We have good friends that we visit along the way and they always give us a warm welcome. They are not excited to have a picture taken, but they are special friends.
After about a six hour drive from their home near Tampa, we arrive at the Lower Keys and start to realize that it is just like seeing it all for the first time. The colours of the water and the narrow strip of coral that we drive over, loosely separates the waters of the Gulf and the Atlantic. Pictures never do it justice. 
On arrival, we try to find familiar faces and catch up on the months that have passed since we were together. We learn about the schedules for water aerobics and senior exercises, and get our state park pass. It is easy to set up our site since we just unload our chairs and a stove from under the bed and the job is done.
Our site faces the ocean. The Key Deer that make this island home wander up and down the coast and often come through our site.
Many mornings, we catch the sunrise and have these experiences to start the day! Every sunrise seems the same because the same sun rises everyday, YET every time it is unique and special...a promise for the day ahead.
One thing we decided to do this year was to buy a Florida State Park Pass and with it make frequent visits to Bahia Honda State Park just a few miles away. The next set of pictures will show some of the special things we have found during this first week here.
Crowfoot Grass
Railroad Vine Flower
Bahama Sea Star in shallow water (rare first find for us)
Home of the Ghost Crab. Males bring sand out of hole in shape of balls. Tide will eventually remodel.
Many flocks of the small peeps. Here are Ruddy Turnstones, one Sanderling and a Short-billed Dowitcher.
Immature Yellow-crowned Night Heron
The Magnificent Frigatebird
Great Blue Heron visiting the beach crowd
Someone created art work using vase sponges and other seaside treasures.
Coconut Palms
A small piece of Sandspur Beach
Guess what we found imbedded in the coral. We are never without that heart that reminds us of who we are and what we are about on this earth.
Passers by offered to take our picture, so here we are.
When the hike is over, we have a nice shower to clean the sand from our feet!
We have enjoyed our first week in the Keys. We have become reacquainted with the birds and plants of this part of the world and have begun to relax and allow our selves to move into Island Time! Most of all, we have rekindled old friendships and met new friends as well! We are blessed in 2016 and send the same thoughts of love and health to you!
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