Kev n Jens Adventures

Monday, February 28, 2022

An Unexpected Trip to Key West

Thursday, February 24, 2022 - We had decided we weren't going to go to Key West this trip. It's an hour and a half drive from Curry Hammock and we were there last year for my birthday. So after pickleball at the Marathon park we headed south to spend the day at Bahia Honda State Park for the day. When we got to the state park there was a line to get in, so we just kept driving south...and ended up in Key West! We parked about a mile from Duval Street, so we didn't have to find a parking spot and rode our bikes downtown. There were a lot more people in Key West this year, and since we're vaccinated and the pandemic is in a much different phase than it was last year at this time, we were happy to hit a view of our favorite bars, and then watch the sunset at Mallory Square before heading back to Curry Hammock.

We were looking for a spot to have lunch, on our way to Key West and ended up on No Name Cay, at the corner of No Name Dr and No Name St

Fred, the tree on the Old Seven Bridge. I read somewhere that "elves" decorate him every year for Christmas

Can't get enough pics of the Old Seven Bridge

Mallory Square before it gets crowded for the sunset, and yay, no cruise ships are here!

Hog's Breath Saloon, an old favorite. Kev loves their slogan "Hog's breath is better than no breath"

We hadn't been to Irish Kevin's before, but thought it seemed like a spot we ought to have a beer!

Love this beautiful tree on Duval St

Kev's new baseball hat, from Irish Kevin's

Smokin Tuna Saloon...

with lots of chickens and roosters running through it

We got to Mallory Square a little early for the sunset

So fun to be at Mallory Square with everyone to watch the sunset

And it was a good sunset, with a few clouds giving it some reflections

There were a few tiki bar boats out watching the sunset

Friday, February 25, 2022 - We had a low key day today. After pickleball we rode our bikes to Coco Plum Beach, which is only about 4 miles from Curry Hammock. It is a city beach, but not nearly as busy Sombrero beach. We loved sitting under the shade of a tree while enjoying the view...heaven.

I seem to take a pic of the sunrise from our campsite every morning.

Lunch under the shade of a tree on Coco Plum Beach

Someone caught a quick nap

We walked down to our beach at Curry Hammock for sunset

Saturday, February 26, 2022 - So sad, it's our last day at Curry Hammock, we really loved it here! We considered going for another kayak, but ended up at our favorite bagel shop for lunch and headed to Coco Plum Beach to watch the kite surfers and enjoy the view. The perfect ending to our 2 weeks at Curry Hammock.

Kev's favorite breakfast PANCAKES

My favorite lunch BAGELS.

and Marathon Bagel shop has some pretty awesome coffee cake.

We weren't lucky enough to get to sit under one of the trees on the beach, but Kevin thought to bring our beach umbrella.

Another perfect day

One lone kite surfer to watch before dinner

Hanging out with our great view, before we have to pack up so we're ready to leave first thing tomorrow

Sunday, February 27, 2022 - We left early for Aunt Shirley and Uncle Wally's house, in Cape Coral (a 4.5 hour drive). We were on the road 25 minutes after our alarm went off, gotta love the quick site take down with our favorite RV. I was sad to be leaving, but we got to watch a beautiful sunrise as we drove north through the Keys. We enjoyed a wonderful afternoon catching up with Shirley and Wally while we watched the boats on the canal in their back yard. Aunt Shirley made a wonderful home-cooked meal and Chris and Mitch came over for the evening.

here comes the sun

A quick Zoom call with Bob and Debbie

It was so fun to get to see Chris and Mitch

Monday, February 28, 2022 - We had breakfast with Aunt Shirley and Uncle Wally and played a few rounds of Rummikub before heading to Hillsborough River State Park (an hour east of Tampa). We did a quick hike before dinner and settled into our new campsite. It's a little chillier here than the Keys!

Good Byes and a few last pics!

A hike at Hillsborough State Park before dinner

Suspension Bridge over the Hillsborough River

Hillsborough River

Baynard Trail

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

More fun at Curry Hammock

Sunday February 20, 2022 - Today we decided to take our bikes to the Old Seven Bridge, that we had walked across part of the way, last week. We were going to ride our bikes the 2.2 miles and look around Pigeon Key, that the bridge ends on. This was the island where the workers lived that were building the 7 mile bridge, back in the early 1900's. Some of the buildings are still there and there are daily tours of the island. I thought this would be fun to do, but we got there 30 minutes before it opened and decided that we didn't want to wait around. There was an interesting article about the building of the bridge in this month's Smithsonian (thanks Betsy!). It was quite an amazing engineering feat, for the time.

smithsonian article

Another sunrise at Curry Hammock

Biking across Old Seven, this time

We walked under the bridges. The freshly painted blue bridge on the right above, is Old Seven (the pedestrian bridge) and to the left in the picture is the 7 mile bridge that currently carries cars across the 7 mile span from Marathon to Little Duck Key

We then rode our bikes to the Marathon Air Museum. We ride our bikes by this museum all the time, and decided today to go in and check it out. Luckily it was free, because it wasn't too much of a museum!

There was another Sunday night concert at Sunset Park in Key Colony Beach, so we rode our bikes there. It was a 15 mile bike day!

The sunset ride home from the concert on the Overseas Heritage Trail (that we spend so much time on!)

Sunset at Site 22

Monday February 21, 2022 - Today we hung around Curry Hammock and had some beach time. In the afternoon we rode our bikes to the SS Wreck Bar and Grill for some beers and appetizers.

Lunch and a crossword at our Curry Hammock Beach

We found a little spot all to ourselves and enjoyed the view and floating in the ocean

The Wreck

Puffy clouds from our campsite

Tuesday February 22, 2022 - Today we rode our bikes to Crane Point Hammock which is a museum and nature center. Several people had told us this was a was a worthwhile afternoon and we really enjoyed it. There were lots of trails, and restored buildings, a bird hospital, natural history museum and a shell collection. The 64 acres was originally purchased by George Adderley, who arrived here in 1890 from the Bahamas. He lived here with his wife and adopted daughter and made a living fishing for sponges and making charcoal. He would sell both the sponges and charcoal in Key West. The land was bought by the Cranes in 1949 and was bought by the Florida Keys Land Trust in 1989 to preserve it as a non-profit museum/nature center.

Everyone knows I like unique benches and this one caught my eye because it's made from a wooden canoe

We stopped for a fish pedicure

the lagoon for fish pedicures

George Adderley's house, the only building left standing on the property from when he lived there. It's made of tabby (a mixture of sand, lime and shells)

This beautiful Banyan tree is in front of the house that the Cranes built on the property in the 50's

The Crane's house (which is currently being renovated, set to open in July). Architect was Wahl Snyder

In front of Crane Point. One of the train cars from the 1935 hurricane

We stopped on the way home for a snack

chocolate dipped key lime pie on a stick...YUM

another sunset

Wednesday, February 23, 2022 - We got up early to get some laundry done...the laundromat was BUSY. Then we headed down the street to the Marathon City Park, where we have found a group that plays pickleball each morning. It's been fun to play, when we have time. Then off to Burdine's, on 15th St, which everyone we've talked to has recommended. We got there 10 minutes before they opened for lunch and there was a line of 30 people in front of us!