Marathon, Key West, Bahia Honda SP and Looe Key Reef

  The winds here in the Keys seem to be on a cycle. They blow for 5-6 days at 15-20 mph and then calm down for a few days. Deb and Chuck were schedule to arrive Wednesday this week and we were keeping a close eye on the weather hoping it would be nice. As it turned out the winds died down just in time so we could enjoy some water activities.
  Their first day it was cloudy with a chance of rain. Deb and Chuck had never been to Key West so we took the opportunity to play tourists in Key West. After making our way south on scenic A1A we hit a parking lot that we used with Dale and Pam. Much to our surprise the rates were $10 more than just a week ago. Turns out holiday weekends are used to empty the pockets of the customers. We made our way to the trolley/train concession where Chuck and Dave went for tickets. It seemed like it was taking a long time but they finally came through with tickets. It turns out that the young lady at the counter was running the boys around in circles trying to get them to buy the expensive tickets that tour the attractions along the route. Between her broken English and the boys hearing- it took some time but the guys prevailed by standing their ground. Turns out it was a good decision to pass on the Hemingway House Museum and other tours as there were two cruise ships in town and the lines at the attractions were very long.
  We enjoyed a nice ride on the Conch Train. Our driver Bruce did a great job of narrating the tour and keeping us entertained during the tour. We stopped at Senior Frog's for lunch. It probably wasn't the best choice for an over the hill gang like us, although we could have done a much better job at karaoke than the other clientele. We did some walking around the waterfront and stopped at Malory Square before we packed it in and headed back north to the boat. We enjoyed an evening of hanging out on our bridge and watching the sun go down over the Keys.
  Friday was water sport day. After a good breakfast at The Stuffed Pig, we headed south to Bahia Honda state park. The park has a snorkel boat that runs out to Looe Key, which is a National Marine Sanctuary and a great place to snorkel. After a 10 mile ride on the snorkel boat we moored off the reef and everyone (but Betsy)jumped in- she just wasn't "feeling it". The seas were 2-4 feet which was different from the almost flat conditions we had experience with Dale and Pam in Key West. The rollers weren't an issue once you were in the water. You just float around on top of them and the up and down motion is slow and doesn't bother you. The reef was filled with fish, coral and vegetation. The various fish had lots of color and the visibility was over 20 feet.  I can't imagine how bright the bottom would have been in full sunlight. The day was overcast and cloudy. We finished our hour in the water and headed back to the park. That evening we enjoyed diner at the Seven Mile Grill. The place was slammed, but we signed in, got drinks and sat by the pool until we were called. Live music, sun going down and lots of people watching to keep us entertained. As luck would have it we got great seats on the porch were we watched the sun go down during our great meal.
  Saturday was beach day at Sombrero Beach before Deb and Chuck had to head north and catch their flight out of Miami. There is nothing better than good friends and family visits on the boat. Cheers!



Riding the Conch Train with Deb and Chuck in Key West
 



 

Hanging baskets in full bloom in March. I know a Pa. porch that isn't blooming yet!


We had planned on a few pictures at the Mile 0 marker. When when passed on the Conch Train people were lined up half way up the block for pictures. We passed on the opportunity. 
 

Outside Hemingway's house. There were two cruise ships in town and the line to get in was very long.

Sloppy Joes Bar, this was a favorite hangout for Hemingway and his friends during the 30s.

 

 The Bull and Whistle Bar. I could not talk the crew into a trip up to the roof. The roof is the Garden of Eden Bar and is a clothing optional establishment. Oh well, maybe next time.

 

 

 
 

 

Key West waterfront at Mallory Square





 

Here fishy fishy

 

 

 

 

 

 Underwater selfie, we purchased the Olympus "Tough" camera while in Chicago. It takes under water photos and doesn't need a special case. Dave was a little skeptical so he bought the 3 year extended warranty.

 Mr. Cuda hanging out in a hole down below. We didn't go down and say hello.

 

 This is what the fish see. They would probably like to give us a few pointers on how to move gracefully through the water, and we could use the help!

 

 Chuck and Deb enjoying the scenery of Looe Key

 Our snorkel boat out of Bahia Honda state park. We ran out about 10 miles to Looe Key reef. The colors and scenery were great.

 

 

 

 Mr. Barracuda was hanging out under the boat. He was a pretty big fella.

The video moves up and down because the seas were about 3-4 feet. The wave action moved us up and down a bit. It was really that noticeable in the water.

 

The remains of the Flagler train bridge. The train track and bridge system was turned into a highway after a Cat 5 hurricane destroyed the system. On this section the road was placed on top of the bridge because the bridge was not wide enough.

After the United States announced in 1905 the construction of the Panama Canal, Flagler became particularly interested in linking Key West to the mainland. Key West, the United States' closest deep-water port to the Canal, could not only take advantage of Cuban and Latin America trade, but the opening of the Canal would allow significant trade possibilities with the west.
Initially called "Flagler's Folly", the construction of the oversea railroad required many engineering innovations as well as vast amounts of labor and monetary resources. At one time during construction, four thousand men were employed. During the seven year construction, three hurricanes—one in 1906, 1909, and 1910—threatened to halt the project. The project cost was more than $50 million.
Despite the hardships, the final link of the Florida East Coast Railway was completed in 1912. In that year, a proud Henry Flagler rode the first train into Key West aboard his private railcar, marking the completion of the railroad's oversea connection to Key West and the linkage by railway of the entire east coast of Florida. It was widely known as the "Eighth Wonder of the World."

Much of the Overseas Railroad in the Middle Keys was heavily damaged and partially destroyed in the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, a Category 5 hurricane which is often called "The Storm of the Century". The September 2, 1935 storm killed more than 400 people and devastated Long Key and adjacent areas. The FEC's Long Key Fishing Camp was destroyed, as was an FEC rescue train which, with the exception of steam locomotive 447, was overturned by the storm surge at Islamorada.

Already bankrupt, the Florida East Coast Railway was financially unable to rebuild the destroyed sections. The roadbed and remaining bridges were sold to the State of Florida, which built the Overseas Highway to Key West, using much of the remaining railway infrastructure. Many of the original bridges were replaced during the 1980s. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



 

 

Nice sunset view for dinner at the 7 Mile Grill.