THE KEYS

A string of 43 islands connected by 42 bridges...the longest being seven miles. Total number of islands in the keys is 1,700 which in composes 137.3 sq. miles, which is known as the Florida Keys.

Many of the islands or keys are so narrow you can stand in one spot and watch the sun rise and the set without moving ... with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf Of Mexico on the other.

But some keys are larger with off the beaten path {Highway 1} neighborhoods that we explored for the first time on this trip now that we have a tow vehicle in our Jeep Tj.

We played the Key West Golf Club while we were there...

the Southernmost Golf Course 





We meet a lot of interesting people and animals while camping

and playing golf like Steve and his wife Pat from Wisconsin. 

 One of our favorite restaurants {HOGFISH} 

on Stock Island

 

Also a favorite of friend Steve Williams from Toledo 



We actually stayed on Stock Island...the second to last key in the chain where they have two decent full service camp grounds Boyd's and Leo's ...both pricy but close to all the attractions in Key West.

 

 As you can see we took in ALL the sights

 

Of course Key West is an attraction in itself! To say this is an interesting place would be an understatement. Some people love it... and others not so much.

It is definitely a tourist destination area as is the rest of the Keys and for that matter all of Florida ...but being the most southern spot brings out different and sometimes bizarre acting people.

Chickens are protected here and they are all over the place 

and the Pelicans are plenty...mainly when someone is fishing near by  

Mallory Square is where the Cruise Ships come in and also the place that street vender and entertainers ...some off the wall "gather to say good night to the sun" ...LITTERY ! surrounded by the smell of {Wacky Weed} you can hear people calling out to the sun "GOOD BYE SUN...SEE YOU TOMORROW" The first time I heard that years ago I laughed ...but these people were serious.

Homes like this can go for over a million and restoration in the Historic Neighborhoods can double that price. Another serious side of Key West is the cost of living with many people working two or more jobs just to make ends meet.

We went to some interesting places while in the keys...some of which were some very nice restaurants...or should we say two many nice restaurants!

 This was an exclusive restaurant across from Mallory Square that

 we had to take a boat to...and on a very nice afternoon. 

 Of course we had to add a couple picks of the original {Sloppy Joe's}

billed as the oldest bar in Florida...with a unique interior   

And of course we liked the name...

 



 Two most photographed things in Key West

the monument that marks the most southern spot in the

United States...just 90 miles from Cuba.

 

....And the (O) mile maker sign marking the end, or the beginning

of the Over Seas Highway

Our last ten days in the Keys was in one of the Upper Keys called Tavernier. We stayed at the Elks #1872 which we have stayed at before, only 12 spots but right on the water with good meals and spectator sunsets.

A bonus while staying there was a short trip to Key Largo and the state park to take a Glass Bottom Boat one and a half hours off shore to see the Giant Living Coral Reef.

It's time to start our trip home and say hi and by to friends and family along the way ...and it will take us a pleasant and leisurely time to do it.

  LIVE
 LAUGH
  LOVE
SanTONY