April 12, 2016

Day 61

We spent the morning at the Dolphin Research Center.  When it’s time to leave, E T does not want to go.  As soon as we get near the exit she stops and won’t walk.

After lunch David dropped Rowan and I off at the Bus Stop.  The Lower Keys Shuttle (bus) system is great way to get to Key West without driving.  ($1.50 one way senior /  $2.00 student).   No trip to the Keys is complete without spending time in Key West.  David and     E T will drive in later and join us for a trip to Fort  Zachary Taylor Historic Park and dinner. After all the years we have been coming to the Keys this will be our first time at the Fort.

First Stop … Mallory Square and the Key West Historic Memorial Sculpture Garden.

Next Stop Ernest Hemingway’s House ($13 per person CASH only)

Then across the street to tour the Key West Lighthouse (88 steps to the top) and Keepers Quarters Museum. ($9 senior / $5 student).

Fresnel Lens

We met David and E T at the corner of Truman and Whitehead a couple miles from Fort Zachary Taylor.

 

So, here is my story of the day!  There is a very nice partially shaded hiking trail around the Fort.   As we’re walking, David spots this very cool bird in the trees. I’d never seen one like it before.   It’s a little climb down and between some branches, but I finagle my way to a good position to take a photo.  David and Rowan leave me there.  They have both had enough of my “birding”.   I’m getting the camera ready and I feel something on my head (hat).  It’s not slithering,  it’s kind of like a tapping.  I step away and look up.  It’s another bird, just like the one I’m trying to photograph.  It was was pecking at my hat.  Well,  I was a bit startled and did kind of a hop and jump move down into the rocks and brush.  Nope,  not a snake … Iguanas.  I don’t know how many,  but they took off every which way.  They scared the dickens out of me, but I didn’t run.  I wanted a photo of the bird that was pecking on my head 🙂

We decided not to stay in Key West for dinner.  On the way to Marathon, in Big Pine, there is a VERY dog friendly restaurant, Boondocks.  Rowan and I had the best Mac and Cheese ever, David had a Burger and Fries, E T had 2 Bacon Beggin’ Strips 🙂

Another Fabulous Day !