Mission Shock and Awe

We arrived in Little Pine Key for our first night in the Florida Keys. 

The night was warm, humid and beautiful. It seemed like you could see the moisture evaporating from the ocean into the clouds. 

We were anchored in about 12 feet of water, but we could clearly see the bottom. 

There was a lot of eel grass and some coral and sponges. There were a bunch of crab pots as well, but no crabs or lobsters, and only some pin fish picking their way across the bottom.  

After dark, Libbie and I broke out a new toy for the boat. It’s called the Green Blob.  The Green Blob is essentially a bright green light that you submerged in the water next to your boat. 

We tried it to see if we could attract any fish. We saw some small bait fish and minnows, but nothing big, but it was interesting just to have it hanging over the side and seeing the water in the ocean bottom. It proved to be an interesting diversion for us.

The next day we headed to Marathon, Florida, where we had a reservation for three nights. 

We pulled into the Faro Blanco resort Marina, and greeted some buddy boat friends that we had planned to celebrate Libbie’s birthday with. 

It was nice to have a little reunion. 

After settling in, we did a couple chores.

We got with our friends and visited the Marathon Turtle Hospital just down the road from the marina. 

It was an interesting stop. We learned all about sea turtles, how they live, and what happens to them when they get injured.  

We went out to dinner that night. 

We had dinner at Castaways.  It was a funky restaurant like many retaurants and other establishments in the Florida Keys. Dinner was very tasty.  

The next morning, we broke out the bikes and went shopping and exploring.

The Florida Keys have an interesting history.

The Florida Keys have been inhabited for thousands of years, initially by the Calusa and Tequesta tribes who relied on fishing and trade. 

In 1513, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León named the islands “Los Martires” due to their rugged appearance. The Spanish used the area for salvaging shipwrecks but did not establish permanent settlements.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Keys became known for piracy and shipwreck salvaging. 

After the U.S. acquired Florida in 1821, Key West developed as a hub for wrecking, fishing, and sponging. 

The Navy established a base in Key West to combat piracy. This launched the development of Key West..

The early 20th century brought the construction of Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railroad, connecting the Keys to the mainland.  It operated beginning in 1912.

The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 destroyed the railroad, leading to the construction of the Overseas Highway in 1938 using much of the old railway , which paved the way for increased tourism.

Today, the Florida Keys are a major tourist destination known for fishing, diving, and natural beauty. 

Libbie had a birthday coming up while we were in Marathon.

For Libbie’s birthday, I had planned a celebration with our buddy boat friends, but unbeknownst to Libbie, we had two extra guests fly in to celebrate.

I called it “Mission Shock and Awe”.

Our daughters flew in to surprise their mom.  One came from Austin and one from Seattle after a business trip, about as far away as you can get from the Keys in the lower 48 states.

All day, I had been feeling anxious, and Libbie had sensed enough to wonder what was up with me on occasion.  I had to lie a couple of times to throw her off the scent.

The girls flew into Key West late that afternoon and drove from the airport up to Marathon to the Faro Blanco Resort next to our marina where they had reserved a room.

Libbie and I had dinner, and were watching one of our favorite shows, when the girls got to the boat. 

The TV show was at a tense moment, and Libbie was glued to the TV.  I caught the girls eyes and waved them on to the boat.  They started yelling outside, which Libbie did not hear because it sounded like the sound track of the TV show, which at that point also consisted of a bunch of yelling. 

The girls jumped on the boat and opened the door, and Libbie stared at them for about a minute before her mind comprehended what her eyes were seeing.  

She was stunned.  

She jumped up and gave our girls a hug.  Tears were shed. 

Mission Shock and Awe was successfully achieved.

The next day was Libbie’s actual birthday, and we had a chance to spend quality time with our daughters with no interruptions.  It was wonderful. 

That night, I hosted a dinner at the Florida Keys Steak and Lobster House, and we had a great time.

The last day together, we played cards, talked and just enjoyed each others company.  

Then our daughters bid us goodbye.  They had an early flight out the next morning to get back to their respective families. 

Libbie and I had a glow from their visit for days afterwards.

The next day, we wrapped up our errands, and headed to Bahia Honda State Park.  

But that’s the topic for the next blog post.