MaMaLiRZ

Having seen the splendor of the Everglade’s we couldn’t stop. On we went. Excited by the quest 4-63, fueled on by the success of floating through the Everglades on the last ride of the day, we stopped to get a picture at the National Park sign to mark our enthusiasm. I pulled over and readied the kids. Just a quick stop, pic, then off again. The mosquitos had other plans. Unbeknownst to us, it was dinner time and we were the only options on the menu. Within a nanosecond of stepping out of the car they dove in like maggots on roadkill. We must have looked insane to anyone passing by. Slapping each other, jumping in response to the attack. Unsure if we were stung more by each other’s slaps or the bites of the mosquitos and noseeums.

Forget the picture, every woman and child for themselves, get back in the car, to safety. I hear the laughter from the universe. Silly girl, you won’t get rid of them that quickly…nope, the mosquitos were ready for their dessert. Windows down, bug spray sprayed, the mosquitos continued their attack. Past the smallest post office and through alligator alley, the attacks continued until they were overcome by our shear determination and brute force. The windshield was as bug covered on the inside as it was on the outside. The slaps, and smacks continued for 30 miles or more. The mosquitos still haunt us. We’ve been mosquito shell shocked!

On our mission though, we will not be deterred…there is another National Park in Florida and it’s only a few more hours away. Do we stop in Miami and enjoy the city or detour and head south in the hopes of finding a way to Dry Tortuga which I only just discovered is off the coast of Key West. I left it up to the kids…and turn south we did! Traveling Route 1, I daydreamed about convertibles traveling to the Florida Keys, tops down, scarf-headed women in their glory as the wind swept the kerchief from their necks. Bouncing from key to key starting after leaving the mainland: hopping to Key Largo, skipping to Big Pine and the huge jump into Key West!

Little did we know, because remember MamaLiRZ did ZERO planning for this trip, there was a half marathon that day and ALL boutique hotels were fully booked and it was appearing that all hotels were as well.

Nope, I will not accept that. Phone a friend, pull out all the stops, and no-limit credit card, all went into effect. <OUCH> But, now that we had the hotel secured, we were off to the southernmost point. We couldn’t come all this way and not take the photo. Lord knows, no photo = never happened.

While trying to remain present and communicating with my now overly tired children, I researched Dry Tortuga, on the walk between the end/beginning of Route 1 and the Southernmost point. Seaplane or ferry. All ferries were booked most likely months in advance by adults that actually planned vacation in and around Key West, versus my spur of the moment escape. But the seaplane, the seaplane allowed me to book for the next day! I love it when a plan, I mean escape, comes together, lol.

All photos taken, we jumped back into the car and drove to the hotel for the night. The hotel room was a welcome respite. We were tired, mosquito bitten, and ready for a shower and sleep. We walked into the inner sanctum and the angels sang. The smell of “Salt and Stone” by Bergamot & Hinoki saturated our welcome. This was no ordinary hotel room. This was an apartment we could live in for years. And it was ours for the night; we seriously considered moving. The arm and the leg that it cost me, seemed insufficient. The Subzero refrigerator, empty but mighty. The solid wood dining room table set for eight, that would go unused.

The clawfoot bath beckoned. The night fell.

My phone woke me at 6:00am. Dry Tortuga was a bust :( Similar to the ferry boats, the seaplanes were fully booked and all passengers were checked in. Waitlist failure.