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Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail Trail Talk
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Greenways & Trails |
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Welcome to the September 2010 Edition of Trail Talk!
In This Issue of Trail Talk: |
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Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail Construction Updates
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Office of Greenways & Trails staff share information and receive feedback from local business owners about impacts of the trail design.
Progress on the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail (FKOHT) continues to move forward and, to date, approximately 70 miles of Trail have been completed in segments throughout the 106-mile corridor from Key Largo to Key West. As we work to implement the vision for the FKOHT and carry out the locally developed master plan for this Trail, the DEP Office of Greenways & Trails is actively working to keep the Keys communities informed and engaged. For a project overview, see Construction and Design Projects.
If you have questions on a specific project, please contact the FKOHT office in Key Largo: (305) 853-3571 or email Trail Specialist, Monica Woll: Monica.Woll@dep.state.fl.us.
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__________________________________________________________________________________________ | Volunteer News and Notes
By Monica Woll, FKOHT Trail Specialist
Members of "BoatlessFishing.com" were so excited to have their adopted bridge (Channel 2) reopen following a temporary closure for retrofits and safety upgrades that they scheduled a clean-up project on July 18, just two weeks after the reopening. Fifteen anglers from this club worked together for two hours on cleaning this bridge--what a wonderful gift of stewardship for a valued community resource!
Clearly, it's a good fit when folks who use and enjoy the FKOHT come out to help care for the Trail and, vice versa, it's rewarding to share some fun with those who contribute time and energy to maintaining the Trail. With this in mind, we have organized some volunteer clean-up days to include recreation--we work together to clean a trail area and then go for a "pedal" or a "paddle" afterward!
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New volunteer Willy Wasik joined in the first "work/play" project on June 29. She took a day off work to help clean both the Spanish Harbor Historic Bridge and boat ramp and the lagoon on Scout Key. Rather than paddle, she opted to go for a swim afterward and considered the time away from the office a worthwhile break.
We've recently welcomed several new volunteers and organizations:
Willy Wasik of Homestead; The Big Pine Key Botanical Society, which has adopted the South Pine Historic Bridge; Diane Stevens of Big Pine Key who adopted the lagoon on Scout Key. Thank you all for becoming part of our volunteer team on the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail! To join the FKOHT volunteer team or learn more about our activities, contact Monica Woll at (305) 853-3571 or email Monica.Woll@dep.state.fl.us. |
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__________________________________________________________________________________________ | Key West Bike Ride
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The first "Flagler" bike tour around Key West was such a success that another is now scheduled for October, in celebration of Florida Greenways and Trails Month.
The historic Flagler bike tour is designed to appeal to those with a special interest in learning about Henry Flagler's Key West legacy by way of a free and leisurely group bike ride to various points of interest associated with Flagler. In May of this year, eight cyclists participated in the introductory tour which featured a 6.5-mile route through Old Town with stops at the museums, sculpture garden, library and the Flagler Historium. Representatives and interpreters were on hand to meet the group at several of the highlighted locations, making the tour an informative and very enjoyable experience.
The next tour is scheduled for October 2, in conjunction with Florida Greenways and Trails Month. For more information, contact Cristina Lindley at (305) 360-2532 or the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail office at (305) 853-3571. |
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A "Palace on Wheels"
By Cristina Lindley
FKOHT Public Outreach Coordinator
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The private carriage of railroad tycoon Henry Flagler is on display at the site of his Palm Beach mansion.
On a recent visit to Whitehall, the 55-room Palm Beach mansion built by Henry Flagler in 1901 for his third wife, Mary Lily Kenan Flagler, I felt as if I had walked onto a movie set of the "Gilded Age." The opulence and grandeur of the mansion's furniture and embellishments were quite impressive and Flagler's private railcar, described as a "Palace on Wheels," was also on exhibit.
Since Flagler's railroad bridges have played such an important role in the history of the Keys and form a central component of the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail, I found it fascinating to observe the style in which this famous railroad magnate traveled.
Built in 1886 to serve as Henry Flagler's office while on construction sites, Car #91 was exquisitely designed to accommodate all of his needs in a very limited space. Along with a luxurious private office, the carriage included a living/dining area, a small kitchen, a copper-lined bathroom and bunk beds for guests or servants.
Car #91 was also known as "The Rambler." It could be attached to any of Flagler's trains, as needed, and was also used for on-site entertainment. "The Rambler" brought Henry Flagler to Key West on his inaugural trip to celebrate the completion of the Florida East Coast Railway's Key West Extension on January 22, 1912. As the Keys communities prepare to commemorate next year's centennial of Flagler's triumphant journey, I welcomed the opportunity to visualize the grandeur of that historic trip in a "Palace on Wheels."
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__________________________________________________________________________________________ | "Pedal-Paddle" Trails Day Celebration at Long Key
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Madison Kauffman (l) and Monica Woll (r) on Long Key Historic Bridge - Photo by Jeff Kauffman
In celebration of National Trails DayŽ, June 5, 2010, FKOHT Trail Specialist, Monica Woll, guided a Pedal-Paddle event at Long Key State Park. About 20 participants joined in the event, either for the "pedal," the "paddle" or both activities. The route for the bike ride crossed the 2.2-mile Long Key Historic Bridge and the paddling excursion followed along the shallow shoreline to Long Key Point where everyone enjoyed a refreshing swim.
Long Key State Park Ranger, Dave Clifford, assisted with the event and Corporal Tom Markey of DEP Law Enforcement, ensured that the bridge was clear for biking. Many thanks to the partners and colleagues who supported this National Trails DayŽ event--it was an enjoyable day on the Trail! |
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September 24, Friday, 10 a.m.
Curry Hammock Paddle & Pedal
The kayak rental launch site at Curry Hammock State Park will be the meeting point for a paddle around Little Crawl Key with options to paddle to a beach one mile to the north or south. Plan to bring your own kayak or rent one. The paddle is scheduled to finish at 12 noon in time for a bring-your-own "brown bag" picnic lunch. Continue on with a bike ride along the Grassy Key section of the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail from 1-3 p.m. Bring your bike and helmet. Park admission is free. For more information, call Monica Woll at (305) 853-3571 or email Monica.Woll@dep.state.fl.us. September 25, Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Florida Keys Birding & Wildlife Fest Environmental Fair
The Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail will join with many other organizations in this event at Curry Hammock State Park which features hands-on, outdoor activities for children and families, a wildlife expo and a wildlife art exhibition by local artists. Free admission to the Environmental Fair; some guided tours and programs may require fees. For more information, check out KeysBirdingFest. October 2, Saturday, 9 a.m.-12 Noon
Flagler's Key West Bike Tour
Meet at Flagler's Bar, Casa Marina Resort where the tour will begin with a short history of Henry Flagler and his mark on the City of Key West. Cycling tour will continue around Old Town with stops at points of interest such as the Monroe County Library, Sculpture Garden, Customs House, Flagler Historium and Trumbo Point site. The guided tour is a round trip of 6-7 miles, ending at the Casa Marina. Water and reusable water bottles will be provided and the tour is free of charge. To register, contact Cristina Lindley at (305) 360-2532 or email Cristina.Lindley@dep.state.fl.us; or call the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail office: (305) 853-3571. October 16, Saturday, 9 a.m.
Islamorada Pedal-Paddle
Meet at Robbie's Marina parking lot, MM 77.5 bayside and ride across the newly refurbished Channel 2 Historic Bridge before paddling the mangrove creeks. The "pedal" is 12 miles round-trip and the paddle is about three miles. Bring your own bike and kayak, snacks and water. Kayak rentals available at Florida Keys Kayak & Sail, (305) 664-4878. For more information, call Monica Woll at (305) 853-3571 or email Monica.Woll@dep.state.fl.us. November 1-7
EcoWeek
EcoWeek 2010 is a Keys-wide, week-long series of activities designed to promote and celebrate environmental preservation. For more information, see Ecoweekfloridakeys.com.
November 4, Thursday, 1:30 p.m.
"From Rail to Trail"
This photo presentation and program at the Key West Garden Club is free and open to the public. Monica Woll, Trail Specialist with the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail, will review the history of the Overseas Railroad and preview plans for the next year's 100th anniversary of the first train to arrive in Key West. The Key West Garden Club, West Martello Tower at 1100 Atlantic Blvd where White St. meets the ocean. To RSVP, contact the Garden Club at (305) 294-3210.
November 2-4, Tuesday-Thursday
Key Largo to Key West Bike Ride
Limited registration and details TBA; contact Monica Woll for more information: (305) 853-3571 or Monica.Woll@dep.state.fl.us.
November 6-13
BubbaFest Florida Keys
Key Largo to Key West roundtrip, fully supported bike tour. For more information, visit bubbafestbiketours.com.
November 18-20, Thursday-Saturday
Smart Ride 7
Miami to Key West bicycle ride fundraiser for the fight against AIDS/HIV. The ride is fully supported and designed to allow riders of all degrees of experience to participate. For more information, see smartride.org. |
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