Wild birds, The African Queen and a good steak to top off a week in Key Largo

After a busy few days with Elin and Abby, we had planned to take it easy Thursday in preparation for breaking camp Friday and heading to Venice, Florida.

For the most part we held to that plan, but in the middle of the afternoon we decided to combine a trip to the supermarket (Winn Dixie) with a couple short trips to attractions we had seen advertised but failed to visit in the past week.

The first attraction was the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center. We had passed the driveway several times in the past week and with Joan our dedicated birder we finally found a few minutes to stop by and see what was on display.

Lots, as it turned out. The center rehabilitates and rescues birds which are injured in any way. The center houses hawks, owls, herons, pelicans, etc. until they are well enough to fly and this on their own.

Without planning it we had stumbled into the center just in time for the 3:30 p.m. feeding of the pelicans and other wild birds who hang around the 4 p.m. treat. Buckets of bait fish, which are donated by area fishermen, are fed to the birds for the enjoyment of the visitors.

It was very entertaining and we decided to sponsor an injured bird as a thank you for the center.

The center is in the process of updating its facilities and the caretaker said the place had fallen on hard times after some people took advantage of the founder in recent years.

After leaving the wild bird center we drove back and made a quick stop to see "The African Queen" the boat used in the Humphrey Bogart/Katherine Hepburn movie of the same name. Bogie is one of my favorite actors and that was one of my favorite movies of his so kind of a treat to see the boat up close.

Apparently you can pay to take it for a cruise, but it didn't look very seaworthy to me.

Once back home we pulled out the electric grill and had some great steaks and Shrimp Louie salad. I put away some of the outdoor camping equipment in preparation for tomorrow’s hook up and move.

Joan also got our laundry caught up as the Laundromat is directly across the street from our campsite. We now have enough clean clothes for another week.

Today I also finished Book No. 5 in the Master and Commander series – Desolation Island – in the afternoon.

Key Largo has been a fun stop, especially with the visit from Elin and her friend, Abby. But all good things must end and thus so does this stop. On to Venice.