Day 3: Just west of Marathon

It just gets more and more interesting as the days go on.

We ate breakfast at Henrietta’s, a local diner with Keysie flair; walkable from our dining room alcove sleeping quarters.  We were then glad for an hour along the shore at the “compound”, reading up on the guidebooks before setting off of the day.

There are so many sights along US 1 — many of them touristy and intentionally playing into the perception of the Keys as funky and bright colors and tacky.  We stopped at one that appeared to be an artists colony of sorts that was really more of a touristy shop laid out and deco’d to be an artists’ colony.  Enjoyed the giant Spiny Lobster out front and the life size “take your photo with me” pirate though.

Found Herbie’s for lunch; known for it’s wide variety of beer. Many patrons came in to taste several varietals before committing.  We were happy with our iced tea.  Did try the key lime pie.  It appears that that’s the thing to do alo ong the keys.  Everyone claims to have the best, but if it doesn’t have a meringue topping and uses condensed milk then we’ve been duped.  Herbie’s was good, but I’d give it about a 7… still looking for perfection.

We arrived at our airbnb early since check in was at 2PM.  Took us awhile to find it.  Called “the yellow bungalow, we

sortafigured it might be that.  Well surprise, surprise, surprise (say that like Gomer Pyle for effect), it’s not a bungalow but a mobile home.  The “yellow bungalow” is a trailer in a trailer park.  Well photographed to omit that information, so I was attracted by having the entire “house” to ourselves and two bedrooms.  After much debate about whether to stay or try to find somewhere else we sucked it up and figured that a “wine lens” would help us get over the disappointment and went to Bahia Honda state park for a swim.  Gorgeous views and a very accomodating pelican ended our visit.

The seven mile bridge is well known, and the history quite impressive.  The oil magnate Henry Flagler put his money into building the railroad from Miami to Key West and one of the most difficult construction parts was across the Bahia Honda (deep water) strait.  The Hurricane of Labor Day 1935 destroyed what had been accomplished of the railroad and the project was never revived/completed.  Part of the old bridge still stands at the end of a trail in the park.  We swam in the turquoise waters and looked at the lovely campsites throughout the park and then returned to our “bungalow” for a home cooked meal, thanks to Erica.  And the wine lens helped.  After posting, off to bed and a new day tomorrow — heading to Key West.