Last Day of Janueary

Does it really matter to anyone that we will be waking up tomorrow to the month of hearts and flowers -- sweethearts and lovers??  Good thing the Super Bowl will not be played the following weekend but, why the heck has it slipped all the way into the month when Cupid is running around making guys go crazy trying to please their special girl.  I do remember those days and some heart-breaking moments -- maybe more embarrasing when the girl doesn't have the same feelings would be more accurate -- oh well, give the flowers to the girls mother instead (did that).

Maybe it is better to have the Super Bowl the following weekend and maybe we could push the World Series into Halloween Night so the Trick-r-treaters wouldn't be out that time of the year.  Put them in costumes for New Years Eve -- Yeah!  And invite them to the punch bowl instead of the candy bowl.

So what do you do when you have too much time on your hands and the wind is blowing too hard?

Windy and Breezy at Fiesta Key

It's been kind of a ho-hum day for the last Monday in January as the wind has been blowing from the ENE at about 22 mph most of the day -- now easing just a little as darkness has settled in and most folks have done the same.  I tried some fishing earlier in the day in the canal nearby and with the fierce wind threatening to blow my hat and shirt off, I could barely feel anything biting my leftover frozen shrimp from yesterday -- fed it all to the fish and didn't hook a single fish.  I thought it might be too windy to try the bridge and the threatening skies looked like rain for most of the day so, grocery shopping seemed a good thing to get done.  Nearest store (Publix or Winn Dixie) seemed to be in Marathon some 15 miles south (I guessed) but, turned out to be closer to 20 miles -- still 10 miles closer than the nearest one in the other direction (Key Largo).


After restocking on most everything and getting stuff refridgerated that needed to be, did another load of laundry -- kitty's blankie.  Then, played a while with Tiger and took another walk around before settling on a nap this afternoon -- the twins second of the day.

Turnout at Sunset Point was slightly better than last night even with the wind whipping the water (luckily away from the point. otherwise we probably would have gotten spray off the water).

Just finished off the second Mangrove Snapper with some leftover brown rice and, of course, Tiger and Molly cried to get their share of the tasty white meat -- much better than the Blues.  Now enjoying a glass of white wine and listening to some of my favorite soft melodies (as the wind starts to pick up again).  Should be down to 70 tonight so can't complain (who would even listen).

Mangrove Snappers for Dinner

How do you spell Hallelujah?  Me and the twins will be eating some tasty fish this evening thanks to the "Game Changer" -- "Live Shrimp" made those Snappers just go crazy and one more Grouper too (couldn't keep him because the season is closed on them).  It felt good to walk up on the bridge from my position under the highway bridge and take my little freshwater pole with its "Live Shrimp" hooked up to the fishing bridge and then hook one good fish after another -- just over from a whole family of Spanish speaking folks who were just catching the same bait fish I had been catching during days of my previous fishing.  Well worth the $4 per dozen and bought a pack of frozen shrimp too for later this evening perhaps (if it doesn't rain).

Didn't take any pictures of the fish before scaling them and cutting off their heads but, may take a shot of the plate with the two "keepers" (though not as pretty when they were whole).  When they are whole, they have this reddish orange hue at the belly running up to their chins -- maybe you can look them up online or I will definitely take a picture after the next keeper comes out of the bucket (before scaling and such).

Wine, Lemon Juice and Old Bay Seasoned

Dinner is done and darkness has settled in but, I'm not ready to climb into bed yet.  Tiger, Molly and I enjoyed our best tasting fish so far -- I'm speaking for them, of course and they didn't enjoy the brown rice and orzo I prepared to go with the fish (including peppers, red onions and tomatoes).

Made it to sunset point with a French Martini in hand and the break between the clouds and raindrops provided the small turnout with a pretty decent sunset.

Fiesta Key - Sunset Point

Every night there is a gathering at the little Tiki Hut at Sunset Point where most campers go to meet each other and watch the sunset -- some bring chairs, some bring martinis and most bring their cameras in hopes of catching a memorable sunset.  The resort provides a small tray of snacks -- crackers, cheese, fruit and some wines to taste with some musical tones.  Later, some continue the evening relaxing and others go for the lively music at Santiago's Cantina with a bonfire at the edge of the water.

I chose to try a little more fishing in the canal that feeds the marina -- had made a tour in the evening darkness with flashlight in hand to discover what the evenings were about here and on my way back to the RV, I spotted a small school of fish under the edge of the pier, swimming in and out of the light of one of the pier lights.  I regret that I had not given more serious thought to buying some live shrimp at the resort's bait store before they closed because, what appeared to Mangrove Snappers didn't want anything to do with the cut bait I offered -- only one little puffer took the bait -- no 12 or 14 inch Snappers like the ones I think I saw.

Oh well!  There's always today or tonight and I will be sure to get the right bait this time (and I think the bait store is open now).



Fiesta Key - Morning Walk

Got up early this morning to do a posting for yesterday and headed back to bed after completing the task and getting the AC adjusted to a comfortable level -- two cups of coffee didn't keep me from getting back to sleep for a couple hours.  Awoke before the sunlight started to illuminate the skies and the front of the RV -- squeegee got all the dew off the windshield and took another cup of coffee and headed out with the camera anticipating the sunrise about to come.

The eastern half of the resort would provide a better picture or two so, headed out the lower corner of this area and over the northern side of the much larger section with over 300 spaces in 3 large rows.  First row waterfront just at Gulf Shore Blvd  provided an excellent view of the bridge and sunrises beyond the shallow waters that looked like they should be the hiding place for some Mangrove Snappers.

Channel Five Bridge

Mangrove Snappers Live Here

Waterfront Rental Cabins

I snapped a couple dozen pictures on the walk about and checked out the areas I had not seen yesterday afternoon or evening.  I then took a little drive down the road to Long Key and over another long bridge (perhaps the Long Key Viaduct, if I read the maps correctly) to see where the nearest food marts and bait stores are located -- checked one out to see what they offered and came back to open more windows as the skies were clearing and the breezes seemed less humid.

Took another walk down to the marina after that and was rewarded by the appearance of a Manatee in the harbor (luckily had taken my camera along too).

Scratch My Head - Not My Back

Seems now might be a good time to go feed some fish to the fish -- hope for a catch or two.

Arrived Fiesta Key

Well, lost my mud flap yesterday morning getting out of Calusa Campground (had to crawl under the Winnebago and take it off while the diesel was still running) -- the right-side steel support on the frame had busted open and the U-bolt attachment dropped out.  It is now occupying the greater right half of space in the Jeep until I get it out today and lay it under the Winnebago while I decide what to do with it -- really one heavy-duty mud flap that protects the Jeep when it's being towed so, will ponder how to get it reattached.  That happened to be my workout for the day. 

Also, need to check the left, front hydraulic leveller as it would not fully raise to the "stored position" -- causing a beeping sound all the way down here (made several stops along the roadside to check it and attempted numerous times to get it all the way up).  Wasn't a comforting thought on the drive down and the beeping sound is still in my head -- probably the twins heads too.

Did arrive here safely and narrowly missed getting hit by a falling coconut after parking the RV and walking to the check-in station at the entrance to the resort and campground -- Friday the 27th will be etched in my mind for more than one reason.  When I arrived at my "Deluxe Pull-Thru" site, the RV in the adjacent spot had most of their stuff sitting in the space I had just paid for and their patio awning extended into my site so that I could not pull in (they didn't answer my knocks on the door either).  Unhooked the Jeep and pulled it around to the other end of the space and jockeyed my RV as far as possible into the site -- walked back to the check-in station to let them know of the problem and went back to pop a beer while waiting for the occupants of the other RV to return.  Apparently, they were down at the marina walking their little dogs and checking on their boat parked at the marina.

Charley and Judy seemed nice enough on meeting them but, he seemed to be a "Mr. Know-it All" and was a bit more of a pain-in-the-ass than he needed to be.  Said, he had been doing this 35 years and told the office people the side-by-side spaces weren't adequate -- actually he had his rig parked cock-eyed and a couple feet farther in my direction than it should have been.  He wasn't going to move his rig over and at first he wasn't going to retract his awning -- I told him that seemed to be a bit unreasonable on his part -- thought I might have to go to blows with this little jerk (maybe from New York is my guess).  Well, after chopping off half of a small palmetto plant (by Todd the resort manager), I maneuvered my rig as close to the sewer line as possible and pulled almost to the end of my space to get the sliders out on the driver's side (obviously, moved my Jeep to the other end of my site).

Settled in, levelled the rig, got the sliders out and the AC turned on so Tiger and Molly could emerge from hiding and get acquainted with the new surroundings -- popped another Coors-Lite and walked around the marina to see where things were and see if there happened to be anyone at the fish cleaning stations.

Two groups of fishermen were of immediate interest and one seemed active at the far cleaning table so, passed by the group of young guys tieing up their small boat to see what the others were cleaning -- a flock of Pelicans were eagerly interested too and were swimming about in the waters below the cleaning table.  Never saw so many Pelicans in one place before.

The three guys were cleaning a number of Red Snappers and three nice Mangrove Snappers -- all caught from the Channel Five bridge it turned out (same bridge I had previously been too and just a half mile from the campgound entrance).

After taking a few more pictures, I headed back to the party of guys from the boat and arrived as they were loading out a large cooler full of something -- took two guys to handle the cooler.  They drove it down to a nearby station in front of the marina store where they hung the King Mackerel for picture taking.

Well, Charley mellowed out (by directions given by his wife -- the boss he said) and before I headed to the marina, he had indicated the fact he had the boat and he might come knocking sometime, if I wanted to join him for some fishing.  I saw him too at the marina in his small boat with two big Honda engines parked next to a much bigger fishing boat -- forgot to take a picture (maybe next time or if I do get that knock on the door).

I grabbed some of my cut bait and a few of the small bait fish I had caught back in Key Largo and headed for that bridge -- since there still was some daylight left.  Only managed to hook one more of those Needle-fish (unhooked itself when I got it up on dry land and flopped itself back over the side into the water) and did catch this small beautiful fish of some kind -- something new everytime, it seems.

Another Beautiful Fish

Another Beautiful Day

Calusa Campgound - Last Evening

Spent most of the day getting things ready for the trip down the road to Fiesta Key RV Resort.  Washed the Jeep and some of the Winnebago (where the hose would reach) -- washed myself too and did the load of dirty fishing clothes from yesterday afternoon and evening.  Cleaned the Grunts from last evening's catch and served those up this evening for the twins -- after getting down to the marina for some shots of the last sunset here at Calusa.

Some nice pics of the Pelicans paddling around the waters in the Marina -- seemed to be looking for handouts as I walked by.

Forgot to expand on the "Shrimpers" at the canal last night -- seems to be a big deal down here as this couple showed up with a little generator and a light that drops into the water to illuminate the water so they can see the shrimp when they start moving through the canal.  There were a couple other guys too that had showed up earlier in a pickup and walked over the bridge and along the other side of the canal with their big hand nets -- they came back before the couple left and nobody seemed to have anything.  These nets are as big in dameter as a  55 gallon drum and longer with telescoping handles.  Maybe it's like the movement of the Lemings or the turtle eggs hatching -- way more edible to us humans presumably.

Newest Passenger on this Journey

After the literbox duties and putting food down for the twins, I got my first cup of coffee and headed to the usual spot at the front of the RV to see the morning display of colors.  I had forgotten that my usual seat was occupied by this little pyramid pile of coconuts -- the newest passenger picked from the tree on the back corner of this RV space.

Coconut Martini Anyone?

Did check online last evening for the best way to cut them open (Hawaiian or Trinidad technique) but, don't have a machete and quite frankly get worried about using one of those for fear of losing fingers or a hand.  And let's see ... You Put the Lime in the Coconut and Shak'em All Up -- think some Rum might be another ingredient for these, if only I had brought my little bow-saw.  Guess it will be Dad's old hatchet.

Tropical Breezes

Mid to high 70s today with light breezes blowing through the RV to keep the inside temps pleasant.  The day had started with a few puffy clouds behind the trees in the eastern sky as the sun lit them from grey, to orange, to coral and then white with yellow patches -- while I enjoyed a couple cups of fresh brewed hazelnut coffee (ground fresh from the last of the whole beans in the bag).  Still have another bag of ground Chocolate Truffle for the next stop in Fiesta Key.

Already fished some this morning for about an hour and a half before high tide and only caught two Needlefish or maybe Trumpet Fish -- first one unhooked itself after I got it up from the canal and it flopped its long body about a half dozen times before making it back over the side and into the water again.  Strange that it seemed to know which way to flop to get back to the water -- instead of the parking lot.  The second one wasn't so lucky as it had the hook firmly set in its toothy lower jaw -- took its picture and attempted to get it unhooked and returned safely to the water but, think it perished as it appeared to be floating upside down as it disappeared from sight in the strong flowing current.

Twelve or fourteen inches



3 inch Mouth-of-teeth






While fishing this morning I kept my eyes on the other side of the canal too hoping to glimpse that big Iguana again -- didn't see him but, did see five other small ones and tried to get the camera zoomed in on them.  First, I saw a grey one near the dumpster and going back and forth by a tree stump.  Farther to its left there appeared to be a bright or emerald green one and then another grey one farther down.  Most of my attention seemed to be drawn to a pair I spotted with my binoculars under the bridge of the far two lanes of US1 going over the canal -- one appeared to be very red and seemed to be facing off with another grey one to the right.  I crawled under the bridge of the nearest two lanes of the road and tried to get a picture but, it is difficult to see them even when I zoom in on the picture.  They are just at the edge of the shadown line.



Red and Grey Iguana Square-off

It rained lightly during the early morning dark hours and maybe just enough to rinse some of the salty deposits from the awnings -- a task I may still do again tomorrow as I get the RV prepped for the short trip down US1 (give the RV and Jeep another good rinsing off before Friday morning).

Part of yesterday's catch

Returned to the "Adams Cut" and fished this afternoon and into the evening -- returned to the RV around 8:00 p.m. with a few more fish of some variety (mostly Grunts from what I could learn from the only English speaking guys that arrived late wearing camper's lights on their heads).  Another guy and his girlfriend or wife arrived just after dark with lights and hand nets trying to get some shrimp running the channel during the dark -- they didn't get a single one as it turned out).

Today's Catch (minus a few)

Don't worry, I fed the twins a can of tuna fish before heading back to feed the fish.


Maybe another Grunt (released with two puffers)

Finally used all the squid I bought a few days ago.  Hooray!  Now to wash all that sticky goo and ink off the shorts and shirt I wore while fishing (maybe omorrow).  Time for dinner now.

Big Brother's Birthday

Well, we were both 67 yesterday and the day before but, now he has leaped forward again to be one year older for the next 364 days (because of the leap year he gets an extra day).  I just finished off the second of the delicious filet mignons I cooked on my birthday accompanied again with a stuffed baked potato and the rest of the veggie pack from the birthday meal -- added a salad too before pulling the meal out of the microwave.

More Bait for Fiesta Key

Spent the afternoon fishing at a nearby channel that runs from the Key Largo Sound to the Blackwater Sound but, only caught some more bait fish (as seen in the photo) -- eight spots and one "other" of some variety.  I used the tail of one (in the lower right corner of the picture) to try to entice something bigger to bite (with no success).

Missed a couple really good hits that could have produced a memorable keeper -- but, I will sleep with the unpictured memory of this really hot blond that came through the channel all alone in her small boat and she was soo sexy looking in her hot blue bikinni -- missed the picture of that too (had the camera in my right front pocket but, my jaw must have gotten in the way when she waved and cruised on by).

On her return trip, I had been bent down over my cooler getting another piece of bait after catching another of the small fish -- I sensed this boat had slowed down and there she was again some 2 hours later.  Blew my mind and sure wish I could have gotten permission to go on-board.  Dream On Ray.

Guess Where I will be Tomorrow?

Fiesta Key RV Resort - Next Stop

Well, Paradise beckons and this morning I booked a month (Jan. 27th to Feb. 27th) at Fiesta Key RV Resort just 30 or so miles down the road at MM70.  It just happens to be at the end of the Channel Five bridge where I have been fishing so, it will be very convenient for more attempts at getting that Big One (may prove to be as elusive as that hole-in-one I chased the summer before last).

Who can complain about a bad day of fishing though when it is in such a beautiful place -- sunrise to sunset.  Both will be more visible from that next location on the Keys and puts Key West that much closer.  By the way, the fish won today -- only caught one Porgy to go with the fillets from Friday's catch.  Already gone now and am enjoying a glass of wine after sharing the fish with Tiger and Molly (both sleeping now).



Fiesta Key is under the cloud

 Also, the place around the corner from me pictured in yesterday's blog is now in its night-time mode with lights spinning and flashing like a lighthouse.  Wish I know how to shut off the flash on my camera so I could send some night-time shots.




Skipjack or Stickle-back

 

Hard to Resist - Why do it?

Another Birthday is nearly Past

Just finished the best meal I have had since starting this or the previous journey -- this one courtesy of my daughter Laura (though I had to cook it).  The filet mignon just melted in my mouth and the twice baked potatoes were so warm and delicious -- like meeting up with an old and dear friend from the past.  Vegetables were a delight to fill in the meal -- though, not served in the style of a 5 star restaurant, I can't tell you how much I enjoyed it.  A complete wrap of a birthday in Paradise -- if only I had caught that big Red Snapper to fill the freezer.

Birthday Sunset

Spent most of the day at Channel Five bridge fishing on the west end again but, didn't catch much to put in the cooler.  Did catch a few Skipjacks and another Wrass -- had lots of bites too and saw lots of fish in the waters all around.

Wrass - More beautiful than the picture.

Caught this too.

More Teeth than the Wrass

Skipjack - one of three

Place around the corner.

Jack Sparrow's place maybe

Got Lost - Most Likely

So I made it to 67, a birthday my dad fell 5 months short of unfortunately.  Wish he could have enjoyed such a birthday and another 30 plus -- could have gotten a call from him today then (would have enjoyed telling him I am more than 2/3 his age).  Still 2/3 to the way of making 100 -- don't hold your breath on that one.