Key Largo

No, not the movie, but John C. Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park on Key Largo. I booked a site for one night on my way down to Key West and then another one on my way back.

I got there with mere minutes to spare. Twenty minutes later, and I might have missed the rangers to check me in.  I made my way to my site and got set up. In the process, I learned what no see ums are. A woman I met later described them as flying jaws. Really, you don’t see them. You don’t hear them, but you sure do know when they have visited you!

The Keys are surrounded by mangrove forests. They grow in water. No wonder there are so many bugs!

A variety of plants grow in the forest. I was particularly taken with these pretty leaves.

I found out later that these are from the sea grape plant.

I got the electricity hooked up and turned on the air conditioner. Hot and humid! I settled in and went off to dreamland.

Cora woke me up early. She wanted her breakfast. For some reason, she thought 4:45 was a good time to wake me by rattling the curtains by my head. After I got up and fed her, I decided that I might as well catch a sunrise. It might be the only time I do such an extreme thing.

Okay, getting up before dawn isn’t all that extreme – for most people. I got dressed and headed over to the water’s edge.

Dawn’s first blush is visible in the distance.

The water was a perfect mirror for the clouds catching the light.

The birds were looking for their breakfast, too.

And the cannons are guarding the beach.

It was time to head back to Flo and get ready for the final push to Key West.