Bahia Honda State Park on Big Pine Key

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Bahia Honda State Park on Big Pine Key

Campsite # 12

Wednesday – Saturday , May 7 – 10 - Bahia Honda State Park – Bahia Honda Key, Florida

We left early to get through Miami traffic and just made it before it became bumper to bumper. The drive down the Keys to mile marker 37 was charming with all the stores, resorts, local color, and one lane road traffic. Arrived at Bahia Honda State Park about 10 in the morning and the people had not left it yet – they have to 1 to check out. So we drove down and parked the camper by the beach and biked around the park to see the beaches, bridges, museums and the three campgrounds. It was such a beautiful day that I went snorkeling and even got George to give it a try – and once he got going he would not come up for air.

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We snorkeled on Thursday too but it was so windy that the ocean and gulf side were both rough with tons of seaweed. The snorkeling was not good – salty, and you could not see anything. I was pushed against the rocks and I could not even see them so we got out of the water and rode our bikes instead. We have a small fish dock behind our site and 8 boat slips so they all cut up their fish at the table there and throw up remains to Pelicans, Seagulls and other birds. The seagulls here are black and white and they are just beautiful.

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Tomorrow we are taking the bus outside the campground to Key West for the day - $1 for senior citizens. Plan on seeing Truman’s summer home, Hemmingways House and where Jimmy buffet lived and performed years ago.  They do not allow campers in the town of Key West so thought the bus was easier – they also don’t allow campers on the highway after a certain time too!

Bahia Honda State Park – Bahia Honda Key, Florida mile marker 37

This is a wonderful state park with over 80 campsites in three areas. Bayside without electricity (not for RV’s), Sandspur for tents, popups and vans with electricity and water and Buttonwood for everyone with electricity and water.  Some sites face the gulf side and some of the tent sites face the ocean side. You can snorkel, bike, fish, swim, picnic, kayaking or hike up to the old bridge. There is a nature center with talks by the rangers. The water is like that beautiful carribean blue and in May it was enjoyable but still hot. We had site 12 where the little fishing dock was in back of and we could see both bridges (new and old) from our site. Very enjoyable three day stay. Checkout is at 1 and checkin at 3 but if you come in early you can enjoy the park until your site is cleared.

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Well after I had written this on our bike ride at night we came upon a wedding on a sand spit at the park. It was a beautiful night and they had a little tent with ferns planted to make the aisle. Chairs were down for the guests. The tide was coming in and by the time it was over everyone but the bride and groom were standing in water. When they pronounced man and wife they said ok everyone grab a chair etc and run for the shore!

We got up early to get to Key West – we took the local shuttle in and then had to get the Key West shuttle in. This was not easy. The first one was across from the state park but the times are only an estimate and you have to wave the bus down. We rode with the local yocals and it was an experience – took about an hour for the first shuttle. The second shuttle you have to keep an eye on the streets and pray that you get off near where you wanted to. Nothing is numbered etc and if you don’t ring the bell they don’t stop and the same thing on the way back. Coming home the second shuttle was over 35 minutes late on a hot, humid day.

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We went and had breakfast at the Blue Heaven (great food), people were already drinking at 9:30 in the morning and the roosters were running around – very interesting. The streets have beautiful houses and gardens and no garages. They are narrow and you better watch out. I was hit by a car but ok because George screamed at me as it hit me (the guy was going to fast) – personally I think George delayed his scream because then he could have a new wife and after seeing all these young babes in their thong bikinis the last few days that’s what he is thinking. One elderly man said on the beach he went on they didn’t even have on thongs – no bathing suits at all!

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There are also houses that are run down and seedy.  Walking all morning we saw Hemingway’s house, Truman Little White House, Truman Annex and Mallory Square where there is a big sunset bash every night with bands, jugglers, alcohol, dancing etc. It was fine in the morning with a nice breeze but by noon it was hot and humid. Every other store seems to be a pub with drinking and food. It is a big party town and everyone was drinking starting at 9:30 in the morning. You can just roll from one pub to the next and not hit the same one for at least a week.  They allow you to carry your alcohol on the streets so it seems the majority of the people were walking around drinking.

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A big cruise ship docked this morning so there were a lot of people in the streets and in the bars and pubs. George said the next time we are renting mopeds and not walking around. We were looking for Dennis Pharmacy and walked all over trying to find it but so many of the places have closed down for developers and hotels etc and I guess they did too. They had an ice cream counter that Jimmy Buffet ate at. We enjoyed our time here and tomorrow we are just driving back about 3 keys to another state park. One thing we noticed though is that they smoke all the time here and there is no laws about no smoking anywhere. We even saw a young girl smoking while she was driving a moped!