Key Largo Explored

Left the Goldcoaster around 11:00 a.m. this morning after first getting to the Post Office for stamps and then having a sumptuous breakfast at Starbucks (courtesy of Rachael and Janice).  Had a White Chocolate Mocca with a Chicken/Sausage/White Egg wrap -- done a little bit too crispy but, still delicious when compared with my usual breakfast of microwaved egg/cheese sandwich and O.J. or the alternative of banana and granola bar with O.J.

The trip down to Key Largo took about 40 to 45 minutes and the first visual thing of note was the pale, almost irridescent or fluorescent turquoise colored concrete highway dividers on the two lane road -- with what looked like the Everglades on either side.  The color of the dividers reminded me of the pool color in the neighborhood where I grew up in Denver -- Progress Plunge, I think was its name (tons of chlorine too as I remember).  Oh, those burning eyes -- almost burned today looking at those dividers.

The next thing I noticed was the rather high chain-link fences (black in color) on both sides of the road with three lines of barbed wire along the top -- maybe to keep the Cubans or illegal immigrants off the roadway.  Didn't see any alligators trying to climb over the fences anywhere along that 20 mile plus stretch and didn't see any snakehead fish trying to crawl under them either -- perhaps because there was a border of white gravel at ground level on the road side of the fence (maybe a foot or two wide).

There were no scenic pull-offs or stops along the road for taking any pictures -- only signs banning any parking or any fishing.  Can't really say that there was much, if anything, warranting any pictures except maybe the Yacht Marina near the Key Largo end of the roadway -- had a creek running through the area called Jewish Creek (do you suppose you had to be Jewish to get into the Yacht Club?).

Anyway, after getting onto the Keys, the trip down US1 seemed like a rather dingy looking stretch with Dive and Snorkel shops, Marinas and dingy looking hotels -- not quite the image I had from more than 15 years ago when the Burch family visited and stayed somewhere along that stretch.  First stop was to pull into the Calusa Campground to check out my site, if possible, and be sure it was worth the money I will spend for it.  As I continued into the surrounding area (after missing yet another turn), I thought I had made a wise decision to check out the place and maybe thought to cancel the reservation as the worn-down looking community had no security fence or guardhouse (like here at the Goldcoaster and other RV parks).

However, I was relieved to find the RV park/campground had been straight ahead when I incorrectly made a right turn -- maybe a GPS device would have saved me the drop in my heart-rate (though mine would probably call me a "loser" or "failure" like my last wife so will still pass on the new technology).  Since the site I will be occupying was still being used, the gals in the office wouldn't allow me the courtesy to get a look at it as the owners of the sites did not allow such invasion of their (or the users) privacy.  To my further relief, I could see other large RVs in some of the spots on the other side of the security fence(s) and a guardhouse with gate controlling access.  I could see lots of Palm trees and glimpses of water and the campground map provided by the office assured me a short walk to Buttonwood Sound or Florida Bay.

Mangrove Trail

After seeing the campground location and my access into it, I doubled back toward the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park to check it out for possible fishing later in the day but, the only fishing spots there were not sandy beaches or the likes of the previous two RV parks in Myrtle Beach and Flagler Beach.  There were only a couple places and both looked like wade in spots on the backwaters or sounds -- no waves or surf, just a couple small beaches where people were sunning or wading in the water.  I decided to go ahead and walk around a bit and took a short hike around one of the Mangrove Trails -- however, it had one section closed where the wooden walkway had been washed away preventing access to an elevated viewing platform among the Mangroves (probably a nice place to take pictures from since it was above the surrounding trees).  Drats!  Can I have a refund on the entrance fee please?

See the platform? Can't get there.

Did see some (a couple that is) larger RVs lining up to the campground there at John Pennekamp but, no sales office nearby -- only dive shops and takeouts for snorkel trips to the reef (maybe the same place me and the kids had gone out of and enjoyed so much those many years back).  Will study their brochure for the park and call them about reserving a possible spot though, I think they don't allow pets (perhaps in the campgounds because they seemed to be allowed on the paths but, not on the beaches per signs posted).

One Small Beach at East End John Pennkamp State Park

Well, as I walked around the Mangrove Trail, I thought I heard some thunder in the distance (above the noise of instructions being barked at a boatload of snorkelers heading to the reef) and decided I should probably head back here to the Goldcoaster to keep Tiger and Molly company if a storm should happen.  On the way back up US1 I decided on a bathroom stop at the Visitor Center and picked up maps and brochures of Key Largo and asked the nice lady there about possible surf fishing spots.  She thought that Islamorada might be the best possibility -- another 30 miles down the road toward Key West.

Colorful Visitor Center

Tides and fishing times may fall more in line with the week I am at Calusa Campground so, will put the bait in the freezer and focus on spending some time in the Everglades National Park -- only about 15 miles at most to the west of here (out SW 344th St, down SW 192 Avenue for 4 miles and then west 8 miles).  Everglades Alligator Farm is on the way -- anybody need a handbag or care to join me on an Airboat ride?