Florida Keys (Feb.16th-24th)

We enjoyed our week in the Florida keys.  We stayed at an Rv park in Big Pine Key about an hour north of Key West.  We arrived at our campsite early the first day, and after getting settled and having lunch, we took the drive down to Key West. We drove straight to the famous Southernmost Point buoy for a quick pic and then went over to Mallory Square too look around. We ate some amazing Cuban food that night and had some fun watching the street performers.

Our first couple days at Big Pine Key were very windy and cold. Our week was routine with school and work.  After school work was finished we did a lot of fishing off the bridge near our park.  It was neat to be fishing in the turquoise ocean and see the different kinds of tropical fish we caught (like the pufferfish!!).  One of the afternoons while on the bridge fishing, a rainstorm let loose and we were immediately drenched (drops are a bit bigger on the east coast). We made our way laughing and running back to the trailer. We then soaked through all of our towels trying to dry off ourselves, Farley and the floor.  30 minutes later it cleared up and we were blessed with a BEAUTIFUL RAINBOW!!  In the middle of the week I took Devin to a turtle research/rehabilitation center in town for some education.  We enjoyed their presentation and tour of all their turtles.  An extra treat was to see the large iguanas that were roaming the facility.

Our week flew by and the last day we spent there was a fun experience.  Rick treated us to a day out on a boat in Key West with activities.  (Kayaking, Slide, Trampoline, Jet Skis  water skiing, knee boarding, snorkeling)  The boat took off from the marina at 10am and came back at 4pm.  Once aboard one of the service crew guys asked Rick and I if we had driven Jet Skis before, and if so, if we would be the ones to drive them out to our destination spot.  Excited, Rick jumped on the invitation! :)  I was a bit hesitant, (so nervous to do anything that would hurt my neck or back again, making things worse then they already were) but being that the wind was down, making the water less choppy, I went for it and enjoyed every minute of it.  Its not very often one get the chance to jet ski out in the gulf of mexico in the Florida Keys.  We all enjoyed our time out on the boat.  Rick skied, Devin knee boarded, Avery did a paddle board, we all jet skied and snorkeled.  Aside from Rick cutting the side of his eye when he bailed on the skies no one got hurt and we all soaked up a lot of sun.  Once off board we ended our evening watching the sunset at Mallory Square, exhausted, burnt and grateful for our day! :)