Another Sunset in the Florida Keys, 11/14/2018

Tonight’s beautiful sunset over the Florida Bay from Grassy Key. 

Just gorgeous...

Hiking at Curry Hammock State Park, 11/14/2018

Less than 5 miles south of Jolly Roger RV Park (where we are staying) is Curry Hammock State Park (established 1991).

The multi-use Overseas Heritage Trail that follows the route of the Overseas Railroad (built in the early 1900s) passes through the park (2 miles), as does the Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail. It is a 1,515 mile sea kayaking route that starts at Big Lagoon Park (Pensacola) and ends at Fort Clinch state Park on the Atlantic Coast of FL near GA. Some refer to it as the saltwater version of the Appalachian Trail. We keep talking about purchasing a couple of kayaks but dread the idea of hauling them around the country with us!

Pavilions provide shaded picnic areas near the playground and beach. 

We walked around this area of the park, but dogs are not permitted on the beach. 

 

On windy days, kiteboarding and windsurfing are popular along the oceanfront. Kayaking and canoeing in the mangrove creek and coastline are also popular (kayak rentals available). Restrooms are located next to the parking lot. 

The Nature Trail is a moderately-difficult 1.5 mile loop trail through the hammock. The 1,000 acre park is the largest uninhabited piece of land between Key Largo and Big Pine Key. We followed a dirt road to reach the trail. 

Our doggie, Sadie, went for a swim as soon as we came to the Florida Bay. 

White and red mangrove trees grow in abundance here. 

The trail leads through a hardwood hammock. This area is solid rock with little soil which limits the size of the trees. Thatch palms are found in greater density here than anywhere else. 

An expansive view of the Florida Bay can be seen from the small spur trail. 

We finished the loop trail enjoying the sights along the way (while Sadie had a blast sniffing everything she could).

Admission is $4.50/per person, but we now have an annual pass for Florida State Parks. There is a 28-site campground that was closed due to damage by Hurricane Irma last year. For additional information about Curry Hammock, go to www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/curry-hammock-state-park

Afternoon at Coco Plum Beach, 11/10/2018

A small natural beach on the Atlantic Beach in Marathon, Coco Plum Beach open from 7:30 am until dusk. It is dog-friendly and not very crowded, so perfect for us!

Our sweet doggie, Sadie, had a great time in the water, and so did we.

The beach is adjacent to wetland areas and some shade is available. 

But, we brought our umbrella. 

The beach is rocky so swim shoes come in handy. 

My favorite part of our visit was reading in the water (it was so hot!) And John brought the umbrella out to protect me. Sweet.

Coco Plum is also a a turtle nesting beach (green sea and loggerhead) and is surveyed each morning to identify new nests during nesting season. Once identified, they become restricted areas until the eggs hatch and the baby turtles reach the ocean.

Restrooms and a shaded pavilion are next to the parking lot.

While some reviews of this beach are not so positive, we loved it! Nearby Sombrero Beach is larger and more picturesque, but Coco Plum is pretty deserted and we spent a lovely afternoon there.

Hiking at Windley Key State Park, 11/09/2018

Located in Islamorada, FL, (mile marker 85.5) is the Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park. 

The land here is formed of Key Largo limestone (fossilized coral) and was homesteaded by the Russell family in the mid-1800s. Sold to Florida East Coast Railroad in 1908, three quarries produced tons of fill for the railroad bed and bridge approaches of Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railroad. 

At the Alison Fahrer Environmental Education Center are exhibits about the geology, quarries, and Overseas Railroad.

We began our hike on the Flagler Quarry Trail where you can see the 8’-high quarry walls. It is ancient coral reef that was formed 125,000 years ago. There is a large picnic area here as well.

The community of Quarry sprang up once the quarries were in operation. The ruins of the foundation of the railroad station can be seen. Keystone for railroad construction and building facades were loaded here.

Continuing on the Hammock Trail through the hardwoods, we saw lizards and many gumbo limbo trees (easily recognized by its peeling orange bark).

A large mangrove forest extends to the shoreline from the trail. Below are the roots of black mangroves. Also shown is some of the fossilized reef of the area.

The Windley Trail took us by old quarry machinery and eventually to Windley Quarry.

We meandered through the quarry and found the tree roots along the quarry wall pretty fascinating! Also shown is our sweet doggie, Sadie, who had a lot of fun sniffing around the park. 

Next to the education center are the remains of a large machine used to cut slabs (weighing up to 10 tons) of coral. The technology enabled the quarry to produce decorative stone until the 1960s.

Admission to the park is $2.50/per person. We purchased an Florida State Park annual pass (25% discount for veterans) as we will be in the State until April, 2019. For additional information about Windley Key, go to: www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/windley-key-fossil-reef-geological-state-park.