BigTom

Well, we have finally reached the beginning of the end of this TR.

 

Yesterday, the last part of the new era that we've been tiptoeing toward for three months arrived.

 

GDF called it.

 

This week, Twin #1  will be joining Twin #2 as a Disney College Program CM:

 

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I just moved Twin #1 into her Disney apartment yesterday.  This week, she will go through the requirements of becoming a CM, including Traditions.

 

She is in the unique situation of not knowing her exact role at this time, but she will know it by the end of the week.

 

In a bit, I will back up and give you a short update about this visit to WDW.

 

TCD

Does this mean double discounts for camp sites for TCD

What? I don't think you took to many trips.

How many is too many?

Shouldn't use words that big with this group

I saw that they had some slips for private boats.  I would want to be in a big boat traveling that far off shore.   It would be nice to have a boat as opposed to a tent to sleep in.  I also saw some mention on the ferry's web site about them transporting kayaks.  That would be fun.

 

 

Yeah, that would be bad.

 

 

It does look primitive, but to me that's the attraction.  I'm going to do it one of these days.  It's not easy to get there, though.

 

TCD

You don't need a large boat, we went in a 20' Thunderbird cuddy cabin. There were 3 of us, biggest problem was carrying enough gas. had 12 5 gal cans sitting in boat. Came back with 20 gallons left in boat.

More great updates.

The thing with the Dry Tortugas camping is this:

The fort, camping rules, possible fellow campers, and no concrete transportation schedule could turn that trip into "Lord of the Flies."

Unless I cam bring all my guns, crossbow, and some claymores......I'll pass.

Bring on the next step!

You will need the guns, crossbow, and claymores just for the mosquitoes

You also need to remember it is a long way back if something happens, The rangers will help you if they can, but a doctor is a long time away 

That's right I'm moving along.  I have to.  I still have more to report about this new era that we have been tiptoeing toward.  There's a big step about to happen that I haven't even mentioned yet.  And then the new era will have officially begun.

 

Key West does have some nice architecture, but, overall, it's not all that pretty.  It's very crowded, and there are a lot of parts that have seen better days.

 

Savannah.  That's someplace Mrs. TCD wants to visit.  I need to look in to that.

 

I highly recommend early morning looping wherever you can do it.  The Fort is the best place, of course, but it's fun anywhere.

 

 

That was an above-average sloppy joe.  As I think about it though, are there other restaurants that serve them?  I think my sloppy joe experience has been limited to school cafeterias and Manwich.  So, with that background, I have to say that the Sloppy Joe sloppy joes are perfectly acceptable.  I don't think the bun was supposed to be flattened.  The basket my sloppy joe came in was apparently at the bottom of the pile.  Very sanitary.

 

 

It was just a bump in the road.

 

 

Yes, it's the same concept.  From what I've heard, the graveyard used to be in another location long ago.  Then a storm came, and there were bodies everywhere.  This apparently is the highest point on Key West.  Some of the graves are in the ground. In New Orleans, I think they're all above ground.

 

 

Glad to be back.

 

 

You don't need to go all the way to Key West for clear water.  There are nicer places to snorkel and dive along the Overseas Highway.  The captain of the boat with the clear kayaks told us of one of the spots, which I intend to check on some time.

 

I am not familiar with that song.  I was going to Google it, but I'm afraid of what I might find.

 

 

I really do want to go.  I wish we had been able to go this time.  I am very intrigued about the opportunity to camp on the island, and was hoping to scope that out for a future trip.  This is one reason that I will return to Key West some time.

 

I am fascinated by the fact that this island chain apparently sits 70 miles off of Key West, and the US built a fort there. What an accomplishment that is. I like forts.  I want to see it.  The ferry they use to take guests out there was docked only a couple of blocks from the house we rented

We stayed on our boat when there, but there were some in tents on island. Beautiful place, but not much there except swimming and fishing. You can tour the fort, but that is it. You have to take ever thing with you, nothing is available there. 3 rangers live out there and all supplies come in once a week for them.

You should go to Dry Tortugas at least once. It is an amazing sight to see popping up out of the ocean when you start getting close. Fort Jefferson is something to see and imagine living there. PS take  bug repellant the mosquitoes are large and numerous even in the day time.

Did you ever stop and compare the cost of owning and renting. Unless you have a purpose for a cart when not camping it is probably cheaper to rent one. Plus no upkeep and storage. For the price of a decent cart, $2500 and up, plus the expense of hauling it plus upkeep comes to a hefty amount and you still have to store it when not using it. 

Those crowds look insane....but I'd try it once for the experience.

I tried it once, never again.

TCD report on his Trip to the Keys has started me thinking I should write down some of the things we did in the 40 years or so going fishing to the Keys. There are only 2 of us left who went and both of us are in our 70s. Don't know if anyone in my family would be interested, but would hate for all the memories to be completely forgotten. If there is anyone on this board interested in how a Florida farm family went fishing cheap every summer, I could post some of them on here.

Wow! You sure got married really young. Heck you were just a baby.

I wonder about that myself and did not want to mention it.

May be an old trip report to you, but it is new to us.

Are we allowed to bring the golf cart?

I did not take mine, but there were several that I saw. Did not notice any sign saying no carts allowed, but did see on about sharing the road with carts. So yes, I think carts are allowed.

I spent last week there, really nice shady sites. Some are very small so make sure you pick out on your rig will it on. Camp sites are not waterfront, but there is parking for beach. Some sites are a long way from beach, we were in 93 and it was close to a mile to beach. Was fine for us as we don't do beaches much. Close to St. Augustine and we enjoyed touring the city. Great campground and would go again. Any questions, just ask.

Hey, I am first.

That Island in the sunset picture is a man made one, actually it is the bottom of the harbor that was dredged so large ships could get in. I understand property on it is very expensive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm thinking that Michael probably likes the new Little Mermaid ride, and the Main Street Electrical Parade, and other fun stuff that DIT hates.  That's what I figure he meant.

 

 

Our Conch Train guide mentioned how the old houses were mostly built by ship carpenters.  He also pointed out how close they are together, and how they all have metal roofs.  The metal roofs apparently came into play after a big fire with sparks from one house landing on the roof of the next and igniting it.

 

I didn't think about them wanting the cruise ships out before sunset.  We were actually at Mallory Square once when the Disney Magic was docked there, and got to watch it leave right before the sunset celebration.  This was in December, so sunset was much earlier than it was on this trip in June.

 

I want to make a trip where I stay on a few different Keys on the way to Key West.  Did you like where you stayed on Conch Key?  We did spend the night once on Key Largo, and were going to snorkel at John Pennekamp SP, but the weather ended up being too rough for us to go out.

 

 

If I ever find myself in Buffalo, I will make a point to watch the sunset after I get some chicken wings.

 

If you get a chance to go to Key West, you really ought to. Unfortunately, Southwest just dropped their routes there, so airfare is ridiculous. At least it was when we looked at it for this trip.

I highly recommend the drive- maybe fly into Miami and rent a convertible? That would be fun.

I intend to visit the OKW resort the next chance I get. I have to believe that it is a much romanticized version of the real thing. The real thing is kind of dirty and edgy. In a good way.

 

I should have learned my lesson. But, those cheap Coleman cameras are catching my eye.

 

You and me both. I apologize. I shouldn't have done that.

LOL.

My camper is a Coleman, and it has served me well. Of course, it wasn't Coleman that actually built it.

These cameras are no doubt made in China and the Coleman name is slapped on.

TCD

Long story short, my family fished and we went to the Keys every year from 1946 until the older ones could not go. Probable around 1990, always stayed in same house last 40 years, always right after school was out. I went a few times after, but finally had to give it up due to gas cost. til ave my boat and fishing gear would love to get one more trip, but age is starting to be against me. 

That fancy woodwork is called gingerbread and most was made by hand by ship carpenters. Unless the rules have changed, when big cruise ships wanted to stop at Key West they had to agree to be away from the dock before sunset. I agree the sunsets at Mallory Dock are not the best, we stayed on Conch Key, just north of Marathon and the dock went out in the gulf. Nothing to spoil the view of the sunset.

I have one I bought a Walmart. Easy to put up, self supporting (frame is attached to fabric) all you have to do is unfold it. Not real large but will cover a table at the Fort with room to move around in it. Was fairly inexpensive and works

Great sunrise, my favorite time of day at sea. Excellent why to get back with phone calls, will have to remember that. 

I am in, better late than never.

Loved your report, almost felt like I went along. Probably as close as I will ever get to go on the trip.

Every time this thread pops back up I have to go back to the pics.

 

That TC is a monster.  There must have been some suspension mods, no?

A proper equipped truck should need no modifications. It should be a 3500 dully to haul the load.

Maybe TCD will get some more bonus material, he has 2 chances.