2023 january Winter in Key West

 Ahhh, winter in Key West, FL. I have thought of this for the last 6 years of RV full time travel and when I go to reserve a spot in the US Navy Campgrounds at Key West, they are always full. So now that I have learned to slow down, I take some time to research and learn why I cannot get a reservation. Boy it is surprising that if you read the instructions, you actually can find the answers! So, at 6 months prior to the month, I want to be here I go online and whoohoo I have a reservation! We very rarely reserve campsites so its new to us to plan so far ahead. Who says an old dog cannot learn?

Knowing that we are here for quite some time we are very relaxed to go see the sights. The camp host shared very good tips on restaurants, public bus transit to make it easier to get around. So, we take an overall tour of the town on the bus.

Mallory Square

The nation's first big cold front reached us here and we relished our good fortune to be nice and warm.

Most days we simply hanging out in the campground most days, puttering around the RV, chatting with neighbors. Christmas and New Year's Eve were spent quietly hanging around the campground. I am not a late-night person, but I did wake and watch the fireworks from the campground.

Some days I take the motorcycle out for a ride and cruise the back streets of Key West to see what the locals live like. Nothing exciting just cruising around. Some days I seek out places to fish, my brother will fly in, and we plan on doing some fishing.

Tanya fly's back to DC for a week to see her daughter and I spend more time looking for fishing spots. Today I caught 1 fish, but I have finally gotten a little better in switch rod casting with my left hand. My right hand still does not know what it's doing but I hope it will improve with practice.

It seems odd that the temperature change from day to night is often nonexistent and there is no condensation even though the humidity is very high. On a few days it changes 2 - 3 degrees and those days there is very heavy condensation in the morning. Once I realize this, I am better prepared to cover the motorcycle. 

I saw a sting ray approximately 3' wide jump out of the water 2 times! No picture for it is so fast you cannot be ready.

Visitors at the campground

Interesting

Every night sunset flotilla 

Ibis getting bugs, yes that's our RV

Don't worry folks, when Tanya returns and when Bob visits, we will be seeing allot of the attractions here. I have done them before (20 years ago) so a do over for me but after such a long time it will be like new again. 

Surprise! A long time friend from the DC area was here in Key West and we got connected for a few days. Annetta and Stanley.

Banyon tree and my special lady

2 years ago this boat wreck has been here, barge now taking it away

Another cold front 

Brother Bob came to visit for a week and we had planned to go fishing but 2 cold fronts came through and the wind put a stop to that! His first time here so playing tourist makes for a great time!

Sloppy Joes, Hemmingway wall

Sister is named Mary Ellen too!

Taking a nap 

Another cold front 

Finally were able to go fishing! The wind dropped on the last day that Bob was here and we went to one of the places I had scouted out. I did get 9 fish Bob got 6. The biggest was Bob's baby Tarpon! I did have one fish that I never saw but I believe it was a shark for it pulled steadily and cruised the reef edge before throwing the hook.

Wow, it is so nice here during the winter! Bob's visit may not have had much fishing but he did get warm and relaxed and enjoyed himself. We all hope that his wife will come down with him next year.

Oh My, how time flies! 17 February and our time is up in Key West. What a great time we have had here staying warm during the winter! Traveling north now a little at a time, going to Tampa and say hello to other RV friends.

Keep checking back on occasion, this blog will be updated weekly.