Paradise Found

Location: Bahia Honda State Park, FL

Poor Ned had a rough night. Too much smoked fish? Needless to say, the thought of riding the waves in the rough seas for an hour, then going snorkeling...with no bathrooms on the boat made him turn green. So the sad news is no snorkel tour this morning, but the good news is Ned promised we'd come back again some day. (Road trip!!). I figure this will also give us an opportunity to try and buy another underwater camera. The main thing is Ned is on the road to recovery so all is good. It was also nice to leave Key Largo, the cheesier side of the Keys...(Home of the Original Tuna Nachos anyone?!)

When people ask me what's the single most thing you are looking forward to on this trip, it's such a hard question to answer. However, I can tell you that the one camping spot I have been looking forward to more than any other is at Bahia Honda. It's rated the #1 place to beach camp in Florida. Many years ago we camped in this park, but next to a dumpster and a parking lot. Apparently, the coveted beach spots are really hard to come by. So, I made it my mission to secure us a beach site. Voila! June of 2014 I was able to get one for today!! (In fact planned a lot of our trip around arriving here on this date). Here's a pic of my little piece of heaven.

Bahia Honda is a little more than half way down the Keys. Getting here is truly one of the most beautiful drives. It's hard for my brain to take in the endless blue-green, turquoise water on both sides of the highway. Seeing sailboats, fishermen casting out their nets and even the trailer parks along the road were just so picturesque.

 

 

 

Arriving at Bahia Honda and pulling into our little site Ned seems so much a happier camper than this morning!

Where's Debi? Floating half way to Cuba about now, I'd guess.

The great thing about Winnie is she comes prepared for most situations. Love that we have our own little in-house shower. Great for dealing with those pesky sandy toes.

We went for an afternoon bike ride and Ned managed to eat something after-all today.

 

 

 

 

 

Early evening and it's drinks on the verdanda.

In the Florida Keys watching the sun go down is a big event. Everyone comes out and watches the sun slowly sink behind the water. We took a sunset spin on our bikes and enjoyed watching the people as much as the sunset. Here's a section of the original railroad built by Henry Fagler. The railroad was eventually converted into what today is knows as U.S. Highway 1. The Old Bahia Honda Bridge serves as a reminder of Fagler's dream.

 

 

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