The Conch Republic Celebration of Independence

Tomorrow begins the 31st anniversary celebration of our Independence from our northern neighbor   the USofA. You can read the history of the CR here!

With our mighty arsenal we have maintained our independence and allow the USofA to maintain a presence here via US Navy and US Coast Guard facilities!  This year due to sequestrations issues the USGC is not able to participate in the reenactment of the Bloody Battle of Independence where one of our mighty navy vessels bombarded a CG cutter with stale Cuban bread (our weapon of choice) and left over Bloody Mary's, Margaritas and Mojitis.  There puny return fire from water cannons was ineffective - just helped sober up our brave crew!

At any rate we have started a collection of spare nickles and dimes in the Republic to send to the nickle and dime Congress!  If they refuse the offer we will donate it to the USCG Foundation instead!  In the spirit of good neighbors we have forgiven the $182 million accrued interest on the $31 billion debt they still owe for 1982 wartime reparations!

Other events include the worlds longest parade from the Atlantic to the Gulf; a Drag Race down Duval St featuring some of our best Drag Queens; a CR Military Reception hosted by our CIA (Cuties in Action); Conch Crawl (worlds longest pub crawl down Duval St). Also, returning this  year is "The Awesome Second Time Arounders" a/k/a "Thunder on Duval". The group consists of former high school, college, and military marching band members ranging in age from 18 to 85!  They dominate Duval St while there!

Our military is a "farce to be reckoned with" and will be a potent presence throughout the celebration and on Friday, 26 April will be on full display at KW Seaport.

I know you want to join the celebration.  You can see the full schedule of events here!

Hope to see you there!    

Always at home, no matter where we are!!

A Day Under Sail

A number of our friends here have joined the Key West Sailing Center.  For your very reasonable annual dues you get the free use of the sailboats the Center maintains.  They have sail boat races regularly, usually on Thur and Sunday and all seem to enjoy it.  BJ has shown a real interest in trying out sailing and today, Jerry Manchester, a friend and experiences sailor took us out for the afternoon in one of the Clubs 19 ft O'Day sailboats.  It has been pretty windy this year and we have not been out in our kayaks nearly as much as we would have liked so this was an alternative!

The Center is in Garrison Bight which is home to the few remaining real houseboats that use to be common here but have been gradually regulated out of existence except for the few last ones here in the bight!

Houseboat Row in Garrison Bight

One of the houseboats as we head out!

The bight is also home to Charter Boat Row where the boats for hire all dock.  So it is a busy place, But, we cast off and Jerry sailed us right out thru the channel and into the open water.  Actually Sigsbee where the Navy RV park is was on our east and Fleming Key was to our west and we had a mile plus between them.


Shortly after we exited the bight channel Jerry turned the tiller over to BJ!  And, away we went in a pretty brisk wind.  She successfully dodged all the boats tied up in the city anchor area and got us to clear water north of Sigsbee.  Jerry being the master sailor continue to manage the main sail we were safe!  He showed us how we could tilt the boat (probably not what the sailors call it) and recover.  I was surprised our maneuverable the boat was in the brisk breeze!  It is the first time I have been on a sail boat under sail!  While I missed the comforting roar of a motor, it was a very enjoyable afternoon.

BJ checking her mainsail!

BJ & Jerry checking her clearance with a nearby boat and holding on tight to the tiller!

Hey, I'm just along for the beer!

Always at home, no matter where we are!!

I Had to Cry Today!

Well let me back up some so you can understand why!

This AM at 0600 I departed the RV and drove up to Tavernier, in the Keys at MM 90.5 to the Conch Republic Dive Shop, they claim to be the Friendliest Dive shop in the Keys and I dive with them regularly and would only add they are also real professionals; but I digress.  The drive up was beautiful, sunrise over the Overseas Highway is as spectacular as sunset!   I love driving the Overseas Highway anytime I can during daylight!

Bikers especially love the Overseas Highway, too!

So I loaded my gear on the Republic Diver and we went out to the Spiegel Grove for the first dive.  Seas were flat, current was not, and viz was great.  Had a great dive on this very large ship, it has been two years since I last dove it and today I was just interested in taking it easy.  It has been two years since I did much diving and 6 months since I was last in the water.  So I wanted to make sure all my gear was operating properly. I was paired up with two dive buddies and I told them I would just follow them and I was not interested in going in any holes I could see no exit to.  Water temp was about 75 and I was comfortable, with the good viz and no current it was like gliding thru the air.  With a few fin kicks you could glide along motionless.  Fish were around but not especially abundant today, but that was OK.  After about 40 minutes dive time my air supply was reaching the point I needed to head slowly toward the surface, and same for my two buddies.  We had a nice slow ascent up the anchor line and back on the very comfortable Republic Diver which was less then half full today with 10 divers and two crew members.

About a 30 minute cruise and we were at our second dive site, the US Coast Guard Cutter Duane.  It has been down about 25 years and has its own collection of fish and growth.  By the time we got suited up we had met our Surface Interval demand  and we got wet again.  The normal collection of big barracuda were hanging around the water column about half way between the surface and the ship superstructure where we were tied off.  Again it was a nice leisurely dive, I got to spend some more time with my new dive computer, becoming more familiar with it!  I had the old one along too and they both were giving me same info which was comforting, the new one just gives me more info then the older one!   There was a Goliath Grouper hanging around the starboard side forward deck.  He was about 4 1/2 to 5 feet long and I swam out to him and hung with him for a short while about 3-4 feet from him.  If I had moved in closer he would have probably darted away.  Later over on the starboard side I was hanging in the water column several feet off the port side and I looked down and saw this same Grouper (or his twin brother) moving very rapidly toward the aft of the ship right along the bottom where the hull and the bottom meet.  Goliath Grouper always seem to move so slow and unconcerned so it was unusual to see one moving so rapidly and with a seeming purpose!  

At about the 35 minute mark I noticed my allowed dive time was coming to an end so my computers were telling me.  I was glad to see I still had air to last beyond that, meaning I was doing a good job of conserving my air.  In my earlier days of diving I would "run" out of air supply and still have allotted dive time.  I was not sure what to expect today as I have not been diving regularly.   BTW – I would not actually "run out of air", it just meant I had to go up early since the alternative of not doing so was unpleasant! 

The half-full dive boat!

OK, so two great dives.  I do not have any pics because as I said I really wanted to use these dives to reintroduce myself to the watery environment and make sure all my gear was operating properly so I did not bring along my underwater camera.

After another nice boat ride in the warm afternoon sun back to the dock I unloaded my gear, rinsed it in the rinse tanks and left it to drain while I went down the road a short distance to Craig's Restaurant and had his World Famous Fish sandwich.  Ummm good.  I went back collected by gear, including two tanks Jason, the Diver master, had filled for me  and, headed west along the beautiful Overseas Highway.  Have I ever told you what a beautiful drive that is??

What a beautiful day on Vaca Cut!

I stopped at the Vaca Cut right before Marathon and grabbed two geocaches just because it was a beautiful day to be outside. 

Oliva, my faithful geosteed with her travelling companions Pickle and Banana

So now I am resuming my trip back to the RV in Key West and I am thinking about what a fabulous day this has been, clear sky, no wind, great visibility in the water,  beautiful highway, great vistas as your travel and I am listening to Radio Margaritaville the way!  And then it dawns on me, we have to leave here in just 2 more moths – that made me cry!

And, it gets better.  When I get back to the RV, BJ is nowhere to be found.  So I start looking around and down a few RVs and on the water front there is a fish fry party going on.  One of the RVers who fish regularly invited any and all to come on over while they fried fish.  Others brought other goodies! And, we all sat around a watched the sun set over Key West and enjoying a Happy Hour!  I started crying again!

Happy Hour on the water front with friends! 

Always at home, no matter where we are!

The Florida Adventure Continues

We spent part of our time in north FL looking for a new vehicle.  My sister wants to buy the Silver Ghost because it is set up to tow which is what she wants and we wanted a 4-door.  Initially we were interested in the mid-size Chevy Colorado or GMC Canyon.  Unfortunately, we learned model year 2012 was last year they were made and there were none available in the model and equipment we needed.  So we started looking for a 4-door Jeep and were having a difficult time finding one equipped as we wanted. 

We moved over to Rivers RV west of Jax to get some work done on the RV and continued to look for a Jeep, with no luck.  We finally had to move south to Melbourne due to doctor appointments! On the way we decided to stop at Daytona Auto Mall to see if they had a Jeep we liked – fat chance!  So we pulled off I-95 and parked in front of their place and I went in while BJ relaxed in Tucson on the road in front of the Jeep dealer. 

Waiting at the Jeep dealer!

Tucson bidding the Gray Ghost a fond farewell and welcoming Olivia our new travel companion!

The great Gray Ghost behind her new leader!

Well, low and behold after quickly looking at several I knew BJ would not be interested in they found this new arrival in the corner of the lot that I thought she might be interested in – a beautiful Olive Drab 4-door, nicely equipped!  Of course they didn't call it Olive Drab, but it sure looked OD to me! So several hours later we continued on our journey south with the Silver Ghost in tow and BJ driving Olivia, our new travel partner. 

While we were at the Auto Mall, Ron & Linda passed on I-95 headed south. They are friends we met on the road in AZ and they are headed to the Keys too.  We were going to meet up at the Famcamp at Patrick AFB and they were going to catch their breath while BJ and saw doctors, dentist, and family.  Well, as we were getting close to Melbourne Linda called from Patrick Famcamp to advise it was full to overflowing and there was no room for them or us that night.   They found there was space at nearby Wickham Park, a county park we have stayed at several times so we continued on to Wickham Park.  They arrived there shortly before us and had the full attention of the park rangers who were doing a great job finding a place for us.  So we parked in the spot and had a late dinner and drinks to celebrate being back in home turf.

After BJ and I finished our first round of appointments that AM we were back at the park and the rangers found us a spot we could move to for 3 days so we did.  And, then I went to my first dentist appointment in too long!  It seems like the rest of our stay in Melbourne I was either bracing for my next dental appointment or recovering from one!  Next time we head out for that long we will plan some trips back to FL for some routine care.  I could have flown back several times for less then the "catch-up" appointments cost!

In the meantime a few days later we had to move Tucson again to another spot since we had arrived without reservations!  I walked over to the spot to check it out and while the sand was a little soft near the front it was solid in the back.  Or, so it seemed!  

Soon as the rear axles hit the sand they went in and weren't coming out!  What fun it is to have a 35,000 pound RV stuck in the sand!  We provided an afternoon of entertainment to half the RV park – the other half was helping me get unstuck.

Entertainment for the afternoon!

We tried digging it out which was not as easy as it sounds because of the tag axle, finally a guy with a 4-wheel drive 3500 diesel truck pulled up and we hooked it up to a front axle and slowly he pulled us out as I kept pressure on the gas pedal without spinning the tires! 

In the meantime the rangers had re-looked at the reservations and shuffled some projected arrivals around and found us a camping spot that was hard packed! So we moved in there and it was good for about 8 days which pretty much coincided with the end of our appointments so we decided the next time we moved it would be further SOUTH!    Ron & Linda a few days later headed on down to Key West where we had some other friends already waiting for us all! 

We finished up our appointments and headed south too about a week later with some visits to friends and family postponed until next time!

We decided to make it a two day trip as we frequently do. Normally we stop in FL City overnight  and get some great Mexican food that evening and continue on the next day to KW.  However, this time we decided to stop at the Miccosukee Indian Casino north of Fl City at Krome Ave and the Tamiami Trail.  I had stayed there once before on the way home and had enjoyed visiting Shark Valley, part of the Everglades National Park.  I knew BJ would also enjoy that.  

The problem at Shark Valley is the gators don't read the regs that say you must maintain 15 feet from the gators.  They sun themselves on prime real estate along the road way inside the park.  But, there is a great variety of birds to distract you.  We spend the AM there and then headed to KW!  

In Shark Valley

Note that is a park bench (unused) on left of pic!

A beautiful resident of Shark Valley

Beautiful!

Looking for lunch!

Always at home, no matter where we are!

What a great return

to Florida!  We arrived New Year's Eve at Hannah Park on Jacksonville Beach and soon, mu sisters, Marla and CC joined us in Marla's RV and a Bill & Carol my cousins in their RV and we celebrated the arrival of the New Years on a warm clear evening.  The next day dawned bright and clear and BJ started working on the New Years Day menu.  Of course it leads off with black-eyed peas and hog jowls for good luck in the New Years.  Marla had brought some jalapeno cornbread her daughter made and it was fabulous.  We also had some ribs and brats and rice and I cannot remember it all – except for the banana pudding like my grandmother use to make!

My siblings and I (l-r Marla, Gary, CC and I)

My brother Gary and his wife, Floy, arrived and so did, our son Garrett and Rosie. 

We built a nice fire and enjoyed the company and the weather (fire was for effect not warmth, thank heavens).

Let the feasting begin!  Good food, good folks!

Bill, Gary and I fought over who got the biggest helping of the banana pudding, just like we did when Ma-maw made it.  BJ does a credible job of duplicating the delicacy. 

By the end of the week most were gone and we had a quite few days before moving over to Rivers RV west of Jacksonville to get some Service,  But weather is warm and mainly sunny.

It is good to be back in FL!

Always at home, no matter where we are!

At Last

Our first meal in Florida

We are back in Florida. Crossed the State line today at 11:01 AM. We are dry camping at NS Mayport until tomorrow when we move next door to Hanna park and my sisters join us to welcome in the New Year.

it was interesting seeing all of the RV's heading south on I 95. It was flooded with them and other vehicles with Northern license plates and luggage on the roof!
Our first stop after parking RV was Singletons Seafood Shack in little Mayport Village on the St Johns River. OMG, it was worth the wait.  My sister Marla  is bringing up the New Year's Eve feast tomorrow and then BJ is preparing traditional New Year's hog jowls and black-eyed peas to welcome the New Year and bring good luck to all that partake. If you cannot make it, I will gladly eat your share. Thanks
Always at home nomatter where we are parked!

A Hard Days Night

We left JEB Little Creek about 0930 this AM in light rain.  We headed west to Emporia VA to take I-95 south bound.  Because weather forecast was so adverse we opted not to take US 17 as originally planned.. It is a good road, but with heavy rain and winds forecast we figured I-95 would be a better alternative - distance and travel time were not forecast to be greatly different!

The rain continued increasing as we approached Emporia and as soon as we headed south the rain increased and was intermittently heavy and very heavy with a few, but very few breaks.  We had decided we would stop by lunch at Parkers Bar-B-Q on 301, just south of Wilson NC.  It was about 6 miles east of I-95 but right off I-795 so it was an easy and short detour.  40+years ago when we lived in Hampton and traveled back and fourth to SC and or FL.  This section of I-95 was not completed so we were on US 301 and could not just pass by Parkers!!

The detour and anticipation were worth the wait!  Oh, what a wonderful lunch we had and we got 2 pounds of the bar-b-q to take with us.  There was a large truck parking lot on the south side of Parkers so parking the RV was not an issue!  However, when we got to the door to leave the wind and rain were really coming down hard, very hard AND it was a long way to the RV!

After about 10 minutes we said "To Heck With It".  The wind quickly blew BJ's umbrella inside out.  I took off in a sprint and water was running rapidly and well over ankle deep across the parking lot!   I wanted to get to the RV first so I could unlock the door by the time BJ got there!  Nonetheless, we were both were pretty well drenched by the time we got in the RV.    We changed clothes and hit the road, still heading SOUTH!

About 50 miles down the road the sun broke through and clouds started breaking up!  It quit raining and things were looking up as we continued SOUTH!  We arrived at the campground, which has a winery as part of it, after dark and got parked.  We are looking forward to seeing BJ's siblings Thursday and Friday then we will move on SOUTH.  May take US 17 this time.  We are closer to it then I-95 and the weather is going to be a lot better then today!

It was a long hard trip today but we are only a day's drive from Jacksonville FL and we are getting better and better by the day!  

But, we do miss the girls!

Always at home, no matter where we are.