Islamorada Journal 2010...Day 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here we go again...

Yes good folk, we're off to the Florida Keys again. Can't tell you how much we've looked forward to this day...to getting back to our friends [especially Wayne, Linda, Hans, and Jim] and to the wonders to be found in Key Largo, Islamorada, the Everglades National Park, and adjacent waters. We particularly anticipate our visit with Susan, Bill, Janice, Rod, Bob, Ruth, and Judy when we make our stop in the Greater Venice, FL Area [includes Sarasota].

Indeed, the looking-forward has reached a peak this past week as temperatures descended into the singles [below that with wind chill] and winds howled around Connecticut.

Regrettably, before we can see our dear friends and relatives, we must first TRAVEL to Florida. This starts with about 300 miles of nasty old I-95 including the scenic New Jersey Turnpike.

Don't want to gripe too long about this [actually, I'd like to open the hotel window and scream out: "THERE'S TOO MANY #$@%&* CARS ON THAT ROAD"]. In short, was probably the worst traffic I've ever experienced. Thank goodness there were no accidents or else we'd probably still be out there on that God-forsaken highway.***

Problem is, we're taking the Auto Train...and to take the Train, one first has to get to Lorton, VA. This means motoring through New York City, down the Jersey Pike, past Baltimore, through DC...into Virginia. Some of the worst @#$%& traffic known to mankind.

Why couldn't Amtrak have put the Auto Train terminal in Danbury, CT?

Of course, it wasn't all that ugly. There was a decent sunset [not up to Islamorada standards, but not bad]...and it was pretty exciting seeing that group of three UFOs flying over DC. They probably had just dropped off some Congress members...having studied their brains and found nothing but mush.

Am obviously not in a great mood at the moment, but promise to be in a better frame of mind tomorrow. We'll be stuck here in VA for another full day as our train doesn't leave until Friday morning [we bailed out of CT two days early to avoid the incoming foul weather]. But, the worst part of the trip is over [I hope].

[***Added note: Thinking about my comment about I-95 being "God-Forsaken," if we drove 300+ miles on that road and never saw an accident, probably the opposite was actually true.]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Don’t forget, a saltwater fishing license is now required to fish the marine waters of Connecticut. You can purchase one from your local bait & tackle shop, such as Newtown Bait & Tackle, or at Town/City Hall.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Check these links for more information:

Connecticut Tourism;
Long Island Sound Resource Center;
Housatonic Valley Association;
Stratford, Connecticut;
Milford, Connecticut