A month later, we remain at Banana Bay in Marathon—although this week we’re living in the Motel. More about that later.
It’s been 100 years since Henry Flagler completed his Florida railway and almost single handedly changed the face of this state. Pre-Flagler, mosquitos were the chief residents, and genteel folks did not venture south of Savannah. Flagler, wealthy beyond measure from his Standard Oil days, developed first St. Augustine, then Palm Beach, and finally moved on to, and through, Miami. Despite all predictions to the contrary, he was able to have the ‘crazy’ railroad built, and he rode his private railroad car (it’s on display in Palm Beach) to Key West in January of 1912. Plan A was for cargo to cross by boat through the newly constructed Panama Canal, and become rail shipments from Key West to ports all along the East Coast. Sad to say, hurricanes intervened, and, like Flagler himself, the railway didn’t survive. He died in 1913.
The railbed, however, became Route 1. Certainly today vehicular traffic carries, if not cargo, lots and lots of economy boosting tourists all along the Keys.
A 100 year celebration was held on Pigeon Key—2 miles from Marathon via the old 7 mile bridge. I joined Steve and Sharon (STEVADORE) and we waited for 90 minutes for a ride on the ferry to Pigeon Key. After 1-1/2 hours we were still at least two ferries away from our turn (hey, it’s the keys, mon….laid back) so we opted to drive to a flea market instead. Advertised, but it wasn’t happening. (hey, it’s the Keys, mon…laid back) Next stop was the well-hidden No-Name Pub on No-Name Key. Fun fun fun. The place is ‘decorated’ that is to say the walls and ceiling are totally covered with dollar bills---the best estimate is nearly 40,000 of them! The recently opened upstairs dining room had spaces available, so Sharon and I added our boats names on bills to the wall.
Fred and I re-visited the one man Flagler show at the Marathon Community Theater. We’d attended 2 years ago, and found that Joe Mama was a pleasant addition (with John on banjo) singing his Railroad Song.
We also went to a concert at a local church featuring an 11 piece group, led by Al Pierson, playing Guy Lombardo music. Ah the songs of our youth---and the audience was encouraged to sing along to the likes of Sentimental Journey or, of course, Auld Lang Syne. How many years did the Royal Canadians toast the New Year? The New Year’s show from the Roosevelt Hotel, (1929-59) and then the Waldorf Astoria were legendary until Lombardo died in 1977, and now the Band Plays On.
The last week in January, we rented a car and drove to Jacksonville for the USPS Annual Meeting. Stayed at the Hyatt right on the St. John’s River. We walked to JAX Landing, where we’ve frequently docked, enjoyed visiting with friends, attended meetings, I worked in the Ship’s Store, and Fred was elected chair of the Trustee Board of the Power Squadron’s National Education Fund.
One morning the 212’ motor yacht KISMET docked in front of the hotel—exactly 10 stories down from our room, that is. The story of Kismet is that her owner is Shahid Kahn, new owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars. You can check Google for the details; suffice to say, Kahn seems to be a Horatio Alger story—emigrating from Pakistsan with about a dollar, patenting a flexible bumper when he saw a need while working as a laborer in an auto factory, and now, well, ‘they’ say that KISMET will be his ‘small’ boat when the larger luxury yacht is completed.
On our way back to the Keys, we revisited the Buckman Bridge Unitarian Universalist Society near our old stomping grounds, Green Cove Springs. Like the UUCRT, they have recently built a new building. We were happy to see that they’ve now installed their Chalice window surrounded by symbols of world religions. Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.
One of our objectives before we begin cruising North is to get the bottom of the boat cleaned and painted. So with that, and a typical Fred list of many, many other tasks in mind, we motored out of Banana Bay, for the 10 mile ride under the 7 Mile Bridge to Marathon Boat Yard. We’d been very happy with the work they did for us estimating the damage of that fateful day when YA was rear-ended, and so were happy to return for work that much needs doing.
Steve and Sharon rode along with us, and we anchored for lunch at the channel to the boatyard. Fred drove YA into the slings, and out of the water she came. While the work is being done, we’re living at the Banana Bay Motel. Have a marina-side room, so the morning view hasn’t changed much. We see more grass and fewer boats, but Florida Bay with it’s many shades of blue and grey stretches beautifully before us.
We remain part of the Marina, and brought our Giants balloon to the pre-Super Bowl party last night. Go Giants! (Note to JT: I know you can’t get behind a Giants win. Sorry. How about them Packers---er Patriots?)
Onward and upward. The anchor chains have been painted anew so I can tell how much chain we deploy (every 25’ a color---red, white, blue, black X2 on the 200’ chains).
Be well, think peace, and remember to breathe!
No comments:
Post a Comment