2026 January Key West, Florida

 Ahh, warm in the winter!

Reaquainted with old friends,  daily either kayak, bicycle, pickelball until cocktails!

On Fidays evening sunset and cocktails aboard the former US Coast Gaurd Citter Ingrahm. The nightly ceremony of " Colors" with friend Joe Mark assisting. 

Wounded Warrior bike ride

Next week's forecast 

Bike ride to Artisan Market, there is a traffic circle built on a small crossroads and even though small cars can do it, it sure looks like it was built just for bicycling. 

Tonight as I return from the bathhouse (long shower, not a RV shower) kids were running freely around the campground and it struck me that there are still isolated places in this world where kids can run and play and parents feel safe here! A military campground community of mixed active duty families and retirees, knowing they are all in this together and watching each other's back. 

I am proud to be an American Military man!

I am happy to know unequivocally that there is honor and trust in my fellow man still out there in this world. 

Those who know me, they know that I walked right up to a young couple with kids running all around  and shared these same thoughts with them. And you would be proud to know that they enthusiastically agreed with me.

We are all blessed in many different ways, enjoy life, dont take the troubles of the world upon yourself.  Be happy!

Rainbow over the beachfront bar

Sunrise

Kayak in the mangroves 

Dinner with Joe Mark

Wasn't ready so the parasail with palm tree backdrop was not focused well

Happy hour after Bocce ball at Two Friends 

Ahhh, pickleball is not for me. After only 6 or 7 times playing my knee has swollen.  It has taken over a week for the swelling to drop and still is stiff in the morning or cold.

But now I tried Bocce ball! This my knees can do!

2023 December Florida

 After having major dental work done in Las Vegas (you do not want to see the pictures) I returned to Florida to continue traveling with the WINs. 

So far we spent a week in Pensacola, week in Panama City, 3 weeks in Lecanto, week in Brandon and are now in Punta Gorda.

I will be leaving the group at the end of December for Key West for Jan and most of Feb.

Nearly every day we do something such as kayaking, bicycling, hiking, tour museum or downtown.

Buddhist Temple, Brandon 

Henry Plant museum, Tampa 

Punta Gorda 

Swamp buggy in the camp

Christmas party in boondocking campsite with 12 other RV travelers - WINs (Wandering Individuals Network)

Sanibel Island - WOW I can eat much better now without any pain!

Showman's museum in Brandon. Carnival exhibits. 

Downtown Punta Gorda  - Poking around murals, exhibits

I find that traveling with a group of people, doing something nearly every day that I find it much harder to write the travel journal. Allot of pictures but not much writting. I will have to work on that.