We began planning this adventure over a year ago, and although the specifics morphed over time, the ultimately goal remained the same: get to the Keys. We’ve dreamed of this place. No, we’ve romanticized and coveted this destination beyond what is healthy for the unmedicated. But we’ve made it, and the accomplishment is somewhat overwhelming.

After 3,000+ miles, the last stop before the Keys was in the Tampa area for three nights and two days, which we spent engaged in some quality time with relatives we hadn’t seen in a while (like once in the last 35 years), and how very fulfilling it was. Most of the time we spent just hanging out and chatting. They fed us nearly every meal and shared their wines in the evenings.

In addition, our wonderful hosts played tour guide for a very unique outing to a power plant that is also a manatee refuge. Yes, you read that correctly. The Big Bend Power Station uses sea water to cool its generators, resulting in warm water discharge into a canal that flows into the ocean. Manatees enjoy warm water and frequently visit the discharge canal. We also visited.

This is the power plant. It not a facade of a power plant or a prettied-up replica of a power plant. It’s the real deal, and it is tremendously ugly, complete with rusty girders, massive steam vent stacks, a mildly unpleasant odor, and mechanical noises droning in the background. However, the local fauna have taken a vote, and they approve of the warm water discharge.

The manatees hang out below the surface, holding their breath most of the time, but snouting up above the surface every so often to breathe. Otherwise, they don’t do much when enjoying the canal.

Other animals also frequent the canal, including fish, birds, sharks, and Floridians.

This heron stood above the sand shallows pecking at the water toward tasty fish at various intervals. I’m partial to herons, so I enjoyed watching the antics of this particular fellow.

The facility constructed a viewing center specifically for the manatees, complete with viewing platforms, this massive pier, and a gift shop.

The next day, we began our drive from Tampa down to the Florida Keys. Most of the drive was typical freeway, although we travelled across an 80 mile stretch of nature preserve called “Alligator Alley.” it is home to various state and national wildlife preserves designed to protect panthers, alligators, and I’m sure there are more. We saw none of those, and spent very little time googling the place, but the lengthy section of fenced freeway with no meaningful off-ramps was interesting.

Once we hit the end of mainland Florida, we transitioned onto the Overseas Highway, which runs the length of the Florida Keys. The islands range from the tiniest unusable patches to larger island hosting cities, airports, state parks, RV resorts, homes, and more. The total number of islands exceeds 1,700 stretching over 198 square miles from Miami to Key West.

Despite the traffic, which was surprisingly slow, the drive was truly unlike any we’ve taken so far. The highway runs over islands and the water between then, sometimes feeling like an average coastal highway and other times feeling like something taken straight from an action movie.

We noticed that construction methods differ slightly here. After seeing this nearly completed neighborhood of cabins sitting on concrete piers, we noticed many other homes and buildings similarly stilted. Fortunately, we’d be visiting in February and March when hurricanes are not prevalent.

After the long trek down a two-lane highway along with thousands of others, we finally arrived at our “home” for the next nine days: Fiesta Key RV Resort. it is a 28-acre site with 324 RV sites, along with cabins, a restaurant, pool, store, laundry, dog park, marina, and other amenities.

Our site is not on the water, but is secluded against a hedge in a corner, so the site has more privacy than most. Space comes at a premium in the Keys, so the sites here are not typically large and the units are packed reasonably tightly together, our site is slightly wedge-shaped, so we have just a bit more room at the rear of the site.

For the first time on this trip, we set up everything. We pulled out our entry mat, our screen room, the big front awning, our paddleboards, and pulled out our bikes. All of this equipment had ridden passenger for two and a half weeks and nearly 3,500 miles just to be here, with the sole except the bikes which saw daylight once in the Panhandle. This picture represents arrival. This picture represents a milestone for this trip and for our adventures.

Just a hundred yards or so down the lane from our site is “Sunset Point,” which earned its name the first evening.

Beyond Sunset Point, the setting sun cast a gradient orange hue across the entire resort.

The next morning on the other side of the resort, the low-hanging clouds obscured the sunrise, but the sun fought through.

Bella and Sophie spent some exuberant time in the dog park making new friends that morning.

After Micki cooked us eggs and sausage for breakfast, we went into town for a few errands. The only thing notable was this seafood store with several massive pools of live lobsters.

Back at the site, we had tuna salad sandwiches for lunch, took a quick rest, visited the pool for a time, then had dinner at the resort’s restaurant.

Although we’ve only been here one full day, we are so very happy to have made it. We feel entirely fulfilled. If we were forced to turn around and start home now, we would do so contented with the experience of having visited the Keys. But I’m hoping we are not forced to turn around, because I have work tomorrow, and I expect working from the Keys will be delightful.