Heading Over to Magic Kingdom

From the campsites at Fort Wilderness, you take the boat over to the Magic Kingdom. We start our magic adventure!
Inside the kids were almost at spirit once inside the park.
SJ squealed, "WE ARE IN DISNEY WORLD!"

Good bye...

I felt as if I were writing a Keys version of good-night moon this morning as we left. Only the title was "Good-bye Keys". Good bye beach. Good bye ocean and gulf. Good bye Bahia Honda. Good bye gulls. Good bye sunset grille and raw bar. Good bye seven mile bridge. Good bye crazy tree. Good bye fishes everywhere.

Cracks me up...

SJ picked up this brochure at the nature center inside Bahia Honda. It's title "Florida's Marine Stings & Things". It has a brief description of "all the BAD guys of the ocean" with a photo.
He carried this thing around...just in case he needed a quick reference!
I've read it a few times to him too...daily.
Did you know a Portuguese man of war can have tentacles up to 50 feet long?

:) I'm kicking ass in a Jeopardy category one day...

Last Bridge Sunset

Cleaning Off Sand

Sigh

Sand-stache

SJ enjoying building drip sand castles while watching the sunset.

Retrieving Rocks!

Sunset Snorkel Soso

Group Selfie

Daddy Surfboarding

SK gets the ribbon today. Sophia expressed a desire to surf. SK let her use his back...he's underwater swimming while she stands up on him "surfing". It was too funny to watch.

Last Beach Trip

There are two main beaches here- Sandspur and Calusa. We go to Sandspur in the morning and Calusa to watch the sunset behind the old hwy 1 bridge.
Sandspur has the cool waves and shoreline that you can walk to the coconut trees. Calusa is the inside calm relatively jellyfish free clear water.
All a bike ride from our site...sigh.

Girls Hit the Beach

While the boys floated, we boogie boarded, body surfed, build sandcastles, and enjoyed the sand.

Back to Hunt

SJ came back and told tall tales of his "abentures into the SCARY forest"! His big baby blue eyes were wide with excitement and danced with joy while he told his story. His little hands were moving with the descriptions of every twist, duck, and turn.
Spiders "THIS BIG", arms extended wide. And and "CWABS IN TWEES", little fingers curled into claws. And and and "GEL-WE-FISH...THAT WERE UPSIDE DOWN!", hands flipped over in a cupped shape. "BARRACUDAS!", his teeth bared almost snapping. And and and "Needlefish too." (Needlefish are a dime a dozen and lost their punch).
Thank you Daddy for a canoe float up a ditch that became a memory for a lifetime for a little boy as if he had just floated the Amazon!

Crabs...IN TREES!

And They're Off

Whole Lotta Ducking Going On

Under the bridge...

Last Adventures

Yesterday was the last full day at Bahia Honda. We divided and conquered it. Girls by land and boys by sea.
SK and SJ hopped in the canoe. They paddled way up under a bridge to see what they could see or catch!

Riding the waves

Sophia wanted to surf...but settled for boogie board!

Walking Home

The jeep was loaded to the roof with stuff off the boat. The three of us walked home in sporadic rain showers. All we had was SJ's Mickey umbrella! He said, "I'm a gentleham. I'll share!"
Close enough...

Saying Goodbye to Boat

We still have a day left here to enjoy...from the shore. It was a good boat while we had her!
She allowed us to see jellyfish without being stung. Sea turtles up close and personal. I was able to snorkel the coral reef. The island Sophia wanted to snorkel to that was way too far offshore. The spotted eagle ray. Sting rays. Conchs. Bonnet head sharks. So much more...

Check the glasses!

Too cool shades...polarized!

Awake!

SJ awakens then jumps on the front to spot fish. We watched a storm blow up and rain from a safe distance. The bonus free show in the real sea world!

My Sea Sweetheart

She loves the wind in her hair and sun on her face...and catching the live bait in her pink net for her daddy to use!

Nap time...

Is sweet on the beanbags that SK bought for the kids specifically made for boats! SJ calls it his egg... :) We can ride wide open slamming through horrible waves and he never flinches!

Today's Catch

Well...these are the shots on my phone!

Before, & After

Black grouper before lunch...

Because He Did It

SJ jumped in the boat immediately went to the bait tank. He snatches out a ballyhoo like nothing to it! He really liked checking them out....
Sophia was trying to be as brave...she shrieked a few times. Caught one held it up for the camera. Notice the difference in facial expressions!!

Sunset check

Checking on "my nurse shark friends"...yep. Still there!

FISH ON!

Sophia landed the only fish this afternoon. A "cute" bar jack! Girls rule.

Heading to Boat

It's a little walk to the boat docks here...but beautiful. Cracks me up the kids with their own pelican cases for the boat :)

Boat Afternoon!

Black grouper is Steve's fish...SJ is holding ballyhoos! Sophia is photographing it all :)

Beach Morning

Back at Dock

So we are back at the dock, boat is parked. SK and I are packing up all the loose stuff. The kids are staring into the water just to see what they can see.
My quiet and thoughtful little SJ says, "I see a barracuda!"
All of us including Sophia looked over into the water out of kindness...sure you do buddy.
SK steps out into dock...shocked and surprised, "HE REALLY DOES SEE ONE!"
It was probably fourteen inch barracuda just hanging out next to the wooden piling! He was very camouflaged in his spot.
Ok, in fairness fish points to SJ.
Back to work, SK goes to get the Jeep. I'm packing snorkel gear...
SJ excitedly announces from the end of the dock , "MOMMA! MOMMA! I SEE A NURSE SHARKS!!"
Me, "wow honey that's great."
SJ, "AND NOW THERE'S FOUR!! MOMMA I SEE FOUR NURSE SHARKS!"
Sophia, "No really. He REALLY does see them because I can see them too."
Ok. I'm mildly interested to see what they are talking about so passionately swimming around in the water at the end of this dock in less than two feet. I get out of the boat, walk over.
Hmmm. Four nurse sharks all less than three feet long are swimming RIGHT THERE.
Trying to contain my surprise, "I see your nurse sharks. And there are four! Good counting and identifying SJ!".
After a few minutes, a green moray eel swims out from the rocks. Both kids were squealing telling me, "GREEN MORAY EEL!!"
That plastic fish identification chart neither parent approved of purchasing that has gone with us everywhere this week was the best Grandma & Grandpa spent mad money ever!
And yes my baby girl has a pink net in her hand probably sizing up the shark to see if she could net it...after consideration she decided not to even swipe at it!
To steal Sophia's line from early as the boat pulled up to an island to snorkel..."This is the REAL Seaworld."

My Turn at Wheel

When we were on a flat open spot, I drove. SK pointed out fish and stuff for the kids to see...

Fishing Time!

Captain Steve

Super Snorkel Soso

She had her gear on before I could get mine out of the bag. SK lowered her in and she was facedown looking! So exciting to return to the reef they snorkeled yesterday and see it for myself.
Sophia grabbed my hand, led me to the high spots. Pointed then told me what she saw! So proud of her. :)

Heading out to Looe Key

Preparing to Launch

The rental company delivered it...parked in water fueled ready to ride. I could get use to that part...

We Rented a Boat

Steve could only stand the shore for so long...we rented a 23ft Mako with a 225hp motor. :) The at Sea Abentures began!

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