Key West and Marathon

Lots of sunshine, sampling Key West’s restaurants, bicycling, returning to favorite places from previous trips – all of these filled our 2 weeks in Key West. While most of the nation experienced unusually cold weather, most of our days ranged from low’s in mid to upper 60’s and highs in the 70’s, generally breezy but some days winds gusting 25 to 35 miles an hour. On a negative note, George’s bicycle disappeared overnight shortly after arriving in Key West, but he was able to find a new bike which he liked so we continued bicycling. George especially enjoyed riding in Key West including Old Town. We also rode sections of the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail on 5 old Flagler railroad bridges linking the Saddlebunch Keys. These were the bridges that existed in the Keys when we first came here in the summer of 1979, all of which have now been replaced for highway use. We went to 2 events at Boyd’s RV Park where we stayed – a pot luck dinner and a cookout at the pool with a band. We enjoyed visiting with a couple who live full time in their RV at the pot luck dinner, and at the cookout we sat with the widow and sister of Boyd, the RV park’s founder, who are from Saskatoon, Saskatuan . George was relieved that the park allowed us to wash the coach since it had road spray from showers en route to Key West. And George does love a clean coach! We celebrated George’s birthday at 915, a restaurant where we’d previously eaten w/ our friends Jim and Hope. It’s still good! In addition to seeing the sunset at Mallory Square, we viewed the sunset from the roof of La Concha, a recently renovated Crown Plaza that was previously Holiday Inn. It’s on Duvall and gives a great view of the town as well as sunsets. We also went to the annual seafood festival where George ate lobster and Irene ordered steamed shrimp – messy but so-o-o good! We decided to linger in the Keys a few more days so stayed 3 days in Marathon after leaving Key West. Here we bicyled at Grassy Key in Curry Hammock State Park and also to Pigeon Key on the Old 7 Mile Bridge. When the new bridge was built, a section of the old bridge was maintained by the state since it was the only way to reach Pigeon Key. Now it’s a one-way gated bridge to the key and a favorite biking and walking route as well as a section for fishing. George also took some great photos of pelicans and the sunset from the seawall at our RV park.