Saturday at Snipe Point with Michael (Conchscooter), Layne, Therese, and the dogs. After a week of on and off thunderstorms that terrorized Zuzu and Tootie, we set off this fantastic Saturday morning for Snipe Point. The wind was 10mph out of the southeast providing for perfect anchorage, and the tide was low at 12:30 allowing for plenty of shallow water for swimming. 

While Layne and Therese, her friend visiting from Europe, were lounging in the 85 degree gulf water, the boys set up the chairs on the beach under a nice shade tree, either a white mangrove or a buttonwood, we couldn't decide.

Zuzu, Tootie, and Cheyenne joined us, not too interested in swimming, more interested in exploring the deserted island.

Our camp was amid several interesting driftwood sculptures rising out of the sand. I thought this one framed Zuzu perfectly. The tide was particularly low this morning, exposing much more sand than I had seen. With no water to walk the boat in towards shore, we had to shlep the chairs, cooler, and snacks across the sand flat to our shady spot on the beach.

We set off to explore around the corner. The beach ended where the mangroves began, but the water was shallow enough to stump along the vegetation.

Michael and Cheyenne stayed close to the shore line with Zuzu and Tootie following. Wayne and I ventured off into the open area looking for horseshoe crabs and treasure. When Zuzu and Tootie noticed that we weren't behind them the set off towards us across the shallow water at full speed.

This is a usual scene...Wayne walking through the shallow water looking for shells with Zuzu and Tootie following behind.

We met up with Michael and Cheyenne.

And headed back to the chairs and to the bag of potato chips!

A quiet and relaxing morning. Michael was quite content enjoying this beautiful day and thinking very little about having to head into work at 5:00pm.

Cheyenne found a shady spot under a tree (the white mangrove or buttonwood tree). If you look closely, you'll see her under the branches blending in with the sand.

Wayne relaxed a bit on a piece of driftwood. Zuzu and Tootie close by. After some silence, Wayne exclaimed that next time we were to bring the hammock so we could string it between two trees on the beach. Now that would be living!

Zuzu and Tootie chillin' on the beach.

It was a glorious day. Hard to believe that in a week's time we could be facing a tropical storm or hurricane. But for now, we'll take this perfect day on the water.

A Day at the Beach

Marvin Key was the desired destination on the Friday morning, the last day of vacation for my sister Judy, niece Katie, and her fiancé Kyle, but the tides had covered the sand bar washing away any possibility of relaxing in our beach chairs under the blue sky filled with summer clouds. "Snipe Point?" I suggested and it was agreed. The high tide made it easy to boat in close to the beach, unload the chairs, umbrella, coolers, snorkels, masks, towels, and dogs. Below, you can see Wayne (the white spot in the water) guiding Zuzu and Tootie towards the beach as I backed out anchored the boat in deeper water.

The boat appears to be further out than it actually was, but it still was a slow walk through waist to knee deep water back to the beach.

Wayne had Tootie's attention as he scanned the beach for shells, or maybe a tasty tidbit for her.

Like anxious children eager to play on the beach, they looked to Wayne, the master of ceremonies and dispenser of treats. We think the girls see a gleaming Roach Coach when they look at Wayne who is seemingly always ready to hand out copious amounts of boiled gizzards and chicken bits to his devoted vizslas.

There wasn't too much activity, simply a quiet morning at Snipe Point. There was another dog, Chrissy, just down the beach from us, and a few more dogs even further down and around the bend. Zuzu and Tootie set off to greet them and to see if they had any delectable handouts. No luck, so they returned to our "camp"knowing lunch would soon be served.

Tootie loves the boat, loves running through the water, and loves exploring these mangrove islands in the back country. She doesn't love, however, lying on wet sand. She has her standards. The incoming tide made it even more difficult to find a comfortable dry spot for as soon as she lay down, the waves crept closer and eventually surrounded her.

Wayne decided to move his beach chair into the water near a piece of driftwood. The perfect spot to prop his feet up and take a nap.

Tootie eyed an opportunity to lie on something high, soft, and dry. Wayne's stomach.

Now, Tootie is not a petite girl. We are trying to help her shed some pounds. She's no longer 60lbs, but she's still north of 50.

Around and around she went trying to find the most comfortable spot atop Wayne. Zuzu looked on thinking either Tootie had lost her mind or she was very resourceful.

Ah...that's it...she found her own private island.

She just had to be sure this perch was stable before curling up for a nap.

The swells were still coming in. The only dry spot is further up on Wayne's chest.

That's were she wanted to lie down. Zuzu, however, was quite happy standing in the water.

There, the princess has found her spot. Too bad Wayne didn't bring any treats with him. I'm sure Tootie would have liked a gizzard or two while resting on top of Wayne.

I remained on dry land, and eventually Zuzu and Tootie joined me under the tree.

They enjoyed their relaxing afternoon on the beach at Snipe Point.

Visit from Aunt Judy, Katie and Kyle

Zuzu and Tootie's aunt Judy, Katie, and Kyle came down for a visit. It was Kyle's first visit to the Keys, and deep sea fishing was on the top of his to do list. Katie's adventures involved dry land. Shopping along Duval Street. The soon to be newlyweds spent time exploring Key West and it's neighboring islands, while Judy relaxed on the lanai with her iced tea and Kindle, happy to be back in Florida.

One afternoon, we sent Katie and Kyle off in the kayak and we took Judy into Key West for some sightseeing. It was the last day of June, the last day some attractions are free for locals. Having already done the Conch Tour Train, Aquarium, and Ship Wreck Museum, it was time to round out the list with Truman's Little White House.

It was a fantastic and very informative tour. Photos of the interior are prohibited, but the house feels like you stepped back into the Truman era. A must see if you haven't been.

After the tour, we walked lower Duval and ended up at Amigos, a fairly new mexican restaurant on Green St. across from Captain Tony's Saloon. The motto of Amigos, "Once you've ruined your reputation you can live quite freely," a fitting motto for this town. Their claim to fame are their square tacos on tortillas handmade daily. 

You can check out their website at http://www.amigoskeywest.com/amigos/

Judy quenched her thirst with a well made margarita on the rocks with a salted rim. Wayne and I were more conservative with our ice waters. We enjoyed our perch at the counter watching the tourists pass by while we nosed on our taco chips, very yummy salsa, guacamole, a chicken taco, and a shrimp taco.

On their last day, we planned a trip to Marvin Key for some swimming and relaxing on the sand flat. Tides were higher than anticipated, completely inundating the sand flat, so we set a course for neighboring Snipe Point.

 We dropped off the passengers, dogs, and gear before pulling the boat to deeper waters for anchorage.

Wayne and Tootie enjoying a stroll in the warm water along the beach.

Chairs and umbrella are set. Let the relaxing begin.

Judy, Katie, and Kyle snorkeled the shallow waters searching for shells,

while we relaxed in our beach chairs under the shade of a tree.

Zuzu and Tootie hung out with us at first, but then set off to explore the beach. When we arrived, we were the only one's on the point, but within a half hour, another boat arrived followed by another, and new four legged friends were running along the beach. Zuzu and Tootie quickly became friends with Chrissy, Weasel, and two other dogs.

It was a very nice, lazy, relaxing morning that bled into the afternoon.

Zuzu and Tootie enjoyed the beach and laying in the sun.

Judy never left the water. She said, at first, that she couldn't do this everyday. It would get too monotonous. But then she quickly changed her mind and decided that yes, she could do this everyday.

So could we.

Stay tuned for more from Snipe Point.