South FL & Key West

February 11 - 24, 2024

Jada flew back to Florida for a different perspective as this trip was entirely in South Florida.  Many differences from central Florida, especially the weather!  Many more days of sunshine compared to her January visit.

(To see all these posts, Click thru the "Newer Posts" at Bottom)  All the better photos were taken by Jada.

Our first day included a snorkeling trip to a couple reefs south of Key West.

The Seven Mile Bridge made Kelly VI
feel like a boat at sea!
The closest mainland was 25 miles away,
across Florida Bay.

Enroute to Key West we visited new friends,
courtesy of Boondockers Welcome.

Pelicans and many other fowls were in abundance.

As visitors to Key West quickly discover,
chickens run wild all over the island,
including the city streets.

As we traversed the sites and sights 
of Key West, there were many
reminders of our sailing trip in
the tropics in 2023.

Our vessel to the reefs for snorkeling.

A grey day with somewhat bouncy seas, but comfortable temps
for snorkeling.  Even so, a small fraction of the passengers
did experience a bit of mal de mer.

Sand Key Lighthouse and our first
destination, Sand Key Reef.

Jada and I spent a full hour in the water
enjoying the fascinating variety of
corals and fish inhabiting the reef.
Yet the efforts in the somewhat lively
waves did tire us.

Since we were a bit tired, we decided to
commence our happy hour as a few
more enthusiastic, younger, more fit
passengers snorkeled the second reef.

Our track from Key West to  the snorkeling venues.

Immediately after Jada caught me here,
I returned the borrowed wetsuit,
dressed in dry clothes and
joined Jada in our happy hour.  😊

The two reefs where our vessel stopped for passengers to enjoy the snorkeling.

We found fun stops as we trekked from one 
happy hour spot to another. 

I enjoyed the many stickers in one of the pubs.

This tree was fascinating, especially the roots!

We enjoyed live music at Sloppy Joe's.