Mar 6 -Key West, most southern point in the USA

We were unable to get a campsite in "the keys" so we decided to make a day trip to Key West from our campsite near Miami. What's a little 3 hour drive, each way, for intrepid travellers like ourselves. Our first stop was Key Largo, then Isla Morada, followed by more bridges, more keys and finally Key West.

Once we arrived at the Key West we had a great lunch at "Two Friends" including deep fried conch, shrimp and Mahi-Mahi. We then boarded a tour tram that took us around and gave us history of the island. We had a very humorous driver that kept the tour lively. Just before we boarded you could hear the shopkeepers talking to one another about the storm that was rolling in and sure enough it poured rain, sideways. We had picked the best time to be on the tram rather than wandering the streets.

Because of the rain we left Key West a little after 5pm and drove to a Cuban Cafe in Key Largo. When we arrived it reminded us of any little town cafe that sells market items and prepares food. The waitress was wonderful in explaining the Cuban dishes and we ended up ordering a Cuban sandwiches, pork, fried yucca (like potato) black beans and rice. The waitress told us that they roast a full pig every day.


A history lesson, stolen from the internet. Why do they call it "The Keys"

The Spanish took the word "cayo' from the Taino Indians of Hispanola and Cuba referring to small islands. The Spanish normally used "isla" for island and "islet" for small island. In the New World, they used "cayo" and "cayuelo" for a very small island. (The English used "Cay' as in Hawks Cay) It ultimately was pronounce 'key'. Key West was once Cayo Hueso (Kie-O Hwae-So) meaning small island of bones or Bone Island. When the Spaniards arrived, they found it littered with human bones. There's two theories about it... 1) This was a funeral island for the local indian tribes and 2) This was the place of a last huge battle between the Seminole and Calussa indians with the final few Calussa escaping to Cuba by canoe.

I hope that crustacean isn't hungry

7 mile bridge, old and new

Taken by a girl from France

Cute houses on one of the islands

Sail boat that had run aground

This is INSIDE our leaky tram

Taken from an open window of the tram. It was pouring outside!

SHARK!!!

Mar 5 -Moving to Miami

With much strategizing we decided to head to the Miami for the next  week or so.  Today we have a 4 hour drive to the next campsite at Miami Everglades RV Resort.  Kids are doing school while we travel once again. 

Mar 4 - "You must walk a lot"

We are taking a day to organize where we are going, to work on school, and laundry prior to swimming and fun.  I went to have a pedicure today, which I desperately needed. The man, yes, man, giving me a pedicure commented on how I must walk a lot.  I figured that is code for you have the worst feet I have seen all day.  

Mar 3 -Work, Work Work

We have been enjoying our time in Bradenton, so we decided to stay a few extra days which has allowed us to complete a few projects on and in the motorhome. 

Peter is so wonderful that he took on replacing our kitchen and bath taps!  I am so thrilled to have new taps that don’t leak!  Wow! Wow! The kitchen tap now has a nozzle that just pulls out of the end of the spout.

 I organized and cleaned the motorhome, which has freed up some space, and in 400 square feet that is a must.  Peter reorganized bins and the bay under the MH which also has given us some more space.  We also purchased a small Coleman RoadTrip BBQ today so today is the first time I have BBQ’d  since our departure.  It was a bit burnt but tasted good, apparently I have to get used to using this new BBQ. LOL. Our old BBQ was as old as Zac and wouldn’t heat up anymore.

Mar 2 - Community Baptist and Sundown over the Gulf of Mexico

Sunset Halo

Today being Sunday, we found a church a few minutes from our campsite.  We attended Sunday School and then church at Community Baptist in Bradenton .  This has been one of the more traditional churches we have been to in quite sometime, as most all of the ladies wore dresses and many men wore ties and the worship was all hymns.  They had a wonderful choir, which we enjoyed very much. 

It was such a beautiful day, we headed to the beach at Anna Maria Island after lunch and stayed to watch the sunset!  It was so amazing to watch the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico! 

God you are so amazing!

Zac prefers the shade

Many people on the beach applauded after the sun sank below the horizon

Mar 1 -Bradenton, FL supper with Marchese's

It feels weird to be back travelling in the motorhome after a 2 week break.  It is an adjustment for us again. 

Thank you Lord for all that you give us and provide, as I know You are constantly at work teaching us. 

We travelled to Bradenton, FL to visit with friends from Ontario, Mike and Leona Marchese and then have supper with them! 

Mike and Leona were in Bradenton visiting family and then going on a week long cruise. They saw on Facebook that we were in Florida and invited us to come visit. So glad they did. Florida is so easy to travel, usually only a few hours and you're across the state.

Feb 28 -EPCOT Revisited, American Idol Experience

We went back for one last day at Disney Hollywood Studios.   A big highlight for the day was Zac and I deciding to audition for the American Idol Experience.  We had a blast!  We both auditioned for the same talent scout and were able to stay in the same room and listen to each other. Zac moved on to audition for the producer and he was put through to perform on the Idol Experience stage in front of a live audience.  It was awesone.  Zac was put through hair and makeup, and a bit of vocal coaching and instruction about how to perform on the stage.  He was also chosen to do a video, and had a blast shooting the video for the show in which he was performing. 

Check the video clip below

Celebrating Zac making it to the live show