Jim was simply messing around outside and about 1:30 he said he wanted to ride down to the 'other side' of the burned out bridge, down the road known as Sugarloaf Boulevard.
This road currently goes down into a neighborhood at Sugarloaf Shores, just about two miles down Highway 1.
A gentleman by the name of Richter Clyde Perky, known locally as simply "Perky" decided, in the early to mid 1920's that this area known as Sugarloaf was a "tropical paradise." He built Sugarloaf Lodge and there is still even a little community named "Perky"
Only problem with Perky's idea is that Hwy 1, which was then SR4A, did not go by his lodge. Rather SR4A traveled down to the 'burned out bridge' area and on down pretty much bypassing Sugarloaf and Perky's Lodge.
Perky decided to petition the council to build a road connecting his lodge and his community to SR4A. This road is across from what is still a structure known as Sugarloaf Lodge and is named Sugarloaf Boulevard.
Jim wanted to drive through this area since we had read about it in our research on Thursday Afternoon.
Well, Jim did and I stayed here, typing away on the computer. I had fun and Jim had another grass roots adventure.
On his drive about, he also traveled down a road on the opposite side of Hwy 1, to take a look at the bat house or bat tower.
Seems the mosquitoes were a problem for Perky as well as road accessibility.
In 1929 Perky built a bat tower and for $500 had sex scented bat guano trucked in. This is a true recorded story and also recorded is that one of Perky's friends said the "smell was awful to man as well as bats."
Another story, not documented, although fun to tell, and could rightly be true is that Perky was able to buy 1,000 bats from a gentleman in New Jersey. Story, or legend goes, he got the bats in the bat tower. The Key West High School Band went to the tower and at sunset, started to play. Once dark, the bats flew out of the tower, and never returned! Explanation of their not returning is there was no 'fresh water' for the bats. Just a great little story I thought, maybe true, maybe not.
Mr. Perky was certainly an industrious man with lots of ideas.
Saturday Morning we got ready to go down to the Lee House, pick up the girls while Walt did a little work, and go to the Bayview Park First Annual Conch Fest.
I was pleasantly surprised to find several things for the children to do that did not include money! There were two bounce houses, one with a long side, and there was a private electric company set up in their truck to take children up and down in their 'cherry picker.' Both girls loved doing all of these things.
There was also a booth to do children i.d.'s - i.e., finger printing, picture, dna sample, etc. I kind of tried to talk Gabby into it, thinking that if Gabby did it, Lily may get i.d.'ed as well. After I explained to Gabby what they were doing, she was not at all interested. So, we didn't get them in the database. Hillary and Walt may have already done it anyway, just not sure.
We strolled around the money making tents, with people selling their wares of t shirts, dresses, fun key west tops, trinkets and A TOY BOOTH. A marketing genius this man. He had his puzzle pieces all connected. On top of the puzzle pieces are 'grooves' for a car to race around on. The puzzle pieces can be joined any number of ways, giving the car a different route and changing things up to keep a child entertained. He had about 25 of these puzzles, with cards, going all around on the table in his tent. The girls were mesmerized. And, Gabby shyly looked up at me and said "amme, I want one." Lily had already 'picked out' the one with the pink car. Gabby picked out a car shaped and colored like a ladybuy. I just looked at Jim and held out my hand. Jim realized, right away, what I wanted to do, and we both looked around and saw that we were not the only grandparents charmed into buying this toy.
Food was on my mind.
Earlier, there had been a key lime pie cookoff, as well as a conch chowder and conch fritter cookoff. I had asked Walt what the girls might eat and he had assured me they loved and would eat any of the items being sold.
A friend, and maybe somewhat of a mentor for Walt, Tim, had entered the key lime pie cookoff and the conch chowder cookoff.
Tim is an attorney in town and as I said, a good friend of Walt and Hillary. He lives in Key Haven as well at Walt and Hillary. Through the years, Tim has made it abundantly clear that Walt can use either one of his boats at any time and the Lee Family does. We have enjoyed many boating adventures thanks to Tim.
In any event, as we walked over to the food booths, it was announced that Tim's chowder had won first place. Tim's chowder and key lime pie (Tim made for Jim and I a key lime pie many years ago, and it was delicious) was being sold in the Rotary Club Booth.
When I got to the front of the line at the Rotary Booth, there was a slice of Tim's key lime pie. Tim's pies have a meringue on top that is at least 4" tall in the center. His friends there in the booth said they were calling it the 'mile high key lime pie.' I started, right away, to buy a piece, then decided I'd try the chowder first. With three spoons, Gabby, Lily and Myself made the bowl of chowder simply disappear.
Then, it was time for Conch Fritters. Walt recommended our trying the Island Boyz conch fritters. And, a good recommendation it was. Again, the girls and I finished off a tray of fritters in record time. The fritters were the very best I have ever eaten here in Key West.
Back to the Bounce House for a little more bouncing around and Lily is getting a little tired. Walt had mentioned that once we left Bayview Park, Hillary had asked for us to come by the Conch House for a quick visit while she worked.
Jim left to get one car, Walt and Lily walked ahead, and Gabby and I lolled along. We even saw a yard sale on the way to the car and took a stroll through the yard. Those people had some unique items, and a lot of items that looked as if they were selling in a flea market somewhere. Saying all this to say, these people were not like a yard sale I am accustomed to, rather professional dealers that were just taking advantage of the foot traffic from Bayview. Anyway, Gabby and I had fun looking at their wares.
Loaded up, finally, in two cars, we drive the short distance to the Conch House for a quick visit with Hillary.
Fortunately for us, Hillary presented Jim and I with a schedule for the coming week. Kayaking on tap for Sunday, a couple or three 'free days', Friday Night a date night for Hillary and Walt, and our last supper with the Lee's on Sunday.
Jim and I needed to make, yet another, trip to the grocery store, yet another visit to the grocery store on a Saturday. As we were leaving, Hillary mentioned she was still thinking about that Chocolate Yogurt that Jim had mentioned several days before. Of course, we had to get her some of that yogurt and we dropped it off in Key Haven on our way back up the keys.
Once we got to Sugarloaf, Jim asked if I wanted to see the Bat Tower that he had gone to see on Friday. Wow, yes, I did. So, we made a little deter down a little road near Perky's Sugarloaf Lodge (it has been a long, long time since it was Perky's - just wanted to give him credit as he was the creator) to view Perky's Bat Tower. A most interesting structure, I must say.
Sunday, oh what a fun day!
Hillary and Walt had suggested kayaking again, and Jim and I both were on board with that idea.
Jim and I met them at the Marina. Walt had already reserved three kayaks and we started out.
On our first kayak trip, I talked with Hillary about taking my camera and she and I both agreed that me and a camera in a kayak would not be a good idea.
On this trip, Jim said he would be in charge of the camera, double bagging the camera in plastic baggies, I knew my camera would be safe. Even without being bagged, Jim with the camera is just a much better idea than if, I, my klutzy self was trying to take pictures, row and get across boating channels with the camera.
Showers were forecast for Sunday Afternoon so we got an early start and had a terrific morning on the waters and in the mangroves. Again, we found treasures, conchs, star fish, gazing at fish as they swam by and around the kayaks.
Noontime found us back at the marina and we had all worked up an appetite. I had not enjoyed a bowl of conch salad on Saturday and that was on my mind.
I had watched the Island Boyz make conch salad as I waited on my conch fritters on Saturday and a Conch Salad was something I wanted.....
Hillary found a restaurant that was open for lunch and had conch salad on their menu; Jim and I knew, of course, where to get Dion's Chicken. So, the Lee's picked up the salad and Jim and I went to Dions.
We had a picnic in the den of the Lee House as the briefest of a rain shower hurried through. The showers that were forecast was about a 5 minute shower and the girls and I were able to get outside again right away.
Hillary, Jim and I did a walkaround the house, with Jim and I talking about the next projects we may be able to do as our time here is getting very short. Jim was able to help Hillary with a current concern, maybe temporary, but, he did get a trailing flower at the front of their house trellised up to continue growing.
On Friday Afternoon, on my walk to get a shower, I saw Marty out watering his flowers. He was also watering the 'blue flowers' at the shower/laundry house. I mentioned that Hillary wanted some of the 'blue flowers' for her house. Well, no sooner said then Marty said "I have some I can give her." Transplanted in one of those large black greenhouse pots, Marty had been nurturing several bunches of the blue flowers. I was thrilled with the offer and Hillary was very grateful to get them. So, planting blue flowers in the Lee yard was a job for Hillary and Walt on Sunday Afternoon.
I have noticed many, many of these blue flowers at the beach as well and have been wanting some for the beach house. Now, I think I'm convinced. Come April, when Jim and I get back to Cherry Grove, a trip to Lowe's will be in order for us to get some blue flowers!
While with the Lee's Sunday Afternoon, Jim and I both had missed a call from Doris. He had a message from her as well as a message that was left on my phone.
I was able to talk to Doris once we got back to camp, while I did my laundry. I even, at one point, told Doris I had to lay the phone down while I got clothes out of the dryer. Doris patiently 'held on' and we continued our conversation as I walked back down the road to the camper, dumped the laundry on our bed and went outside to talk.
Monday was one of those free days I was talking about on Hillary's schedule. She knew that Jim generally (well, truth be told, always) played horseshoes on Monday Afternoon.
I received an email from Hillary first thing Monday Morning saying she did want the wicker table I found at the yard sale, and she wanted it in yellow - not sunshine yellow - but, yellow, and that she had a spot for it on her screened porch. I was tickled and spent a good portion of Monday Morning scrapping off the white paint from the wicker. Then Jim and I took a road trip in search of some yellow paint.
Once we returned to camp, I went up to ask Linda, the manager and newly appointed President of Lazy Lakes Camp Ground, if I could in fact spray the wicker and if so, where would be a good spot.
Linda, as always, very accommodating, said sure and "you may want to go up behind the dumpster so the yellow spray will not get on any one's 'stuff.'
So, Jim helps me carry the wicker table, paint and a chair up behind the dumpster and he goes to play horseshoes.
I must say, there were more than a few curious people, wanting to know what I was doing 'behind the dumpster' and one lady, Debbie, who cleans some of the rental units here, told me later in the day that I had, in fact, scared her!
Now, pictures - hopefully, you can recall what I have typed previously, as the pictures are pretty much in order, starting with Saturday....
Before going down to Bayview Park on Saturday, Jim and I went to another neighborhood yard sale. We talked briefly on the phone with Walt, arranging for pickup for the girls and Walt mentioned a listing he had in the neighborhood we were visiting. We drove by and found Walt's sign laying on the ground, so, this is Jim tying the sign back up.
While at the house (Walt's listing) Jim wanted to walk around back. We just started to the canal side of the house and Jim jumped! That is a black snake crawling and slithering across the yard. The black thing, I think I remember as only being part of that black fabric you put in flower beds to help keep weeds out. Needless to say, Jim and I both backed up, and walked away.
There is always a lot of conversation and information in the papers about the restrictions on fishing here in the keys. I thought this bumper sticker interesting.
A charming little conch house I saw on our walk to Bayview Park.
I think I failed to mention above - the girls also got their faces painted. Lily wanted to be a cat and Gabby wanted a fish painted on her cheek.
The bounce house with the slide. That's Gabby jumping to come down the slide and Lily is almost obscured in the background waiting her turn.
Gabby peering over the side of the 'cherry picker.'
That slight little noggy head is Lily in the cherry picker.
A little break in the action at Bayview Park.
Perky's infamous Bat Tower.
After I took the first picture of the bat tower, Jim suggested I stand under it, just to give an idea of the size.
Walt and Gabby as we head out for our Kayak Adventure.
Captain Lily, Hillary and Amme about to go into the mangroves.
Lily at the helm (that's Jim's kayak in yellow nudged up against us - trying to get a good picture of the Padster)
Getting into the mangroves and lots of things to see.
Walt and Gabby
Through the Mangroves
The mangroves
Looks like a gaggle of people, doesn't it? Only Walt and Gabby and Lily, Hillary and myself. Walt has gotten out of the kayak to help with some kind of situation. We stopped for a while in this little area, a little body of water nestled in the mangroves. The girls usually like to look for treasures here, although, Walt said to use caution as he and Gabby had spied some baby man o' wars.
Walt standing up in the kayak trying to help us find critters in the ocean.
I did have Jim carefully pass the camera over to me so I could get this picture of him. Too bad the sun was behind him and his face is shaded.
Gabby found a conch. She is reminded by her parents to be very gently and to be sure and put the conch back down with the open shell to the bottom of the ocean.
Lily getting ready for her fashion show on Sunday Afternoon.
I was trying to get a picture of Lily's shoes. She has decided she doesn't want the hat. But, she did ask her dad to "put on Super Freak so she could dance."
I have been meaning to get a picture of this tree that is in the Lee Backyard. I'm not sure of the real name of the tree, I'll just call it an autograph tree. Hillary told me you could write on the leaves with a pointed instrument and the message stays. You can see the leave on the left of the picture is dated '09
Also, another picture I have been meaning to take - when the girls and I painted the wall behind this palm, Gabby had a good idea to put her hand in the paint tray and place her hand on the tree trunk - and, then, to put a "G" beneath the hand. I thought it was a super cute idea.
When Jim came up to check on me, behind the dumpster, between his horseshoe games, I thought this was a memory I had to capture on camera. So, Jim went back to the camper, brought the camera up and here I am spray painting the wicker shelf.
I'm not sure if this is true of everyone, but - when I spray paint, my index finger on my right hand gives out first, then my thumb on the right hand, then the thumb on my left hand. So, as Jim was between horseshoe games, he offered to spray a little for me.
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