Karen miller, Author at Love Nature

Kathy goes to Key West

Disclaimer

Please have grace while you are looking at this post. I am still struggling with formatting and putting things where I want them. I am not happy with the formatting (font size, spacing, etc.), but it is posted. I could probably spend a month and still not be happy with the formatting. However, there are videos in this post. So, there is that achievement. Like Kathy told me today, “We are still learning. We are GEEZERS!

Getting there

Kathy’s first adventure after retirement was taking a trip to Key West with her sisters, Karen and Kris, to celebrate Karen’s birthday. They flew direct from Detroit to Miami, rented a car, and made the 113-mile trip down Hwy 1 from Miami to Key West. This journey takes about 3.5 hours, depending on how many times you stop to look around. The sisters have been to Key West many times and just wanted to get to the final destination. As you can imagine, there are many things to do and see on the way to Key West. The Keys are divided into 3 separate parts: the upper, middle, and lower keys. They are all connected by Hwy 1.

Hwy 1 originally started as the Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad and was funded by Florida millionaire Henry Flagler. It took seven years for his army of 400+ men to construct the railroad’s bridges and land-based tracks, but finally in 1912, the first train arrived in Key West. The railway operated for about about 20 years carrying freight and wealthy travelers before it was destroyed by the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. The United States Government then purchased the railway and converted it to the Overseas Highway. In 1987, thirty-seven of the original bridges were replaced by wider, heavier spans, including the well-known Seven Mile Bridge that connects Marathon to the lower keys.

Seven Mile Bridge

Once you leave Marathon, you begin traveling on the The Seven Mile Bridge. Not only is the Seven Mile Bridge a historic landmark but was also once nicknamed “The Eighth Wonder of the World”. If you look out your car window, you can still see the Old Seven Mile Bridge. This section is 2.2-mile span closed to motor traffic in the 1980’s. This section connects Marathon and Pigeon Key, the 5-acre island that housed the workers who built the bridge. On the Old Seven, you are allowed stroll the highway, ride your bike, or take a tram. It is common to spot dolphins, sting rays, sharks, and turtles so make sure you bring your camera while you soak up the tropical South Florida sun. On one side of the bridge is the Gulf of Mexico and the other side is the Atlantic Ocean. Can you count all the different shades of turquoise, blue, and dark navy as you breath in the warm salt air and bask in the sun? Maybe bring a picnic and have some lunch at the base of the bridge on some of the picnic tables while enjoying the tropical breezes. (Side Note – there are no bathrooms available nearby, so plan accordingly!)

This is a picture of the New Seven Mile Bridge (on the left) and the Old Seven Mile Bridge (on the right). This island on the right is Pigeon Key – where the workers lived while they were building the old bridge.

This is the view of Old Seven Mile Bridge from the rental car.

The view of Pigeon Key from the car.

Meet Fred the Tree. Fred has lived on the Old Seven Mile Bridge for about 35 years. No one is exactly sure how he got there. It is suspected by ecologists that this Australian Pine was deposited by bird droppings, took root, and has been there ever since. It’s out-of-placeness has led the locals to take a liking to the tree and everything is symbolizes. While it is unclear where the name came from, residents started calling the tree Fred and the name has become as entrenched as the tree.

That’s why when US 1 was finally reopened in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in 2017, locals were pleasantly shocked to find Fred still standing. Fred faced one of the worst natural disasters in decades and survived. Like the people that live there, Fred came out of the storm a little battered but alive and with clear plans to stay put. Fred has enjoyed a degree of fame for being the little tree that survived the hurricane. He has gone from being a local favorite to a bonafide landmark, even having books written about him. Fred even has his own FaceBook page!

Every year around the holidays some island “elves” work to decorate Fred and get him ready for the season, adorning his branches with Christmas lights, menorahs, and ornaments. In the years since Irma, this tradition has become especially important. During the holidays they celebrate the importance of giving, family and community. It is the strength of these pillars that helped to rebuild our community in the wake of Irma, which makes the decorating of Fred an even more significant annual reminder. Islamorada times: Your Guide to Living in the Keys, accessed May 27, 2024, <https://www.islamoradatimes.com/fred-tree-5/>

Did you know that several movies include scenes filmed on the Old and New Seven Mile Bridge? This famous bridge has had starring roles in Hollywood blockbusters such as the James Bond movie License to Kill, Disney’s The Haunted Mansion, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Mission Impossible III, I Am Number Four, Leverage, and possibly my most favorite Seven Mile Bridge movie, True Lies. You remember the scene -the part in the 1994 thriller where Arnold Schwartzenegger and Tom Arnold are in a helicopter trying to save Jamie Lee Curtis, who is being held hostage by Tia Carrere in a fast-moving limousine, while trying to preventing a nuclear bomb from exploding. You know, just another day in paradise. In the movie, the bridge gets destroyed by two US Marine fighter planes, but we know better.

Staying on the island

Rather than staying at a hotel, Kathy and her sisters decided to stay at a VRBO residence called Mango Margarita. This 2 bedroom 2.5 bath home is located in Old Town and is a block from Duval Street (where all the action happens). Not only were the rooms spacious, but it has a private heated pool and a nice private patio! This is a good place to rest peacefully and soak up some sun but is close enough to participate in the fun on Duval St.

The first day they had lunch at the Waterfront Brewery, a place with some good local brews and good food that was not too expensive. Karen had a flight of beer before they left for the Dry Tortugas. That night, the girls had dinner at Abbondanza Italian Restaurant for dinner and drinks. This restaurant has always been a favorite stop of theirs. The pastas are good but there is very little gluten free items at this place. The second day at Key West was a day to chill at the VRBO and enjoy the patio and pool. They went to Martin’s for Happy Hour and 1/2 off appetizers. Drinks here are very expensive, but not too pricey if you hit it at Happy Hour. The waiter was a little snarky. Kathy said he must not have appreciated “Seniors” taking advantage of happy hour! Their third (and last) day, Kathy, Kris, and Karen spent in town. They started with lunch at Conch Republic Seafood Company (where they have been before) and it was good as always. Kathy cheated on her no gluten and had her favorite conch fritters and salad. Kathy loves her some conch fritters! They spent the afternoon walking around Mallory Square and Duval Street shopping. They stopped at the Hog’s Breath and Sloppy Joe’s (a couple well known bars) for a drink. Of course, their last stop was at the Key Lime Pie Company. The even had some gluten free options! YUMMY!

Dry Tortugas

History Lesson

Before we get into the details Kathy, Karen, and Kris’s day at the Dry Tortugas, let’s talk history. Ponce De Leon discovered the keys in 1513 while searching for the Fountain of Youth. During his visit, he caught over 100 sea turtles so the keys naturally became known at the Tortugas. They are called “dry” because there is no source of fresh water on the islands. The Dry Tortugas are located on the main shipping channel between Cuba and the United States and are surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, The Gulf of Mexico, and the Western Carribean, making them the perfect “base” to be used by pirates for attacking merchant ships.

On the island Garden Key, you will find Fort Jefferson. Fort Jefferson is a three-tiered, six-sided, 420 heavy gun fort constructed with 16 million hand-made bricks and was designed to be a massive gun platform, impervious to assault, and able to destroy any enemy ships foolhardy enough to come within range of its powerful guns. The location of the Tortugas along one the world’s busiest shipping lanes was its greatest military asset. Though passing ships could easily avoid the largest of Fort Jefferson’s guns, they could not avoid the warships that used its harbor.

Fort Jefferson served as not only a military fort, but also as a prison for war criminals and deserters during and after the Civil War. The Fort held over 2500 prisoners during it’s time. The most famous of these prisoners was Dr. Samuel Mudd who was imprisoned for his involvement in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. After it’s use as a prison, the fort was used as a quarantine station for the Marine-Hospital Service from 1888-1900, during which the location was also used in the Spanish-American War.

Getting to Fort Jefferson

There are only two ways to get to the Dry Tortugas – by ferry or by sea plane. The Yankee Freedom is a 110′ high-speed catamaran that carries 175 passengers and departs Key West at 8 in the morning. During the 2hr 15 minute voyage, the onboard naturalist will give you an orientation of the area and the national park’s surroundings. You will get to enjoy the scenery of the Marquesa Islands, Boca Grande, and the opportunity to possibly see turtles and dolphins while listening to pirate stories and legends. Included with the trip is breakfast, lunch, complimentary snorkeling equipment, and admission to the Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson. There are bars and galleys on both decks that provide beverages, extra snacks, souvenirs and essentials and accept cash or card. While at the Fort, you can enjoy beach walking, snorkeling, swimming, or just relaxing in the sun. Your paid ferry ride includes a 45 minute narrated tour of the Fort, lunch, and free time to enjoy walking where pirates walked long ago. The ferry leaves the National Park at 3pm and arrives back in Key West about 5:30pm. It is recommended to make reservations early as the ferry does fill up quickly. The cost for the day on the ferry is currently at $220 for adults and $210 for seniors (62+).

Kathy and her sisters tried to make a reservation for the ferry, but the ferry was full. So, they were left with the other option…a sea plane. Kathy is not one who is enthusiastic about flying and was not really excited to partake in this adventure, but she took a deep breath (maybe some Xanax) and jumped on. The only sea plane service to the Dry Tortugas is through Seaplane Adventures. The planes offer complimentary bottled water and soft drinks but suggest you bring your own reusable drink bottles. There are no places for food or water on the island, so everything must be brought with you and EVERYTHING must go back with you. Seaplane Adventures offers both half-day and whole-day excursions. The half-day trips are just under 4 hours long, giving you about 2 & 1/2 hours of island time, and departs both in the morning and afternoon. Whole-day trips will give you about 6 & 1/2 hours of island time.

The ladies decided to go with the half-day excursion and ended up taking the afternoon trip. The cost of the half-day trip is pricey at $466 per person. In Kathy’s words, “The seaplane trip was worth-every penny, and Joe, their pilot, was awesome!” It was a perfect day for flying and each passenger gets a window seat. One of the passengers even had his walker with him and was able to get in and out of the sea plane with little help. If you are in a wheel chair or require more assistance than a walker, the ferry is the better choice of transportation. Kathy is terrified of small planes, but Joe saw to it that they were entertained and he went out of his way to make sure they got to see some wildlife like sea turtles and dolphins. Kathy thinks she even saw a hammerhead shark. (What I want to know is exactly how close they were to the water to be able to distinguish between a dolphin and a shark!??!)

Just west of Key West is an area that is about 20 miles long where the water is only 3-5 feet deep that is known as “The Flats”. There are plenty of uninhabited islands in the area, but only Ballast Key has a home. Guess what? This island is currently up for sale for a low price of only $35 million.

After The Flats and beyond the Marquesas Islands lies “The Quicksands” where the water is up to 30 feet deep and the sea bed is made up of huge sand dunes that are continuously moved by the strong tidal currents. The Quicksands is where over a half a billion dollars worth of gold and silver is said to be strewn across an 8 mile area known from many shipwrecks. This is still an active treasure site where there are regular finds of huge Spanish emeralds. It is here that the famous salver Mel Fisher found treasures of Spanish Galleons “Atocha”‘ and “Margarita”. Galleons are large multi-decked sailing ships developed by Portugal and Spain and mainly used during the 16th to 18th centuries. The “Atocha” was a treasure ship heavily laden with copper, silver, gold, tobacco, gems and indigo that sank during a hurricane in 1622. The Santa Margarita was a galleon of 600 tons, armed with twenty-five cannons and carried a massive fortune. In registered wealth, she carried 166,574 silver “pieces of eight” treasure coins, more than 550 ingots of silver weighing 10,000 pounds, 9000 ounces of gold bars, discs, and bits. There was also a fortune of “unregistered” treasure reported to have been smuggled on the ship to avoid paying a 20 percent tax to the Spanish King. The Santa Margarita also sank during the same hurricane as the “Atocha”. Anyone want to go on a treasure hunt?

The only time that Kathy did not enjoy her seaplane flight was when they took off from land in Key West and when Joe did a sharp 360 degree turn so the other side of the plane could see the dolphins. Kathy thinks she left nail marks in the “Oh, Jesus” handle! One nice tip about the afternoon trip is that the ferry (and it’s 175 guests) leaves just after you land. That means that the island is yours!!!

Once they landed, they took a leisurely stroll part way around the fort and climbed the stair where they were treated to spectacular views! Then they walked back to grab their snorkel gear (provided by Seaplane Adventures), walked along the moat, then found a shade tree on the beach where they could leave their stuff and then entered the ocean. The water was so clear! They swam across from the beach to the walls of the fort where they saw several different kinds of fish. The girls snorkeled for about an hour, dried off on the beach, stopped at the only bathrooms on the island and made their way back to the plane. If you are an adventurous person, you can camp at the very rustic campground. Remember all your supplies must be carried in with you and you have to take all your garbage back.

The worst part of the flight (roughest) was taking off from and and landing back in Key West. The excursion to Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortuga was by far the highlight of this trip and she would certainly do it again!

Some of you know that I have made it my mission in life to come up with the 10 Best Places to Bob. Bobbing is, of course, the action of floating in the ocean floating (or bobbing) in the waves. My favorite place in the world to bob is at Pineapple Beach Resort, Antigua. Kathy said they really enjoyed snorkeling at Fort Jefferson as the water was so clear and she did get to see some fish. She did say the the “Bob Factor” was very close to a 10, but she also likes Pineapple Beach the best so far. We will continue to search for the best Bob in the world. If you have a favorite Bob Place, feel free to send us an email and let us know at geezersgonerogue@gmail.com. We would like to know what you think. Maybe we will go there to find out for ourselves!

It is always a treat for the sisters to travel to Key West. They have been there many times and always enjoy themselves. The trip to the Dry Tortugas was definitely the highlight this time. They look forward to the next time they get to go. Who knows, maybe I will get to go with them next time! Our next post will be about Kathy’s her girls trip to Cancun……Oh how I wish I were retired. 🙂

Key West – Background

Before I go on vacation or to someplace new, I always like to learn a little bit about the area – the history of the area, the geography, and what there is to do. This is where you get the benefit of me being a nerd that likes to learn and do research. Since Kathy is out living her best retired life, we are stuck back at home reading about it. So while we are jealous that Kathy is someplace that is 80 degrees and sunny, we can learn a little and be happy that someone we know is enjoying her new chapter in life.

So what is Key West besides a nice little island in the ocean? Curious minds want to know. The Florida Keys are actually made of 1700 little islands in a chain stretching from Miami, Florida going southwest towards Cuba in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. 800 of these islands are actually keys. What is the difference between a key and an island, you ask? Keys are limestone-based islands created through low-lying coral build up. So, all keys are islands but not all islands are keys.

There are 5 regions of the Florida Keys going from North to South. These regions are known as Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, the Lower Keys, and Key West. You can get to the Keys a couple of different ways. The quickest way is to get there is to fly directly to the Key West International Airport. You could go by boat, providing you have a yacht and a good captain. Probably the most scenic way is to fly into Miami International Airport, rent a car, and enjoy the leisurely drive to Key West. The Overseas Highway is the road you want. Follow the mile markers to zero and you are there. The edge of Miami – Dade County is at mile marker 113 and signals that you are leaving the Florida Mainland.

The Upper Keys: Key Largo is the northernmost of the Florida Keys and is knows for it’s stunning coral reefs and easy access to nature. The upper keys are the home of the Everglades National Park. Key Largo is often considered the diving and snorkeling center of the Florida Keys and is about one hour from Miami.

The next section of the upper keys is a collection of about six different Keys: Plantation Key, Windley Key, Upper Matecumbe Key, Lower Matecumbe Key, Indian Key and Lignumvitae Key. This section of the upper keys is considered to be the sport-fishing capital of Florida and is about 90 minutes from Miami. Charter fishing trip anyone?

The Middle Keys: The middle keys is a perfect destination for families made of 13 small keys from Vaca Key to Long Pine Key . The middle keys are known for many vacation rentals and lodging options that are close to the idyllic Sombrerro Beach and many other dog friendly beaches. The middle keys are about 2 1/2 hours from Miami. When you reach the seven-mile bridge, you know that you are about to enter the lower keys.

The Lower Keys: The Lower Keys officially begin at the Seven Mile Bridge. By the time you get to Key West, the southernmost point of the United States, you are closer to Cuba than Miami. The Lower Keys range from Buhia Honda Key, Key West, and the Dry Tortugas.

Key West is known for the street performers, lively night life on Duvall St., epic sun sets, and for being the home of many authors and music superstars. There are many things to do in Key West. You could chill out in Mallory Square. Mallory Square is known for it’s sunset celebrations, many restaurants, street performers, shopping, and an open-air sculpture garden. If you have a passion for Jimmy Buffett and all things Margheritaville, a walking tour is the best way to find the locations around Old Key West that inspired his songs. The tour will take you to the place of his first gig, his favorite watering holes, bars where he performed, and his old recording studio. Another attraction is the Ernest Hemingway home and museum. Ernest Hemingway was a Pulitzer and Nobel Prize Winning Author of books such as “The Old Man and the Sea”, “The Sun Also Rises”, and “Farewell to Arms”. The Hemingway House not only a National Historic Landmark but is also a Literary Landmark, recorded at the Library of Congress as a Historic American Building. Duvall St runs from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico and is Old Town Key West’s main strip. You will find a mix of restaurants, bars, boutiques, theaters, and Kitschy souvenir shops. Duvall St is also home to some of the wildest pub crawls in the United States.

If you like to visit National parks, I strongly urge you to visit the Dry Tortugas National Park. The Dry Tortugas is truly a tropical paradise with it’s crystal clear waters, sandy beaches, and coral reefs. Dominated by Fort Jefferson, a massive fort built to protect the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico, the park invites you to kick off your shoes, snorkel the vivid coral reefs, and learn about the turbulent past of the series of islands 70 miles from key west. Fort Jefferson offered ships traveling through the Florida Straights and Gulf of Mexico a chance to resupply, refit, or refuge from storms. The location, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, made the Tortugas a great military asset. The building of the fort began in 1846 and was used mainly as a prison during the Civil War to house Union deserters. The most notorious prisoner was Dr. Samuel Mudd, the doctor who set the broken leg of John Wilkes Booth. He was incarcerated for collaborating with Booth concerning the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. The Dry Tortugas were first discovered by Ponce de Leon, the famous Spaniard explorer looking for the fountain of youth. Ponce de Leon named the island “LA Isla de tortugas” (or the island of turtles) because of the abundant turtle population. Mariners later added the word “Dry” since the only source of drinking water was from rain puddles. This National Park is situated at the southwest corner of the Florida Keys reef system, the third largest in the world.

Hello, RETIREMENT!

The day is March 29, 2024….Good Friday. It’s a VERY good Friday. Not only is it Good Friday, the day that Jesus was crucified and died for our sins, but it is the day that Kathy is FREE! Free from working weekends. Free from working evenings. Free from trying to solve insurance issues. Free from listening to customers that are mad waiting for their prescriptions while she makes sure that they are getting the correct medicine and that there are no drug interactions. Free from working short staffed when people call in to work. FREE!!!!!

Not only is Kathy free from her job, she is financially free. With the help of her financial advisor, Melissa Myers CFP, Kathy has been able to retire 3 years early!!!! With Melissa’s help, Kathy has been able to pay down her debt, pay cash for her Jeep, and is “living the life”. In fact, March 29th is not only the day that Kathy retired, but it is also the day that she accepted an offer on her house! Now, Kathy is free of that as well. That is why she will get to do all the traveling while I am still working, wishing I was on a beach somewhere.

Kathy has worked 35 years in pharmacy. She has put in her time. Now is the time to have fun and actually LIVE her life. Congratulations, Kathy! We are all so happy for you. I, on the other hand, am just a little bit jealous. That is why I am now working with Melissa! I want to retire early, too. For now, you travel. I will write about it. 🙂

Pineapple Beach 2024….part 1

Welcome to one of the most laid back hideaway spots in the world – Pineapple Beach, Antigua! I have always been a planning person. Every day of the vacation had to be planned out. I thought that if we were going to a place, I needed to get my monies worth and do as much and see as much as possible. Kathy kept telling me that I needed to relax. Relaxing is not easy for a pharmacist. In fact, the word stress should be a synonym for pharmacist.

Then one year, Kathy asked me to help organize a girls trip to Pineapple Beach, Antigua. I was a little nervous since I really had never been out of the United States except for a cruise. I soon learned that Pineapple Beach is an all inclusive resort on a lovely little island in the Caribbean that is filled with lovely people and lovely places to visit.

Once there, I was ready to go. I wanted to snorkel, go shopping, walk to Devil’s Bridge, go to an old sugar mill, or even go to an old fort. It took me 3 days to get it through my head that I did not have to plan realize that I did not need to be doing something every minute of the day. It was okay to lay on the beach and read a book or just soak up some sun. It was then that Pineapple Beach became my most favorite place in the world, my happy place!

That was 2019. We have been there almost every year since then (We missed 2020 due to Covid). This year we had 15 people in our group. Ten adults and five “kids” (young adults age 21-26). Needless to say, the kids were usually off on their own doing their own thing, but that is ok because there is literally something for everyone at Pineapple Beach.

Do you want to relax someplace quiet and listen to the sounds of birds or the waves crashing on the beach? There are hammocks under palm trees just waiting for you to find them. Caution: they are a little close to the ground. They are perfect height for swinging and reading a book or taking a nap. However getting out is a different story. I had to roll out of the hammock, get on all fours, and grab the tree to get up. Was relaxing in the hammock worth the trouble of getting out? HECK YEAH!

Are you into Chess or Shuffle Board? They have that, too. Right in the same area of the hammocks. Maybe play a game of chess, take a nap, then play some Shuffle Board.

If you are in the younger crowd, Pineapple Beach has paddle boards, sail boats, kayaks, and snorkel equipment to use for free. They will direct you how to use the equipment…..proper use, where you can safely go, etc. They do have buoys that mark where the sailboats enter and exit the bay. The buoys mark where it is safe to enter/exit the bay area due to reefs that are close to the surface of the water. If you snorkel, the reef is to the right of the resort. If the water is not too rough (waves kicking up sand making visibility more difficult), there are many different kind of fish that make the reef their home. I do not know the names of the fish you will see, but there are some with a yellow stripe down the middle, some Dorry fish (watch Finding Nemo from Disney), sea urchin and lot’s of other cool creatures. I even saw a sea biscuit and a lobster one day. I tried to touch the lobster, but he wasn’t having it! He just moved on before I could try to dive and reach him. Then I remembered that “fat floats” in the ocean. LOL. Well, not fat but well insulated.

Once you are done with the water sports, help yourself to a Mango Tango or other fruity beverage of the day from the bar! Or take a hike up the hill to the Outhouse or some excellent BBQ! Word to the wise, If you don’t want to walk up the hill, stop by the reservation desk and have them get someone to drive you up the hill. If you are not in excellent shape (like us), take the go-cart ride up the hill but walk down the hill. About half way down, there is a gazebo with a beautiful view and a place to relax if you need it. The gazebo is where the weddings at the resort take place. The Outhouse has REALLY good BBQ. They have various salads, baked beans, BBQ chicken, Ribs, Fish, and a sausage wrapped in a tortilla shell and grilled (don’t know the name). The beer is cold, soda is fizzy, and the iced tea is refreshing. Definitely a favorite.

At night, the resort always has something planned for your enjoyment. Pineapple Beach has had a steel drum band, various DJ’s, island singers, and even Karaoke. Karaoke is always fun. It always seems that the people that were graced with a good singing voice go first. Watch out! Towards the end of the night you have the people that have had enough liquid courage (rum punch) that they get the nerve to get up on stage. This is where I fall. My singing should be kept for the car or the shower….where no one else can hear me! Lucky for you, there is not enough rum punch to get me on the stage to sing!

By far, Pineapple Beach is my most favorite place in the world (at least until I find someplace better). Like I have said, this has been the ONLY place that this pharmacist has learned to really relax and take a deep breath rather than rushing to put out the next fire at work or trying to check off the next thing on my list of things to do. I hope you have someplace that you can go to that gives you inner peace and to find yourself.