Bill Baggs State Park

We needed to make sure the boat was running OK before we take off next week, so yesterday we went to Bill Baggs State Park on Key Biscayne, about 45 minutes away. http://www.floridastateparks.org/capeflorida/

The beaches there are long and wide and the water was refreshing. It was a pretty hot day, so it was great to swim at the beach. We loaded the bikes on the boat, docked in No Name Harbor and rode to the beach.  The boat is running fine.

 

John went to CVS today to buy a beach chair. He purchased the last chair they had and asked a clerk if more were expected. 

The clerk said, "No, because it's winter". 

 

It's 84 degrees.  That, by everyone's definition, is summer!     

Week 3 in Miami

The fun thing we did this week was go to the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.
http://www.fairchildgarden.org/

Maynard and Jane, our boat neighbors, invited us and we had so much fun!

In the Butterfly House

Karen, Maynard, and Jane

 

 

This is such a beautiful place. If you are in Miami, we highly recommend it.  John said he enjoyed it more than Buchart Gardens.

 

 
This is called an Allee.

 

 

This chair was more clever than comfortable.

A Chihuly sculpture with coordinating Koi fish in the pond.

 

The butterfly house was a big surprise for us. We hadn't been in one before and it's kind of crazy. 

A morpho butterfly landed on John. The outside of its wings are brown and the inside is a beautiful delphinium blue.  This one had a torn left wing, that's why you can see the blue on the right wing. 

 

 

Morpho with its wings closed.

 

 



 

I told John we need a pergola like this at our house. He said he'd add it to his "to do" list. 

 

 



 



Coconut Grove Arts Festival and Boat Show

What did we do this week?  John got a folding bike from Bike Friday in Oregon.  It came in this suitcase:

It's a loaner because the bike he ordered last fall isn't ready yet.

We went to the movie "American Hustle" and liked it a lot.  Then we had burgers and microbrews at Lokal.  We love that place! 


The area underneath the bar is covered with old cassette tapes :-) 



 

Lena and Larry and John went to the Boat Show, and we all went to the Arts Festival.

 

 



It was the fanciest art festival I've ever been to.  I bought a great picture by Lori Hunnicut.  Check her work out here:  http://www.bigworldphoto.com/

 

 

There was free wine tasting everywhere!  John liked the Chardonnay and I liked the Sparkling Pink over ice.

There were cooking demonstrations in the Culinary tent. 
We tried some heirloom tomatoes.

 

 

The weather was PERFECT and there was live music all day.  I think the theme for Sunday must have been, "Old Guys Rock!"  This band was called "People You Know".

 

 

 

This guy billed himself as "The Former Lead Singer for Bad Company". 

I can't remember his name.

 



Here's another old dude with frozen margaritas.

 

 

Wintering in Miami

A week ago today we left Lopez Island and Seattle.

 

 

And now we're in....

 

 

 Miami!!! 
 

These 2 manatees were hanging around the marina yesterday. It's surprising how huge they are.

 

It was in the 80s last week and will be in the 70s this week.  I think we're getting used to the change in temperatures.  Swimming pools help.

 





Here's what a retired John Ryan looks like....