Crab Traps

Since the opening of stone crab season, Sugarloaf Sound and Turkey Basin have become obstacle courses of floating buoys. The waters abound with recreational crab traps hoping to catch those delicious claws. Not to be left out of the hunt, we purchased a kit of five traps from Cudjoe Sales, a fishing license, and the bait, hogs feet, from the fish market. The following day, we assembled the traps in the garage. 

The assembly went smoothly and in no time we had our five traps ready for the concrete, rope and buoys.

Hmm, nothing in there yet. Especially without bottoms. The trap bottom is made with concrete. We lined the traps, sitting on plastic garbage bags, on the driveway, poured the concrete in the bottom of each one,  smoothed it out and let it cure. Before the concrete set, I wrote my name in the concrete for ID purposes. Poaching crab traps is taken very seriously down here!

Zuzu and Tootie were ready to head out on the boat. But first, Zuzu was eyeing Rusty the Iguana (so named by our neighbors) who was sunning himself on the rock while two other green iguanas were noshing on blades of grass. I guess the flowers on our neighbor's Hibiscus are not quite sweet enough.

Once the concrete cured and the rope and buoy were tied to each trap, it was time to load them up, head out and find a spot in the Sound and set the traps.

Puttering out our canal and across the shallow water, we eyed possible locations for our traps.

To start, we decided on a spot just inside the main channel. It's only about 3 feet deep here, probably a bit too shallow, but we'll give it a try and see what we can catch.

Zuzu and Tootie were a great help finding a spot and keeping an eye out for other boats. Once we set the traps, we took them for a quick boat ride. They like to go fast and smell the salt air. After our quick tour, we puttered back across the shallows into the sun towards our canal.

Zuzu is always on watch while Tootie was wondering where her blanket went. I guess she was ready for another nap.

Stay tuned. Zuzu and Tootie will go back out with us next week to pull the traps.

Return to Marvin Key

The recent cold front passed and the winds and seas calmed. It was time to revisit our summer getaway, Marvin Key. It was a rather nice autumn day in the Keys, a southeast wind and temperatures in the low 80s. Our good friends from New Hampshire, Gary and Rosanne, followed us out in their boat to lay the track in their GPS. Zuzu and Tootie were crazy with excitement as we prepared the boat for our midday excursion...they knew a trip was imminent. 

Once moored on the sandbar behind Marvin Key,   

Zuzu and Tootie were off like rockets running on the sand.

See you later...off they went to far edge of the sandbar...

...and across the sandbar...

...one in pursuit of the other...

...back to the boat.

The cool water (72.5 degrees cold!) must have felt refreshing. It was a bit of a shock for me being accustomed to the warm summer water. Tootie nipped at Zuzu and ran.

Zuzu took the bait and chased after Tootie through the shallow water.

Play time at Marvin Key. It doesn't get any better than this!

It was time for a quick water break and rest on the boat. They really like their floating kennel that takes them to new and fun places.

Just another casual and relaxing day in the Keys. Hard to believe it's mid-November!

A contemplative moment for Zuzu as she looks across Turkey Basin.

Scanning for boats and birds, anything she can chase. Tootie, however, is laying down not far from Zuzu. She'd rather be the lazy dog and let Zuzu be the watchdog.

Nearing the end of our excursion, the girls were intrigued by something floating at water's edge.

Just before pushing off the sandbar and heading back to Sugarloaf Key, Tootie visited Rosanne in her boat to give her a thank you kiss for coming along.

It was a good day...when do we go again?

Zuzu and Tootie's Autumn Adventures

"Do you want to go bye-bye in the car?" The question Zuzu and Tootie absolutely love to hear to which they respond with frantic tail wags, butt wiggles, and smiles. "Yes, yes we do!" And yes, Zuzu does actually smile while she dances with excitement. They just love going for rides in the car. 

Zuzu is definitely a princess riding on her bed on the back seat.

The princess Vizsla gives the camera a quick pose.

During the summer months, our rides were just that, rides with no destination. But with the recent arrival of our second cold front ushering in a brisk cold north wind, our rides have a purpose. Searching for new trails up and down the lower keys. With a temperature in the mid 70s and a constant wind to keep the insects away, walking the various trails in the mangroves is much more pleasant. This particular afternoon we decided to explore an old road on the bayside of Summerland Key.

As you can see, there's not much to the trail. Encroaching and invasive non-native Brazilian Peppers (a.k.a. Florida Holly because of the red berries that appear this time of year) line the path along with some mangrove, poison wood, and other various native and non-native plants. As for the fauna, there's not much to track and chase save the occasional iguana or lizard.

So past the barricades we went and marched along the old road seeking what awaits ahead...

...Trash. Tootie found a piece of plastic fencing, and it was not the last piece of trash she'd find. There were piles of trash and debris along the road including a camper shell and the hull of a large boat, which had an inappropriate name scribbled in spray paint on its side. Not sure if the surge from Wilma pushed the debris back here or if people were avoiding the dumping fee at the Transfer Station on Cudjoe.

Near the trash pile, Zuzu and Tootie decided to hop up on some concrete blocks to better survey the area for critters. No luck, none were spotted.

The following day, we took Zuzu and Tootie with us to the Hurricane Hole, a waterfront restaurant on Stock Island near the Cow Key Channel, for happy hour with our good friends, Gary and Rosanne, who just arrived for the winter season. We thought it was time to expose Zuzu and Tootie to a different kind of adventure, one with more people and distractions, and Hurricane Hole was the perfect place. It's very dog friendly. Gary and Rosanne grabbed a table off to the side near the dock and the server had already brought out a bowl of ice water before we arrived for Zuzu and Tootie.

I asked the server if we could get a plain hamburger for the dogs while we noshed on our apps, conch fritters and fish dip, and drank our beers. She said, "We have a doggie menu. I'll bring you one." Wow, this place does know how to take care of its four legged customers! We ordered some Hurricane Nibbles and Mailman Morsels for them. Once their food arrived Zuzu and Tootie quickly forgot about the loud boat engines and the other distractions .

We had a great time with Gary and Rosanne relaxing on the dock drinking our "happy beers." And we were very happy with how well Zuzu and Tootie quickly adapted to this new experience.

They hung out behind and under the table safely near Wayne and didn't feel comfortable enough to lay down. But, we're sure they will be more confident the next time we go.

Just another new experience for Zuzu and Tootie. Hard to believe that it will be a year this Thanksgiving since they were rescued from the mill.

They have come a long, long way and continue to grow with each passing day.