Snorkeling Reward

In two weeks, this is going to be me!!

Ever since the family trip was canceled (due to Dad's sudden romance and now impending marriage), I knew I had about 7 days of vacation time that was expiring the first week in October. Use it or lose it was the only choice. Happily, my soon-to-be-mom lives in Florida and has generously offered the use of her guest room. So in two weeks, I'm off to Florida.

Two or three of those days are going to be spent in the Keys, learning to snorkel. I'm so excited, it's hard to sit still. I haven't been to the beach since college--yikes, that's something like 20 years ago. I'll probably come back looking like a boiled lobster because even with sunscreen, I burn (part of the trade off of being a third shift vampire, rarely seeing the sun. Or so I'm told.) I'd like to see if I can do a little scuba diving, too, if the cost isn't too severe.

I'll be driving down Alligator Alley and spending a few hours in Everglades National Park before stopping in Key Largo. Then it's on to John Pennecamp's world famous natural reef and wildlife sanctuary. I'm just hoping the weather cooperates and a hurricane doesn't ruin my plans. I might even be able to stop and see St. Augustine on the way home. But I might skip that in favor of a visit to the Dolphin Research Center instead.

Talk about a great finale to the end of Phase One..