Work Type: Ray Romine Diaries

Tuesday, February 24, 1953
3rd night in MARATHON, FLA.
To Key West. Hot? Gugged Big Pine Key, finding many whites. Me half-sick at Key West; we did aquarium, ate, got gas, drove around. Fish Mkt. at Marathon again, nice supper; got car greased, looked over Marathon; fixed net, bed early.

Monday, February 23, 1953
MARATHON – FLA.
Up late – good bacon & egg breakfast, did washing, “Downtown” to lunch; visited Geo. Hinklin, went beach (King crown shells) waded; bugged. Took walk tonite- figured schedule, wrote cards, nice fish dinner with ala Trella!

Sunday, February 22, 1953
Homestead, Fla. to Marathon on Vaca Key. Stopped Fennell Orchid Jungle; Bugged Key Largo – saw 1st Berenice. Sun terrific. Lunched N. end Key Largo. Down keys to Marathon, nice roomy cottage. Nice supper & both “died” at 6:30! (Slept 14 hrs!)

Saturday, February 21, 1953
Out of Ft. Lauderdale thru Miami Beach & Miami (wonderful collecting in & near Miami!) Fairchild Tropical Garden- wonderful! Dandy Court Motal in Homestead tonite-very tropical. Wrote till 10:30 – mailed thing & to bed.

Friday, February 20, 1953
Riviera Beach, Fla. to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. And hot? We nearly both passed out. Cabin at noon.. I coh [sic?] 1st Florida White; headaches, naps. Saw tropical foliage, flowers, fruites, at Trella’s old neighbors, Owens’ )Mable) & J. White’s brother & sis in law- Massa’s. Nice time by all.

Thursday, February 19, 1953
Left Daytona Beach (Ted & Jen’s) after looking over the posies & nice breakfast. Down thru orange country, (drove on beach & fed gulls first), bugged in orange grove, work done in car, ended up in Riviera Beach, Fla., near W. Palm Beach. Dinner in cabin, to PO and bed.

Wednesday, February 18, 1953
Parris Island to Daytona Beach, Fla. 350 mi. Tuff day – my stomach off. Policeman bounced us – but Ted & Jenny & family fed & bedded us – bed at 10:30.

Tuesday, February 17, 1953
(Salisbury, N.C. to Parris Island) – 275 (?) mi. Nice sunny trip – later camellias, spanish moss, live oaks & iris 1 place! To USO tonite with John Gill after getting registered at Hostess House; fine time. Paul the pianist, etc. Swell dinner at “The Galley”

Monday, February 16, 1953
SALISBURY, N.C. Talk about leisure!! We, Trella & I, dubbed about all day with Mary Sheneman, eacting 2 wonderful meals, writing letters, seeing their lake cottage, etc. Tape recordings, movies, tonite, too. Very enjoyable day. Bed about 11:30.

Sunday, February 15, 1953
Up at 7 or so, & off – 440 (?) miles, thru rain, mtns. (6 or 7″ snow& tuff on the hairpin turns), both drove. Long hard ride, but got to Mary & Forest Sheneman’s about 9:30 – beautiful new home, wonderful meal & people (met Ed, Sarah & Susan & Mary) Bed 12:30?+