A stop at Bahia Honda

Overall the topography of the Florida Keys is a little scrubby and not too attractive above the waterline (the real draw is whats lies beneath the water and the laid back culture above it). We think the exception to the rule is the area around Bahia Honda. Here's a picture of Mariah framed by a couple of Silver Palms. This type of palm tree is threatened in the US. There is a Florida State Park here that protects the flora and fauna. Hayley and Jack became "Junior Rangers" at the park while getting in a day of schoolwork.

Most people would think that the Florida Keys would have a lot of nice beaches but they don't. In fact, the Keys are almost completely made up of limestone and fossilized, calcified coral. Not too good for laying out in the sun or walking barefoot. Once again, Bahia Honda is the exception here too. Pictured below is their beautiful swimming beach. Reminds me of Wakiki Beach without the surfers or breakers. Or the Japanese tourists.

Both of these pictures were taken from atop an abandoned bridge that spans Bahia Honda Channel. We've enjoyed learning a little about the history of the Keys and these bridges make up the most important part. A partner of John D. Rockefeller in Standard Oil, Henry Flagler gave up his high profile position with the company to search for fortune in Florida. He built the Flagler railway which essentially connected the East Coast of Florida to the rest of the civilized world (Charleston, SC?). We ate breakfast at one of his refurbished train depots in Melbourne, Fl. two years ago on our first boat trip. When his railroad reached Miami, Flagler refused to quit. He had the notion that trade with Cuba was going to increase (wow, did he miss the mark on that one!) and decided to build a railway down to Key West to transport Cuban cargoes up the east coast. The railway turned out to be very difficult and expensive to build. Not one to give up, Flagler built the railway from 1905-1912. He died only 16 months after its completion. He didn't live long enough to see that his railway would be destroyed by a hurricane shortly after its completion. The railway, which only operated for a short time, became known as "Flagler's Folly". That's the bridge I was standing on when taking the pictures.

"Flagler's Folly" was purchased by the government and in many places became the right of way that is now US #1, connecting Homestead with Key West.