When we started looking at getting out and about in the trailer, I started stressing out. On this adventure up until now, we had been camping pretty much out of season, but here in Florida, we were in the midst of the busy season. I started looking and had a hard time finding any decent camping spots in our price range. Because of the pandemic, all of the state parks had moved to reservable sites only. Every website I visited seemed to only have very few openings and they tended to be mid-week, right when Mike was working and we planned on being back at his parents.
Finally, I found something about an hour from Key Largo, so down to The Keys we went! It was going to be a whirlwind visit as we would only have two full days there, but it would work. We headed to Long Pine Key Campground in the Everglades just west of Homestead and were amazed at all of the nurseries in that area. We drove through miles and miles of nursery after nursery, looking at rows of palms, fruit trees, and pots of all sorts of landscaping plants. The most interested thing we saw (many of) was what Mike guessed were dragon fruit plants.
When we got to the campsite, it was truly like coming home. The trailer had become our tiny home and we were so happy to be back in it. We slept in our bed. We made coffee in our coffee maker. We (I) got used to throwing toilet paper in the trash again. It was lovely.
The next day we headed to Key largo to John Pennekamp State Park. We had grand plans to paddleboard, and we eventually did, but we spent a good chunk of the day just reading on the beach. What is it about a beach that makes it ok to sit forever and read? Somehow, I never feel like I should be doing anything else when I am reading on a beach. It was a lovely little park and when the beach finally started to get crowded, we pumped up the boards and took to the water. It was a bit windy, so we mostly stuck to the quieter water, but enjoyed the peaceful paths through mangroves.
The next day we headed off to Key West. We are not very touristy, but had to make the trip all the way down to the end of The Keys. It was about 3 hours from our campsite to Key West and the drive out was long, but nice. I was surprised by how little water we could actually see on the drive thanks to lots of development and bushes growing like crazy.
Once we got to Key West, we floundered a little. A friend had given many food recommendations, but other than that, we were pretty limited in what we were willing and able to do. Too cold to snorkel, to CO-VID-y to do touristy things. So we ate a yummy sandwich and pastries and drank Cuban coffee, wandered a little and sat on the beach again. When we had room, we went to Flamingo Crossing for some fabulous tropical ice cream. We originally thought we could fit in one more meal, but nay, too full to appreciate anything else.
And then we headed back. In the past I have found myself worrying about missed opportunities, but I am now trying to stay more focused on what we are doing instead of what we should be doing. No more FOMO!