Camp Dawg

THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THIS COLORFUL KEY WEST RACE began with a chilly pre-dusk, bike ride three miles to Key West’s historic seaport. What better way to warm up, right! Along the way the free-range roosters, one of the quirky things Key West is known for, were crowing and put a smile on my face along the (very) brisk ride into town. With a cold spell moving through Florida, and the temps sitting in the low-50s when we left the Airstream (did I mention….in the dark!), I was thankful for the pair of gloves I packed away as we jumped on our bikes. We arrived shortly before the 1/2 marathon began and what a thrill it was to see these super fast runners fly from the gate!

It’s been eons since I entered a race, but living in the upbeat, lively community of Key West for two months now, I was determined to have fun along the way and the race participants didn’t disappoint. There was such camaraderie along the course! For the most part I ran/walked/crawled about middle of the pack and enjoyed the event, stopping for some fun photos along the route. The event’s “Road Trippin'” shirts were very apropos for this Airstream full-timer!

At the end of the 5k (3.2 miles) were a lot of happy racers, a medal for finishing and my Sweetie. Then it was off to Frenchie’s Cafe for my favorite avocado toast & cappuchino to celebrate. With any luck I’ll be back for the 26th anniversary of the Key West 1/2 Marathon, wanna join me?

WOW! 49 states and 17 countries represented! Way to draw a crowd, Key West!

I’VE BEEN TRAINING FOR WEEKS, not for the race, but to simply get out of bed by 6:00 a.m. for this 5k race. Fingers crossed I’ll be up with the roosters on Sunday morning!

My heart has been stolen and I may never leave this beautiful island

WE RANG IN THE NEW YEAR…fast asleep, surprise! On New Year’s Day we boarded the beautiful Argo Navis, a 75-foot catamaran, to enjoy the first sunset of 2023 over Key West. With only 27 people aboard, Captain Tadd and his skilled crew kept the nibbles and cocktails coming during our stunningly beautiful, and at times blustery, sail.

EVERY ADVENTURE, every experience, every friendship made this year is because of travel in our Aluminum Adventure Pod, the Silver Palace. Crazy life? At times. Unforgettable moments? The collection is expanding.

My heart absolutely overflows with gratitude for the ability to continue to explore and discover, together, with my much loved family. But I also say thank you to the original gypsy, my mom, who would throw four kids into a car with a canvas tent and take off for the mountains of Colorado in the 1960s. Such sweet memories!

WHAT BRINGS THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT to the heart more than Christmas caroling, right! Our campground here in Key West, Florida arranged an Old Towne Trolley to pick us up and make our way through the local neighborhoods to enjoy the lights. This included unbelievably decorated home with families that go all out and provide fabulous light shows, one with a scream meter (yes, yelling increased the meter!), and snow-making machines. The ride ended with a roll down Key West’s famous (or infamous!) Duval Street with crazy fun caroling along the way!

Just prior to the holiday we had a great visit with New Jersey friends, Robert & Suppie which included a wonderful lunch at the coveted restaurant, Latitudes, on the private island of Sunset Key. I’m grateful to say I met this wonderful friend 40. Years. Ago! Yes, it has been that long since I moved to the West Coast…..time flies but this friend has always been constant!

What happens when there are several Airstreams around the park? A gathering of happy people to discuss all things Airstream including travel plans, maintenance, etc. I have to admit this is always one of the most fun things we like to do, gather with other Airstreamers. It was nice to meet fellow full-timers Shannon & Nathan (not pictured) from Wisconsin; Stewart & Jeanine from Minneapolis; and almost-full-timers, Cintia & Dan via Montreal/California. With any luck, we’ll see these smiling faces down the road.

And with a short drive north to the Blue Hole on Big Pine Key we saw the sweet Key Deer, no bigger than our girl, Piper; and my first alligator in the wild! Bucket List, CHECK!

AFTER FALLING HARD for this island paradise in 2022, we decided to return once again, this time for three months (two months in Key West; one month on Sugarloaf Key, 20 miles north of Key West).

The Florida Keys run 100 miles from the largest island, Key Largo, all the way to the tropical, rooster-crowing, chicken-filled, funky-vibe island of Key West. The island is six square miles which include two square miles of a very walkable historic district. Known as the southernmost point in the United States and the westernmost island of the Florida Keys, Key West is also known for its two climates….wet and dry.

We pulled into Boyd’s Campground mid-November and received a couple of shower bursts the first few weeks, however, the close of November officially welcomes the end of hurricane season. Dry, sunny days now make for a perfect time to hop on our bikes and discover the town. With the influx of visitors on this tiny island at this time of year and minimal parking areas for big butt F250s, bicycles are a great way to travel and ours have served us well over the past two years.

Having enjoyed many of the ‘must-do’ tourist attractions in prior visits, I am looking forward to peeling back a few layers to make some new discoveries. One afternoon included a stop at the home of Captain John H. Geiger, also known as the Audubon House. Built in the 1830s and slated for demolition in 1958, a nonprofit organization stepped in and purchased the property which today features period-correct furnishings and gives you a glimpse into the life of this early Key West captain. Geiger’s great-grandson was the last to live in the home and passed there in 1956. After the home’s restoration in the late 1950s, today it houses works by John James Audubon (1785-1851) who spent 35 years studying and painting exotic birds in the remotest parts of this new country, including Key West.

An amazing adventure, and a first for me, was a 27-mile wave-runner tour around the island which gave us the opportunity to experience three bodies of water – the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Straits of Florida – on a beautiful, sun-filled day with friends, an outstanding guide and glass-smooth waters.

And this year it was especially heart-warming to welcome friends in Airstreams to Key West! For a week we enjoyed the company of Mona & Tim and Paola & Marc over the Thanksgiving holiday; along with Suzy & Todd (life-long friends and former Airstreamers) who were staying nearby. Sadly, my bestie Mona took a tumble on her bike which landed her in the island’s hospital on Thanksgiving Day which was not on the list of must-see places I recommended to visit in Key West. I am hoping for a do-over, minus the tumble, and happy to say Mo is recovering because of her amazing attitude.

And that dream to walk into a tiki bar and find Mr. Chesney and his acoustic guitar? Well, it hasn’t happened yet but the next best thing was enjoying a couple of the songwriters who make the magic happen with their beautifully written lyrics. Mac McAnally has written for Kenny Chesney and Scotty Emerick for Toby Keith. To sit and listen for two hours while these songwriters performed was amazing!

It’s a beautiful evening in Key West. Wish you were here!

CHASING THE ELUSIVE UNICORN and grabbing it…if only for a night. Bahia Honda State Park, just beyond the Seven Mile Bridge and located at Mile 37 in the Florida Keys, has been on my radar for sometime. However, to actually obtain a site here is akin to winning the lottery as one must be online at exactly 11 months out from your desired dates and then be the first to grab one of the coveted 48 sites. This year the odds were in our favor and the timing worked out perfectly for us as someone cancelled their stay while we were making our way to Key West and BINGO! we were in.

Overall our impression of Bahia Honda SP was a positive one. Surrounded by water and a beautiful beach, we pulled in and set up camp for the evening. Surprisingly for such a small campground, there is a nicely appointed gift shop with trinkets, books, beachwear and hand-scooped ice cream. Also available are paddle board and kayak rentals. The water sites provide simply stunning sunsets but we found a constant daytime road noise from the Overseas Highway. Site 2, quietly tucked away in the park, gave us ample room to enjoy a peaceful evening.

Bridge remnants from Henry Flagler, an early developer of Florida rail transportation, are visible at the park. No Airstream in tow? No worries, there are a few cabins nearby. With a 3:00 p.m. check in and 12:00 noon check out, we made the most of our 21 hours at this Florida state park before heading to Key West.

We arrived at My Happy Place in Key West and we are looking ahead to a holiday season filled with friends and memory-making adventures.

Those succulents that have traveled miles with us over the past 21 months of full-timing and refuse to give up on me are getting the new pots they deserve.

Having time to bake those decadent Pumpkin Whoopie Pies then giving them away in a New York minute, perfect!

And the simplicity of our little Norfolk Pine Christmas tree. Life is good. Happy Thanksgiving and best wishes for time to enjoy your families and the simple things in our lives.