I’m up early, do a workout in the large, dated but functional exercise room. Two days here I never see anyone else in it. Just me and the cats about (there is at least 5 of them at the place) as I go for a dip in the pool afterwards and walk around the place, look at the ocean.
Put the coffee on back at the room (we have a coffee maker, no filters but I can make do) and do a bit of work in my “office”. The wi-fi is awful in the room but the suite has a massive bathroom including jacuzzi tub AND a desk and chair. The wi-fi is much better here and it’s pretty comfortable.
Christy gets up, we have breakfast – partly our own and partly from the free continental they offer down by the pool.
We don’t have a beach here and it’s not very inviting for ocean swimming though the pool is very nice. We decide to bike up to Harry Harris Park where apparently there is a beach about 9 miles away. On the way we inspect the nearby city park which looks awesome – great pools, pickleball, tennis courts, soccer, etc. and a nice swimming area. Take a couple side trips down the Old Highway and decide we want to buy here. Turns out we only need 4 or 5 million USD … please send donations.
Roll into Harry Harris but rather than the pristine white sand beach we expected we find a small swampy seawater pool bordered by a rock wall. Lots of families about doing the Thanksgiving thing and everyone is very friendly. We have a bite to eat and rest a bit but decide to head back to the city park for a swim.
It’s pretty hot and we’re pretty happy to get back to the oceanside park for a cooling swim.
Still got 2 hot miles to go to get back to our hotel but there is a cute little curio shop we stop at on the way. Christy takes a pic of the second-most photographed Florida Keys landmark – Betsy the Lobster. I talk myself into an ice-cold Pina Colada. Not my normal drink but oooooh so good today. Chris and I share – just don’t want to get brain freeze ya know.
Back at the Hotel California we really enjoy the cool freshwater pool as we chill a bit before Thanksgiving dinner.
It’s American Thanksgiving and we are all invited to a pot luck initiated by the hotel owner. He does the turkey, mash and sweet potatoes, guests just bring something and BYOB. We’re bringing a couple pies and ice cream.
Dinner is great, I have multiple helpings and we sit around the tiki bar which is no longer a tiki bar – I think they had too many rowdy nights there and don’t operate it any more – and enjoy the company. Owner’s daughter (15?) is really animated and entertains the crowd. We all tell a few stories and jokes – don’t worry I kept mine clean.
Everybody disperses and we head back to the room and chill until bed time.