Mike and Beth's Adventures

Pidgeon Key February 17th, 2022 Pigeon Key is a unique destination   located in the middle of the Florida Keys.  It is a small island located under the Old 7 Mile Bridge just west of Marathon, Florida.   It’s history dates back to the early 1900’s when the island was used as a work-camp for the men who built the Key West Extension of the Florida East Coast Railway. This was the railroad that linked Key West, an many other keys, to the mainland.  It was completely funded and build by Henry Flagler, who made his money with John D. Rockefeller in Standard Oil.    The Start of the Trail to the Island The Pidgeon Key Landing if you arrive by boat Another shot of the Pidgeon Key Landing The Bridge Tender's House Pidgeon Key hosts a collection of building associated with the construction and maintenance of the railroad.    In fact, you walk or bike, 2 miles, out to the island on the original rail road right of way.    In our case one direc...

Lignumvitae Key February 18th, 2022 Lignumvitae Key is an island in the upper Florida Keys. It is located due north of, and less than one mile from the easternmost tip of Lower Matecumbe Key. The island has the Keys' highest point above sea level at 19 feet.  It is also home to a tropical hardwood, Lignum Vitae.  This is the densest and hardest wood known. Because the wood is self-oiling, lignum vitae was a popular choice for steamship bearings and for use in equipment like pulleys; composite materials eventually replaced it in marine construction and heavy machinery, and now the wood is mostly by woodworkers. Smooth Seas on the way to Lignumvitae On our voyage to Lignumvitae, we caught up with two R29 Ranger Tugs which were also headed to the same destination.   So we fell in line, and were the caboose on a Ranger Tug parade through the keys.   We were all the same color, so it must have been quite the sight as we motored along. Thank goodness for Amy Marie’s sh...