Christmas in Bonita

After a wonderful couple of weeks in the keys, we made our way to our second home in Bonita Springs. Or is it our third home? Anyway, we were looking forward to seeing people that we had not seen for a long time. Arriving before Christmas is nice, the park is not as busy as come January.

First things first. Unpacking the rig and getting everything into the house. This is the only part about travelling I dislike. With the canoes, bikes, golf clubs, all the food, and clothing to bring into the house it usually takes a full day. Of course that is between drinks and talking to people. Life always seems better with a drink in your hand.

Some of regulars in the park started a kayak/canoe club which meets every Tuesday. They choose a different area to paddle each week. The first week we went to Koreshan State Park. Susan decided not to go since she is still unsure of herself. Yes, there are alligators in them there waters.

Stopping for lunch

Christmas Day was like no other. After calling home and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas we made our way to Lover’s Key State Park to walk the beach. This park has by far the best shelling in the whole area. Our friends Roger & Barb were excited about joining us and to see what kind of treasures they could find. Well, it didn’t take long before the wows came out. From where we parked the beach is about 3 miles long of white pristine sand.

I don’t know about them but I’m hungry for brunch. So away we go with our hall of shells. Lanai Kai restaurant is on Fort Myers Beach so a little drive. With the beautiful day, gorgeous scenery, and great company time goes by fast.

Susan, Barb, & Roger...Christmas with friends

Sausage gravy & eggs...yum

Our view on Christmas Day

With the holiday season over we got back into our boats for another new adventure and to wear off some of that Christmas food. This time Susan was feeling more confident so away we go to Big Hickory Island.

...and away we go, nice calm water

Private dock...DO NOT ENTER

Tide just happened to be going out and to our surprise we saw people standing on a sand bar in the middle of the channel. We paddled over and what an amazing feeling to be out in the middle of the water on a sand bar.

Photo op on the sandbar

We all acted like a bunch of kids. The water was warm so I went for a swim; others did some shelling while others just stood in awe of the beauty. The tide was starting to change; we were soon going to lose our little piece of paradise so back in the boats we go.

Shortly after the above picture was taken a couple of dolphins decided to swim around us. What a cool time. Susan was so excited she flipped her boat and into the drink she went. Yes she was wearing her life vest. She still blames it on the dolphins. I’m not so sure about that one. After getting her to shore, it was time for lunch. Unfortunately, our lunch is at the bottom of the channel. All in all it was a great day. I was amazed at how many people stopped to help Susan and her kayak get to shore safely. A complete stranger stopped his boat in the channel and offered to take her to shore. Two women on shore assisted in getting her out of the water. Plus the whole kayak club came to her rescue. Meanwhile, I was watching the dolphins oblivious to what was happening until I heard…Ron can you help me.

Susan telling her fish story

Fossils & Trees

We decided to look for coral fossils, so there’s no better place than Windley Key, just a short distance from the campground. Windley Key was formed from “Key Largo Limestone” over 125,000 years ago. Overtime the seas rose and fell.  At times the water level was 25 feet higher than today. At other times the ocean level dropped by 300 feet revealing the entire Florida Plateau. Finally 5,000 years ago the water levels stabilized. The ancient coral reef that remained exposed formed the islands now called the Florida Keys.

In 1908 Windley Key was sold to the Florida East Coast Railway. Quarries along the tract supplied tons of fill for the railbed and bridge approaches. After the railroad was completed in 1921 the fossilized coral or limestone was sliced and polished for use as decorative pieces. The channeling machine worked by chiseling two parallel groves into the coral. This would be repeated several times until each channel was 8 to 10 feet deep. Each slab weighed up to 10 tons.

Channeling Machine

Note the drill holes and ripple surface
of the wall

Windley Quarry

The quarry remained active until 1960. Today the clean cuts by the quarry machine have revealed evidence of perfectly preserved fossilized coral animals.

The park also offers 5 different self-guided interconnecting trails ranging from a short 1/8 mile to a ½ mile long. There are over 40 kinds of trees found along the trails whose fruits, nuts, and berries provide food for several endangered species in the area. Before commencing our outing the park ranger gave us his BEWARE of the poisonwood tree. Brushing up against this tree can cause a contact dermatitis. Poisonwood is 10x stronger than poison ivy. Not going near those trees, just keep your hands inside your pockets and you will be safe. NOT! Standing under the leaves during rain or heavy dew can cause skin irritation. Great!

Poisonwood Tree - sap turns black when exposed
to air

As we walked along the trail we were amazed at the different species of trees and how the park has used signs to identify them.

Uprooted tree

After a few hours of fossil hunting and trail walking we were hungry. Asking the park ranger the best place to eat was rewarding. He gave us Lorelei’s. So away we go. As soon as we drove in we knew this was the place. Nestled on the sandy beach was a quaint restaurant with an amazing view.

This was our view

I ordered their World Famous Fish Sandwich. Every restaurant has a famous sandwich, don’t they? We were hoping the food would be as good as the view. Can you imagine what the sunsets are like? Thank goodness for the umbrellas cause it was definitely hot out.

After a short wait we were served up our food, had our sodas topped up, and left to enjoy the view and surroundings. And that we did.

Susan's Fish Tacos

My Mahi Mahi Sandwich with Sweet
Potato Fries

A short one and a half hours later we had to leave, not because they asked us, nor because we were still eating but because we were starting to get tired from the long hike, full bellies, and hot sun. I wanted to sit in those beach chairs sipping a cool drink but knew I would be toast if I did so. So away we go but not before we saw some of the local boat traffic.

Another fun day in paradise.

A Wonderful Day

Spending a wonderful day at the beach seemed like the thing to do on a nice warm sunny day in the Keys. So we packed our gear, donned our bathing suits, took the dogs for a walk, and away we go. People have been telling us about Harry Harris Park just a short distance from the campground. We decided to check it out.

Just off U.S. 1 at MM 92.5 Oceanside we found this wonderful beach. On weekends they charge $5 per person for non-residents but on weekdays its free to everyone. Ah! today is Monday, got to love free. As we entered the park we were stopped by a large iguana just sauntering across the parking lot taking its time. Not sure if he was looking for a handout, not from this gal. We set our chairs in the perfect position with nobody around to obstruct the view of the vast ocean. We watched boats come and go, watched pelicans plug into the water for a fish, and spied seagulls fly overhead looking for that morsel of food. 

The park offers a man-made tidal pool for swimming and snorkeling plus a boat launch area.

The swimming area is enclosed by a rock break wall with channels which allows water to move in and out freely with the changing tide. So its not unusual to see small fish in the swimming area. You get the same effect of being in the ocean without the waves crashing into you. The break wall is paved on top allowing one to walk all the way around.

Nope not in the water, I'm on the break wall

Susan is just having tooooo much fun

After a couple of hours we were both getting a little hungry so we decided to go to Sparky's Landing for fish tacos. We've been there before and know the food is great, the view is wonderful, and the staff is friendly.

Everything on the menu looks so good but we both decided to stay with the fish tacos since we were craving them. Part of making this place so great is the view of blue-green water, brown pelicans flying over, and the quietness.

Oh yeah, did I mention the occasional manatee swimming by. Susan just happened to be looking over the rail and sure enough a momma and baby swam by.

did you see that!!!!!!

Momma and baby manatee

It doesn't get any better than that. Our tacos came, we ate and then waited to see if they would come back but no such luck.

It was getting late so we decided to leave but not before we made a stop for dessert. The Blonde Giraffe Key Lime Pie Factory was originally founded in Key West in 1999. In 2010 they moved their outfit to Pigeon Forge, TN.  Just this year they moved back (thank goodness) to the Keys, settling in Tavernier at MM 92 Bayside.  

With the exception of our good friend Nancy's Key Lime Pie this is the next best. I could hardly wait to get home.

What another wonderful day in the Keys. Good weather, good beach, nice surprises, and great food. 

...it is an interesting biological fact that all of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. we are tied to the ocean. and when we go back to the sea---whether it is to sail or to watch it---we are going back from whence we came.” 
- john f. kennedy

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Moving on down the road and further south was our next destination. Located in the Florida Keys and more specifically Key Largo, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park was the first undersea park in the United States. It's claim to fame is the approximately 70 nautical square miles of reef where people come from all over the world to snorkel or scuba dive.

The park was named after John D Pennekamp, a Miami newspaper editor who was pivotal in the preservation of the undersea park. Entrance to John Pennekamp is from U.S. Route 1 at mile marker 102.6 on the oceanside. Sounds quite specific doesn't it. Well if you have never been to the Keys this is how they give directions for everything. Its either oceanside or bayside at MM so and so. From the top of Key Largo to the bottom, Key West there's 125 miles of blue-green water, sandy beaches, and restaurants galore.

A bike path outside the
park entrance

Beautiful canopy entrance
into the park

Our site

Many of the sites are a little tight and would not accommodate our rig. After some research I was able to book this one. Backing in was not a problem. The interior roads are all paved however the site itself is crushed stone. Each site offers 20-30-50 electric with water and sewer. With just over 40 sites there are 2 large washrooms with showers.

The campground with lots of tree canopy and some narrow sites,
could be a problem with big rigs

 At the visitors center a 30,000 gallon saltwater aquarium features exhibits from the coral reef.

Snorkelling and scuba trips to the coral reef are offered by the park concessionaire. If staying above sea level is your preference then daily trips to the reef are offer on a high-speed glass-bottom catamaran.

Well equipped dive shop

Snorkel Shop

Snorkel Boat

The park offers 2.5 miles of marked canoe trails through the mangroves where a variety of birds and wildlife can be seen. Canoes and kayaks can be rented at the gift shop.

  

Parks boat launch

Since we have our own kayaks, the park offers a couple of places to launch. We decided to launch near the campground and stay close to the mangroves as opposed to going into more open water. Susan is still getting use to her boat. I picked up a laminated map of the trails from the kayak rental place. They were more than happy to give me one. They also told me all the does and don'ts, where to and where not to go, and to especially and most importantly to have fun. So that being said away we go.

Happy girl

Another happy girl testing the boat
and waters

After paddling around in shallow waters for awhile we headed into the mangroves for some peace and quiet. The tide was going out which was perfect because it works in our favour on the way back.

Another fantastic day on the water

As we continue to paddle down the trails, Susan became more and more confident in her boat. She only ran into the mangroves once, literally. She didn't tip it. Lots of fun and smiles.