No more hook ups ! Santa still arrives in Sigsbee NAS

Yesterday, December 15, 2013, we got evicted from our space in the "Rock Pile" in Sigsbee Navel Air Station.   We are now on the water, in dry camp, and will be here for 6-8 days depending on how many people arrive.

When we arrived on December 1, 2013 we went straight to "full hook ups".  Some of you might not know what "full hook ups" mean.  It is when we are connection to electric, water and sewer.

 In "dry camp" you are not connected to anything.  We do have our own generator. It can run everything we use in the motorhome plus we have 100 gallons of water and the waste tanks to hold it.  So dry camp isn't all that bad.

The worst part is you have to go to the dump station every few days which means putting everything away inside the motorhome.  I think we could live with this while here in Key West.  "Time will tell"  !

The rule of thumb is, during this time of year, you are on full hook ups for two weeks then you must go to dry camp and wait until it is your turn to get back on the grid. I believe in late January and February you could be in dry camp, waiting for full hook ups, for over 3 weeks.

Yesterday, we were invited to Marylin and Ray's place to watch the Seahawk football game.  The weather was about 80 degrees with lots of humidity.  It was too hot and humid to watch the game indoors without air conditioning so we watched the game outside.  Remember, in dry camp you have no electricity. Watching TV on batteries is no problem but the air conditioners take to much power not to run the generator.

Ray and Marylin were great hosts and made us feel right at home.  Thanks guys ! 

enjoying the company, game and the weather.

Seahawks WIN !

Watching the game on the outside of the RV...I need one of these !  lol

Even Boggy and his spot and enjoyed the victorious Seahawks

Santa arrives in Key West, Sigsbee Naval Air Station, in a Coast Guard Helicopter.  How many kids can say they saw Santa arrive in a military helicopter.  These military kids can.  They are most likely used to it by now !  How boring !!

Santa arrives

Looks like the Real Santa...My next door RV neighbor.

Merry Christmas

Snorkeling in Key West !

It is kind of cool to be living, for the winter, in a place where cruise ships come to get away from "Ole Man Winter.  We feel very very lucky !

Key West is unlike any other place in the world.  It has the feel of  the Caribbean and of New Orleans at the same time.  Expect the unexpected !   Very hard to explain.!

A lot of locals ask us how long we will be here.  When we tell them "all winter" they tell us where they go.  Andy did find this local fish taco place.  They were pretty good.  Yes, I even had one.

Highly recommend

Just a little food trailer but damn good food.

We decided yesterday, while the weather is still great, to take a reggae, rum, and snorkeling sunset cruise.  The cruise was for three-hours. If you have a military ID go to the ITT Office for tickets.  The ship holds like 85 people.  Since the cruise ship had already departed there were maybe 30 people on board.  Felt like we had the ship to our self's.

The wind was blowing  just a little which made the water a little murky.  Yes, I know this is Florida and not Hawaii !  I just felt bad for the people that never snorkeled before.  We did have a good time.

I was just chatting with the crew member about how he got his job. I think I am going to look into a job.  No really !  Taking people out on snorkeling trips.  What a way to spend the long winter .

Talking with crew member.  How do I get a job here? No really !

Getting all ready for the water.  Andy was being a little wimp.  She had to have a wet suit !  Heck the water was only 74 degrees.  LOL 

All ready to go !  So dang cute !

Look out for the jelly fish....she freaked !  lol

All done...big smile

Now comes the booze and music

As we sail into the sunset

 

Epinephrine Adventures: We made it to Key West !

Epinephrine Adventures: We made it to Key West !: We finally made it to Key West, Florida after being on the road, full time, for a year. What a fantastic year it has been!  We have traveled...

We made it to Key West !

We finally made it to Key West, Florida after being on the road, full time, for a year. What a fantastic year it has been!  We have traveled 8,941 miles through 31 states and spend time in 54 RV Parks/Resorts. 

I am so happy Andy decided to join me on this adventure.  WITHOUT HER... IT WOULDN'T BE WORTH IT!  We have been living and traveling full time for 21 months out of the last 24 months.

The road traveled here, for me, has been long and hard.  I have worked, sweat and saved over a decade to get here.   I have read anything and everything I could get my hands on.  It was first sailboats, then trawlers, and finally onto RV's.  I have put my family and friends through hell talking, planning and dreaming of retiring and traveling. 

Heading south down Hwy 1

 My poor co-workers on the night shift at St Vincent Medical Center, thanks guys for putting up with me.    You know who you are ! 

Some people have dreamed along with me... while others thought "He will never do it" !  Guess what...Panama Jack is alive and well !

My sons Brent and Adam have always supported me through all of this.  We miss each other so very much ! I have missed a lot in their life these past two years, however, we understand this adventure won't last forever.

What we do know about Key West, which isn't much, they do have their own time.  Never in a hurry !  Even the mailman has his own time. I don't think anyone under 35 has ever seen one of these strangely dressed people. Look at those funny hats.

When was the last time you see one of "these"

Yes there are still chickens and they do cross the road

 Many beautiful homes that are BB's

Of course we had to check out the local watering holes  Day time only so far!  Not brave enough, yet, for the nightlife. We will slowly work up to that.  Should be very interesting to say the least.

Oh yes we did !   "The Fun Bunch Gang"   !

For you yucky wine lovers

This is for "ME"

We went looking for a place to snorkel and to lay on the beach.  There isn't really a natural beach in Key West with great sand.  It is mostly trucked in and applied to the beach area.  However, there are some nice beaches.

South Beach is a nice but small beach

View looking back at the South Beach

Looking out from the beach

View again from the beach

We were told that a good place to go snorkeling and to lay on the beach was Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park.  There is a small daily entrance fee.  We were going to go there until a person in our RV park said we should go to "Truman Annex". Truman Annex is another military base that shares the same beach. We would have our side, military side, all to our lonesome and it is free !

I feel so special ...but was it worth 21 Years !

Our private beach

View to my right

View to my left

Very nice beach to snorkel and to lay on the beach

Andy enjoying the Key West Garden Club. It is an old fort that was never finished.  If you like gardens and flowers it is worth the trip to see.  It is right by Smathers Beach and it is free. You can give a donation if you would like.

Relaxing in the shade and smelling the flowers

Look closely...what do you see

Bits and pieces

GO SEAHAWKS   11-1

Everglades National Park

We just took a quick trip today into the Everglades National Park. We will be visiting longer on our way back north in the spring.

Everglades means Grass River.  It is the slowest river in the world, 3/4 mile a day, at least that is what the guide said.  The water is 8-10 inches deep with 8 foot of mud.  The water is surprisingly pretty clear.

 We took our first Airboat ride. Had a great time too !

vroom  vroom

It was so weird.  Felt like your on land in a boat going sideways !

We saw Lots of wildlife.   The guides even had names for each of them.  We pull up to an area and they asked us to keep an eye out for George.  Who the hell is George ?

Meet George  (Blue Heron)

This one was trained.  It must have known it had a photo shoot scheduled or something. The guide said watch out for "Baby".  I saw "Baby" on the shore as we pulled in.  When the boat stopped the darn thing came towards the boat and posed for pictures. After the photo shoot "Baby" return to shore !

Here comes "Baby"

A little closer..here she comes

Well hello bright eyes..oh I mean "Baby" !

Meet Pete

Nice picture of Andy choking this poor little creature