The Beautiful Florida Keys

Fabulous view from our camp spot
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On January 3rd we headed South to the Florida Keys. We found an Elk’s Lodge in Taveriner which is near Key Largo. The building is no big deal but the RV area is in the back right on the Gulf. We had a wonderful view from the front of the motorhome. The people staying there were great – and we were happy to be with fellow Americans again after all the French Canadians in Ft. Lauderdale who don’t speak English. We all got together every evening at sunset for drinks and goodies.

We enjoyed riding our bikes and spent one afternoon at Harry Harris Park which is beautiful and was only about 1-2 miles from our camp spot.

Beautiful sunset from our front window
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There are over 25 Keys in the chain but they are divided into 5 sections: Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Lower Keys and Key West. We took the drive on the Overseas Highway and really enjoyed it. Between Marathon and the Lower Keys is the Seven Mile Bridge which extends over Florida Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The rest of the ride is not what we expected, it reminded me of Cape Cod or Hilton Head in that you can’t even see the water from a lot of the road and it’s loaded with businesses – very commercial. In Key West we visited the Southernmost Point of the North American Continent also saw Ernest Hemingway’s home and walked on the beach. It is an interesting place to visit, but I doubt we will do it again – it is about 105 miles from Key Largo to Key West. Our fellow campers recommended we stop at a restaurant in Marathon (The Key’s Fisheries) where their specialty is a lobster reuben sandwich. Wow was it great!

Overseas Highway through the Keys
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On January 7 we headed back to the Ft. Lauderdale area to prepare for our cruise the next day. On the drive back we drove along the Buck Buchanan Memorial Highway – he must have impressed them when he was here last year! (for those who don’t know, Buck and his wife Jeannie are two of our Cameron Park motorhome buddies.)