An Unexpected Place

Nike Missile Base Historic Area in Everglades National Park, Florida

When Kathy & I were looking over information about the Everglades, we had noticed several references to a Nike Missile base located within the park.  There wasn’t a lot information online, but once we got there we saw signs  directing us toward the location and indicating that there were “open house” hours daily.  So we decided to check it out.

Nike Missile Base Historic Area in Everglades National Park, Florida
Nike Missile Base Historic Area in Everglades National Park, Florida
Nike Missile Base Historic Area in Everglades National Park, Florida

As it turns out, there had been three Nike sites located within the Everglades as a result of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the close-the-barn-door approach that was taken after the fact.  There are several abandoned bunkers that are inaccessible due to asbestos contamination, an unused hanger and one that houses an actual but de-fused Nike missile.

Nike Missile Base Historic Area in Everglades National Park, Florida
Nike Missile Base Historic Area in Everglades National Park, Florida

It was an interesting side trip on an otherwise nature-oriented visit, but it was something unexpected in an otherwise natural habitat.

“Don’t worry, those signs aren’t enforced on Mondays.” We were there on a Monday. Whew!

Slowly But Surely

Early morning enroute to San Juan, Puerto Rico aboard Carnival Breeze

Kathy & I returned to home base this past Monday, and I’m currently halfway through the nearly 4,000 photos from our month-long adventure.  I’ll be posting galleries to my Adobe Portfolio site (keep checking for updates!) and expect to have some more stories to tell here on the blog in the near future.  Hang in there – I’m working on it! 😉

A Few Days in The Everglades

Tram tour from the Shark Valley Visitor Center in Everglades National Park

Kathy & I are wrapping up a short week in south Florida, where we spent three days in various parts of Everglades National Park.  I’ve got a ton of photos to process when I get home and we’ll be on a cruise ship next week.  So my postings may be a little thin over the next week or so. Here are a few photos in the interim.

Alligator on the Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park
Great Blue Heron
Wood Stork
Osprey and nest
Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park
Shark Valley Visitor Center in Everglades National Park
Pa-Hay-Okee Lookout Tower and boardwalk, Everglades National Park
Pa-Hay-Okee Lookout Tower and boardwalk, Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park boat cruise with Everglades Area Tours of Chokoloskee Island, Florida

Elvis Didn’t Sleep Here

The supposedly famous Heartbreak Hotel in Kenansville, Florida

Spotted enroute to our cruise ship in Port Canaveral, Florida.

According to several sources, the tie to Elvis is a tenuous and indirect one.  The song “Heartbreak Hotel” was co-written by songwriters Mae Boren Axton and Tommy Durden.  Durden possibly did stay at this hotel, and was possibly inspired by a local newspaper article about the suicide of a lonely man who jumped from a hotel window.  Although not this one.

The Land Where The Palm Trees Grow *

Palm tree nurseries near Homestead, Florida

I suppose if I had thought about it I would have realized that somewhere on this planet had to be a place that had palm tree nurseries.  Today we found them!

Palm tree nurseries near Homestead, Florida
Palm tree nurseries near Homestead, Florida
Palm tree nurseries near Homestead, Florida

Kathy & I are in south Florida and decided to head out to Biscayne National Park near Homestead.  On our way there and back we passed dozens of palm tree nurseries, covering thousands of acres or more.  I shot a few examples of them on the way, but it was amazing to see the sheer number of palm trees – of all sizes and types – being grown all in one place!

Palm tree nurseries near Homestead, Florida
Palm tree nurseries near Homestead, Florida

* Some sources suggest that the original song lyrics are “the land where the bong tree grows,” but this is the version I remember – from “The Owl & The Pussycat”

Photographs and stuff!