Florida endings

 We stayed in a Florida State park with great accommodations, just south of Miami.  For a Thursday, the nightlife of South Beach was just getting started with restaurants filling up, live music and lights!  The art deco buildings in South Beach are really cool to see.

What a busy city!  We had our fill of people and cars just the few hours being in the mix of it all.  It was also humidly hot, so the next day we took care of errands, rode bikes around the park and took the dogs on walks.  The June bugs were out and kept Otis entertained.

Next stop was in Jupiter Florida where we saw the beautifully landscaped mega homes, walked the beach, but we weren't there at the right time to see the "blowing rocks" due to the low tide.  We all had a beach day in the Atlantic, which was really ripping with waves, but enjoyable to get in.  This was the first encounter with waves for the dogs and they quickly learned to jump and turn their heads in them.  We found a great beach that was dog AND people friendly😂

Taking a break from running in the waves for the ball

He's always on the lookout!

After a good beach day and the dogs baths, we get to relax!  While relaxing and discussing recent interesting finds on Facebook, we "applied" for a Workamping position we saw for Maine and kicking around the idea of what other places we'd like to explore. ( I say "apply" because there isn't an application involved, just to send in your "couples resume") .  Workamping is when you trade hours of work for free hookups and RV site.  Most camping/RV resorts do this to get their staff for the busy season.   How fun would that be?!?  

On to St. Augustine, which we had been to before, but a different time of year and with family.  Our first day, it rained, which was kinda nice.  It cleared up early and we set out to walk the old town streets and Fort.  You could stroll the streets time and time again and always see something new and interesting. We also had another beach day (when in Florida.....).

One of the most photographed street in the USA,  next to the Fountain of Youth (we didn't go)

Doggos at the Fort

So much history surrounding these streets & buildings

Shadows in the sky

Otis loves to play keep away, thankfully a couple of girls kept him entertained for a bit.

And now, we're headed to Belfast, Maine for the summer/fall!!  We will be working a couple days a week and getting to explore Maine, New England and Canada!   We start our newest adventure within adventure next week.  Stay tuned for more because there always is something new going on with us!

Florida Keys

 What shade of green do you like?  I'm sure that it was seen while we visited the Florida Keys, either in the water, on the reptiles, in the rooster tails or on the foliage!  The Florida Keys have been on the bucket list for many years, and though we didn't explore the way we thought we would, it was probably done better this way.  We had imagined being in a convertible and seeing little towns, lots of water and beaches.  Well, the reality is that you can't hardly see the water through the thick mangroves or town buildings.  The 7 mile bridge did give us beautiful views though!  

Our first stop was to Islamorada, just below Key Largo.  We stayed at a newer RV resort that was gorgeous and affordable.  We had a partial view of the water, but lots of walking paths with seating to take in the views.  And the pool was so refreshing!

Lot's of stinky seaweed on the Atlantic side

We explored the dog beach area, took in Robbie's (drinks of course!), and the dogs gawked at the tarpon that were being fed from the pier.  We had to get out on the water and thankfully the boat rental allows dogs too.  As we stowed our gear, it started pouring rain, but was 85*, and the sun was gleaming the rest of the day.  We had the best time on the boat exploring snorkeling areas, the party sandbar area, and floating in 4-5 ft swells.  

I think water is in his genes!

The sandbar was so fun for the dogs too!

Duke loved being able to walk around, Otis was a bit too short to stand on all 4, so I became his resting place.

The taco boat (just like a taco truck)!

He jumped off multiple times, especially if someone was in the water!

We were about 1 mile off the coast where we were told there is good snorkeling, saw a few different fish, but the swells were too much to feel safe for long.  Otis however didn't mind the swells and jumped right in after me!

Duke was a nervous wreck on the boat, he wanted the sandbar back!

We did go to another snorkeling spot where there was a manatee, and 2 lobsters who had no interest in climbing the pole I put under them.  We also saw a humongous iguana that swam out of the water and directly in front of Duke and Otis when we docked the boat.  Those dang reptiles kept Otis on the hunt each walk we took. 

The next day we made a quick drive down to Key West where we stayed for a couple nights at another RV resort.  We walked the city blocks from the Gulf to the Atlantic and back.  It was hot and humid!  We stopped for drinks at Sloppy Joes, went to the "southernmost point"and intended to go back for the night scene.  However after sweating all day and enjoying the pool in the afternoon, we were beat!  

There were lines to get a photo of this, so look in the background, we didn't wait.

One of the few beaches in Key West

Cool relief!

We went back to town the next day, and walked a little bit with the dogs, but it was too hot.  So, we drove around to see more, then had a pool afternoon at the RV resort.  In the Keys, we had mojitos, rum runners, cuban sandwiches, conch fritters and key lime pie!  yummy!

Today we drove up to Miami area where we will be for 2 nights.  We are going out to see the nightlife of Miami Beach tonight, then will see the sights tomorrow.  After that, maybe stop in Jupiter for a night or two, then onto St. Augustine.

At the RV park roosters are everywhere.  Otis was keeping us safe though!

A hurricane and a lime cooler.

10 minutes out of the car and they are dying from the heat!

Florida Sunshine

It's getting harder and harder to remember all the places we have been and what day of the week it is, they are all blending into each other. We feel like we are still on "vacation", except that we never know where we are going next 😀 The humidity has caught up to us, but is bearable when you're by the gulf water and there's a breeze.

From the last post, we headed to Carabelle, FL area, which is considered "old Florida".  We stayed at an RV resort directly across from the beach (which was "dog friendly").  There was really NOTHING else around to do.  So, we walked a lot on the beach, dogs swam, and Jason got eaten alive!  He must have some good tasting flesh that attracted all the biting bugs.  We have tried everything to stop the itching: sprays, lotions, ointments, pills, essential oils; turns out coconut oil has helped the most.  I think there have been a few times that he was about to call this whole trip off and go back to the cold and no bugs.  He is on the mend though, fingers crossed that he becomes immune to those biting bugs!  

Our next stop was to Crystal River area staying as Boondockers beside a hosts house.  This was a new experience for us, especially since the host also AirBnB's his house at the same time!  It was cost effective though for just $15/night and it was a good area to be to explore the area...and there were lightening bugs!!  The dogs just stared at all the flashing going on in the dense wooded area, they were amazed 😂.  We explored the natural springs, the Gulf water, and lots of animals by renting a pontoon boat.

First experience for dogs on a boat...Otis loved it, Duke wanted his bed

Otis loved his "perch" at the front of the boat to see everything, he's a crazy dog!

Manatees!

Very much a water dog!  He would jump off the front of the boat and swim around it and climb up the swim ladder.  Then a leaf would float by and off he goes again into the water.

This monkey island in the middle of the canal.  The spider monkeys were interested in seeing the dogs and vice versa.

While in the water, swimming with the Manatees, a boat drove by saying there's an alligator "back there".  Thank you for letting us know!

The next day we went to another natural springs area that had trails and a beautiful swimming area and you could float/paddle down the river to some restaurants/bars; it would've been fun, except "no dogs" allowed in the water.  We took turns putting our feet in the constant 72* water.

walking the trails to the water

Then were on our way to St. Petersburg area.  We stayed at a KOA where it was fun to see all the different types of trailers, RV's and those tent camping (!).  We spent one morning walking around St. Pete and the pier, restaurants and stores.  We drove to Treasure Island area where the devastation can still be seen from Hurricane damage.  Sand and mattresses flowing out windows and houses falling off of their support beams.  There are a ton of for sale signs.  The dogs enjoyed another beach day in Clearwater beach.

Clear water!  Otis liked finding the shells and diving for them.

Next it was a stopover in Estero FL to visit family.  We stayed at a Florida State Park that used to be a "cult" in the early 1900's.  Walking around the areas camp sites was fun for the dogs seeing red cardinals (?), and wondering what the moving rocks were....tortoises!  I wish I had my camera as they stared and were startled by the tortoise. We wore Otis out and were able to go out to dinner.  We returned to the RV holding our breath and found that he didn't destroy anything!  Yay, maybe we CAN do some adult things now.  The next day the dogs went to Camp Bow Wow and Jason and I got a Naples FL beach day to ourselves!  

Adult breakfast for us!

The water was so refreshing!

Now, we are headed to the Keys.  We have a couple of nights on Islamorada and a few more on Key West (got the last spot!  whew).  After that the plan is to stop around Miami for a couple of nights, Jupiter FL, then up to St. Augustine.  We'll see if there may be more stops!