Key West/Everglades

We left Harriett, our 5^th wheel, in Sebastian and headed to Key West where Mary taught a workshop as a fundraiser with the local ASPCA. The class was very successful with twenty terrific students, two dogs, a rabbit, an anole lizard and a sugar glider in class on the second day.

We stayed with a very nice and hospitable friend and client of Mary’s who has a sweet little guest cottage right in the heart of Key West which is great town. It is touristy, but the unique mix of scenery, architecture, tropical plants, and the historical (fishing/shrimping) and modern culture (margaritaville/gay scene) are fascinating.

It was definitely warmer in south Florida and especially Key West than in northern or central Florida. The water on both sides of the Keys are protected from ocean swells and heavy surf by reefs on the Atlantic side and an extensive shallow shelf on the Gulf side. The weather was a bit rainy while we were there so it limited our ability to enjoy the water, but we had fun exploring the town and eating some great shrimp.

On the way back up we went to the Everglades National Park. We stopped at a small lake where Roseate Spoonbills were nesting. At the Flamingo Visitor Center we spotted three manatees and two very large crocodiles (yes crocodiles). On our first hike, we trekked out to a bay hoping to see a huge flock of shorebirds, but the tide was out and the birds were way off in the distance. It was great to hike 3.2 miles in the Everglades and not see any snakes. We also crossed their highest pass.

On our last hike on the Anhinga Trail we saw nesting Anhinga birds, vultures, wood storks and many other wonderful and exotic birds, but the highlight was several alligators of all shapes and sizes. Some were in the water, others along the pond shoreline and a few even up on the dry grass. The ¾ mile path and boardwalk through the area offered some fantastic views of these wild creatures.

We also stopped to visit one of Mary’s favorite roadside attractions. Coral Castle is a garden of sculptures and structures made entirely out of very large chunks of coral rock. What is truly amazing is that all of the pieces were quarried, carved and placed by a single person using only hand tools and pulleys (no motorized equipment). Edward Leedskalnin was Latvian and only 5’0” and 100lbs. He built the structures during the 1930’s and 40’s as a monument to the love of his life. The irony is that the woman actually rejected him and never lived with him. How did he do it? If you are near Homestead, Florida it is definitely worth a visit.

Sebastian, FL

January in Florida has been very interesting. The weather has been mostly cooler than normal, but nothing like the severe weather the rest of the country has been experiencing. It warmed up into the low 70s the last few days. We were even sunning at the beach today.

We are staying in the Sebastian/Vero Beach area, which is about halfway between St Augustine and Miami on the east coast of Florida, in Indian River County. This is where those wonderful ruby red grapefruits come from, and there are groves and fruit stands that have a wide variety of fruits and vegetables at great prices. The area is pretty nice and about ten degrees warmer than St Augustine, but St Augustine has more things to do and is a bit more fun and interesting. The campground in St Augustine was fantastic and the one we are in now is just ok. Even though Sebastian is not ideal, staying a long-time in one place has its advantages. Mary has been able to find a great local fitness club where she is able to participate in strength and fitness classes. She is even doing Zumba!

We have been able to ride our bikes a bit, and explore some of the parks, beaches and natural features of the area. The Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge was actually the first in the country (established in 1903). The pelicans, herons, egrets, sandhill cranes, ibis, vultures, wood stork and shorebirds have been very plentiful and fun to watch. Florida is also home to a huge population of osprey. We have seen them every day in each part of the state we’ve visited. We’ve also seen dolphins along the beach, but haven’t yet gotten to see any manatees in the wild.

We spent a day at Lake Okeechobee (the second largest lake in the US). It was very surreal. The surrounding area is totally flat, like all of Florida. When you get to the lake all you can see is a very large dike. The entire lake is surrounded by a 112-mile dike with a paved walking/bike path on the top. The elevation of the lake surface fluctuates with rainfall and the lake is connected to the in-flowing and out-flowing rivers by locks. In fact, you can boat from Ft Myers on the west coast to Stuart on the east coast via rivers, canals and Lake Okeechobee. Yes, the lake is over 100 miles in circumference, and you cannot see across it from one side to the other, yet it only averages 9 feet of depth.

We got a chance to see a friend of Mary’s from England who was visiting the Tampa area, and we met up with a couple in Winter Park, Fl that Mary knows from Australia.

Housing prices are very low here right now but property taxes and insurance are pretty high. We have been scanning the housing markets on both the east and west coasts, and it seems very possible to get a nice house with pool for around $200k. It’s something to consider.

Right now we are getting ready for a trip to Key West. Mary is teaching an animal communication workshop there in cooperation with the local SPCA, and then we will spend a few days relaxing and playing in Key West.

Happy New Year - 2011

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Sebastian, Florida

We have now been on the road for a whole year. We spent some time tonight (New Year’s Eve) to reflect on the year, and to review our list of intentions and goals for our 2010 odyssey. We thought a year would certainly be enough time to see and do all the thing we wanted, and for us to evolve into the enlightened beings that we aspire to be.

Well…as it turns out…a year isn’t quite long enough to make it all the way around this wonderful country, and we are still working on incorporating vigorous physical and deep spiritual activity into each day’s routine.

We have generally moved every 3-5 days with only a few one-nighters, and a few stops longer than a week. We’ve made over 100 stops in 41 states. When you are only in each place for a short time you really notice what an impact weather and the beauty and amenities of your immediate surroundings have. We have discovered that almost every state has very wonderful and beautiful places. We’ve also found it isn’t always easy to meaningfully connect with our fellow campers or travelers, especially if the weather is keeping everyone sealed up in their own RV. This has been the coldest December on record in Florida, and we were here for all of it.

We have fallen in love with the deserts and rocks of the Southwest, the mountains east and west, the Great Lakes, the villages and coastal towns of New England, the cities of Asheville, NC, and Charleston, SC, and the lush tropical foliage, beaches, waterways and balmy nights of Florida.

In just a little over 30,000 miles we have hunkered down in rain and windstorms last winter in Oregon and California. Hiked through desert wildflowers to a natural Palm Oasis in Borrego Springs, CA. Biked and hiked in Redwoods NP, Joshua Tree NP, Death Valley NP, Sedona, Zion NP, Bryce Canyon NP, Capital Reef NP, Devils Tower, the Black Hills, the Rockies, Great Smoky Mountain NP, Shenandoah NP, Yellowstone NP, Grand Teton NP, the Appalachian Trial, Guadalupe Mountains NP, Saguaro NP, Mesa Verde NP, and Acadia NP. Hiked down into Grand Canyon NP and Carlsbad Caverns NP. Marveled at Monument Valley. Rafted in the Colorado River. Swam in Lake Powell, Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Walden Pond and the Atlantic Ocean. We watched pilot whales in Nova Scotia, and Humpback Whales in Cape Cod. Swam with Wild Dolphins in Bimini. Visited many historical sites and architectural wonders. We had the good fortune to be able to visit many, many friends and family on the way. And, last but not least, participated in Matt and Tiffany’s wedding.

We are not getting tired of being on the road. Our set up is maneuverable and roomy enough to feel at home while driving or parked. We have grown quite fond of our traveling abode. We affectionately refer to the pick-up and trailer as Ozzie and Harriet.

We are very appreciative of this opportunity for extended travel throughout the country and we are looking forward to a warmer rest of winter in Florida, before we start heading back to Washington.

Many blessings to you and yours for a fantastic 2011!!