Clueless in Central Florida

Debated route to I-95 from southwest Florida--looked like I-75 to I-4 to I-95 should work. Easy trip until about 18 miles west of Daytona when traffic halted, then moved forward, occasionally surging to 35, then back to 3 mph.
Oh no, could it be? I called Amy.
"When is the Daytona 500?"
"Today," she said.
Mystery solved. An exit appeared, but I figured I'd be better off on the road more traveled. Not.
And from that point on, every illegal U-turn spot had a cop stationed next to it!
Took over two hours to go about 18 miles.
Note to self: When traveling in Florida in February, note Nascar dates.
Only made it to Richmond Hill, GA before crashing.

Fantastic Fakahatchee

Left Key Largo before daylight for the Fakahatchee Strand, a FL state park off Rte 29 between I-75 and the Tamiami Trail, and the orchid/bromeliad capital of the U.S. Fourteen of us had signed up for the Swamp Walk sponsored by the Friends of Fakahatchee--$50 a pop for non FOF members and led by park biologist Mike Owen. A 16-year veteran, he continues to be awed by this place.

We all carried PVC pipe walking sticks, though Mike's had measurements on his. "Two feet," he would cry as we groaned and slogged through the cold water, often tripping over submerged cypress knees.

"Oh! Two and a half!" More groans. Two folks fell down, one man's wet khakis revealed his blue and white striped boxer shorts beneath.
No way to take notes or many photos, we were too afraid we'd fall.


We saw the famed ghost orchid, though not in bloom (only blooms for a week in July), also night-scented orchid and many others. Tons of bromeliads (epiphytes). Noticed on the board there is a "Fuchs bromeliad," but he didn't point it out.

My fellow walkers had one funny quip after another. No humorless botanists here, just jovial nature lovers. One man said he was becoming cold-blooded from standing in the water so long.

I wore a pair of thrift shop $4 Nikes; had to throw away the blackend socks. Goodwill waterproof pants worked great.

Weather in the low 60s, we all got a bit chilled when standing for any length of time in the cold water. Mike said temps got down to record-setting 28 degrees in January.

No rooms available in Everglades City, I found an Italian motel called "Conty's" on Tamiami Trail near Naples. The proprietor was talking to her sister in Rome on Skype when I came in.

A walk in the park

Found the Salvation Army Thrift Store, but walked away empty-handed. Morning warm, already low 70s. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park 9 a.m. glass-bottom boat tour canceled for lack of interest, so I signed on for 12:15. To kill time, walked the Tamarind and Mangrove trails.

For some reason, I'd envisioned serene. Not. They offered dramamine from the get-go, best description is marine potholes. Finally hovered over a reef and an excellent guide pointed out all the fish and coral formations. At first there was great competition to look at the bottom, but as the queasiness set in, most abandoned that area for the outer deck. I began to regret Dramamine avoidance, closest I've ever been to barf issues. I perservered, but the only fish I remember are the Sergeant Majors...


Shopped for take-home gifts at Beall's Outlet, carryout dinner at Publix and back to the Pelican. Watched a pelican and Egret fight over a fish--Egret won. Wait--this "egret" has yellow legs. Could he be a great white heron?? Stay tuned, I'll find out.

Chatted with my new neighbors from Vero Beach. They say Vero is superior to Melbourne AND West Palm.

Lots of sun today

Feb 11 Took a long walk down rte 1, traffic nonstop but this is the only road to Key West. Learned the difference between the southbound portion--bayside--and northbound--oceanside. Everything from Mrs. Mac's kitchen to Starbucks, plenty of dive shops.

Huddled on the dock trying to get sun, kept my hood on because of the wind, then found a sheltered spot near my room and got quite a bit of sun.

Later shopped at Pink Juntique, found the African Queen, enjoyed the pelicans, bought Key Lime pie at the Key Lime store, got Amy's hoodie at the Sandal Outlet in Tavernier.

Joined the Canadian gals for barbecued shish-kabob; I contributed cheese and crackers and key lime pie.

Oh no, weather says rain is due tomorrow.

Seeking the Seventies...temps, that is

Great breakfast sendoff from Melbourne with Mary and Jim. Without asking anyone's advice, I decided that it would be simpler to take the Florida Turnpike to Rte 1 and ultimately Key Largo instead of mixing with the commoners on I-95.

So I hooked up with the turnpike at Ft. Pierce. I guess it was better, but there were some delays. Anyway, finally exited on Route 1. Lots of construction slowdowns here, too--but there is no alternate route ...

Found my motel, the Pelican [a k a Hungry Pelican], near the 100 mp. I'm staying in the Helicon. They have complimentary kayak/paddleboats. Met two gals from Toronto, we had our own "sunset festival," hope to see more of them tomorrow.

FYI--the milepost numbers grow smaller as you head toward Key West. So I'm still 100 miles away.

Treasure Coast to Space Coast

Took A&T to PBI so they could rent a car, then headed for sister's at Melbourne. But first had to get a thrift shop fix, so exited on Indiantown Road (Jupiter) and found the Goodwill at Indiantown and Delaware Ave. No treasures, but it's always fun.

On 95 north passed remnants of the Super Bowl--Eyewitness news trucks from New Orleans and the Met Life Blimp assemblage.

Found Las Olas (1215 Hwy AlA) and my sister Mary and husband Jim. Wonderful oceanfront spot. We took a long walk on the beach, and then had great dinner at Squid Lips.

Brunch buffets and stingrays

What to do now that Trudy and Audrey can't fly out until Tuesday. We drove north to Hutchinson Island (Stuart) and the Florida Oceanographic Center. Oh no, they don't open until noon.

Lunch options were few on the island, so we tried the brunch at Pietro's at the Island Dunes Country Club. Thankfully Audrey was dressed properly ("Dress: Smart Casual") so they let Trudy and me follow. Incredible brunch, even included mimosas, for $19.95.


Sated, we set set off for the center ($8), arriving in time to feed the stingrays--they have been de-barbed and are in a special tank. Audrey chose to sit in the sun while Trudy and I competed with aggressive children to see whose stinky fish the rays would choose. The children won at the onset and finally Trudy and I edged up to the preferred area and fed/petted these seemingly docile creatures. Best description? Liquid velvet.

Back to Singer Island, baked garlic breadsticks (thanks, Pillsbury) and took them to the condo Super Bowl Party.

Trudy admits that she is sick! (And we thought all that coughing was due to allergies!)

Sunny day, back to Green Cay

Trudy and I dragged Audrey off to the Green Cay Nature Center near Boynton Beach. Didn't see as many critters as before but it was still enjoyable.

Asked for a restaurant recommendation and were advised to try Carnie's Deli. Excellent Ruebens.

Then headed back to City Place at West Palm for shopping. Great if you have lots of $$$$. Beautifully designed, though, and free parking garage.

Back to the condo to check on US Airways flights. Bad news--nothing was going in or out of Reagan airport until 8 p.m. Sunday. Audrey and Trudy were grounded.

Trudy passed up the option of flying to DC via Boston on Monday and booked a direct flight to DC for Tuesday.

Watched the weather channel--another DC snowstorm predicted for Tuesday night!

Jumping the shark

A charter boat at the Sailfish Marina came in with a 440-lb bull shark this afternoon.

We watched them take it off the boat and hoist it up to be weighed.

Buzzards and turtles and burgers, oh my

Trudy stopped counting buzzards flying south this morning after 760.

Windy, rainy, we went to Wal-Mart on Indiantown Road (Jupiter) looking for cheap Florida shirts, no luck. No better luck at the Goodwill, either.

Ate lunch at the Brass Ring, a nondescript restaurant on Rte 1 just south of Northlake (next to vacuum cleaner place) that serves the biggest, juciest, charbroiled hamburgers ever.

Then to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center near Juno Beach where injured turtles are taken.

A docent told us 80 turtles were brought into this center because they were "cold-stunned" by the extreme temperatures and that statewide turtle rescues totaled 4,600. (I think that's the figure she gave!)

I made several appetizers that are candidates for the Reedville Fisherman's Museum cookbook. They were awful, it's a good thing we had those giant hamburgers.

New nature center, old boat cruise, bad dinner

Trudy and I drove to the Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge west of Boynton Beach, first time we'd seen nesting Anhingas (in trees).

Saw one tri-color heron and a few waders, lots of moorhens. Two women recommended Green Cay Nature Center on Hagen Ranch road. A naturalist's nirvana!

Over a mile of boardwalk, well-appointed visitor center. Saw my first wood stork along with lots of limpkins, egrets, herons, turtles, ducks, gators and the ubiquitous moorhens.

Rescued Audrey from too-much-sun-on-the-balcony and booked passage on the Manatee Queen for the Jupiter Island tour ("see the single largest concentration of wealth in America").

Saw homes of Ralph Lauren, Tiger Woods (not THE home), Greg Norman, Celine Dion, Olivia Newton St. John as well as heirs of Dupont, Johnson & Johnson, Marshall Field.

This was Trudy's fourth voyage, Nancy's second, but always enjoyable. Love that red lighthouse.

Dinner at the Crabhouse in Jupiter.

We each got a different dish, then argued about whose was the worst. This is an ambience-only restaurant.

Back to the condo to finish off the key lime pie bought a few days earlier.

Sunny day, went to a play

Great sunrise. Walked to the lagoon, then long walk the other way for a newspaper--all gone. Audrey got a little sun outside on the balcony.

Then we took off for the matinee of "Chorus Line" at the Kravis Center in West Palm. Lots of oxygen, canes, walkers, facelifts.

We felt like teenagers.

Dinner at Il Bellagio at City Place (Rosemary St) in West Palm. Strolled around, then back to Singer Island.

Picked up Palm Beach Post and the Palm Beach Daily News ("shiny sheet") to get caught up.

Little more sun today

Groundhog could have seen his shadow this morning, but clouds moved in later.

Lazy day, to MacArthur Park for the movie at the nature center explaining the flora and fauna of the park. Took the tram over to the beach. No shells.

Back for lunch/grazing at the condo. Everyone catching up on reading, I was determined to complete the long beach walk down to Lost Village, but threatening black clouds forced my return.

Looked for a restaurant the Tiki Bar. Waitress recommended, El Colonial, Cuban cuisine.

A web search revealed a name change to Q'Ban Pot. Found it in Promenade Plaza south of PGA Blvd.

N&A had Churazzo steak; T Cuban ribs. Little on the bland side. Dessert included "Three Milk Cake"--a combination of evap, condensed and regular milk poured over a square of yellow cake.

Tasted like melted ice cream, quite good.

Back for TV and talking.

Rainy day activities

No sunrise, much rain. Off to Charley's Crab on the ocean in Palm Beach. First time the Corolla (with possum dangling from visor and minus one hubcap) had ever been valet-parked.

Trudy had blue crab club sandwich; Audrey clam chowder and cobb salad; Nancy French Dip. A&N had key lime pie. Trudy asked about their to-die-for, made-on-the-premises chocolates and was told they were discontinued because of the cost.

Much wind and rain so we headed back to Jupiter for another movie, this time "Edge of Darkness."

Took forever to find a parking space, we weren't the only ones with this idea.

Back to the condo, just grazed for dinner.