that didn't help at all. Finally he lowered the awning on one side and stuck an old board near it and that iguana finally ran down the board and headed back into the bushes. During our stay we saw several of these beautiful large iguanas nibbling on the grasses of the park.
Another gorgeous sunset that week. Somehow the palm trees just added the perfect touch!
The Keys are not only surrounded by water but also have canals throughout the key; houses built right along their edges with beautiful boats docked right along side. We had breakfast a couple times on the back deck of a great little restaurant
Made to Order, and this peaceful view
.
Here's the view from our campsite. No neighbors for much of our stay. We had made reservations for the next two weeks further south at Curry Hammock State Park. As with all Florida State Parks we had reserved the parks eleven months before. But we were in for a surprise...
Just as we were making plans to move to our next park Paul woke up not feeling well. I thought maybe he was coming down with the flu but when we saw the red line moving up his leg, we knew it wasn't the flu. He had developed an infection in his leg which put him in the hospital for 7 days...something that caught us both by surprise. We spent Tuesday morning in the ER and got some antibiotics to try at home but the infection was only worse the next day. When we returned to ER Wednesday morning the doctor admitted Paul to the Mariner's Hospital. The hospital is small and the care was excellent. We were also fortunate that the hospital was only 3 blocks from the Elks Lodge and since the park had few campers we were able to extend our stay for the next 2 weeks. I could ride my bike back and forth for visits and with the wonderful people at the Elks Park I really had nothing to worry about other than help PK get well.
We stayed an extra week after Paul got out of the hospital just to be on the safe side. Plus we loved the location of the park right on the water. We had lots of places to ride bikes, sit by the water and just enjoy the beauty of it all.
There are so many little towns along Plantation Key we did some scouting several afternoons. Sunsets were too pretty to miss at the park so we'd plan lunches out and return by late afternoon. We drove up to Key Largo one afternoon to shop at the local produce market and joined friends from the Elks for a happy hour at Snooks.
There's a great little park on the Atlantic side not far from the Elks, Harry Harris Park, and a fun bike ride from the Elks.
It was also time for Foster to get his annual shots and I found a mobile service that comes to the Keys every couple of weeks. We met up with this very compact but fully equipped van and veterinarian in Islamorada Sunday afternoon. Once Foster got his shots and everything he needed we returned home to watch the 49ers game.
After three weeks, we left the Tavernier Elks, said goodbye to our wonderful Campground Hosts, Patty and Tim, and drove south for a 2 week stay at Long Key State Park.
The weather changed for a couple of days, but with this view of the Atlantic from right inside the RV we didn't care about the weather.
But it wasn't long before the warm sunny days returned.
Now we were up early each morning to watch the sunrise over the sea. We walked to the end of the park to watch the sunset.
With our bikes on the car we drove back up to Islamorada to ride around and visit some of the shops. Nothing quite like this giant lobster in front of a great shell and curio shop.
Spent a fun hour or so at this new gallery someone told us about, beautiful pottery and crafts, but even more striking were the gardens and the story of the young owners.
And, it seems like the Keys are the home of oversized natural creations...
We had to try out the local beer across from the Laundromat...a great way to get our clothes washed and enjoy a new beer.
Thanksgiving morning was clear and beautiful!!!
So, we had nothing but time to enjoy the beautiful weather.
And before we knew it, our time in the Keys was over. Such a fun four weeks in one of our very favorite places. I'm sure we'll be back again next year.
