Sunday, January 8, 2012

Back in the Keys…

kw

Yesterday was a travel day for us and a long one at that. When we first woke up we finished packing up the car with all of remaining items including all the perishables from the refrigerator since we will be staying in the Keys for two weeks. It was a bit weird carrying all of our stuff from the motorhome to the car…

IMAG0543Once packed it was time to hit the road… Since we were only 25 miles from where we were going to store the motorhome and since I wanted to fill up the motorhome with diesel we didn’t hook up our CRV. So that meant both of us would be driving the 25 miles to Seminole Campground where the motorhome would be stored for the two weeks we were away. Fortunately Seminole has storage with electricity so we are able to plug in to keep the refrigerator going with the few non-perishables and frozen goods we couldn’t take with us.

After parking the rig and plugging in it was time to head off but we had a little problem. When I went to fill up with diesel I couldn’t find my wallet. Yikes!!! Not a good feeling so before we left the motorhome we looked everywhere for it… but alas, it was nowhere to be found. Not wanting to completely unpack the CRV I decided that we would just head to the Keys and if it showed up that would be grand. I did, however, open up our computer files to make sure the credit card had not been used.  Reassured somewhat from seeing it had not been used, we were finally on our way.

IMAG0546(1)We expected the drive to take about 6 to 6.5 hours and the drive was mostly uneventful. Cruising along highway 41 we passed many alligators sunning on the banks and thousands of wading birds in the everglades. Reaching Homestead we pulled in for a Subway sandwich where I then noticed a hole in my pocket and realized I had lost some cash… Okay I lost my wallet and now my cash… Not Good!!!

Hoping this wasn’t an omen warning of a bad trip Sharon paid for the sub and we pushed on to Key Largo. Now things were looking better as we passed the tangled mottes of mangroves with their green leaves creating a striking contrast to the azure placid waters of the Keys. Everything was looking better…

But then we came upon a stoppage of traffic and there they were… hoards of runners running a relay race along with the assemblies of vans and supporters. We had come upon a Ragnar Relay race. At mile marker 18 we apparently were at the tail end of a long line of relay runners running from Miami to Key West. What appeared to be a small road stoppage turned into a near death crawl as we crept slowly down highway 1.Occasionally we were even passed by a relay runner…

IMAG0545With the stop and go traffic it took nearly an hour to go the last 10 miles to our turn off. But we made it!!! Unpacked, and across highway 1 to our favorite haunt in the Keys, the Hogfish Bar and Grill…A couple of libations later and we had forgotten all about the long day we had…

P.S. We did find my wallet when we unpacked so not all was lost :)

15 comments:

  1. Glad you found that wallet! I would have spent the entire 2 weeks worrying :)
    Enjoy!

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  2. So glad you found your wallet. That is such an awful feeling when you lose it. Most of the time lately stuff I "lose" is usually found again, it's just misplaced.

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  3. Reaching paradise has a way of making you forget your troubles, big and small. Have a fabulous stay in a most wonderful place!

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  4. Glad you found your wallet. I hate that sick feeling I get the times I can't find mine. Luckily I only really lost it once - but that was enough to make never want to loose it agin. Hope the weather is fantastic and your two weeks in the keys are fabulous.

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  5. There would have been no way we would have left if Paul couldn't find his wallet. We would tore everything apart. If and only If we found the wallet would be on our way. Kind of a scarey feeling. Glad all is well again.

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  6. A long drive for sure and glad you found your wallet. We would not have gone anywhere until it was located.

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  7. Well you had me on the edge of my chair with the wallet situation!! So glad, after a long long day, you found it! Now have fun!!

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  8. Welcome back to paradise. We hope to return next winter. Enjoy! So happy for you both.

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  9. Happy to hear the wallet is safe. Now to go out and enjoy your time in the Keys.

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  10. Bob and I just made a batch of tamales with Keith and Tracey and thought of you guys! Happy new year.

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  11. ya' need a wallet in paradise?
    ET

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  12. Thought I would comment about the wallet... I think before I was retired I may have freaked out about losing it more than I did... but once I put it in perspective it was clear that the wallet was just more "stuff" and was replaceable... once I checked online to ensure no one was using the credit card I figured it would show up and it did... this lifestyle is much less stressful for me even when a wallet is lost...

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  13. Great attitude about the wallet. It's true that it isn't LOST just because it has sneaked away. And it is just more "stuff". Only prolem is this "stuff" has to be replaced if you are like me and carry not only your credit card, but license, insurance cards etc etc. Even more of a pain to do on the road then in stix and brix. Glad you didn't have to interrupt paradise with such inconvenience. Can't wait to hear about your stay.

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  14. Glad you found the wallet, I do that all the time and drive myself crazy. Usually I put it in some logical place that I just can't remember. Enjoy the keys!

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