Today is a beautiful day, just right for a long drive south.

We are heading down to our first stop in the Florida Keys, down the West Coast, south past Naples, then turn east along ‘Alligator Alley’ all the way across Florida to Miami on the East Coast.

Driving along Alligator Alley consists of miles and miles of the Everglades National Park, not sure how far, but at least 100 miles.

Eventually, we arrived at our stop, the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, a beautiful spot just south of Key Largo and we were directed by the Park Rangers to site 45

That evening we just took a stroll down to the waterfront, then retired to watch the world go by with a glass or two – phew it is very hot!

Up at the crack of dawn the next day, well just before 8, which is very early when you are on holiday and took Millie for her walk, even this early, it was very hot, so we decided to leave Mille in the air-conditioned RV, whilst we had a run around for a couple of hours.

Like Pine Island, there is a Holiday Resort or Hippy feeling to this place, but we suppose that is to be expected as that is what it is, with RV Parks and Hotels all over the place, as well as hundreds of places selling Boats or Diving Gear and loads of restaurants and small café/bars.

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When we got back to the RV, HRH Millie was fast asleep on the Drivers’ seat, but we don’t think she had driven anywhere as the ‘slides’ were still out and the switch for them is too high for her to reach.

Time for lunch and a nice cold drink, no not alcohol (what do you think we are?), then a chill for a couple of hours while the heat goes out of the day

Then out for a walk around the mangroves and water front with Millie before chilling out with a glass or two!

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Up at the crack of dawn again, but a later dawn this time and loaded Millie in the car and set off to explore.

Found the place we are staying on the way back north and also looked at the difficulty of getting out of the John Pennekamp site, turning across a 4 lane highway (US 1) and turning south when we go down to Key West, it is not going to be easy!

Booked a trip in a Glass Bottomed Catamaran to visit the Coral Reef, took Millie back to the RV for a snooze and joined the queue.

Nice trip out through the mangroves and out onto the Atlantic where a 3ft swell was running, the crew warned about seasickness and offered tablets, but tough guys that we are we declined.

We arrived over the reef after about a 40 minute run and ‘hove to’ the tough guy of the pair of us sat in the bottom of the boat and watched the sea bottom carefully to make sure to catch all the pictures of the reef and fish.

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Well after about 30 minutes of this the tough guy of our pair started to sweat, went rather pale and felt a little sick, putting as brave a face on as possible (to save it), he nonchalantly stood up and went outside for some fresh air, followed by the more sensible one, who enquired with some concern after his health.

Not wanting to drop his tough guy image, he pretended to be fine and spent the rest of the voyage watching the horizon and wishing that we were back on Terra Firma!

We don’t think he fooled anyone, but in spite of that it was a great trip.

After a stroll back to the RV on sea legs and taking HRH Millie for a walk, we both collapsed for a well earned snooze.

Steady morning tomorrow as we are off to Key West, but it is only a two hour trip and we cannot book in that site until 1pm.