Busy Tuesday and goodbye to the Derrys.

Got an early start today, up at 0630, got the Derrys all packed, and headed out to our first stop for the day, about an hour away to the Oasis Visitor Center portion of Big Cypress National Preserve.  

I had been here before with Cooper on the Thanksgiving Visit back in 2011.  We did see a wide variety of wildlife on the boardwalk this time-  Gators, lots of fish and many species of birds as well.  

Next, we headed to the Shark Valley Unit of Everglades National Park-  Again, I had been here before also with Cooper in 2011.  

Just the one stamp here, and basically it was a stamp and run.  

Then, we hit Everglades Safari Park, where we had done an air boat

 ride before with Cooper and Tina, so I passed on the ride while the Derrys went.

Then off to MIA, and dropped the Derrys off at about 1250-  Not sure they were able to get an earlier plane, then get home sooner, expect we'll hear from them later.  

Then, I got permission to swing by 3 Florida State Parks to try for passport stamps.  

The first one, the Barnacle Historic State Park, was closed.  My bad, only open on the weekends. 

  Next, I ran out to Biscayne to visit Bill Baggs/Cape Florida State Park.  I did get a stamp and pin for this park, as well as a Year pass, which I had forgotten to get earlier. I also got a Cape Florida Light pin and stamp.  

Last, I headed up to Oleta River State Park, which was located in North Miami, right on the beach just about.  

Got back to the coach about 410.  

Tomorrow, we are kiboshing the trip plans, and heading directly up to Wildwood to drop the coach off, then head home to Coquina 

Forgot about the Osprey nest

Forgot to show that we saw an Osprey in his/her nest at Flamingo Visitor Center. 

Monday- Back to C.B. Smith via the Everglades National Park

Today, we headed back up from the Lower Keys back to Pembroke Pines, by way of a quickly schedule stop and decision to hit the lower part of the Everglades, which resulted in several new stops for me at that park, several new stamps, and many pins and hiking medallions. 

We stopped in order at the Ernest Coe VC, then the Royal Palm VC, then drove about 36 miles down to the big Flamingo VC.   Had a nice lunch there also. 

Here is the Ernest Coe VC: 

And the Flamingo VC

At Royal Palms, we noticed lots of cars in the parking lot with blue tarps bungeed on-  couldn't figure out why, until we got closer:

They meant vultures attacking, not pooping.   

Added five new stamps for this year:  

Tomorrow, we are planning on heading over to two stops on the Big Cypress NP, and then take a boat ride for the boys, then the Derrys are off on their plane back to Roanoke.  

Bette has changed the trip so now we are going directly back to Wildwood, so we can get work started on the repairs, and then head home on Wednesday after dropping off the coach.   She says we can take another trip down this way to make up for the missed stamping and baseball opportunities .  We'll see.  

Saturday Day trip to Key West

After a long day yesterday, we headed 36 miles down US 1 to visit the sights of Key West.  In order, we visited: 
The Florida Eco- Discovery Center, for a new Key West Dry Tortougas Stamp
Fort Zachary Taylor for a Fla State Park Stamp
The "Buoy"  where every tourist has his picture taken.  
The Lighthouse Museum 
The Hemingway House 
Downtown for shopping and Eating at Sloppy Joe's.  

 Pretty good entertainer at Sloppy Joe's

 Coast Guard Ship we didn't go on...

 The boys at the buoy

 The Hemingway house above, the living room of the house below. 

 Very nice lighthouse and light keeper's quarters.  

 Me at the buoy. 

 Mile Marker 0 on US 1.  The end!

 Lunch at Sloppy Joe's  Davids nachos were 4 inches high!  

Day trip to Park #278- Dry Tortougas National Park 75 miles from Key West

The Derry's (David, Ryan, and Christopher) and I made the long trek to this park yesterday, #278. We boarded a boat at 0700 in the morning and made the 2.5 hour trip across the Gulf of Mexico to this old fort, Fort Jefferson, which formerly was a National Monument, until in 1992 when they included the environs around the 11 islands that make up the Dry Tortougas chain, added elements of underwater habitat, and bird sanctuaries, and such, and named it Dry Tortougas.  

It was a bit of a rough ride out, a big storm having past through the previous night, and several riders got quite sea sick.   

We were able to spend about 4 hours on the island before having to make the return voyage, which was much smoother and much more enjoyable.  

Got all 5 stamps listed for here, a site stamp, a 25th anniversary, and an Underground Railroad one as well.  I also got two lighthouse stamps,  

 A view down the halls of the fort at the casement level 

 The boat that took us out to the island-  Nice ride, great crew, super food. 

 View from the stern on the way back 

 Views of the big cannon 

 A view seaward 

 2 Views of the lighthouse on the island.  

 Another seaward view from the 3rd deck, overlooking the moat 

 Entrance sign  

 View to loggerhead Light, 3 miles distant 

 The main powder magazine 

One of the more interesting parts of the fort was the actual cell that Dr Mudd is said to have served his 4 years at the fort for setting John Wilkes Booth's leg after he shot President Lincoln.  Pretty cool