September 15, 2016 - Pennekamp State Park, Key Largo via Motorhome!

Our first stop in the Keys was in Key Largo at John Pennekamp State Park! We stayed in a full hook up site including sewer for four nights. It was nice and shady and we were able to get satellite TV reception by parking the motorhome all the way forward on our  site #39 at the suggestion of our very friendly and helpful neighbor, David, who immediately came over and introduced himself. More about David later.

 So here we are all set up and ready to go explore on our bikes!

Before we could get on our bikes to leave, we see this car with a lady perched up on the seat holding a beach umbrella passing through the campground. I guess there is more than one way to avoid the sun and help beat the heat!  

 Pennekamp has a large concession area serving grilled burgers, hotdogs and sandwiches with a shaded outdoor eating area complete with tables, chairs and free wifi! This was also the place for renting kayaks, paddle boards and booking glass bottom boat tours. Pennekamp attracts a lot of day visitors so there was always a steady stream of customers in and out of this area. This is also a great area to just kick back, relax and people watch! Pennekamp is a great place to have fun while being active!  

  We love trees and we could never have too many and Pennekamp did not disappoint us at all! To sit and linger for an hour or two  beneath a tree with a shade can renew one's spirit and energy. God gave us trees for many different reasons!  

Pennekamp has so much to offer day visitors and campers including a fabulous beach with clear water and a nice breeze!

We had the pleasure of seeing "Shy Hamlet" at the aquarium/museum here at Pennekamp. So much to do and see here!

Pennekamp is so beautiful by day or night and is home to a wonderful RV park. We walked or biked everywhere in the park. We could usually be found late afternoons on one of these two benches as the sun was waving goodbye to another day. We have had so much fun but how can you go to Florida and not have fun! 

 Okay back to our friendly and helpful neighbor, David. On our last full day here, David called 911 for his wife who had a sudden and severe headache with nausea. David followed the ambulance to the hospital and returned several hours later telling us that they were transferring his wife to a hospital in Miami for surgery. His plan was to go to Miami in the very early AM. He gave us a key to his camper along with instructions to walk and care for his dog. David felt like he would be back before our scheduled checkout time tomorrow. We were awakened by a knock on our door about 4 AM. It was David crying uncontrollably and saying that the doctor had called and said she didn't make it. He said "She died. I came here with my wife and I am leaving without her." Oh to witness someone experience that kind of sudden and unexpected tragic pain was almost unbearable until we realized we were the only two people he had that early morning of September. Changes can be so "sudden" and life really is as a vapor.
We are leaving Pennekamp today so heavy hearted and almost in disbelief at times. It is going to be a very quiet drive to our next stop, Long Key. David has our telephone number. I hope he calls....