Florida Keys: Sugarloaf, Key West

Currently, I am grateful for living in Florida.  It’s firstly a blessing that I live in a state where:

1. Summer is eternal. I’m sorry life-long Floridians, but 75 degrees is not winter, and when you go can go to the beach year-round, there is no change in seasons.
2. Daily life feels like a vacation.  There’s NEVER nothing to do.  I can go downtown Fort Lauderdale on a weekday and see people packing in to listen to live music at Elbo Room (a dive bar that’s been around since 1929).  I can hammock between two palm trees, reading a favorite book for ultimate relaxation.  I can live it up Miami style at a bar or club.  I have access to incredible beaches, sun-kissed skin, salty hair, palm trees, sandy toes, and a free-spirited lifestyle.

It’s secondly a blessing that, despite living in a vacation destination, I also have immediate access to an array of tropical adventure hubs.  Upon Talia’s fourth visit to my new home in Florida, we embarked on yet another journey to the Florida Keys.  This time, we planned to combine forces with our skydiving friends on Sugarloaf Key.  Luckily for me, my skydiving instructor, Braden, from my birthday weekend has grown into someone much more meaningful.  Despite living three hours apart, we have established a seamlessly wonderful connection.  The ease of our budding bond has left me blissfully at peace for what may come of it.  Nonetheless, a weekend away from mainland Florida was in order.  Talia, Suzette, and I journeyed toward Key West on a Saturday afternoon.

With tropical music blasting (of course, the “Vacation Haus” station created by Spotify was my playlist of choice), we watched through our windows as the Florida Turnpike transformed into a glowing seafoam green landscape:

Our first stop was quick to say hello at Skydive Key West on Lower Sugarloaf Key before heading further south. We took a high-speed guided jet ski tour across the glassy ocean upon arrival at Hurricane Hole Marina in Key West. We were guided through mangroves, a sandbar, and across the ocean as the sun set.  We even got a better ocean view of the Southernmost Point buoy than any tourist on land! We waved at Kenny Chesney from afar as we marveled at his large, midnight black yacht anchored off the coast of Key West.

We first ventured through the eerie darkness of Sugarloaf Key to the home of our friends.  With one wrong turn, we ended up at the historic Bat Tower–a tourist destination.  Once redirected by our friends, we pulled up to an old, worn-down shack and lit path to a rustic, secluded house. We survived the walk with a few No See-Um bites.  These gnarly little fellas are <3 mm-long mosquitoes, which allows them to sneak up on passerbys and bite you without being seen! They’re basically mosquito ninjas.  Lovely, huh?

Regardless… The character of our friends’ home is indescribable.  Who knows how long it’s been around, or how many people have passed through.  Scorpions have found their way to its dark corners.  We had to take a step up to use the toilet (minimal standing room for men).  Old wood and paint cover the walls and flooring, seemingly untouched in years.  It is a short distance from the beach, surrounded by shrubbery on all sides, and like nowhere I’ve been! It reminded me of the cottages my family stayed at in Alaska–completely tucked away from the rest of the world.

Saturday night brought:

• The BEST BURRITO I have had in my entire life.  Please (pretty please?) stop at Garbo’s Grill if you find yourself in Key West.  It’s a food truck stationed at Grunt’s (visit the site for updates), and the Korean BBQ burrito is an orgasmic blast of flavors.  Imagine tender beef short rib marrying with cilantro and sriracha in a juicy, perfectly-made burrito.  I was unprepared for the awesomeness, and easily could’ve housed two burritos.  Happy belly.
• Dancing everywhere, and getting the crowd moving to live bands! We danced to all kinds of music, inspiring others around us, and annoying waiters/waitresses as we blocked entrances to the restaurant (oops?).
• A dip in the ocean under the moonlight.  There is little that compares to a night swim.  I’ve been so grateful for the ocean in all times of day, but the earthly silence and darkness of night enhances the peacefulness of the ocean to an intense degree.

The weather worked in our favor on Sunday as stormy skies prevented the boys from skydiving. Thus, our adventures continued.  We stopped in Camille’s Restaurant for breakfast and laughing did not cease for a moment as we reminisced, telling ridiculous stories from our past (i.e. sharing the fact that Kool-Aid, spaghetti, and corn have all come out of my nose…). Once our bellies were happy and full, we ventured to the jumping bridge on Lower Sugarloaf Key, alongside the old U.S. Route 1…

Beneath the water’s surface, we saw little fish, and searched for the snapper.  After lounging for a while, our hungry bellies drove us to Big Pine Key for dinner at No Name Pub where we left a dollar bill amongst the hundred/thousands (?) already on the walls.  We joked we would write our fetishes on the bill, and the waitress said she would gladly hang it.  The history of the pub is fantastic, and according to their website:

With chili in my stomach and a happy heart, I bid goodbye (more like “see you soon”) to my favorite islander and his roommate.  Talia, Suzette, and I road tripped home to the mainland with elated feelings.

A weekend such as this one with meaningful people who are also free-spirited hippies at heart is enlightening.  We spoke of the world’s woes & tragedies, and how the love and positive vibrations we hold in our hearts will help create a shift toward a world of compassion, joy, and peace.  The world is a wondrous place, filled with too much to discover.  We were all grateful for our breath and life, especially after a few weekend freak accidents that could have ended quite poorly.  Guardian Angels were in full effect as Talia just barely missed being hit head-on by a jetski after flying off due to my meandering driving.  She tilted her head at the exact moment Suzette veered away from her head bobbing on the surface of the water, ending with a mere bump on the back of her head (“mere” being appropriate as the outcome could have been far worse).  Every bit of the weekend felt easy, and didn’t feel quite like a whirlwind as we were completely in the moment at all times.  I am ever so thankful for these people.  Lucky me.

I know it will not be long before I am back in the Florida Keys for more adventures, so stay tuned…