US Trip Part 17 January 19 -January 27

Day 149 Thursday January 19
We slept in after a big day yesterday. I read a book most of the morning and Judy worked on a knitting/beading project. Hung our the rest of the day. Listened to the Republican debate.

Day 150 Friday January 20
Judy went to the chiropractor again. She is feeling so much better. Stopped by Michael’s to get some different knitting needles. We then went to McDonald’s to use the internet and have a bit of lunch. Then went down the street to Publix and got some groceries. When we got home I went swimming and Judy sat in the shade and read.

Day 151 Saturday January 21
This morning was laundry day. After lunch, I washed and polished another section of the motor home. Judy worked on her beaded/knitted necklaces. We had chili for dinner.

Day 152 Sunday January 22
Spent part of the morning making some more beads from shells from North Carolina beaches. Judy did some more knitting/beading of necklaces. Watched the playoff football games.

Day 153 Monday January 23
Judy went to the chiropractor this morning. Afterward we did a little shopping. We then went to the Historic Cauley Square Historic area. It was started by Flagler who built the railroad from South Miami to Key West. The place was closed on Monday. We did not think it was anything special. The area is being overrun by raccoons. We did see the railway station in Key West and some of the tracks were still visible. Then we went to Homestead and visited an antique/collectables store. Grilled pork chops for dinner.

Day 154 Tuesday January 24
Today the RV park had a cook off. I was one of the five who participated and we each were given three items--chicken, frozen spinach, and unsweetened chocolate. Three were men and two were women. We had about 2 and one half hours to make a dish or dishes using these three items. We could add any thing else we wanted. I made a casserole which consisted of a layer of fried red potato rounds, a layer of chicken pieces, and a layer another layer of potatoes and lots of garlic. This I covered with a creamed white spinach sauce and garnished with a little cheese and parsley. To use the chocolate, I made custard rice topped with strawberries drizzled with a sweetened chocolate sauce. Judy was invaluable in helping me especially with presentation. At the end of the judging, my food was selected best for taste, presentation and best use of the ingredients. Whee!!! For a prize, I got a pizza and a bottle of wine. Afterwards, Judy and I went swimming.

Day 155 Wednesday January 25
We got up early and went to the Flamingo area of the Everglades National Park. This was one area we did not see the first time we were there. At Flamingo is a pink ranger station visitor center, a restaurant, and a campground. Only a rare flamingo can now be seen here. Saw anhingas, rosette spoonbills, great white egrets, blue herons, tricolor herons, green herons, white pelicans, coots, osprey (nest), alligators, and crocodiles in several different ponds. Drove to some ponds and walked to others. We were planning on going canoeing but the wind was blowing too hard, but the temperature was 77 degrees. We stopped by the little pizza/ice cream store here at the RV park and picked up the pizza I won at the cookoff. So we had pizza and wine for dinner. After dinner we went to the movie, it was a History Channel movie about “The Last Mission” of the air campaign against Japan. Japan surrendered on their way back to Guam. There is a man here who is 94 and he was a pilot on one of the 124 B-52 bombers who took part in the raid and he told the group a little bit about his experiences. An emotional evening.

Day 156 Thursday January 26
In the morning I washed and waxed one side of the motor home. Judy did some ironing and went to a neighbor to get two pairs of pants shortened. We went to some other neighbors to visit and then invited them over for a glass of wine. Goofed off the rest of the evening.
Day 157 Friday January 27
Judy went to the chiropractor this morning. Afterwards we went to Zoo Miami. It turned out to be a very nice zoo. We walked around the paths looking at animals in their open spaces. There were several aviaries which were fun. We ate lunch at the Oasis restaurant in the zoo and were surrounded by “pigeon” white ibis. Stopped at a grocery store on the way home. Judy did great walking today. Hot though with temperature in the low 80’s and high humidity.

US Trip Part 16 January 11-January 18

Day 141 Wednesday January 11
Judy went to the doctor today for another treatment. Afterwards we went to McDonald's to use their internet as the one in the RV park is not very good. Stopped for a few groceries at the Publix market. I spent part of the afternoon waxing the motor home and got three fourth of one side done. A wind storm came through. After dinner we went to the club house for the movie and saw “Super 8”.

Day 142 Thursday January 12
I finished washing and polishing the passenger side of the motor home. Looks nice. After lunch I called the prescription company to find out if they have sent my medicine as it should have come today.. No they haven’t and I will not go into the details. Took me some time calling my doctor, talking to the prescription company more than once. A mess. Will see if my medicine comes tomorrow as it was suppose to be sent “urgent.”. Judy and I went swimming and the pool was very nice. Then a few minutes in the hot tub talking to a young couple from Denmark and an artist lady. Mexican stir fry for dinner.

Day 143 Friday January 13
Went to the chiropractor again this morning. Judy had seen a TJ Maxx store so of course we had to go check it out. After lunch we went swimming in the pool and then the hot tub. There was a party on the club house deck so we got ready and went. I realized I was having an a-fib attack so we went back home. It had resolved itself after a couple of hours. Not having my regular medicine and the hot tub may have been too much. Who knows? I did get my medicine late in the afternoon.

Day 144 Saturday January 14
After breakfast I washed and cleaned up Goldie. Judy has been working on her weaving loom. After lunch I cut some of our Myrtle Beach into bead size pieces and roughed them into shape. We went to happy hour at the club house and enjoyed the visit with other campers.

Day 145 Sunday January 15
We went to the Redland farmers market. It was like we were back in Mexico. Mostly Spanish was spoken and the places was jammed with lots of stuff and lots of people. The vegetables did not appear to be cheaper than at the grocery store. I think a person could buy just about anything there. After lunch, Judy worked on beading and I drilled holes in the beads I made. The shell is fragile so it was difficult to put a hole through without damaging them.

Day 146 Monday January 16
Judy went to the chiropractor. After lunch we went to the Chekak entrance to the Everglades National Park, There was a trail to a picnic area which was on a hammock, which is a slightly elevated hardwood island in the sawgrass prairie. We saw alligators in the pond on the mile trail through the hammock. Judy did well and did not have to stop because she was in pain. On driving out, there was a fire along the road going out. The wind was driving the fire towards us so we had to drive by the flames to get out. The ranger was coming to check on it as we drove out. Then we went to a couple of orchid farms and looked at all the pretty flowers. Amazing the number of colors.

Day 147 Tuesday January 17
Goofed off most of the day. In the morning, I washed and waxed the front of the motorhome. Next I did some painting around the front door. Judy worked on here beading. We went swimming after lunch.

Day 148 Wednesday January 18
We got up early and headed down to Key West and the Southern point in the US. We stopped at a store and Judy got some new thongs for her feet. After parking, we waited for a bus that never came. So we walked to a small restaurant and ate lunch. We took a tour around Key West and stopped at the Southern most point in the US and had our picture taken and then went to a butterfly and nature conservancy. We walked among the butterflies and small colorful finches. It was very hot and humid in there. We left town as sunset was approaching, stopped by a local Winn-Dixie grocery store for some chicken and salad for dinner. We stopped at a area along the highway, ate our dinner and watched the sun set. I was having another a-fib episode. It seems like every time I have had on it was after being very hot which may for me be one of the triggers. Judy drove back home. Because of the endangered key deer, at lot of the road was speed limit of 35 instead of the normal 45, and the police were enforcing it. By the time we got home my heart was back to normal.