The Adventures of Scout and Bear: January 2012

After nearly 2 months with our families, it was time for Scout and me to hit the road and have a little ‘vacation.’ We headed down the length of Florida for the very long drive to Key West.

This is What Vacation Looks Like

This was the first time that we had actually camped at any place for an extended amount of time, and it felt good to get back into Loretta and to see what campground life is actually like. We stayed at a KOA, Kampgrounds of America, on Sugarloaf Key, and they don’t call it camping there. They call it Kamping.

Ahoy, Matey!

The grounds were beautiful, and there was an on-site marina, restaurant, swimming pool, and bar, complete with live music and a dance floor. Because we checked in just before New Year’s Eve, the campground was booked to capacity. I have never seen so many travel trailers and RVs in one place, not to mention the spaces for tent camping were completely packed. I guess the Keys are a popular place to say goodbye to the current year and kick off the next.

Loretta in Paradise

It's a Parking Lot Paradise

Boats for Rent

Kamping on the Sea

It Was a Busy Place

Tent Camping

We did our own kicking off of the vacation by having pina coladas at the campground pub, and then heading across the interstate (US 1) to a restaurant called Mangrove Mamas. We sat outside on the patio, ate really great fish dinners, drank cocktails that tasted like vacation (AKA Coconut Rum), and listened to a pretty great local band, KeyRazy! We spent a lot of time talking to their number 1 groupie, Yvonne, who happened to be the wife of the lead singer. She is also the office manager at the medical practice of the second band member. The Keys are a small community, indeed, and there was a large following of people there to listen to KeyRazy. It was a great way to get into the island mood.

Sunset

Pelicans

Darn it, I Forget Where I Parked Mine!

The next day was New Year’s Eve. We took it pretty easy, and basically hung out at the camp, until it was time to head downtown into Key West for the celebration. The plan was to take the 5:35 bus, but we ended up getting there in time for the 6:30, and stood there until the 8 pm bus rolled by full of people and a sign saying, “Bus Full!” We met some pretty interesting characters at the bus stop – especially one woman whose favorite word was the F bomb…she was from Boston (of course) and she went on and on about her son who still lives there and is working as a lead singer for his own band. “He is so f*cking gorgeous. All the girls love him. They all want him. F*cking little pr*ck, I hate him. I f*cking hate him.” I can’t imagine the therapy bills that kid has…

Probably The Bus Stop Woman a Few Hours Later

Anyway, we also made a couple of friends, Steve and Amanda, whom we ended up sharing a taxi with into town, and with whom we ended up spending the evening. They were both very sweet, and we had a lot of fun bouncing from bar to bar on our way to the bottom of Duval Street to a bar called Bourbon Street, where we watched a drag queen named Sushi drop from the top of the building in a red, high heeled shoe at midnight. Apparently, Key West is one of the top 10 New Year’s Eve destinations, and Sushi dropping in that shoe was telecast by CNN on a split screen with the ball drop in New York City.

That's Not Sushi in That Shoe...She Was Much Prettier

Celebration!

The Face of Happiness

Was That My Vision or Just the Camera?

I feel like I have to pat myself on the back for picking such a cool place to spend New Years, considering I usually stay home, or in the last several years, just head over to Scout’s apartment. We literally nursed the same drink the whole night as well – of course it was some frozen five grain something or other that came in an insulated old school thermos. Haha

My Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades

Happily Ready To Say Goodbye to 2011!

The next day, we recuperated nicely and got some much needed rest. The weather in the Keys was actually a bit cool that week, so it put a bit of a damper on our plans to lay on the beach all week. We did end up having some pretty cool adventures though, and it ended up being a terrific week.

Looking Relaxed Already

Duval Street

Sloppy Joe's

Just Another Day in Paradise

We went into Key West a few times, but two times stand out in particular. The first day we spent there, we rented a scooter, and Scout drove us around the town. She did such a great job. I tried to drive it once, and literally ramped a sidewalk and narrowly missed someone’s porch…but Scout didn’t have a single mishap, and I held on tightly without worry, and let the wind blow through my hair. We explored the busy streets and the back roads. Went through what I would imagine is the projects (yes, there seem to be projects in Key West…if I ever live in the projects, I imagine you will find me in those). We drove to the Southern Most Point in the US, and watched the sunset from the beach. It was a beautiful day.

Scout at the Southern Most Point in the US

I Feel the Need....The Need for Speed...

Cruisin' Babes

The other time we headed into town, we ended up at a honky-tonk bar to eat chicken wings and listen to live country music. It definitely re-invigorated my desire to take 2 Stepping lessons when we get back to San Diego. Scout is a great dancer, and I think I’ve got some rhythm myself, so I think we would be great at it…although, like many other things in our relationship, we will have to work out who will lead and who will follow. We usually figure those things out by hashing it out the hard way, but it always falls into place and feels right in the end. I’m sure figuring out who will lead in dancing will be the same, although I know she will automatically say she should lead…(I’ll keep you posted on the outcome.)

No Idea Who This Guy Is But He Was Great

Anyway, the music was great, and the wings were yummy, and just when I started to settle in and enjoy myself, someone pulled the sheet off a mechanical bull across the room and announced “Sexiest Bullriding Competition.”

Scout, What's That?

Well, Bear, That's Your Worst Nightmare...

Scout was up and out of her seat before the announcer was finished talking, and she had us signed up. I really didn’t want to do it, but sometimes there is no saying no to her. She got up and made a very respectable showing on the bull. She tried to talk strategy before getting on – grip the bull tight and forward with your thighs, hold the handle from underneath and move your hips with the stride of the bull. It goes back and forward twice then to the right in a circle.

Rodeo Material

All of this information went out the window when I got on the bull. When I got on, my strategy was to ask the name of the operator, and then I begged him to go easy on me. He barely moved a muscle on his face while I pleaded, and then he set to giving me the bull’s best.

I Came Determined. I Begged and Pleaded. I Busted Ass.

I don’t know how long I stayed on (if that 25 in the background means 25 seconds, then I total rock!), but it was a bit longer than some of the other girls, and although I jammed and bruised a finger quite nicely, and literally cracked my entire back when I landed with a thump, I conquered the bull and can now say I did it. The next few days, however, I really felt my age and with every ache and pain, I remembered that bull. Scout says that some man asked her if I was going to keep competing for the sexiest bullrider that night, but I think she’s just making that up to make me feel better.

Still Standing

Wild Roosters Roam the Streets

There are 2 other really great stories to tell from our time in the Keys. The first is just a fairy tale. One night, we had staying in most of the day working, and really hesitated either making a hot dog at the campsite, or heading out to find something quick to eat. We were both really tired, and neither of us really felt like doing anything special. But since we were on vacation, we headed out in the direction of the mainland to see what we could find. Scout did a Yelp! search, and found some great reviews for a place called, “The Dining Room at Little Palm Island.” There was barely a sign for the place on the road, and we pulled into a small parking lot, with a cute beachy looking building.

Where We Thought We Were Having Dinner...

I ran in and asked the man at a desk where I could find the Dining Room. He said, “You are just in time. The last boat will be here in 15 minutes.” I have to say, my interest was piqued. The man handed us the dinner menu for the evening, and although it was immediately obvious that we weren’t eating dinner for less than $300, and despite not being very dressed up, we figured we shouldn’t miss out on what fate obviously had in store for us. A gorgeous boat pulled up, a Grand Craft, which is a ‘relative’ of a Chris Craft yacht (which is a dream boat for Scout), made of beautiful mahogany and it whisked us several miles out into the ocean to the private island resort, Little Palm Island.

Aboard The Truman

The Captain's Seat

On the Way to Paradise

The island itself has a terrific history – it was a favorite of President Truman and his wife, Bess, and it was the location for a movie of the South Pacific military tour of the eldest brother of President John F Kennedy. The resort itself was so completely beautiful. Spotted with private bungalows, a pool that looked like complete serenity, and a restaurant whose patio sat steps from the sand and the endless ocean. It was already evening when we were there, so we can only imagine how completely exquisite the island is during the day, but that evening was magical. Oh, and the food was pretty awesome, too. J

Happy as a Clam

Cocktails on the Beach, Anyone?

Ok, last and somewhat best story of our trip to Key West was our boat rental fiasco…um, I mean, adventure. Boat rental adventure. The original plan was to rent a boat for as many days as we could, and the three of us (me, scout and the pup) would hang out on the water, completely carefree and bask in the sun. Given the weather, we were able to rent it for the 2 last days we were there. When I called to make the reservation, the woman said, “You have boating experience, right?” to which I automatically answered, “Of course!” “And you can read a GPS” “Yes, of course (thinking, geez lady, who doesn’t have a GPS these days?!)” and then finally, “And you can read a nautical navigation map, correct?” “Um, Scout – can you read a nautical navigation map? (Scout shakes her head no, and so I say…) “Yes, we have lots of experience.” I think I may even have been so cocky as to say to Scout when I hung up the phone, “I went to Harvard. How hard can it be?”

Famous last words.

Adrenalin was already coursing through our veins when we pulled out of the marina. Did the GPS actually say the water was only 2.8 feet deep and didn’t the man who turned the boat over to us say to stay in at least 3 feet? Ok, ok…we were out of the marina and the water was starting to get deeper…3 feet, then 4. But what are those big green and red signs coming up? And they have numbers on them…15, 16, 17, 18. Were those inches? Was there only 18 inches of water next to that sign? That can’t be good. Those signs are clearly danger warnings, and we should stay as far away from them as possible. In fact, let’s just stay close to the shore to be safe.

Well, within 5 minutes of getting out on the water, we heard the motor begin to choke and we completely destroyed an ecosystem. The picture perfect, clear blue water was now mud and our motor was making a horrible noise as it dug into the earth below. Then, after a few panicked yells and screams, we lifted the motor out of the water and realized that our boat was stuck. We were grounded (that’s boating talk, …see, I told you I knew about boating…). The man had told us that channel 16 on the radio was for emergencies, and so I got on the radio and called for help. “May Day, KOA Marina” (May Day is more boating speak…) “May Day, KOA Marina!” No response. I tried a few more times, and still no answer.

Then before I knew it, Scout had jumped out of the front of the boat and was pulling us into deeper waters. What she didn’t realize was that she was doing something I could never have brought myself to do. I am terrified of the ocean. There is certainly something lurking behind each rock and under the sand, waiting to get me…and she was brave enough to just jump right in and pull us out of that pickle. Once we were in deeper water, she got back into the boat and proceeded to google search boating for beginners. We quickly learned that when you are heading out into the ocean, you keep the red signs to your left and the green signs to your right (when both signs are present, you stay between them). This will keep you within the deepest channel and leads to a completely safe way to exit a bay/channel. Then, when you are returning from the ocean, you keep the red signs to your right. Red, Right, Return. Red, Right, Return. Red, Right, Return. I will never forget this as long as I live.

Hiding Out - Day 1

A Bit Happier

Another thing we learned was that we need to learn how to 1) admit when there is something we don’t really know how to do (and know that just because both of our Dads have boats, it doesn’t mean we know how to handle one…); 2) spend some time researching the things we want to do so we are a bit more familiar ahead of time. (What if we had no internet connection out on the water and couldn’t google search? We’d still be sitting there…); and 3) brainstorm some worst case scenarios so that we can have a bit of a game plan on what to do – so that we can be prepared, but mainly so we can remain calm and not scream at each other. Screaming apparently doesn’t get your boat unstuck from the bottom of the ocean.

I’m glad to report that we took the boat out again the next day, and had an awesome time. The water was flatter, the weather warmer, the signs were exactly where they were supposed to be, and so were we. We headed out about 6 miles from the shore, turned off the motor and sat and relaxed in the sun, finally. And we didn’t even freak out when the motor wouldn’t turn back on. We just laughed and called the Coast Guard to come get us. (Ok, just kidding…we called the man who lent us the boat and he told us how to fix the motor and we were back in business…It's amazing that I had no cell service on the island, but 6 miles out to sea, and I had 4 bars...)

Yes, I'm Relaxed, But I Think I'll Keep This Life Jacket On Just In Case

Captain

The 5 Means This is The Fifth Marker - Not 'This Water is 5 Inches Deep'

Cruisin'

Finally, Really Relaxed

Planking for Mary Ellen

Key West feels like a long time ago now already...but I would love to go back soon. We might make it a part of our annual East Coast route as well. Maybe buy a little house down there. What a totally awesome place!