Family visit

Everything was in place. The scrubbed decks of 'Southern Vectis' sparkled in the sunshine at her dock at the 'Sombrero Boatman Resort' at the head of Boot Key Harbour, Marathon. We'd provisioned suite 406 at the resort with all the basics, and then some. Patti, our neighbour, had kindly lent us her car as our bikes would have groaned with the load. We were ready. Louisa, Steve and our grandsons, Leo, Orson and Simon, had spent a day in Orlando visiting 'Harry Potter World', and were now making the long, six hour drive down through Florida and the Keys, to visit 'Granny & Grandad World'!!
During the past month of our stay in Marathon we had been researching 'things to do', and had come up with a longish list of possibles. We were realistic enough to realize that we'd probably only do half of them, if that.......but we were wrong! At the end of the visit the only thing left undone was a kayak trip amongst the mangroves - maybe not that exciting for three energetic boys who were happy spending as much time as possible in and under the water of the pool or the ocean.
The resort was perfect for our 'group' - a very relaxed atmosphere, and also not too busy. Louisa & Steve had rented a mini-van so we could all travel together on our excursions. But instead of ticking off one of our 'things to do' each day, we found ourselves able to cover at least two, and sometimes even three. Our 'group' was a tour guide's dream.......no complaints and tons of enthusiasm!
We spent some memorable times at Sombrero Beach, just down the road from the resort. We could get there by dinghy through 'Sister Creek'. Grandad & Simon did some fishing en route, but found that they needed more practice! We also had a wonderful afternoon at Bahia Honda State Park beach, snorkeling in the warm, turquoise sea, and building sand castles with the icing sugar sand.
Key West was only an hour's drive away, and, as we had spent some time there with the boat, we could act as tour guides. We visited the Old Historic Seaport and showed everyone where 'Southern Vectis' had been docked. We walked to the centre of activities for the old town - Duval Street - and wandered along the packed sidewalks, window-shopping. A favourite activity was the visit to the 'Toy Factory' where we met Jamie, a magician Bill & I had met on our last visit. The boys were entranced by his card tricks and bought some tricks to practice at home. We found a nice Irish pub for supper, and then joined the crowds at Mallory Square for the 'Sunset Ceremony'. The boys found watching stilt-walking, fire throwing jugglers, and the many other assorted 'acts', far more fascinating than watching a fiery red ball of gas sink into the sea!
And so our days passed all too quickly. Louisa and Steve went out to Sombrero Reef on a scuba trip, we visited the Dolphin Research Centre and the Turtle Hospital. We also visited some of our favourite 'Tiki Bars' - Salty's, and the Keys' Fisheries - and had a memorable last night's dinner at the 'Sunset Grill', where the boys swam as the sun set on our perfect time together.
On Easter Sunday, before they set off on their drive north to Stuart to spend some time with Fruji and John, their other granny & grandad, there was an Easter Egg hunt on 'Southern Vectis'. Luckily the Easter Bunny had sensibly left the chocolates in the air-conditioned cabin!
They are all back in Toronto now, and we are back in Miami. We miss them, but look forward to seeing them all again soon on our return to Toronto.