On Friday, January 31, 2025 at 5:51 a.m. the temperature was 72 degrees. Humidity was 82%. Wind was out of the southeast at 10 miles per hour. Visibility in Marathon Key, Florida was 10 miles.
Of course, the last day of your trip, when you’re packed up, and ready to fly back home is always the prettiest.
With a late afternoon flight out of Miami to take us back to our Middle Atlantic homes and more winter, I opted to take one more run. I knew it would be months before I could take a run wearing shorts and t-shirt.
Most of the packing took place on Thursday afternoon. I had a few details to finish up, but there was time for the run.
I ran toward the Seven Mile Bridge, a bridge that none of us will forget. That bridge takes travelers further south to the next set of Keys, but more importantly, the bridge gives visitors multiple opportunities to see the water and the land from a variety angles.
The Overseas Highway on my left was already awake. Traffic moved in all directions. I don’t think this highway has many quiet moments.
Restaurants were in the final stage of prep for customers who needed a jolt of coffee or breakfast.
As I made my way out to the bridge, I encountered a few other early risers. Some were walking, biking, or puttering along in their running shoes.
The views from the bridge were just as expected— pretty.
Yet in nature’s appealing charms, I had a bit of sadness—my next run in Richmond would not have these views. And that’s ok. That’s what memories and photos do for you.
They allow you to hold on to the past. If I’m still vertical in ten years, I could look back at a photo and say, “ah the magnificent Seven Mile Bridge, that was a fun run out to the bridge and back.”
When I returned to the condo at Tranquility Bay, my pals were in a subdued motion. They knew we were heading home.
Seems that by ten we had cleared the checkout hurdles.
Next, all that luggage and our creaky bodies were crammed back into the SUV.
At some point on Thursday evening, I whined. I realized that we hadn’t visited any of the local craft beer breweries.
But my patient and accommodating pals, said not to worry. We could make a stop in Islamorada at the Florida Keys Brewing Company, and we did.
This colorfully bright brewery sits on the Old Highway that runs parallel to the Overseas Highway. But the brewery’s property also intersects with the Morada Way Arts and Cultural District. This is an eclectic mix of local shops and galleries.
At the brewery, Dan, Butch, and I ordered a flight of beers. We found a table out in the beer garden and sampled the well made beers from The Florida Keys Brewing Company.
Soon our wives joined us from their exploring of the Morada Way shops, and then we scrunching ourselves back into the SUV.
We opted to have lunch at the High Tide. This was restaurant in Key Largo where our adventure started on January 20.
A good lunch time crowd was in place, but the staff squeezed us into the same table for six where we sat during our first visit. Again, the accommodating staff, and the homemade meals hit the spot.
Back in the car, we continued our trek north. The scenic landscapes of the Keys gradually disappeared. Miami and its sprawl were soon upon us. Dan and Butch continued to drive and navigate us toward the airport.
Like the pilot that he is, Dan navigated us into the chaos of the twists and turns of airport traffic. He nudged us into a good spot to unload. We pried ourselves and the luggage out.
This time, we opted to work with a sky cap who managed getting our luggage tagged and on its way to our airlines.
Now, our attention shifted to navigating the terminal. We wove our way through the wide hallways. Other tourists like us were doing the same thing. Gradually, we arrived at our departure sites.
Fortunately for us, goodbyes with this group of friends is really never goodbye. For the remainder of the afternoon and late into the evening, we would track our returns to Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia.
Somewhere in that tracking, I marvel at these friendships. Friendships that date back to the fall of 1971 at an unlikely starting point Greensboro College.
The Callows and Sherrills had earlier departure times.
It was almost midnight when our plane landed in Richmond. Raindrops covered my window as I looked out at the lights reflecting on the rain slick runway leading to the terminal.
Grabbing our luggage, locating the shuttle to our parking space, and driving home were ahead of us.
At many points during our two weeks in the Keys, I had multiple self-talk reminders: “My gosh are you lucky. Lucky to be able to take a trip like this with a wife who still tolerates your imperfections, and friends from college who also still endure your imperfections.”
Earlier in the afternoon as we maneuvered through the Miami airport, I saw the words: “Peace and Love” displayed on a large wall.
I wonder how many people pass by those words everyday?
Sadly, no matter how hard people around the world attempt to embrace “peace and love,” we are unable to fully commit ourselves to make this a reality.
I hope someday we will wise up and let “peace and love” lead our hearts for the good of all.
might be baloney 