Miami and Key West

Nov. 25.....Happy Thanksgiving!

Key West.......only 90 miles to Cuba!

We have been enjoying the 80+ weather here in Miami for the last two weeks and spent a night and a couple days in Key West.  We took the motorcycle down Hwy 1 all the way to the end of the Keys.....it  really is a different world down here!   We sure enjoyed the ride and were amazed at the sights along the way---the beaches are endless and the 7 mile bridge was quite an experience.  Was fun to see the Atlantic on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other.  We were lucky to have great weather and were surprized to find so many people in the little towns along the way.  In Key West, most of the people were on bicycles or scooters because the roads are narrow and there are houses and shops on every square inch of sand.

on the road...Atlantic on left, Gulf on right

these guys are everywhere...look close, do you see both?



one of the great mansions at Key West



even the birds love a great sunset!



We also made several trips into the Everglades and learned a lot about the landscape.  Didn't realize that it is actually a river of grass and is 60 miles wide at some points.  It is a limestone based lowland with mostly seagrass growing everywhere.  It was explained to us how the "hammocks" (forrested areas), cypress stands,  mangrove forests,  marshes, seagrass meadows and swamps are formed.  This is all the work of alligators, overflow from the Okeechobee, and rainfall.  Quite a place to visit!

alligators, birds, fish, turtles...all together until someone gets hungry!

The anhinga is a bird that dives into the water to catch fish, pops back up and then must stand out in the sun to dry off and bring its body temp. back up.  They are everywhere!

We also took day trips into downtown Miami and saw the beautiful skyline and beaches there. Steve and I went there in the truck and another day Steve took a Harley ride into town with another biker he met here at the campground.  We had a great surprise when Suzy and Danny Luper arrived in Ft. Lauderdale after their cruise in the Caribbean with friends.  We were able to meet up with them and had dinner at a great restaurant.  I'm sure they were shocked to return back to Lewiston to find all the snow and cold weather there!



Miami Beach with cruise ships on the horizon



Suzy and Danny Luper in Ft. Lauderdale

As we get ready to head north again in a couple days, we are sure thankful for Sara and Cameron for taking care of things at home.....we are having the "trip of a lifetime" but sure do miss all of our friends and family and life at home.  We reflect on the things we love.....mountains, cabin life, Idaho drivers (believe me, they are better than Florida drivers) and our friends and family.