Second Wind on the Great Loop and Beyond

February 12.
Now we fully understand the snowbird phenomenon. Freezing weather and heavy snows in the northern and mid-Atlantic states have made headline news for the past week. Even south Alabama had several inches of snow today (while we rode our bikes to the beach). Temperatures here have been in the 60s and occasional low 70s, which is a good bit cooler than normal. It has also been pretty windy, but how can we possibly complain!

Our days consist of morning walks, followed by excursions to various spots in the Keys. We went with a bunch of Loopers to a couple of art shows last weekend, and we’ve gone to the huge flea market on Big Pine Key several Saturdays. Row after row of open tents display everything from fresh produce to knives, clothing, jewelry, sunglasses, and marine supplies. Someone aptly called it the “dirt mall.” Pot luck dinner and watching the Super Bowl with good friends aboard Wandering L & M was great fun. Somehow they managed to hold 10 to 12 of us.

We have loved having Jim and Martha here on the boat with us this week. During a dinghy ride down nearby Sister Creek, we spotted a huge iguana among the mangroves. Iguanas are an exotic species to an Alabama girl. Jim has driven us to several state parks, where we have seen several Key deer, an endangered species found only in this area. They stand only about two feet high at the shoulder. At Blue Hole, the largest body of fresh water in the Keys, we spotted two iguanas in a distant tree. Martha took these excellent pictures. One was three or four feet long and displayed his orange neck flap with several flourishes. Today we meandered through the trails at Crane Point, fascinated by all the types of palm trees and the wild bird rescue center.

As always, we’ve eaten well. We had to take Jim and Martha back to No Name Pub – one place not to be missed. The pizza was again delicious. Pictures later--Keys Disease, you know.