The Keys and Everglades

So as you are reading this we are obviously back home in Minnesota.  I really didn't have time to put this post together on the road. We spent four days and three nights in the Keys just chilling and hanging out.  The weather was perfect especially since the day after we left Sabin said the wind chill was -44.

We decided to catch the sunset one evening so while we were waiting for the sun to do its thing, I took some random photos.  Honestly, the pics don't do it justice, it really is paradise.

 

One afternoon we spent in Key West.  We made it to the famous buoy...it was nice to see it but everybody does it so you literally have to stand in line with tons of people and wait your turn

Then of course we spent a few days just relaxing on a couple beaches.  At first we were the pale white Minnesotans by the time we left we were the extra crispy Minnesotans.

After our time in the Keys was up we ventured to the Everglades for a couple nights.  We camped at the Flamingo campground which is on the southern tip of Florida.  It's quite beautiful.  One day we decided to get up early and catch the sunrise.  I think I prefer the sunrise to the sunset, it's so quiet and peaceful in the morning.

  

 

We did some exploring and went in search of gators...but didn't see any...at first.

See the turtle?

We did go to a gator farm and took an airboat ride but my phone was dead so all those pics are on dad's phone.  It was only about a 15 minute ride, but it was a blast.

I was kind of feeling skunked when we were leaving the Everglades because we had not seen an alligator in the wild.  But we were taking Highway 41 heading west and I spotted this guy laying right next to someone's driveway.  Everybody has fences around their property and I can see why.

After we saw this guy and went a few miles on our way, we seen tons more.  They were all laying on the side of the channel bank sunning themselves.  So if you every decide to see gators in the Everglades they are on the north side.  Also on Highway 41 they have road signs. The first one said caution animal crossing. I didn't think anything about it.  The next one had a cat on it so I honestly thought that they maybe had a feral cat problem...but then it all made sense by the next sign which said caution panther crossing next so many miles. Unfortunately (or fortunately) we did not see any signs of any panthers.

All in all it was a great trip and we had fun.  Visiting paradise is awesome and I can even see myself living there for a few months in the winter but part of what makes Minnesota so great is having the seasons.  Its always mild there so they never get to experience the calm you feel when you go outside at dusk on a winter's night when the sky is that pretty blue you only get during the winter and the falling snow quiets everything. Or the way your house smells the first time you open up the windows in the spring, not to mention the beautiful fall colors...I'm glad to be home.