Travels And Tribulations Of Motorhoming by R & R: 2022

9-10-22, Saturday, Miami, FL

Departed Tampa, with Aaron joining us, south on I-75 via Alligator Alley to 27 South to Krome Avenue. Our destination today was Miami, the town where I was born and grew up in which I had not visited since 1996. Krome used to be the western most road of Miami and out in the boonies but not anymore. A very large Miccosukee Casino Resort now exists at Krome and Tamiami Trail. Many housing developments line Krome. A little further south is home to many nurseries and farms. We checked into the Miami Everglades RV Resort and a very tight pull in site. 293 miles. We drove by the house I grew up in as well as my high school and elementary school. Traveled north on US 1 to Coconut Grove and dinner at Chug’s Diner where I had the abuelita platter with roast pork and black beans. The pork was excellent and the black beans may be the best I have ever had. Rosemary had chicken. After dinner we walked around Coconut Grove and sadly discovered the Coconut Grove Playhouse all boarded up.

9-11-22, Sunday, Miami, FL

Today we visited the Everglades National Park which park I had never visited despite growing up in Miami. I had planned on 5 or 6 hikes that I thought would be the most interesting. Our first stop was at the visitor center and the ranger quickly eliminated all but 2 hikes. The others he said would be battlegrounds with the bugs. We later discovered by “bugs” he meant mosquitos. The Anhinga Trail was a very beautiful boardwalk out in the open everglades. The Gumbo Limbo Trail was a forest of the named trees and after 5 minutes we reversed course and retreated quickly while slapping the “bugs” off of us. We drove to the end of the park road to the Flamingo area. We found a picnic table under a tree and planned to eat our packed lunch. But after about 30 seconds I had at least a dozen “bugs” attached to the front of my shirt and we quickly got back in the car. Unfortunately, so did the “bugs”. The three of us began slapping “bugs” as fast as we could. There must have been at least 50 “bugs” inside the car. After the battle, we ate inside the car. We then parked at the marina which was out in the open and walked along the docks at which time we saw several manatees. On the return drive through the park we did stop at a few points for quick walks along boardwalks. “Bugs” were still a problem and Rosemary stayed in the car at the last stop. If one ever wants to visit this park, it should be limited to the winter months only! On the way back to the coach we stopped at “Robert Is Here” a farm and fruit stand. We bought two milkshakes, one mamey and one key lime. Both very thick and good. We also bought a fresh mamey and something we had never had before, a canistel also known as an eggfruit. For dinner we picked up from Kusa Peruvian Restaurant not far from our coach. We had seco de res (cilantro beef stew) and aji de gallina (chicken in mild yellow chili sauce). Delicious! Rosemary made herself an omelette so more Kusa for Aaron and me.

9-12-22 Monday, Miami, FL

We began the day with a trip to Fairchild Tropical Gardens. I had been there a couple times as a kid but did not remember much about it. The gardens are beautiful and a narrated tram tour was very interesting explaining the history of the gardens as well as the plants we were seeing.

Lunch was our first Cuban sandwich experience in Miami, Sanguich de Miami. The Cubano was good but not up to the standards we have come to love in Tampa. The bread was inferior and the sandwich smaller and of course, more expensive. Next we headed to South Beach on Miami Beach. We walked the beach but not for very long as it was so hot. A walk along Collins Avenue resulted in a much welcomed gelato stop at Gelatogo South Beach. After a drive along A1A for a bit, we began our drive back to the coach at about 5:00. The traffic was miserable and the drive took almost 2 hours.

9-13-22, Tuesday Key West, FL

We departed Miami and drove to Key West and checked into the Boyd’s Key West Campground. 133 miles. We visited the Southernmost US point and walked along Duval Street. Dinner at Eaton Street Seafood Market, a converted gas station, was conch fritters appetizers and grilled Florida lobster tails with Kermit’s key lime pie for dessert. Delicious! An after dinner walk around Mallory Square and Duval Street including Sloppy Joe’s Bar which was packed.

9-14-22, Wednesday, Key West, FL

We visited the Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park and a 90 minute guided tour. The Fort was built from 1845 to 1866 and housed 189 cannons which guarded a 30 foot deep shipping channel into Key West. It was initially surrounded by water until the Navy dredged the channel to 90 feet for submarine access. This usage was short lived as it was discovered submarines are visible from the air to a depth to 100 feet. The dredged material filled in the land around the Fort. The Fort had a good display of cannons at various stages of technology. The Fort remained in Federal control during the civil war which limited the ability of the Confederacy to move supplies from New Orleans to the east coast as the channels provided the best access to travel without going all the way around Cuba due to shallow depths. Lunch was at Sandy’s Café, a little hole in the wall sharing space with a laundromat, for Cuban sandwiches. The sandwiches were so good that it gives our favorite Tampa Cubanos a challenge. However, the La Segundo Cuban bread in Tampa is still the best. After lunch we visited the Truman Little White House for a guided tour. Truman played the piano and his original is on site. In one room there is a photo of Truman playing the piano with a beautiful young lady posed on top of the piano. I was surprised when our guide asked our group of about 20 that I was the only one who could identify Lauren Bacall. We were lucky enough to take a photo with Harry in his casual Key West attire. Next we visited the Key West Lighthouse & Museum which offered a great view of the entire island after a climb of 88 steps. Rosemary managed to make the climb despite the open spiral staircase which she usually avoids. On the way back to the coach, we stopped at the Original Key Lime Pie and Bakery and took home some key lime and coconut key lime pie.

9-15-22, Thursday, Key West, FL

We visited the West Fort Mortello which now houses the Key West Garden Club. Beautiful gardens among the Fort and a beach with a seawall. Lunch was back again the Sandy’s Café for Cubanos and a Media Noche. Delicious again. We visited the Hemingway Home & Museum and its 59 six toed cats. The tour included his writing studio in its original condition. The home includes an 80,000 gallon pool which at the time cost a staggering $20,000. We picked up Kermit’s key lime and coconut key lime pie for after dinner which we had on the coach. After dinner we drove the car to the Key Deer Refuge on Big Pine Key at mile marker 30. We arrived at dusk hoping to see some key deer. To our luck we saw 5 key deer alongside the road so we did not even have to get out of the car.

9-16-22, Friday, Lake Worth, FL

We departed Key West and visited the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach, FL. Beautiful gardens made for a lovely couple hour stroll. We then picked up dinner at Flakowitz of Boynton Beach and checked into John Prince Park Campground in Lake Worth, FL. 225 miles.