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Florida
Keys Rally April 3 - 8, 2008 |
     
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Hosts:
Chuck
and Bobbie Bayles – Bernie
and Carol Lezell This rally was right on the bay at mile marker 39 in Big Pine Key, Florida. Big Pine Key is just west of the Seven Mile Bridge. We started out with a handful of folks coming in two days before the rally. One of the first to arrive was Carol and Bernie Lezell. They lived in their TS 5th-wheel fulltime when the rally first started being organized. They visited Sunshine Key campground the same time of the year in 2007 and decided what a great place for a rally. We, Chuck and Bobbie, live in Marathon (10 miles from the campground) and after a visit with us we decided to do a rally right here in the Florida Keys. So, plans began……oops, Lezell’s sold their TS in the mean time, but ventured on with the rally, renting a trailer at the campground and joined in with the fun. Other's that attended the rally were: Cook's, Moore's, Moreau's, Rickles', Sheridan's, Grunow's, Wellock's, Yandt's, Lang's, Welch's, Lester's, and Sue Camaraire. More folks showed up at the rally on Wednesday, the day before the rally. Now it really started like it was coming together! The rest of us came in on Thursday the first day of the rally…so it began with a great lasagna dinner and Key Lime pie for dessert. I talked (as usual) forever about what we recommended to do in the fabulous Florida Keys. We handed out packets filled with brochures so everyone could study that night!
Saturday, again, some met for breakfast in the clubhouse and then went to tour the Keys. Chuck and Les got up VERY early and headed down to Key West for a running race. I went with them to work the race and then Sue and Joe Moore and Ida met us down there so they could see what Key West was all about. That afternoon Chuck and I got some sad news that his mom wasn’t doing very well in the nursing home in Miami so we had to take off for Miami. Here are some of the places some of the folks visited while in the Southernmost Point of the United States….. Sightseeing in Key West was enjoyed by many who took the World Famous Conch Tour Train or the Old Town Trolley Tours. Martha and Leon Lester said the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory was a tropical Paradise containing so many butterflies it was difficult to take a step with out stepping on one.... Many folks went to The Dolphin Research Center to watch the Dolphins do their thing - evidentially it was great because some made repeat trips.
The Hemingway House and Harry S. Truman Little White House were seen by many on their trip to Key West. Some of the group decided to visit the Sunday Flea Market held in Big Pine Key. Thelma had fun when she made some special purchases... Locating the Key deer proved to be a challenge for some but many had success. These deer are similar to our white tail deer but smaller in size had black on their tail and down the middle of their neck.
Games
were enjoyed by many in the evenings. Special fun was had by all
when we played "Nickel Bingo" which was hosted my Peg
and Tom.
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Florida
Keys Rally
Friday
we all met in the morning again in the clubhouse for breakfast
and coffee. Then everyone went on their way to visit wherever
they chose. Some ventured to Key West, others to Pigeon Key, and
some visited the Dolphin research center. Ft. Jefferson is on
most everyone’s mind, but the weather might stop us from
doing that trip across the gulfstream. We all ate at Keys Fisheries
for a fish fry dinner that evening. Conch fritters were included,
some didn’t think they were so special, but others found
them a tasty treat as we do.
Joe
and Sue Moore braved the ocean waters by taking the "Fast
Cat" catamaran for a 70 mile ride to the remote islands of
the 
A
trip by ferry to