Back to the Florida mainland

Before leaving Key Largo, we did go to "Theater of the Sea" and the "Dolphin Research Center", both of which were amazing. I think admission was about $20 each for both places, and well-worth the money. We watched all the sea creatures being trained, people interacting with them and some in the wild. Both places are very rescue-oriented, and many of the animals had been rescued and trained. We saw sea tortuise and dolphins with flippers missing and other injuries, that had been re-habilited and some trained. One tortuise was born with spinal injury causing inability to float, so they had it fitted with a life jacket so it could swim! One area had wild iguanas in a fenced area, and they also were a cat-rescue. I think she said they had 60 cats! I got to wander around them for awhile. There were also trained sea lions that were pretty funny, and they LOVE to ham it up! Such beautiful and pitiful creatures. They also had some young nurse sharks that they were training. We went out on a bottomless boat and saw iguanas laying on the treelimbs along the river banks, and the dolphins were trained to follow the boat and jump out of the water. One jumped up through the opening in the middle of the bottomless boat. The boat ride was only about 7 minutes. They also had trained parrots that rolled the barrel, walking forward and backward, one swung from the perch, and one did math and would watch the trainer hold up her fingers, count them, then ring the bell the appropriate number of times. It also could put the different shaped plastic pieces in the correct holes, and would fix them when the trainer did them wrong! Of course my beloved pelicans would try to steal the porpoise's treats! The trainers weren't nearly as fond of them as I am!







The dolphins at the research center were amazing. We stayed for several hours watching them dive, swim, jump, do tricks, etc.
Then we went out of John Pennecamp State Park on a Glass-bottom boat. The hull of the boat was glass, and a seating/standing area surrounded the glass area. I sat /Al stood behind me, with my feet hanging into the well. Watched that for about 1/2 hour before deciding I needed to go up on top deck. Al stayed and watched. The coral reef was pretty and saw some colorful fish, but nothing like I saw years ago in the San Juan Islands when my ex and I had a cabin cruiser with a glass-bottom box on the back.

We did regretfully leave our beautiful spot at Key Largo March 19, and drove back to Miccosukee Casino north of Homestead for 2 nights where we finished our tax information and got it in the mail to our accountant. Good to get that out of here, and HOPE we had all the needed info with us.

Had 2 for $11 dinner buffet the 1st night, left a few dollars in a couple machines, then next night, went to their Cafe Hammock and had steak and lobster dinner for $9.95 each. Was not big portions, but plenty of food, and quite good, especially for the price.

Then we headed West. Al drove " nearly record-breaking" 150 miles, and we are currently at North Fort Meyers, staying at Jones Mobile Home and RV Park. Have been experiencing trouble with our refrigerator again, so found a 12V/AC cooler at Walmart for $88. Got a repairman to come out, and he charged us $75 to do diagnostic check. He had us turn it off for the whole hot day, then he came in the morning. Seems sometimes it gets like a Vapor Lock, and turning it off will reset it. Also, the condensation drip drain was plugged, and that somehow keeps it from cooling. So he says, anyway, and he seemed to know his stuff. Gave us print -out of directions from service manual to do diagnostic checks. Pretty smart frig! Well, it seems to not be staying as cold as we'd like it, but perhaps we should just forget the thermometer and as long as butter is hard, assume it is ok. Pretty frustrating, anyway.

We found a SteinMart today on the way to Costco, so I was able to soothe my frustrations by shopping. Got a skort and 2 tops, and Al found a nice shirt.

Guess we are a day late and dollar short getting to see the Manatee. They haven't been around here for a week or so due to the extremely warm weather. They ususally come into the bay here to get warm, but the waters are so warm they don't need to come close to shore :-( I was really looking forward to seeing one in person! Well, I blew it, as I was the one who said we should get off the Keys and head north, after we had found out where to go to see them at Key Largo!

Couple things you don't see at home: "Panther Crossing" (along Hwy 41), and "Crocodile Crossing" (at Key Largo) signs on the highway. We never saw any crossing, but we were always in the daytime. Along Hwy 41, it mostly follows a stream, and alligators are about as common in it as seagulls are at our beach! We saw an Iguana scurry out on the dock at Tavernier Elks where we stayed, and it ran down and hid among the rocks. White Egrets are very common and beautiful, as are the grey and blue heron. Even saw wild peacocks along the stream. I heard on the radio that Eagles are more prevalent here than anywhere in the US except for Alaska. We did see many of them!

At the casino, there were a number of other RVer's, and the people next to us had 2 dogs named Stella and Sylvia! Oddly enough, the lady parked in front of us was named "Stella"! Quite a coincidence to have 2 Sylvia's and 2 Stella's out of 3 RV's!

When at the casino buffet, a gal came in wearing an outlandish (we thought) outfit, and when we turned to look at her, she told me she recognized me. She was wearing black hot pants and bra top, covered with a short lace shrug, then a white jacket, white baseball cap, dark glasses, black patent knee-high go-go boots over white thigh high stockings. I WISH I had my camera with, but alas it was being charged. Everyone in the restaurant was looking at her and snickering. Actually, except for the white socks above her boots, she looked pretty stylish????

Another interesting thing in traveling are the Publix supermarkets. They are everywhere! Sometimes, every 5 blocks! Prices are quite good, too, and once in awhile in their sale flyer they have a coupon where if you spend $25 in groceries, you can buy a $50 gas card for $40. We took advantage of it a couple times spending over $100 each time and getting 4 gas cards worth $200 for $160. We watch their ad every week now, but havent seen them for a couple weeks!

Dunkin Donuts were everywhere in the NE, but only a few here in the SE. We went into one to use their bathroom while waiting to go to the Marine Barracks. Usually, they are not on our agenda.

Tomorrow, we plan to drive to Sanibel and Captiva Islands to explore. Think it's about 25 miles from here. Have been told the beaches are beautiful and loaded with shells. So, with that, I am going to say good night and get some shut-eye so we can get out of here before noon tomorrow!