Continuing Ed on 10 Things We Learned while paddling from Key Largo to Key West. (Crib notes here: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3)  🙂
#5: The Keys are an ancient coral reef…
#6: …and quirky as hell.  

Beer-and-babes motorboat vs. kayaking nature nerds

Early in the trip, we took a short cut (literally) from oceanside to Florida Bay—the tides of which don’t correspond, by the way. (A geographical quirk!) Paddling through Adams Cut, a manmade residential canal, we glimpsed Key Largo in cross-section: its deep coral foundation.

Fossilized coral is rock hard. You need tent stakes as long as your forearm.

An iguana poses for Hen on his front porch

Dinosaur-like iguana, ancient coral-reef home foundation

We pitched our tents in a number of RV (“recreational vehicle”) campgrounds. Nice word for “trailer parks.” For us geeks, this was a whole new world of massive rolling castles and snowbirding nomads. Hmm, and you thought NYC was quirky…

On closer inspection, this tent was actually a barn for…(look beyond it, to the right…)

Lucy, the miniature horse. Now that’s pet-friendly!

Adams Cut: cross section of coral foundation

Fossil-fuel burners among the fossils

Lots of property for sale as the sea level rises

Our tents among the RVs

Monthly rent around $2500 includes electricity and water

Jack, Rick and Alex (headlamp) do the dishes at RV campground

It is wonderful to do your laundry after days on the “road”

Picnic Key. The name says it all.

Sunny afternoon on Picnic Key