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...

Mike and the Mangrove Cut February 19 th , 2022 We traveled through a great variety of features on our voyage to John Pennekamp State Park .   The density of Keys and shoals increases as you head east to Key Largo.  With more obstacles to safe navigation, there are cuts through mangrove islands, cuts through limestone and coral formations, and considerable weaving to remain in water sufficiently deep to provide safe passage.  A challenge, but we loved it! Mangrove Cut on the way to Pennekamp The traffic volume was also greater due to travelling on a Saturday.  It is best to avoid travel on weekends in Florida.  On weekends,  people explode from land to sea, and want to see and do it all at 50+ miles per hour.  Boating courtesy, such as slow passes disappear and it is not unusual to have a sport fishing boat, with multiple outboards pass you in close quarters at high speed.  Wake management is no-existent.  It is every boater for them...