As Graduation is just around the corner, it was our last chance to see The Keys before heading to SoCal. So, on Easter Sunday, Tony and I packed up the car and hit the I-95 for The Keys. After a little inconvenient jog off the beaten path in Miami, we found the road that led to East Coast's Paradise........
We arrived and set up camp (in our "new" Coleman tent we've had for over two years that had never been out of the box). The Raccoons of course, were eager to greet us upon arrival.
The waves crashing on the rocks just across the narrow park road insured we slept well! I awoke first the following morning, and exiting our tent, I discovered the beauty of the Ocean View from our camp site. What a peaceful and beautiful morning at Bahia Honda State Park on Pine Key (36 miles north of Key West).
Breakfast and Coffee time (I have the greatest Hubby!!!), then on to discover the park.....
We had no idea we had chosen such a gorgeous place to stay........
Once we had exhausted our explorations of the park, we hit the water. Still a little chilly, it felt nice to hang out in the crisp, clear turquoise waters for a bit and relax in the soft, sugary sand. After a year of planning a seafood boil on the beach, what better place to live out that plan. Winn Dixie on Marathon Key, about a 15 minute drive, was having an incredible sale on snow crab legs, rock crab and Key West pink shrimp. We loaded up on seafood, red potatoes and corn cobbetts, ole' bay and seafood boil seasoning, and trucked back to Bahia Honda State Park to prepare for dinner and a breathtaking sunset.
The heavy breeze after sunset did not help our plight to fulfill our seafood boil on the beach, so we turned the heat off, packed up and headed back to our campsite to complete our boil. Oh were the Raccoons relentless!!! Cracking crab legs and peeling shrimp while chasing off 8 raccoons does not make for a fun filled dinner date! Finally peaceful at La Casa, in the glow of lit tiki torches, we crept off into blissful sleep.
Day 2, Key West!!
On arrival of the old town, you could sense the history of each step along the dated streets. The old Lighthouse Museum, Hemingway's Home and the Southern Most Point of the U.S.........
A quick "moon" to Castro and chasing the wild roosters, we were off to the Square for Sunset! We had earlier enjoyed lunch and brew at McConnell's Southern Most Irish Pub........
The Guinness was fabulous as always, but the food, not so fantastic. Oh well.....
After a desperate search for a ladies' room (who knew they were so rare in Key West), we found the square, a crazy cat dude (and I mean looney toons kinda crazy) and the flaming glow of the sunset.
Aloha Mile 0.......it's been a lovely day with you!
Last day in the keys.......
Breakfast then time to pack up. Grilled ham and pineapple.......YUM! Oh wait, what's that? A gorgeously green iguana shatting on our breakfast from the low lying branch just over the picnic table!!! Well, the grilled goods had a lovely aroma!
A couple of staged candids in Honey's new hammock (a grand birthday present from his spectacular wife), and we were off!
A double-dip ice cream cone for lunch, additional exploration of the park for the afternoon and headed home............
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