Happy New Year Everyone from Key West!

Day 43

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Today we biked across part of the old 7 mile bridge south on US 1 south of Marathon . It is only used for biking, walking and fishing now. It's about 4 miles round trip. Saw alot of fish including a barracuda, several tarpon and several stingrays. We biked another 3.5 miles around the area and came back to the RV as the sun was too hot and no breeze today. Saw alot of spiny lobsters from the seawall at the campground. They won't let you touch them in the campground so they are off limits. Weather will change down here tomorrow with temps predicted in the 50's. Wow what a change!

Day 42

Today New Years Eve, we spent the entire day in Key West! We parked outside of town about 2 miles and biked in. What a grin. This is a great place to see but pretty busy for the holiday but we did survive! I think they may have set a temperature record here today as it was very hot..After lunch at Ocean Key Resort (on the ocean again) we made it over to the Key Lime Pie Factory for alittle snack before we hiked around through town. Smoked a cigar and toasted ole Hemmingway at Sloppy Joe's and had alot of fun. By the time we biked back to the vehicle it was 3:30 (cause the town was getting alittle in the New Year's Eve mode early) we headed back to Marathon to spend the night at the camper. It's about an hour to get to Key West from Marathon. Right now it's 9pm, I am sitting outside the camper at our picnic table (still about 79 degrees) and want to wish you all a Very Happy New Year from us in the Florida Keys.

Day 41

Yesterday spent the entire day at Sombrero Beach on the Atlantic in temps of lower 80's. Eat your hearts out Snow People! Had dinner at a Cabana Breezes on the Atlantic (literally). By the way Conk is spelled Conch! After happy hours we found our way back to our house on wheels.

Day 40

Left Port Richey at 5:30 am on day 40 and headed for the keys. We had to first stop in Fort Meyers and pick up the RV that was in storage while we went to John's Aunt's. Took the scenic route through the everglades versus the turnpike and it was well worth the time. Alligators everywhere! Not sure about living inland around lakes in Florida!

Arrived at our campsite in Marathon on the Keys around 3:30pm. Got held up with drawbridges! We are at the Jolly Roger campground and I must say it's pretty nice! We have a nice site and we are about 75 yards from the Gulf and across the street about 2 blocks in the Atlantic. Pretty cool.

Day 32 - 39

Spent 8 days with John's Aunt who is 91 years old in Port Richey. We cut our trip short in Clewiston and cancelled Hobe Sound because John's Aunt was ill and we wanted to be with her to help out around the house and be with her through the Christmas week. It was pretty hectic as we had to find an assisted care living facility for her. Not a happy time but we did it and we think she'll enjoy being there. We were busy ALL 8 days we were there. Even had a flat tire to prove it! John's dress shirt for Christmas ended up in his Aunt's toliet because he hung it on the shower rod and as usual did not close the toliet lid...Typical! Neadless to say his Aunt's washer and dryer were broke so we spent the busiest day of the shopping season buying a washer and dryer for her house! The list goes on and on and we could write a book.

Day 29-31

Arrived in Clewiston (Lake Okeechobee) on day 29. Campground was OK, not many trees but we did back up to a lake on our site. We had to be sure not to feed the alligators because it was the campground rule. (like we were going to anyway-Ha)

We did a 15.5 mile bike trip around part of the south rim of Lake Okeechbee and had a nice afternoon with a picnic along the way. This is one huge lake and supposed to be the bass fishing capital of everywhere, however I did not get to wet a line. Nancy's Uncle Bob followed us for a one day in Clewiston. He missed us being in West Palm Beach and came over to be with us for another day. I understand from Nancy he is coming to Fort Meyers when we get there as well.