Anne's Beach

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

 

We had a big day yesterday, so today is shopping and trying another local beach.

 

Shopping included the grocery store and Kmart.  Jim’s snorkel had failed and Kmart had the brand that Jim wanted so that worked fine.  Groceries included a Ribeye steak for the grill this evening.

 

After storing the groceries and lunch at the RV, we headed off for the beach…

 

Anne’s Beach, Lower Matecumbe Key.  Beaches in the Keys are generally very disappointing.  We have been spoiled by beaches at Destin and Pensacola Beach.  Others, like Tampa, Jacksonville, Daytona… are great, too.  The Keys are coral, the whole place is coral.  The sand is pulverized coral.  In some places it sort of feels like coarse sand, but more often than not, the grinder (wave action) has been running non stop for a long time; and, the pulverized coral is so fine that it can and does make quick sand which is unpleasant to wade through.  The coral pebbles and rocks are also very hard on the bare feet. 

 

With that information, Anne’s Beach looks great as you see it from the highway.  Once we parked and tried to find a good place for setting up chairs and umbrellas, we started to become discouraged.  We did find a place and enjoyed watching kite boarders, and we occasionally waded out through the coral rocks and slimy quick sand to relax in the shallow water which was a very pleasant temperature.

 

The best beach on our list so far is Sombrero Beach in Marathon; no muck, no large coral rocks, lots of space to set chairs and umbrellas and gradually sloping to deeper waters. 

 

Back at the RV, we watched sunset (again), then put the ribeye on the grill.  It was delicious.