Random Thoughts and Photos from the Keys

It's been a fairly relaxing week here in the Keys. We've really enjoyed our little rental home in Marathon -- great location close to many of the things we wanted to see and do, and we've actually sat out on the deck for a bit each afternoon, read our books and enjoyed the warm weather. And read Facebook posts from friends at home about the bitterly cold weather. We'll be there soon enough!

We went diving for two days with Abyss Dive Center. With the new underwater housing and strobe for Andrew's camera, he got some more great photos.  It's interesting how dive places differ. On the first day there was a dive master on the boat but we realized later it was only because the other couple with us (less experienced) hired one. On the second day we were the only divers and the boat captain simply described the reef and away we went. Thank goodness we both have reasonable navigation skills because we definitely needed them!

When we got back to our place, we used the hose by the fish cleaning station to more thoroughly rinse off our dive gear. The great white heron that we've seen on occasion got brave and came in quite close. Once we finished with the gear we realized he thought we must have been fishing! In the second photo he's standing on the cleaning station and looking straight at me as if to ask "Where's my lunch!"

The friendly neighbourhood great white heron.

"Hey! Where's my lunch?"

When we were in the Keys several years ago (~2006) we don't remember there being so many iguanas. They aren't native to Florida and have reproduced to the point of becoming pests who eat everything in sight. Mangrove bushes seem to be one of their favourite places to hide (Where's Waldo?) and munch on the leaves.

A colourful iguana on rocks by the water.

Can you spot the iguana?

The little iguanas blend in really well!

Where is he? Can you see him doing the splits with his back legs?

On Thursday we spent the day in Key West. The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory was probably one of the best butterfly gardens we've been to. So many beautiful butterflies (that actually cooperated somewhat for photographs!), nice water features, and lots of colourful flowers and plants. 

Our second stop was the Key West Aquarium which was built during the Depression in 1933 as part of the Works Progress Administration Program in order to create jobs. It started out as an open air building with a roof being added in the 1960's. In 1943 it was leased to the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard to use as a rifle range. It was restored to an aquarium again in 1946 but having been battered by hurricanes several times it's definitely seen better days.

We also visited the Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden which had several really nice trails.

I liked the pattern of the middle of this palm leaf.

We had hoped to get out kayaking today but it was fairly windy so we spent the morning at the Dolphin Research Center.  Our recollection of this from our previous visit was that it was quite touristy but today it didn't seem too bad. The shows weren't as "flashy" or entertaining as most dolphin shows but more educational focused and we saw very visible signs of the researchers and students doing their work.

Posing for the camera all on his own. (i.e. not during a "show")

Dolphins checking us out.

Alas, all good things must come to an end. Tomorrow we head back to Miami and on Sunday start our train journey toward home.

The 3 R's -- Rescue, Rehab and Release

With another week to spare before the rush of Christmas holiday travel will probably start and thinking two weeks of diving would be enough, we booked a small vacation rental home in Marathon, Florida. It's a bungalow, located on a canal where residents can dock their boats and just one property away from the ocean.

Kitchen and dining room in our vacation rental.

Living room.

It's relaxing sitting on the deck -- except in the late afternoon & evening when the mosquitos and no-see-ums come out! 

Looking left from the patio.

Looking right from the patio -- out to the ocean.

Marathon is about half way down the Keys and, on a trip several years ago, was one of the places we remembered best due to a tour of the Turtle Hospital - a place dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of sea turtles.

There are about 38 turtles in the hospital right now. Some of them are permanent residents as they are unable to survive in the wild because of their injuries which are mostly a result of boat propellers. Some of the permanent residents will be adopted by zoos or aquariums for their exhibits. Many of the "patients" have fibropapilloma (tumours) caused by water pollution. The tumours are surgically removed, the turtles stay in the hospital for a year and, as long as the tumours don't come back, then they can be released. Once the turtles recover, they will be immune to fibropapilloma -- sort of like chicken pox in humans.

Note the fibropapilloma on this turtle's left eye and flipper.

This turtle has graduated to the large pool area until he's fully recovered and ready for release.

This loggerhead turtle named "Gizmo" was rescue in late October and is still getting antibiotics
to help him recover after found in very bad shape.

The turtle ambulance.

If you live in Florida, get a turtle licence plate and support a good cause!

The hospital buildings also have an interesting history. In the mid 80's it was a motel that had both a fresh water and salt water pool. The motel owner turned the salt water pool into a rehab area for turtles and funded it mostly himself. In 2005 a hurricane caused considerable damage in the area, the motel closed and the turtle hospital became a charitable organization. The motel office is now the gift shop and reception area for hospital tours and the motel guest rooms are offices and accommodation for hospital staff, some of whom need to be on-site 24 hours a day. The building next door that houses the hospital surgical area used to be a nightclub.

We've seen a lot of iguanas here at various places we've been at. Can you spot the two iguanas in this photo?

We've also had time to walk on the beach, hike some trails in a couple State Parks and visit the Crane Point Museum and Nature Center which has several nature trails and a wild bird center which, like the Turtle Hospital, is focused on rescue, rehabilitation and release.

Jellyfish on the beach. Colourful insides!

The elaborate door of the Crane Point Museum

Interesting colours in the water amongst the mangroves.

Andrew getting the down low view for some photos.