Goodbye to Key West

After two packed days of sightseeing and go, go, go, we slept like logs last night.  Our old bodies just can't take all this busyness.  This morning, we packed up, had breakfast at the hotel, and check out.  It was time to drive the 350 miles back to Winter Haven.

Last sunrise in Key West.

Sunrise.

Mr. Rooster joined us for breakfast.

On the road by 8:00 a.m.  The clouds began to form on the horizon.  Although it looked like we were in for a downpour, it only sprinkled occasionally.  The clouds did provide something beautiful to look at as we drove.

We pulled into a gas station and felt we got a bargain for only $3.89 a gallon compared to $3.99-$4.19 on Key West.  As Carol was filling the tank, I watched these birds dig for breakfast.  

 

Today was a productive drive home.  We studied the maps and found, what we hoped would be, a better way to come back down to the Everglades on Monday.  I was very nervous to think about Carol's driving the motorhome and towed car through the crazy highways in Miami.  Another thing we did was look for gas stations we could get the motorhome into for gas when we get back in this part of Florida.  We are going to take US Highway 27 south all the way to Western Miami and then get on Florida 997 south to the road that leads to the Everglades.  I wish we had known about these routes when we came down on Monday.  Route 997 runs into US 1. It would have saved so much stress.   Except for about five miles, the entire route is rural through lots of nursery businesses.  The entire route is four-lanes and was very enjoyable.  We also found a couple of gas stations that we can get gas. Mission accomplished.

We arrived back at the campsite about 4:30 p.m  It was a nice day of driving

 and it accomplished much.  We did finally get rained on but it was after we were back in the camper and eating supper.  We will rest up this evening and probably be in bed early.  I saw this flag and couldn't resist snapping a quick picture.  The couple we sat with on the trip back from Dry Tortugas were retired Navy and live in the Villages.  They shared the history of The Villages and we asked if it would be a problem with someone flying an American Flag.  They laughed and said that probably 75% of the people who live in The Villages were retired military.  Everyone there is very patriotic.  The Villages sounds like a good place to live.