Florida Keys part 3: Eastern Marathon Key, April 22 – 29, 2023
We were quite happy to see our beautiful campsite at Curry Hammock State Park, which is a 30 minute drive from Bahia Honda State Park. It is a smaller campground, with newly rennovated facilities. It was a welcome change from the previous park, which could use some updates. The campground and beach are on the Atlantic/south side of the key, so we had sargassum seaweed fairly close to our site. It was only an issue when the wind shifted and blew from the south.
The weather was still very hot and humid. The low dunes around the campground blocked most of the breezes. We spent mornings walking around the campground and beach, hiking and booking campsites for next year. We didn’t paddle because the seaweed was pretty bad. Unlike Bahia Honda, Curry Hammock does not monitor the bacteria levels. We spent afternoons out, going to the air museum, finding fish markets and happy hours. We went to several local places, but our favorite was Keys Fisheries Upstairs Bar (aka Shannon’s Shuckers and Shakers). There was a great view, affordable drinks and good food. We met 3 separate sets of people from Michigan. One guy lives in the same town that we do. Another couple owns a home where Dave grew up.
We cut our stay short because of the heat and the smell, opting to return to the cool ocean breezes in Flagler Beach. On our last day, we left early because strong storms were moving in. We wanted to get to mainland before they hit. We learned that there had been a tornado warning overnight and all the campers had huddled in the restrooms. We plan to make sure we don’t miss something like that again.
View of our campsite from the beach at Curry Hammock State Park
The view from our campsite at Curry Hammock State ParkAt the Marathon Air Musuem, run by the southermost chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association. It was great chatting with the guys, both pilots, who were working that day.An airplane, owned and still flown by the 87-year-old pilot who works at the museum. Marathon Air Museum, Marathon FLAutographed photo of the Blue Angels at Mount Rushmore Marathon Air Museum, Marathon, FLA WWll Navy coat and broken propeller. Marathon Air Museum, Marathon FLWe really enjoyed looking through this copy of Life Magazine from 1939, Marathon Air Museum, Marathon FL1940 Chevrolet ad in a November 1939 Life Magazine. I worked on many Chevrolet vehicles in my career. In 1940 my mom wasn’t even born yet. Marathon Air Museum, Marathon, FL1940 Sea Ray ad in a November 1939 Life Magazine. Dave’s mom worked for Sea Ray, long ago. The family has owned several Sea Rays. Marathon Air Museum, Marathon, FLMarathon Air MuseumIt was the first time I read this quote by Henry Ford. It’s now one of my favorites. Marathon Air Museum, Marathon FLWe frequently saw American White Ibis in the Florida Keys campgroundsA waterspout near Curry Hammock State Park. I was freaking out, but nobody else seemed to care.Sargassum seaweed along the shoreline, near the beach at Curry Hammock State ParkA small iguana in our campsite. They are an invasive species in South Florida and can grow up to 5ft. in length Curry Hammock State Park, Marathon, FLI noticed this hole while we were backing into our site. I was relieved to later learn it was the home of a crab and not a snake. Curry Hammock State Park, Marathon, FLA gecko checking out our RV interior Curry Hammock State Park, Marathon, FLSlushie held a conference with his new friends, the gecko, the crab and the iguana. I heard them discussing auto insurance. Curry Hammock State Park, Marathon, FLThis place is known as the best for local stone crab. We tried it just days before stone crab season ended. It is a sustainable seafood, as the claws grow back after being removed. Note: served with mustard sauce (no butter!) Keys Fisheries Upstairs Bar, aka Shannon’s Shuckers and Shakers, Marathon, FLKeys Fisheries Upstairs Bar, aka Shannon’s Shuckers and Shakers, Marathon, FLA shark near the dock at Keys Fisheries, Marathon, FLKeys Fisheries Upstairs Bar, aka Shannon’s Shuckers and Shakers, Marathon, FLKeys Fisheries Upstairs Bar, aka Shannon’s Shuckers and Shakers, Marathon, FLHiking on the trail in Curry Hammock State Park. I was on high alert the entire hike, looking out for snakes. I almost walked into a spider web with a very scary-looking spider. I was very happy when the hike was complete!Hiking in Curry Hammock State Park
