Bodie State Park

 Hi there! It's me Little Fox visiting Bodie State Historic Park, where long ago, humans rushed here in 1859 chasing shiny gold and built a wild, bustling town. I scampered through dusty streets and peeked into old wooden buildings where 10,000 people once lived, laughed, and sometimes got into trouble!

 Now it's quiet and still—a perfect ghost town for a curious fox like me to explore and imagine the past.✨

I tiptoed up to the old wooden church, its steeple reaching bravely into the sky like it still had something holy to say. Inside, the pews are dusty and silent, but I can almost hear the echoes of songs and whispers from long ago.  Notice the electric lamps? Bodie was an operational town until WWII when the town died up.  In 1962 the State of California received the land and made it into a state park.  Thanks, California!.

The old buildings in Bodie lean and creak like they're sharing secrets with the wind, their windows still watching the empty streets. I love sneaking through the shadows, imagining all the stories left behind in the cracks of the wood.

Notice the wooden post holding the building up?  
The Eastern Sierra winters are tough on these old buidlings but they are standing strong. 

My adventure to Bodie State Park was like stepping into a storybook filled with dusty treasures and forgotten tales. From the creaky old church to the leaning wooden buildings, every corner whispered secrets of the past. As I scampered back home, my little fox heart felt full of wonder and curiosity, already dreaming of my next wild adventure. 🦊📜🌄

Hello California hiking

 Hiya gang, 
Little Fox here with my hiking pal (he's taking a break in Merrill Oregon) while the roommates are waiting for food. 

Found this cool old stove in Merrill.  Notice the brand, yep I bet you didn't realize us foxes were in the furnace biz.  

Now to the hiking.... the Eastern Sierra Nevadas are so amazing.  So similar to Yosemite but the cool thing is being in the national forest you can bring your dog on the hike.

The alpine lakes are so amazing. 

The granite (right????) are so different than the Pacific Northwest - 

Not only dramatic lakes but amazing hiking through the trees. 

Once we finished the hike, the roommates went to the store at the campground since they saw a milkshake machine.....sadly the darn thing was broken.

Stuffies and places I saw along the way

A few random friends I met along the way in Miami, Marathon and Key West.

Hemingways cats. 

More Hemingways cats. 

Key West Chickens. 

Key West Chickens. 

Potato, my stuffy drinking buddy.

Who knew Sandy had a cafe in Key West?

Makes sense why I saw these All Dressed chips in Key West (still the best flavor by far).

 

Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson

 Dry Tortugas National Park can be accessed by ferry or seaplane from Key West, offering stunning views along the way. The ferry departs daily, while seaplane flights provide a quicker and significantly more expense option.  Guess which one this fox is on?

It was smooth sailing that day on the boat.  A couple hours later this guy arrived safely at Fort Jefferson at Dry Torugas National Park

ort Jefferson, located on Garden Key in Dry Tortugas, was built in the mid-1800s as a coastal defense but was never fully completed or used in battle. In the late 1800s, it became a prison, housing various prisoners, including Dr. Samuel Mudd, who was convicted for his involvement in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Mudd served his sentence at the fort, where he eventually gained the respect of fellow prisoners and guards by treating their medical ailments, earning him a pardon in 1869.

Once inside the fort there were a lot of places to explore.  Lots of windows to fire cannons at potential threats during the Civil War.  Rumor has it they had 450 cannons ready to go.

So many old building to explore.  My archeology professor is going to be impressed.

The birds on the island were amazing.  So many of them. 

Even outside of the fort was cool.  A lot of the passengers on the ferry I took used their time to play on the beach and in the water.

Do you think the roommates will splurge for the seaplane home?

Nope, no luck. Taking the ferry back.

Drinking Buddies

 Drunk Fox told me that when he was partying hard in the 70s Key West was the place to be. I took a few of his recommendations on places to check out and they have stood the test of time.  

First up is Captain Tony's.  Captain Tony's Saloon in Key West is a historic bar with a laid-back, quirky vibe. Jimmy Buffett played here for drinks and tips before becoming famous, soaking in the island atmosphere that inspired much of his music.

A small drink of island punch.

Um, this punch is pretty good.

While I was drinking I met a cool potato from the East Coast.  Her humans must know how to party as they were on their 6th bar that day (yes, Captain Tony's was the 6th).  

Potato and I hung out for a while (he is a newer stuffy) but has his own Instagram as well.

A few more drinks later and it's a miracle that I didn't fall over.

After Captain Tony's, it was time to go to the Green Parrot.   The Green Parrot Bar in Key West, founded in 1890, is one of the island’s oldest and most iconic dive bars. Known for its lively atmosphere and welcoming crowd, it’s been a favorite spot for locals.  

 Over the years, it has hosted countless musicians and artists, becoming a key stop on the Key West music scene. Its eclectic décor and strong drinks make it a timeless part of the island’s vibrant nightlife.

Don't worry readers there was plenty of drinking in Marathon and Miami. 

A mojito here and there.

Plus a Moscow Mule to finish the night.

Key West

 Who is the guy in my photo?  Ugh, tourists. I made it to Key West and yep I'm in the southernmost point in the continental US. 

Off to see the cats at the Hemingway house.  Ernest Hemingway had a house in Key West because he fell in love with the island’s laid-back lifestyle and found it an inspiring place to write (and drink). The house became home to many cats, including one with extra toes given to him by a ship’s captain. Today, the cats—many with extra toes—are famous for being descendants of Hemingway’s original feline and are a unique feature of the property.

Hemingway didn't have much money but his wife (at the time) had a rich uncle who funded the restoration of the house (including adding a swimming pool).

This the room where he wrote some of his famous works including To Have and Have Not, Snows of Kilimanjaro and a little bit of For Whom the Bell Tolls. 

More cats, so awesome.  These cats are federally protected. The gate to the house is open and the cats are free to go but the guide said they never leave.

There are a ton of chickens in Key West and they are protected by the city. Why you ask? There are so many in Key West because they are descendants of birds brought over by early settlers for food and cockfighting. When cockfighting was outlawed and people no longer needed them for food, many chickens were released and began roaming freely. With the island’s warm climate and lack of natural predators, the chicken population continued to grow and is now a well-known part of Key West’s charm.

These chickens weren't too friendly to this fox. Must keep my distance.

Drinking is a big thing in Key West (Drunk Fox used to hang out here in the 70s and he could tell you stories).  I went to a few bars, this is the Green Parrot. Good drinks, loud music. 

The Key West butterfly convservatory was amazing.  Why are there no pictures of butterflies with me?  Well, have you tried to take a photo of a stuffy and a butterfly?  Very challenging.  Flamingos were much easier to take a photo with.

There's more to come in Key West but this little fox heard the sunsets are amazing at Mallory Square.  The universe wasn't cooperating for a sunset this time but got some nice pictures none-the-less