Keys to the Caribbean...Florida Keys

In late April & early May, Meme & I took a trip out onto the Florida Keys (it was a 35^th anniversary getaway before I’d be officiating at the annual State High School Tennis Tournament). It gave us a chance to again “make bubbles” (scuba dive) and see some new sights (“sure is flat down here”).  Of course, even before you get out onto the Keys you’ll see that southern Florida has a lot of glades-n-grasses (Everglades National Park). The bird life in the region is phenomenal (and so different from home).

           http://www.seamonkeydivers.com

Seamonkeys Divers

One of the highlights of the trip was our experiences with Bill & Colleen at Sea Monkeys Divers in Islamorada. Situated Oceanside at the Hampton Inn it is a short boat ride to some good dive locations with an array of tropical fish, lobsters-a-plenty, eels, trio of nurse sharks hangin’ together, a ray, and just about the largest turtle we’d ever seen (complete with barnacles on its back). The dives in the Keys are shallow, 20 to 30 feet, and reinforced observations that shallow areas are rich with marine life and often snorkelers can see almost as much in some places: this would be one.  

           

Our Cottage at Conch Key

Our next stop was Conch Key Cottages, which was by far our favorite stay-place: the screened porch, and wood paneled living area, kitchen & bedrooms were cozy and their lagoon side hammocks called to me daily. It was great watching the herons wade-n-hunt the lagoon like inlet by our cottage. Kayaks are available to get you a closer look.  Diving was with Dive Duck Key at the Hawks Cay Resort; not nearly as much see-critters (one big ray though), but enjoyable: found an abandoned stray rope leading to non-buoyed lobster trap, so coiled it into the trap so it wouldn’t snag any passers-by. Once a Ranger, always a Ranger?

This locale was also convenient for visiting the Dolphin Research Center, and down the road a short drive the Turtle Hospital. This is a stop we recommend highly; they’re doing good rehab works with the goal of “return” to the environment. Some unfortunately, have buoyancy issues that will require lifelong care, but the hospital has a commendable success rate with their surgeries, therapies and releases. Well done folks!

We were greeted onto the Seven Mile Bridge by a good ol’ fashioned squall, and by the time we got to the end of same it was a “non-driving” rain that made motoring not enjoyable. More than a few of us shared a roadside pullout across the highway from a county park that had a sign indicating they’d received funds from the National Park Service. I always feel proud seeing that.

In Key West we strolled past the Ernest Hemingway House, where he resided much of the 1930’s, and found our way to the Blue Heaven (mentioned in a Jimmy Buffett tune) for dinner. There we joined the Country Music Songwriters tour at the bar. The fish and margaritas were great; they surely know how to throw a party in this town. Here is wishing you ALL the best…