Thursday, February 26, 2026

Florida Keys Day 5




Wednesday February 18, 2026 

We had breakfast all together at the Verbo, Kim made us potatoes Obrien and we had eggs and oranges and Mango pulp mixed with La Croix coconut sparkling water. We drove 1 1/2 hours south to Key West, the southern most point in the US mainland. There were a lot of tourists there, a huge cruiseship had docked so we were contending with a lot of people. Lots of shops and places to eat. We took pictures of us at the edge of the dock, but with a lot of people in line to get a picture by the big buoy we just snapped pictures of it in passing. At an art shop we stopped in, the owner lady there recommended we try "Blue Heaven" for lunch but suggested we get our name on the list early because it's always packed. So in our walk north through the shops we got separated, Wendy and I trying to hurry the 8 block walk to blue heaven and the others wanting to look and shop. Wendy and I did stop in a Keylime bakery and candy store so I could get some treats for McKay and Weston. She bought a slice of pie there and shared it with me, nice moment!

We breezed through the blocks quickly and got our name on the list at Blue Heaven at 11:20 am. Hostess said it would be an hour wait so we texted the others to be up there at 12:10. It was hot so Wendy and I found a place in the shade by some guy playing guitar to sit and wait and people watch. The other ladies did get back by 12:15 but we were not called back, by then we were nervous about getting to our 1:30 excursion on time and there was a lot of back and forth about just getting food somewhere else. After waiting an hour and 30 minutes we were finally let in, it's hard to give up your spot after so much waiting, but when seated the waitress said it would be at least 40 minutes before we got any food... so we picked up and left. We headed back south toward the car and ordered sandwiches at a Cuban coffee cafe. Wendy was disappointed and we were all a bit on edge but we got to the excursion point on time. Shawna, Kim, and Wendy had to change, so Amy and I spotted a chocolate dipped keylime pie and shared that while waiting. Wow! It was more like cheesecake than key lime pie but it sure was good! I'll forever love Key Lime Pie after this trip. 

The sailboat we boarded was smooth and the water clear and calm. We all loved the sail ride, much better than the barf boat! Snorkeling the first stop we didn't see anything but 2 angel fish and a hiding crab but the swim was fun. I got shivery after 40 minutes and got out. They sailed to a different spot and we got to kayak this time around a mangrove island. "Donkey Key" as it's called because you can walk you donkeys on the sea grass and graze them there. Wendy and I shared a kayak and saw many cormorants, pelicans, cranes, frigates, and a blue heron. We wanted to see a sea turtle and Shawna started calling out "Here turtle turtle! Come here so we can see you." I kid you not, within 2 minutes a big sea turtle swam right under our kayaks! He even poked his head out for a bit so we could see him. That was magical. We got to kayak into a mangrove tunnel and learn how they live in salt water. It was perfect and beautiful.

We sailed back to Key west and watched the sunset from the sail boat which was so pretty! I attempted to use the sailboat toilet room below deck to change out of my wet clothes into dry ones but that was a mistake. It was dirty, wet and gross in there, I was tossed all about, and I only had semi privacy so I was trying to hurry. I dropped by sunglasses behind the toilet and had to crawl on the wet floor to retrieve them. In my haste I put my pants on backwards! I had to find a bathroom after we landed anyway to switch my pants around! We didn't get home until 8:40 pm but Kim and Shawna were hungry and wanted taco salad, so we stopped by the store to get hamburger meat, taco seasoning limes and lettuce. Even though it was after 9 before we ate, I had a big taco salad and it was really good. More pie from Herbies, three in one day, why not? We were all tired trying to plan the next day and it took a minute but they finally agreed to let me go back to the store for tuna and pickles in the morning so I could make them all sandwiches. My turn to cook for my sisters. :) 





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Florida Keys Day 5

Wednesday February 18, 2026  We had breakfast all together at the Verbo, Kim made us potatoes Obrien and we had eggs and oranges and Mango p...