The Florida Keys

    We left Tampa and spent a week at the southern end of Lake Okeechobee in a small town named Clewiston. We didn’t do much interesting but did visit some Kansas friends. We spent the time relaxing and cleaning up the motorhome. We then headed down to the Keys, specifically Grassy Key. We set up at the Jolly Roger RV Resort. One side of the park borders the Gulf and they have their own dock for residents. 

Our rig slipped between large trees. 

Upon arrival, and after set up, we had a small squall pass through with a lot of wind and some rain. But, that passed overnight and Sunday dawned bright and sunny. We set off towards Key West. On the way, I had to take a detour. It seems that a little over 11 years ago, I was down this way with my son, step-son, his dad, and another Boy Scout Leader. We were here to attend the Boy Scout High Adventure camp called Sea Base. We had chosen the Out Island adventure where the scouts (and leaders) mounted their sea kayaks and  paddled five miles out to Big Munson Island (a deserted island owned by the Boy Scouts of America). There you stayed out three days and created a lifetime of memories. I couldn’t resist stopping by just to see if anything changed. 

When we were there, Sea Base was relatively new. One of the things that Scouts do is leave a set of their Troop Numbers up on the wall for posterity. We were the first troop from our council so we left them our Council Patch. At the time, we were one of a few troops that had left our mark. On today’s visit, I was surrounded by council patches from all around the country (even Alaska!!) and hundreds of troop numbers. I couldn’t begin to know how many boys this represented, but it could easily be well into the thousands. A remarkable impact on the lives of our youths (and some adult leaders I might add).

These are the dorms where the Scouts stay before paddling out and upon their return to Sea Base. The swim test is taken in the lagoon. Here you can also see the motorboats that bring out supplies to the Island and the Sailboats that are used in the Sailing Adventure (another week long adventure like the Out Island where the scouts sail around the Keys). 

Along the trip to Key West, you pass by dozens of small islands floating in the Gulf. These islands are actually created from the Mangrove tree. As I understand it, the seed sprouts in the water and the roots curl upwards. These roots trap debris and other Mangrove trees and soon, an intricate maze of interconnected branches forms an island. Over many years this floating mass of trees collects enough ground to actually become an island and eventually a Key. 

In fact, below is a future RV Resort (in about two hundred years or so...)

So eventually we actually made it to Key West. Our first stop was Ft. Zachary Taylor. The fort was originally built in 1845 and served to protect America’s  coastline from foreign attack. In its heyday, it had over 450 soldiers and 140 cannon! Some of the brickwork is amazing still today. During the Civil War, when Florida seceded from the Union, Union troops rushed to occupy the fort and it stayed in Federal hands throughout the war. It continued to serve during the Spanish American war, WW I and II. In 1947, it was retired and eventually ended up in the hands of the State Park system. 

Over time, as the fort was enhanced and improved, obsolete armament was put to good use and literally became a part of the Fort. Below you can see the cannon buried in the cement of the Fort wall. 

Here is an example of the 100 lb. cannonballs. These could be tossed out nearly 10 miles by the forts armament!

After the Fort, we hit many of the usual tourist traps in the Key. The Southernmost point of the Continental US.

Of course, since I have the photo of milepost 0 of the Iditarod in Seward, I had to get Mile 0 of US Highway 1. 

Ernest Hemingway’s home complete with many descendants of the six toed cat. 

After wandering all in and around Duval Street and the shops therein, it was off to Mallory Square to watch the sunset (and some of the other things that come out at dusk on the pier).

This next guy I LOVE!!! He was here 11 years ago when the aforementioned Scouts went to Key West for a visit and we watched him work for a long time. He stands in the middle of nowhere behind these two palm fronds. Notice, no planter, no vegetation anywhere and in the middle of an open square. As the unsuspecting tourist walks by, he pops out and goes “BOO!!”. The usual response is a scream or some form of startled reply. Then laughter from everyone watching the hapless “victim”. Usually, the next thing the “victim” does is step aside and wait for the next unsuspecting tourist to become a “victim” so THEY can laugh uproariously. Those that feel so inclined, drop a dollar in his bucket just for the fun he provides. 

Before the surprise...

After springing his trap. Talking to his “victim”...

So, finally we parked at the pier with several thousand friends and watched the sunset. When the sun dropped below the horizon, cheers and applause erupted and the nighttime activities were officially ready to begin. We headed home.