The Miami Zoo

Before Kim and the kids flew home, we stopped at the Miami Zoo Saturday morning. What a great zoo!! There are no bars or cages...everything is in a natural setting.
Bengal Tiger posing for photos

Cameron making sure we don't get lost.

Pink flamingos

Key West

The invasion continued on to the capital of the Conch Republic, Key West.
Carson at "The Southernmost Point"



Cameron getting a butterfly tatoo. Carson's "flaming dice" tatoo.

Street performers in Mallory Square

Keys Invaded!!

Under the cover of darkness on January 23rd, the Conch Republic was invaded by Carson and Cameron (and Kim!). Here are a few pictures of the first days...at the beach, at the Dolphin Research Center, and feeding the manatees swimming at the boat.















Manatee drinking water from hose on boat.

What Do We Do All Day?

We are often asked how is life in the Keys and what do you do all day? Well, our typical days go like this. Each morning a group of us get together at 7:30 am for our morning 5 mile walk on the old seven mile bridge. On most days we are able to see sharks swimming below the bridge or rays graceful jumping alone the water or large sea turtles lumbering along the ocean’s bottom. It is always amazing how much sea life there to be seen. After the walk we stop by the 7 Mile Bridge Grill for our morning coffee and sometimes breakfast. This is the local gathering place so you never know how you’ll run into. Its 9:30 or 10:00 before we know it. The remainder of the morning is spent doing boat chores, laundry, boat maintenance, gas for the dinghy and of course the bike rides every three or four days to the grocery store. Pam will do an hour or so of work for the Association mostly via phone or email. She also keeps in touch with all of the other Krogen Crusisers through email. And there are the daily phone calls to the kids, we are always in touch.
The afternoons are spent either at the beach, visiting other cruiser friends at other marinas, or just plain fooling around. Somewhere in there we usually find time for a short nap. Can you believe it, Pam is even getting into the nap routine.

There is the daily ritual of the gathering for the end of the day sunset. We never tire of the magnificence of a Keys sunset. We have one of the best locations for this vista. Each and every setting is special.
Most evenings are spent reading or watching a little TV. Even with cable we find that there is not much on. Usually in bed by 9:30-10:00 reflecting on how thankful we are to be here doing this together. Life is good here in the keys.