Feb. 12- 16, 2015 We can’t just leave Jonathan Dickinson without an “experience”. No, not an alligator. After a wonderful evening spent with Lorraine in Stuart we head back to Jonathan Dickinson late. David takes E T out for a walk, but she’s doesn’t do “anything, but sniff around. David is already in bed and I take E T out for one more try. She has this great little spot, to go, right in front of some brush and a tree in our front yard (see Photo). I have her on a leash, hooked to her collar. She is just about to squat when she’s gone in a flash into the brush. AAAAAHHHHGGGG! I’m holding tight to her leash and in an instant the leash goes limp and she’s gone. I’m screaming like a banshee! I run to the camper door screaming for David. I like a fool had taken her out without a flashlight. He grabs a flashlight and before he gets out the door, E T is standing beside me. I have no idea what happened. She was gone and then she was there. Her collar was hanging from a branch on the tree and the leash was dangling from it. She did not have a scratch on her, what was weird was she didn’t even have a leaf or pricker any where on her fur. David checked the area and it was a mystery. In the morning there was evidence of raccoons everywhere. She must have caught sight of one and darted. I had held tight to the leash long enough for the raccoon (wild boar or panther) to run away.
In the morning we take E T for a walk to say goodby to the horses. Some of you may question this, but E T has learned to neigh. she is not a barker, but she does whine. There were many times the past few days where her whine has sounded so much like a neigh that I really think she was doing it intentionally.
David and I are excited, we are headed to the Keys. David has been coming to the Keys for 19 years, this is my 11 th. The Keys are a world of there own. It’s hard to explain, but from my view, everything there has a character in it’s own. The views are to die for. The closer you get to Mile Marker 0 (the most southern point. the deeper you can emerge yourself in a wonderful sense of timeless fun and relaxation.
We have established a routine when we get to Homestead, Florida. the last mainland before the Keys. We have to stop at our Krome Ave pick your own fruits and veggies stand. Oh yeah! Pick your own in February. Then of course there is shopping at Walmart . This time we spot a new Aldi right across from Walmart. Awesome! Traveling in a city driving an RV and pulling a car is challenging. Parking is the pits. Aldi has a huge parking lot with a huge turnaround that you could probably turn a tandem tractor trailer around in. We are LUCKY! So we park our RV, unhook the car and go about running our errands. David drops me at o Aldi and goes to hook the car back up. We travel like a band of gypsies. I told you about the RV towing the car. In between the two are our bicycles. Well, as I walk back I see only one bicycle. As I get closer David is shaking his head. Someone stole MY bicycle. I won”t say the words that comeout of my mouth, but I was angry. David takes our seats off of the bikes when we’re traveling. I have a “super soft cushioned seat”. Davids bike and seat are brand new. Someone “STUPID” very, very “STUPID” stole my 20 year old bike that had no seat on it. How did they even ride it away. I hope they hit a big bump and did some serious damage to the “family jewels”. While we were biking on Jekyll Island I had mentioned that I’d like to start looking for a new bike. Seriously, the thief stole my old, scratched, wobbly, ancient bike and left David’s brand new one on the rack. So what are we going to do??? Move On!
So we head on down Route One into paradise. I am excited, David is excited. We drive through Key Largo and over the first big bridge. E T is laying on my lap. Suddenly, the air changes and the ocean scents fill the ear. Up pops her head. She’s sitting up, nose in the air sniffing, sniffing everywhere. She looks at me and I know she is saying “Mom, this smells good. Where are we going? I like it already.”
As we pass by Robbie’s Marina I’m excited. Robbie’s is pet friendly! E T will be able to go see the Tarpon!
We reach our first destination, Fiesta Key Campground on Long Key. All three of us are happy.
