Key West 2015 - Two Weeks in Paradise

For the last couple years, I've spend Christmas time and New Years "on vacation" away from home.  This was my second year going to Key West.   Although it was a bit colder this year than last, it was quite lovely nonetheless.  I spent December 21 thru Jan 2 on the island.

The travel down was a breeze.  I got incredible mileage in my new van:

I was driving just like I do in the car - between 65 and 70 mph.  As the terrain got flatter, the mileage kept improving.

For me, this was a 2 day drive.   My first nite, I simply stayed in a rest area for the nite.  Weather was cool, so I didn't need the AC or have to run the generator.  Luckily, I got to park with the cars and had a quiet nite.  Nobody bothered me, including security.

Here you can see I brought the Stowaway 2 box, along with my new bicycle.  The Stowaway was stuffed to the gills with stuff, mostly things I didn't use.   I'm retiring this box for good and paring down all the junk I've been carrying.

Along the causeway to the Keys, I found this great spot to pull off and have some lunch.  People were using this spot for fishing, but nothing was biting at the time.

Too hot to leave the door open, I started up the genny, ran the air and enjoyed my lunch gazing out the window.

When I finally got to Boyd's Key West Campground, my mileage was topped out:

All set up at my tight space at Boyd's.  Last year I had a much better site, with a sewer connection.  This year, I had to move the van to dump the tanks.  Not fun.  These spaces are obviously tent sites, but that didn't stop them from putting B vans and truck campers in these spaces.

With all the time I had, I got a few things set up.   My Dish Tailgater was one of them.  Gotta have my CNN.  How could you go a few days without hearing about all the crazy things Trump is saying?

It was convenient to put Mr. Bonz somewhere and not have to worry about him, or worse yet tie him up.  So he got to enjoy the outdoors while I sat under the awning and read my book.

But he didn't especially like his little blue prison.  I don't think Mr. Bonz likes Florida too much.  He doesn't like the heat.

We did get more festive for the holidays this year.  Everyone loved my laser beams and many stopped by to ask about them.  Also many wanted to look inside my crazy little RV.

Every day I rode my bike 20 miles.  There is a great path from Key West back towards the mainland.  They took the old causeway bridges and the roadway and made it a bike path.  Nice and flat, it's an easy ride.  I encountered alot of wildlife along the way - including crab cakes here:

Iguanas and chickens run around everywhere.  They will run away, but they are not so filled with fear that they won't run around your campsite.  You Mr. Bonz kept an eye out for them.

A nice leisurely pace ensures no soreness and you can ride again the following day.   Also this trip was the first time I could test out the Garmin bike GPS.  Straight simple to use, and it's self contained to give you speed and distance - no wires!.

One day I rode all the way down to Bluewater Key Resort.  This is a private, fractional ownership type campground resort for the well-healed Prevost owning set.  If you can get a reservation, you can stay there for around the same money as Boyd's ~$100/day.

The amount of clutter at my site really started getting out of hand.

Down near Mallory Square, there is a terrific Cuban restaurant.  They take advantage of the tourists from the cruise ships though.  My lunch was $37 with the tip!  But I don't care, it was terrific....

and the Key Lime pie is arguably the best you'll ever find, anywhere.

The marina near the square is a hub of activity when the ships are in port.  Lots of people going back and forth visiting all the shops.  Some amazing boats also docked there.  Transients as well the rich folks going to their mansions on Sunset Key.

Nearby the Coast Guard has a museum set up on this old cutter.  I didn't go aboard this trip, maybe next time.

Down the street from the cutter is the Eco-Discovery Center.  It was free and very interesting.  Mostly nature type displays about the environment and creatures of the Keys.
There is a small theatre inside that shows a short film about these topics that was very well done and enjoyable.

The aquariums were pretty impressive.

A short bike ride from there is Fort Zachary Taylor.  Below is a panarama I shot looking at the fort with my back to the ocean.

The fort has a commanding view of the sea. 

You can crawl all over the fort and explore it's nooks and crannies yourself or take a guided tour.  They had some pretty impressive cannons.

Well, that was my trip.  The return was pretty uneventful.  Got the same kind of mpg I got on the way down.  Overall, I enjoyed my trip, getting away from the cold up north.  I can't say I'm enamored with Boyd's.  I didn't think they treated me very well considering I was a repeat customer.  Just too crowded - many more people this year than last, so that probably weighed on my enjoyment.  Will I go next year?  Maybe on the boat instead!