Here we are again! Learning Curves and Wild Things

(Sorry for the abrupt ending last week.  We have to travel to the local library to get the WiFi connection and it can be a short window to get this written and posted.  I am feeling that I wish I just write a quick note every few days, but that may not be possible for a while.  This is not because I have so much to say, but rather that we have so many experiences we wish we could share with you since a lot happens in a week!)

With the challenges of the van that we discussed last time, we can report that we figured out how to wash it.  That was a big one since birds overhead can often make a mess, and the salt water breezes and rain can deposit things as well.  We are taking out time with other things and do hope to solve most of the "how tos" before leaving the Keys in mid-March.

This week we have hiked on some pedestrian bridges that are leftovers from the Flagler Railroad.  The construction of the railroad one hundred years ago connected Miami and Key West, and was considered the eighth engineered wonder of the world.  Parts of the railroad bed have been restored and are used for fishing, hiking, biking and wildlife viewing.  Here is one of my favorite views :

We are showing off a wonderful shirt made by our friend Ingrid and sending all the wild loons ( and Chemo Pond) a love greeting.

Some other wild things we saw on the bridge or from the bridge follow:

 Loggerhead Turtle (we saw this one but photo from Internet)

Colors and vegetation beyond description

Ruddy Turnstone

Starfish looked to be over 12 inches across.  We saw six huge Rays the same day.

Flounder landed by one of the bridge fishers.

This week we have also had sweet. small, winged visitors in our site.  Birders will recognize these images borrowed from the internet.  I sat in my lawn chair and viewed each of these sweet birds.  The big stars here are the waders and the little shore peeps, but I am always excited when some of my northern wood warblers give me a chance to see them here as well.

Black and White Warbler

Prairie Warbler

Northern Parula

Palm Warbler

Ovenbird 

One last thought is to share some pics of our campground residents, a Great 

Egret and his/her buddy the Brown Pelican.  Can't you almost hear them conversing?  Just imagine what they might be saying...

We also spend lots of time on the beach and as you can tell,  we are still the Daicey Duo, going strong and loving this shared life.  We send out love along with these few thoughts.  Happy Valentine's Day.