Duck Key Villas at Hawks Cay

03/10/2009 - Headed down to 'Bud n' Mary's Marina' to buy some bait so that Jim could finally go fishing. Borrowed a rod from the resort office and off Jim went to the end of the pier (meanwhile I swam in the pool). Whilst fishing, Jim made a new friend...fish-mad Fred from Alabama. He is a real character and took great pleasure in taking Jim under his wing (they have been inseparable ever since). Unfortunately ...

... say Jim had been looking forward to this part of the trip for months. The lovely lady at reception met us with the news that we had been upgraded to a 'cottage' instead of the 'studio' we had booked - bonus! The resort is absolutely beautiful and feels more Caribbean than American. It lies on the Atlantic Ocean and has stunning views over miles of ocean as far as the eye can see. A welcome change to the high-rise blocks of Miami.

Islamorada, Florida, United States jimandlaura

... in the air. Seeing that we had brought our snorkeling gear we tried to make the best of it. We found an area on the east end of the beach where the seaweed was not so thick and waded out to the clear water. Snorkeling close to shore was OK and we saw a few fish and crabs. But out further we noticed a few people snorkeling in an area ...

... elderly folk - many more arriving. One 80+ year-old spring chicken waltzed by (well, more like walked by hunched over) in a flowered dress/robe flirting with the slightly less elderly gentleman sitting on the bench beside me. He was smooth - the village stud. I can't remember her exact words but it was something along the lines of "You better be good to me ...

Well we came back and slept in the tents. The other three went back to Key West early in the morning. I wanted to be alone in the park. I liked the place. It was calm and peacefull and quite beautiful. There was a nice beach about a mile from there and I walked it. Slowly exploring the place. There was a way to go to the top of the old brige which was pretty cool. I spent most of my time just to myself. For me, this was the highlight of the trip.

... park offers different bird life and some trees to break the wind... Forecast is good for the next few days -- possible showers but warmer (80+ again). Next saga from Long Pine Key after getting more provisions... Tibits: - Ice at the Flamingo marina is more expensive than gasoline; $3.50 for ten pounds which is roughly a gallon when it melts. - Hurricaine damage to motel and marina still evident -- government in-action.

... lots about Aaron today, being his birthday and all - plus what I want to do with me. Not even dark yet and a brilliant almost-full moon is in the sky. My nose is starting to look like a crispy critter - will use more care in future. Day 16, Thursday February 1: Sunny, 80+F. I guess I paddled well yesterday - been invited for more fishing in canoe today. Spoke too fast - high winds killed ocean trip. Traded campsites -- now proud owner of a Mahogany tree with real shade ...

... went to buy an empty bottle to put it in. Mission accomplished. And Monday I left Calera. I visited Richard and Luis to say goodbye but other than that I didn't get much of a chance. Marco had to leave San Ignacio early cause there were no buses in the morning. I went to his house and left a note with my number and hopefully he will get it. I didn't get to say goodbye to pretty much anyone including most of my host family. I just kinda snuck out,but in some ways that may be better ...

... that is) were a number of park benches all painted a bright fuscha pink , of course to distinguish each park bench from the non-existent flamingos. Feeling deflated at not seeing a flamingo in the flesh, I ventured back to my room to prepare for the nights activities... Miami madness awaits... After resting my little head just long enough to keep the hovering influenza away, I made my way to Lincoln Ave... After swan-ing half way down the street I caught the eye of someone ...

... it! Everglades National Park is roughly 1.5 million acres, the third largest US national park. It can be equally divided into three distinct areas. The upper third is primarily low lying sawgrass savannah that provides the Everglades with its nickname of the River of Grass (coined by conservationist Marjorie Stoneman Douglas) and has fresh water. The middle third, where Flamingo sits, is made up of thick mangrove forest with brackish water. The bottom third comprises the ...