The Keys has always seemed like an untouchable place, too out of reach, too far away. But we made it!!!!!

Doesn’t the aqua colored median just tell you you’re going somewhere different…

This is a perfect time to stop and praise God for getting us this far. Florida, and the Keys particularly, are a huge accomplishment to our family. And it’s really His accomplishment. We’re thankful and grateful, and if we don’t make it any farther, this was awesome. With a trip like we’ve planned, things are bound to go wrong. Schedules won’t always stay on course. But we know that when things feel like they’re falling apart, God will have us still and we can trust Him through it. So thank you, Lord.

We now resume our blog-cast.

Key Largo was our first stop. I made pancakes while the boys scootered in the skate park. After breakfast, we watched some pickle-ballers and the boys did some shooting (the basketball kind). The pickle-ballers kindly invited us to play, but we’d be leaving shortly.

That’s another thing. When we were in Seminole and Sarasota, people in general were not friendly. It’s sad. You’re in the Sunshine State, but nobody is spreading sunshine. But in Key Largo, the people know how to be people. Thank you, KL.
The drive out to Key West was so cool. Again, one of those things you can’t believe has actually become reality. The beach houses are so fun. People are so creative. The birds and water so beautiful.

This is something you see a lot. Manatee mailboxes. Some owners decorate them like Uncle Sam. We saw one dressed up like an island hula girl with bright red kissie lips. So fun!

Then there’s this. For those of you who have seen this before, please forgive my shock. It’s just genius! I had no idea people stored boats this way. Some storage places have them stacked three high!!!!! Just genius…

When we got to Key West, we decided to ride our bikes to the touristy part of KW. The streets, once you get into the tip, are so narrow. Traffic gets backed up. So being on bikes was a great advantage. This was also Melbee’s first official ride in her bike trailer. We’d taken her for some practice back home, but this was the first time on the trip. She was apprehensive again at first, but didn’t take too long to lay down and enjoy the ride.

We stopped by Hemingway’s home, but opted not to spend $14 each to go in. But it was beautiful.

This is the official Southern-most point in the United States. (The big red cement marker behind our heads)

If you’re Albert, that red cement thingy isn’t “Southern-most” enough, so you have to go out on the rocks in the ocean. And if you’re Albert’s boys, Dad can’t go it alone. You have to be in on the adventure, too. (Melbee and I refrained to be able to capture the official official moment.

This was our route and shows how far we rode. Ean’s leg started getting tired at the end, but he made it!

After a hot ride, and with a head-wind on the way back, we decided to stop for a treat. Being paupers, we found Wendy’s and thoroughly enjoyed our Frosties.

This was the view out Wendy’s window. The perfect way to eat a Frosty!

As evening began, we headed back for Key Largo. We stopped along the way for one more dip in the warm waters. So fun.

Author Zane Grey spent a lot of time out at the Keys, and supposedly wrote some of his stories here, too. The irony is, the stories of his that I’ve read are of the rugged north of AZ. That’s a total opposite of the Keys and where he was while writing them.

This guy was roaming around with some friends. I guess they’re free-beach chickens…?

Night ended with us snuggled up in the tiny parking lot of the KL SDA Church. It had been one of those memorable days.

Isn’t it a darling church?!