When we were cruising exotic places, we'd usually start the day listening to the cruisers net, then we'd spend the morning working on boat projects. But the afternoon was free to go snorkeling, beachcombing, fishing, just enjoy.
Today we fell back into that routine and enjoyed it immensely. The second cup of coffee we enjoyed with the Marathon Cruiser's Net -- on VHF 68 at 9 AM (Marathon cruisers must get up later than most cruising locales!). Then I did the laundry while David walked to West Marine for new shackles to replace the rusted out ones on our snubber.
Last summer I read "Last Train to Paradise" a book about Henry Flagler and the construction of the longest railroad bridge ever attempted - the Overseas Railroad down the Keys to Key West ... 150 plus miles, most over open water. The book often read more like a novel than a historical account. Although we've been to Marathon many times, we didn't have any interest in visiting Pigeon Key until now. Read the book if you get a chance!
Today we fell back into that routine and enjoyed it immensely. The second cup of coffee we enjoyed with the Marathon Cruiser's Net -- on VHF 68 at 9 AM (Marathon cruisers must get up later than most cruising locales!). Then I did the laundry while David walked to West Marine for new shackles to replace the rusted out ones on our snubber.
Last summer I read "Last Train to Paradise" a book about Henry Flagler and the construction of the longest railroad bridge ever attempted - the Overseas Railroad down the Keys to Key West ... 150 plus miles, most over open water. The book often read more like a novel than a historical account. Although we've been to Marathon many times, we didn't have any interest in visiting Pigeon Key until now. Read the book if you get a chance!
The dock at Pigeon Key. You can either arrive by boat or walk out the 2 1/2 miles on the old bridge. Either way it costs $12 per person - with a tour guide to explain what you're seeing - very interesting.
Pigeon Key, a work camp during the building of Henry Flagler's Overseas Railroad to Key West. Pigeon Key is a tiny island almost 3 miles out the 7 Mile Bridge.
Between 1908 and 1912, there were as many as 400 workers housed on the 5 acre island barely at sea level. While these workers built many bridges along the route through the lower keys, the bridge between Marathon & Bahia Honda Keys remains the largest and most impressive. It was once referred to as "the 8th Wonder of the World".
Many of the original 1910-12 vintage survive and are intact and maintained by the Pigeon Key Foundation - click to check it out or to get info about summer camps for kids or to rent the house in the next pic!
Between 1908 and 1912, there were as many as 400 workers housed on the 5 acre island barely at sea level. While these workers built many bridges along the route through the lower keys, the bridge between Marathon & Bahia Honda Keys remains the largest and most impressive. It was once referred to as "the 8th Wonder of the World".
Many of the original 1910-12 vintage survive and are intact and maintained by the Pigeon Key Foundation - click to check it out or to get info about summer camps for kids or to rent the house in the next pic!
You can rent this little cottage and stay on Pigeon Key ... it's a mere $1000 for a 3 day weekend or $1500 for the week. But it holds 12 people. Bring your own boat or bike though!
We enjoyed our historical tour and walked back on the original bridge which is no longer used except for foot and bicycle traffic -- 2 1/2 miles back to Marathon, seeing all kinds of marine life - several eagle rays, a southern stingray, several sharks and tarpon and many unidentified fish in the shallow clear waters below. All in all a great day!
Walking the 2 1/2 miles back from Pigeon Key, we say several eagle rays, many sharks, and tarpon as well as a southern stingray in the clear shallow water below.
This is the original building where everyone ate, had construction meetings etc. It's still standing through many hurricanes and being on a tiny island about 3 feet maybe above sea level, it's a testament to the buildings Henry Flagler ordered constructed for the rr workers.
The old bridge and the new parallel each other.
Now beans & rice for dinner & an early bedtime -- the total walk back was about 5 miles, all flat & we decided we have a LONG way to go to get into shape for our Alaska adventure this summer!
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