I must have visited Robbie's at Islamorada every day for 6 months, not in a physical presence but as a virtual tourist via their on line web cam. There was something hypnotic about that simple wooden jetty and the scores of people it seemed to attract every time I looked. Perhaps it was the fact that everyone always looked happy, smiling and relaxed, a welcome relief from the constant negativity the internet brings of people complaining and news stories containing more sadness. I had first come across Robbie's whilst researching for our trip along the Florida keys, every guidebook mentioned it, TripAdvisor raved about it…..a must see attraction on the road to Key West. Checking their website and subsequently the web cam opened up a window to a bright sunny place, an escape from the dull grey dreariness outside my own windows , somewhere I was determined to visit when in the area.
http://www.robbies.com/videos.htm
Having been in Miami for a few days it was time for us to venture down to Key West and subsequently call in at Robbie's. Passing through Key Largo it wasn’t long till we came to it, just at the far end of one of the long bridges that make the trip down the keys so picturesque. Turning onto a small dirt road to a tree covered car park, We had arrived.
Although keen to get to the shore side to experience my web cam vision in person, we strolled round the numerous wooden huts which lead to the entrance. Stalls containing a variety of craft based businesses, jewellery, t-shirts and the “quotation” mini surf boards, a familiar sight round touristy Florida…..it’s always five o’clock somewhere apparently.
We finally came across the official entrance, a large wooden, weathered battered hut with all sorts of odd contraptions decorating the exterior together with it's hand painted signs. Inside the walls house a monument to the fallen…not some tribute to sailors lost at sea but a collection of all sorts of items that have dropped into the water from careless visitors who have failed to secure their possessions when tending to the sea life that attract so many guests. . A wall full of Sunglasses aplenty, bundles of keys, hats and cameras from across the years.
A small fee allowed access to the shore front jetty and for those daring enough another couple of dollars purchased a small bucket of fish to feed the awaiting Tarpons with the insatiable appetites. Walking out on the jetty I had finally arrived, a place familiar to me but from a whole new angle but with the same cast….the happy tourists, the collection of small moored boats and the enormous number of Pelicans.
The atmosphere was infectious as shrieks of laughter bellowed out from groups of people, heads bowed downwards overhanging the jetty peering in to water. The bravest lay down ,.. bait laden hands hanging perilously close to the surface, ready to test their reflexes when the Tarpons jump to get their rewards. Looking into the shallow clear water swarms of them jostled for position, some of them enormous at least 5 feet long, it’s no wonder they grow so large with the constant supply of food being given out each day. Groups of Pelicans looked on jealously, desperate for their share of the action, the boldest amongst them edging nervously ever closer to the buckets left unattended, hoping to sneak a bite whilst the owners are distracted by the antics going on in the water.
Before we left we sat peacefully at the bar on the waters edge, watching a family gracefully glide off on their paddle boards, small boats moor off with their excited occupants setting up fishing rods ready to see what catch they can bring in. A cold beer in hand sitting back I looked at the camera in the distance that brings me my view of Robbie's when I am back home and thought as much as I love that view this “4D experience” with the additional sun and breeze is by far the better option…..
