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| Our Key Largo view |
The Keys are a quick escape for us and our anniversary was the perfect excuse. We always explore a new bungalow type location and this time we found
Rock Reef Resort, MM98, on the bay side. Bay side means we have the sunsets - a nightly celebration to be sure.
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| relax'in Turk |
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| stunning sunset |
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| residents at our hotel |
On our first morning, we jumped on our bikes for a 'morning' bike ride. 25 miles later we returned, completely worn out, dehydrated and hungry. But the trip was wonderful. We headed south, and stopped in the
Cafe Moka, a French bakery in Tavernier on Plantation Key. The Turk is always on the lookout for amazing chocolate croissants and this looked like a good place. It was run by French people, a good sign, but not enough for the Turk. He interviewed the baker who assured him, the guy holding up the breakfast line, that this would be the best chocolate croissant he has eaten. And it WAS!
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| Turk enjoys nature....and beer |
Fueled by a shared croissant, we continued south through Islamorada to stop in the Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park. This park is all about fossilized coral and other ancient marine life, called Key Largo limestone, that formed over millions of years ago when Florida was under water. Windley Key today is the highest above sea level of all of the Keys north of Key West. Henry Flagler, the wealthy eccentric who built the Overseas Railroad from Miami to Key West as an extension of his East Coast Railroad Company in the early 1900's purchased this Key for $852.80. He used thousands of tons of limestone from this Key for fill for the rail bed and the bridges. This land was an active quarry until the 1960's.
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| see the brain coral fossil? |
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| Tall quarry walls - odd for Florida |
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| stone cutter |
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| perspective of the quarry rock from the pit |
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| Turk standing on foundation of former building |
The quarry was interesting, and the trails took us through over 125,000 years of Keys evolution. The separate Keys that we know today started to appear as recently as 5000 to 6000 years ago.
We snacked on our meager chicken sandwiches and hopped back on our bikes to return to our hotel. By lunch time, the sun and heat were draining our energy. One last stop for a frozen chocolate-dipped key lime ice cream and pack of cashews with ice cold water got us back in time to jump into the pool. Whew!
The rest of our excursions were much more relaxing. Islamorada Beer Company is always a favorite spot to visit, sitting in the Morada Way Arts District. Fun beer, great garden and creative galleries all around.
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| Serious about his beer flight! |
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| Snapper on the right was ours! |
We can only stay in places with kitchens and grills because the Turk has to cook at least one dinner. He outdid himself with this one. We shopped for fresh yellow tail snapper at the dock in Tavernier. He added some sauteed tomatoes to whole wheat pasta and olive oil, big salad, grilled fish, and delicious wine.
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| With turk comes fire |
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| ya cant buy this in a restaurant |
Our place had many nice surprises. Gardens, hammocks under the trees, kayaks on our small beach, tiki bar to watch sunsets and rainbows, and almost no other guests! But many many iguanas.
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| morning rainbow |
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| one of many bonsai trees - owner's hobby |
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| banana! but too green to eat |
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