Key West adventure pictures
bam-bam
Council Member
Here's the tale of last weeks vacation tour of Florida:
We left home early on Saturday and headed for our first stop in Gainesville
The Devil's Millhopper sounded impressive. Wasn't. I guess any random topography is news in the flats. There were a bunch of steps down into a hole.
We decided to press on and spend the night at DRMORTY's in Clearwater. Spent the night in his yard after going to the latenight drags. There are pics of that and the next day's meet posted in their respective threads already- check 'em out!
So Sunday evening after the meet in Clearwater we headed further south to Fort Myers. I've wanted to see Thomas Edison and Henry Ford's winter estates. Here we're at Sunseeker's RV park
And at Edison's place Monday
He planted loads of crazy plants, seeking a domestic substitute for rubber
That tree ^^ had hundreds of lizards among the roots
Once that tour was done we rolled on southward, not really knowing (or caring :P ) where we'd stop for the night.
Picnic lunch stop in Alligator Alley
We left home early on Saturday and headed for our first stop in Gainesville
The Devil's Millhopper sounded impressive. Wasn't. I guess any random topography is news in the flats. There were a bunch of steps down into a hole.
We decided to press on and spend the night at DRMORTY's in Clearwater. Spent the night in his yard after going to the latenight drags. There are pics of that and the next day's meet posted in their respective threads already- check 'em out!
So Sunday evening after the meet in Clearwater we headed further south to Fort Myers. I've wanted to see Thomas Edison and Henry Ford's winter estates. Here we're at Sunseeker's RV park
And at Edison's place Monday
He planted loads of crazy plants, seeking a domestic substitute for rubber
That tree ^^ had hundreds of lizards among the roots
Once that tour was done we rolled on southward, not really knowing (or caring :P ) where we'd stop for the night.
Picnic lunch stop in Alligator Alley
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So along about 5am, I couldn't lay there anymore. We found an open gas station (bathroom
On a nearby pier
Missin' the Man, indeed
I was struck by how many "free range" chickens were on the island
And just birds of all kinds
Strolled by Truman's retreat
On the way to (my favorite place on the key) Fort Zachary Taylor
What a cool spot!
Backed right up to the water, with a private little deck. Nice!
We bathed, had a sandwich, and pedaled back into town
These houseboats caught my eye; they really were just floating houses- no means of propulsion. Weird.
Homemade SUPs?
Among other things, we visited Kino sandals- handmade right here on site. A really cool local enterprise for many years.
DRMORTY recommended that we check out Sunset Festival (every day! at sunset) These guys were amazing. Yes, he's standing on one foot on the other kid's head, juggling knives!
and head -to-head, no hands?
and this golden rounded up dollars while his master hacked at a banjo
And, of course, the sunset everyone came to see
Finished the evening in a coin-op kiddie boat on the back porch of a bar. Go figure
Home sweet home!
It's Wednesday, February 23rd, our 20th wedding anniversary
Stopped in at a LBS, Re-Cycle. Cool sculpture
and picked up the most useful bicycle accessories I've seen in awhile
Saw some fellow nuts
and some polydactyl cats sleeping on Papa Hemingway's bed
This one reminded us of one that we miss
We hit all of the obligatory photo-ops
And then headed back out to the fort for a more private sunset fest
Happy Anniversary to me! Every day is special if you will just allow it to be, but this was a particularly memorable time for me. Happy doesn't begin to describe where I am.
Tomorrow early, we leave to travel north to Titusville for the Shuttle launch. Stay tuned!
Meanwhile, I get to drive to work tomorrow morning. Grrr...
Actually, I'm on the way to work this morning, too. That's"tomorrow" in the story, which was last week. Exactly a week ago as I post this, in fact. :? I'm a little confused myself!
You are relieving yourself aren't ya.
Glad you guys had a good time.
Every time I go to the beach I come back in a better frame of mind.
Thursday we got up before dawn and made ready to leave for the 8 hour drive to see the Shuttle liftoff. No pics, but this was when I had my only mechanical mishap of the trip. After a couple days in the campsite with some dome light use, she just wouldn't start. I had to wait for a neighbor to wake up before I got a boost. No big deal, put us about a half-hour behind schedule, but I was able to make it up. We rolled into Titusville, Fla. at 2:15pm and were greeted by a huuuge crowd and scarce parking.
I drove up US1 for a few blocks, then doubled back on the first street inland. There were some kids charging $15 to park, which seemed to be the going rate, and fine with me. We ended up in a retired trucker's yard, he also had an RV, so we hit it off. (I'm a diesel tech) We ended up staying in his side yard for the night for free. Thanks, Buzz!
Spanish moss shot
pardon the spots. They're in all of the pics, just more visible in sky shots. I need a new camera, I think that trash is inside it.
The launch was impressive, I'm glad we made the effort to see it. Sorry about the crappy photos, I think Morty got much better ones.
So anyway, after the launch DRMORTY and family waited out the traffic with us and shared a picnic dinner. Of course there was all the bed-peeing excitement, too. Good times!
Afterward, I really enjoyed visiting with Buzz (the homeowner whose yard we squatted in). We swapped boating and trucking lies, had some laughs. It really hit me that he's my Dad's age, and lonely. He said that his wife passed 3 years ago. Not to get off on a ramble, but go call your Dad, or Granddad. They'll love to hear from you when you don't want anything from them, just to talk.
And make it a point to get to know your older neighbors and friends. Don't let them take all that knowledge and experience with them when they go.
Passing through Daytona, we saw that you can still drive on the beach! I was surprised. I thought that in this sissified commie age we live in that all the cool old things like that were gone. Gotta coddle some endangered sand flea or some such BS.
It was all fun and games ,til I got stuck! :oops: Luckily, I was able to find a nice guy with an old K5 to pull me out.
Next stop, St. Augustine, and the Castillo San Marcos
It's a really well-preserved 18th century Spanish fort. It was constructed of coquina, an aggregate of limestone and seashells that was quarried locally by convict and slave labor.
We camped Friday night in Anastasia Island State Park, and actually ran into some friends from home! They had been roughly shadowing our route all week, spooky. I thought I saw Jeff in a crowd in Key West, but thought " Nah, can't be!" Guess it was...
They're travelers like us: a '92 mini motor home on a Toyota pickup chassis, parking wherever they can. We ejoyed a bike around the island, then parted ways. Anne and I went to the lighthouse
She's a bit funny about heights. She ain't coming out, sure not letting go of that door!
I finally coaxed her into this shot, you can't see it but she has a white-knuckle grip on that same doorjamb
from the bottom
This lizard lived on an ancient salvaged ship's rudder
Bam Stuck!!!! & No AWD... Humm, now how did I get that pic?
I never went in the light house.. How cool!
I just text them you my email, then download them & then I can post them
I see what you did there.
Looks like an awesome trip. Made me want to go back to the Keys!
Bam said he lacks the skills to post from a phone pic - but actually he has the skills just not the technology
Great pics from another great trip! I especially like the shuttle launch/St. Augustine connection, brings back good memories.
Hey,sis! Welcome to the nuthouse. I felt the same about the launch and St. A. What year was that, 1971-2? I have a few more pics to finish up the last couple days of the trip. Will post'em later.
You a Wagonist too?
Bam, does it run in the family?
1972, I think...I recall that some thought it was a big deal for me to miss so much of 1st grade!
Well, something runs in this family!
Alas, I can only aspire to BAM-TECH, have to make do with a Volvo wagon