the.arys - gary and mary

2014-01 Mardi Gras parade, potluck, and launching of the Wish Lanterns

In late January, we held the first annual Mardi Gras parade at Jolly Roger. Everyone lined the streets, and it was a great success! As honorary Mayor (because I was on shift and drew the short straw), I presented the "keys to the park" in a grand proclamation to the King and Queen. There were festive floats, and a band (well technically, golf carts, a trash trailer, and an old guy with an accordion)...still there was bead tossing and even one flashing (old guy, man boobs, not pretty).

The fish fry / potluck events were fantastic (absolutely the best fried fish I have ever had, courtesy of our winter fisherman and their fishing and frying expertise)..over 170 folks signed up and it was just about standing room only at the pavilion.

Guests launched "Wish Lanterns" from our dock, and it was quite beautiful.

2014-01 Same place - a new year....and the first ever Florida Keys Celtic Festival

We had friends volunteer for the Celtic Festival and get free admission - next time we'll definitely do that. It was really terrific with several outstanding Celtic bands, including Gary's favorite Celtic Rock band, Rathkeltair, and my favorite, a Scottish tribal drumming band Albannach. When these guys (and girl) get going, they are awesome...like "Stomp" with a bagpipe thrown in. My brother would say they definitely should throw in the bagpipe and then stomp on it until it dies, but I actually enjoy the bagpipe! Seeing 200 bagpipers at the Orange County Scottish Festival, all playing Amazing Grace, was a powerful and memorable experience which struck an emotional chord with me (perhaps it is my scottish blood?)...and I have enjoyed many Celtic festivals since. Very happy to have attended the very first in the Florida Keys, and the first US Celtic festival of 2014, kicking off the 2014 season.

Sheep herding demonstration - these dogs are amazing

a pretty sunset over the festival area

Albannach Scottish tribal drumming band

My regular walking route on the Florida Overseas Heritage Trail takes me 6 miles from Jolly Roger to the Island Fish Company (or back the other way), passing through Curry Hammock State Park where I would sometimes walk their 1.5 mile Nature Trail, sometimes called the Rockland Trail. Gotta watch where you're walking, lots of fossilized coral to trip over, but with a lovely view over Florida Bay and very interesting informational boards along the way.

I never knew dragonflies live only a month. Their early life is several years as an "Ant Lion", used as a model for Star Trek's creepy "go into your ear, eat into your brain, and make you spill all your secrets" bug.

Coral on the rockland trail

Lots of sea grass at the public boat ramp next to Island Fish Co.

One day at Curry Hammock State Park, we saw this scooter we had seen on local Miami news channels - a homeless man carrying 4 cats and 2 dogs in carriers on his moped!

2013-12 December at Jolly Roger

The weather was warm and humid in December, but the lights did make it feel a bit like the holidays.

We also had some stormy weather, with waves crashing over the seawall (note: this is a disadvantage for folks parked on the seawall).

We have curly tailed lizards (like Alligator Lizards but with a curly tail - I say it's from the humidity, like my hair) and bright green geckos, plus some very unusual shrooms such as the Stinkhorn which are beneficial to the soil but smell like rotting meat. Lovely.

The geico gecko

Stinkhorn mushroom in our park

Pelicans at the Jolly Roger fish cleaning station

Never get tired of these sunsets

2013-12 Kayaking the Mangrove Trails and checking out popular eateries in Marathon area

In early December, we had a nice visit with our friends from our summer job in Idaho; Kathy and Stuart came down from their winter home in Sebring, FL. We had great fun and a little adventure kayaking the local mangroves. Right here in Marathon, we launched at Sombrero Beach and kayaked the mangrove trails at Boot Key Nature Preserve. There are multiple trails and tunnels, a great experience and must see in the Florida Keys. We were having so much fun in fact, that I completely failed to take any pictures! All those cool mangrove trails, and not a single picture. Here's some pictures of the local mangrove trails: Kayaking Mangroves in the Keys

On our next day off, we went north to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo. We paddled around for a while and then headed up the long and winding "Trail of Tears". It ended in a dead-end as the high tide made the passage impassable...perhaps this explains the trail name, as the tunnel was narrow with no room to turn around, and we were required to drag ourselves backwards by the mangrove branches to get out. Sure my arms were getting tired, and the thought of Golden Orb spiders in the branches I was pulling on may have creeped me out, but I was too busy laughing my a$$ off. A great day and memorable adventure.

We enjoyed a fantastic dinner at Keys Fisheries; order and pickup your food from an outside counter, then sit at picnic tables on the deck overlooking the big tarpon fish; a large variety of seafood of course, very good...but the thing I will go back for: their sweet potato waffle fries (with a dip of white icing!), insanely sweet and so delicious. Gary says it's too sweet, I say there's no such thing.

Tarpon at Keys Fisheries

Cute touristy stuff in the store at Keys Fisheries

On our days off, between errands we did a bit more exploring of our immediate area in Key Colony Beach and Marathon. Right around the corner from us is the city of Key Colony Beach where a couple of our favorite restaurants are, Sparky's Landing (for the 25 cent wings and shrimp deal) and Cabana Breezes on the Atlantic where Gary found their fish and chips to be very good (until he had the fish fry at Jolly Roger - now nothing comes close). Also in Key Colony, there is this beautiful little Sunset Park which provides a beautiful setting to watch the sunset.

Iguana making a run for it up the tree

Gary enjoying fish and chips at Cabana Breezes

There are often kite surfers on the Atlantic side on a breezy day. We watched this guy catching serious air almost right on the beach, just beside and around the Cabana Breezes dock.

2013-12 Fort Taylor, Key West in December

We took a day to explore Key West (which was mobbed with people due to the holidays and the cruise ship). On a previous trip, we'd done Duval Street , seen the Hemingway look-alikes while eating lunch at Sloppy Joe's, visited the Hemingway Home, taken the tourist picture at the marker for the Southernmost Point, seen the sunset celebration and performers at Mallory Square. I do regret that we still have not done the Conch Tour train. Some day!

To escape the crowds, this day we headed to Fort Zachary Taylor State Park where the crowds were a bit lighter.