On Friday, January 24, 2025, more gray skies, cool temperatures, and a brisk wind greeted me.
This morning, I opted not to use a lure for fishing. Instead for bait, shrimp was my choice combined with a fish finder rig.
In the same spot, I cast in lots of directions. I let the rig land gently on the bottom. I waited patiently for a tug on the line. Despite having fresh bait, the fish were not interested in the shrimp.
I kept fishing until my line was cut. Not sure who did the cutting— maybe a quiet crab or a sharp rock, but the rig did not return to the surface. With that, I secured my line, and made the breezy walk back to the condo.
After breakfast today, we would take the short ride to Crane Point Hammock. Crane Point features a museum, nature trails, and two unique houses.
When we entered the museum, an employee gave us a general overview of the grounds and how to maneuver ourselves to the trails and the two homes on the property. This overview also included a short video orientation.
In the Keys, a hammock is a tropical woodland. Along the trails, we developed an appreciation for the unique hardwoods and native plants.
For example, the beautiful thatch palm only grows here, nowhere else in America. Additionally, the staff and volunteers have installed signage for identifying these distinctive species.
Back in 1949, a couple from Massachusetts, Francis and Mary Crane purchased this land. The Cranes had a causeway built to Big Rachel Key. Lots of mosquitoes and thick underbrush did not stop them from building a beautiful home here. Today, the home is available for hosting all types of social events.
From the Crane’s house, we made the walk to the Adderly House. George and Olivia Adderly were from the Bahamas. In the late 1890s, they came to the Keys.
Eventually, they built their Bahamian style, tabby constructed home and lived here for many years. This house is the oldest in the Keys outside of Key West.
The Adderlys sustained themselves by harvesting sponges and making charcoal from the exotic tropical hardwoods found in the hammock. George used his sailboat for transportation to sell his goods in Key West.
After the passing of his wife in 1948, George sold the property to the Crane family in 1949.
We enjoyed exploring Crane Point. The paths/trails are well maintained and wide.
Additionally, there is the opportunity to trek off the main trails and to explore deeper into the hammock. Butch, Dan, and I did this. We came upon a section of the hammock that explained how the mangrove species adapt to the salty and soaked environment.
From Crane Point Hammock, we made the short drive to Herbie’s Bar and Chowder House for lunch. This popular spot was packed, but the experienced staff was able to seat us. Herbie’s existence dates back to the 1940s. The restaurant was also featured on Guy Fieri’s Dinners, Drive-ins, and Dives.
From Herbie’s, we stopped at Savannah’s for ice cream.
After the ice cream, we drove to the Marathon Air Museum. This small museum has quite a bit of local aviation history. In truth, I think we made the day for the two docents when we came into the museum.
Both men were passionate about the airplanes and the artifacts. Most impressive was the docent who was in his nineties. This aviation enthusiast is still flying his priceless Piper Cub. Outside on the tarmac was a vintage twin engine passenger plane from World War II.
We thanked our docents, piled into the car, and drove back to Tranquility Bay.
At some point that afternoon, some of us took a walk toward Seven Mile Bridge.
That night after dinner, we watched the movie You Gotta Believe. This baseball themed film is about a little league baseball team and their coach who is battling cancer.
After the movie, we headed toward our rooms for rest. We were cautiously optimistic that on Saturday morning the sun would wake us up.
Today, we had another good day of exploring. I’m always curious about the passionate vision of an individual or group of individuals who can see and understand the importance of protecting a piece of land. Our exploring at Crane Point Hammock earlier today was an example of that vision.
By 1978, a group of concerned citizens had formed The Florida Keys Land and Sea Trust. This nonprofit focuses on the “preservation, conservation and the restoration of rare and endangered areas of the Florida Keys.”
In 1989, the Trust purchased Crane Point Hammock saving it from being developed into private homes and another shopping center.
I’m thankful for the passion and vision of the Florida Keys Land and Sea Trust.
And I “gotta believe” that the sun will greet us on Saturday morning.
might be baloney 