Marathon and Key West

We left Grand Haven, Michigan 5 months ago today to begin our journey on the Great Loop.  It's amazing how time flies.  I'm also amazed that I have over 10,000 page hits to my website in the 5 months I've been doing it!  How can I only have 14 "Followers"....I don't know.  I hope everyone following my blog has enjoyed it and I really appreciate all of the comments given. My stories could run for hours, but I like the pictures to be my main focus.

This week my parents, Art and Yvonne, came for a visit to Marathon right after they stepped off a cruise ship Sat. in Ft. Lauderdale.  Fortunately, their car holds all 7 of us, but since they've packed everything to stay in Florida for two months, it ALL has to come out for us to fit.  This picture shows most of their baggage plus one more roller board!  We put it all up in the helm and joke how they get a "walk-in" closet on the Negotiator!      

 Morgan loves creating Capsters (a craft G&Grandpa gave her for xmas). You take a bottle top (stash donated from the Birch Lodge from the Jermstads) and glue a picture, figurine, etc. to the inside of it and a magnet on the back. 

 After a trip into Publix for groceries we came outside to find a cold and windy night.  We enjoyed catching up and one night played gin and Euchre. 

The following day we spent in Key West.  On the trip there we stopped at a Nautical Flea Market and Deer Key where we saw a miniature deer crossing the road.  We made it to the southern most point of the US and there was about an hour wait to take your picture by the structure/marker.....so my picture has other people posing next to it. 

 Wild chickens run around town like squirrels in Michigan!

 Beautiful statues filled the area.

 They were very detailed and impressive.

 Ryann insisted this picture make it into the blog. The man lying on the bottom is a statue as well.

 Grandma Yvonne and Grandpa Art treated to a round of ice cream. 

 Always up for the touristy moments.

 Right before sunset the street performers come out of the woodwork.  This guy is a "one man band" and he really did a great job.

The man with the banjo wasn't very entertaining, but his dog stole the show by taking peoples dollars and putting them into the bucket.  He could take multiple peoples money at one time and then wait for his reward....a treat! 

 A Disney Cruise ship added ambiance to a sunset photo.

 A mutual love and admiration for one another. The kids love their time with G&G and fret over when they're leaving. 

 Another photo of the dinghy dock at the City Marina which doesn't even show half of them. It's a community of boaters like we've never seen before.

 My parents took the kids to the Turtle Hospital in Marathon. 

 April the turtle pictured here was among several that were saved at the hospital.

 Ryann said Crusher (pictured below) looks just like Squirt on "Finding Nemo."

McDonalds was a welcoming treat after a fun field day trip.

 Our weekly visit with the homeschooling group had a great turnout.  Pictured here are just the girls on the parallel bars.  From left: Grace, Megan, Colleen, Keena, Bethany holding Mia, Ryann, Morgan and Mia.

 Boo Boo, Jim and Gloria's dog, spent the day with us while they were at Trawler Fest in Stuart, FL. 

 Ryann could not get enough of him!