| The park on Mullet Key is actually made up of | | | | tried them, as the noise they made might scare |
| five Keys stitched together, as it were, by the | | | | off the fish as you trundled along it's 1,000 feet |
| Pinellas Bayway. The keys, Madelaine, St Jean, St. | | | | of planked deck. Watching fishing can be as |
| Christopher, Bonne Fortune and Mullet, total | | | | exciting as watching paint dry. Nevertheless, they |
| around 900 acres with 7 miles of waterfront and | | | | never lack for an audience. |
| excellent sandy beaches. | | | | If a 1,000 feet of pier is too much exercise for |
| The first European to step ashore here was our | | | | one day, you could try your stamina on the 500 |
| old friend Ponce de Leon, on his exploratory | | | | foot one. No, they don't have way stations for |
| voyage up the Gulf Coast in 1513. When you | | | | the weary, with refreshments and rest rooms. |
| consider that it has little to offer in the way of | | | | Fishing is a sport and, as we all know, when |
| reprovisioning, one can only assume he was | | | | indulging in any sport, there has to be an element |
| curious to see it close up. Spanish explorers had | | | | of suffering. There is one compensation for the |
| other priorities apart from a paddle, such as gold, | | | | stroll though. The water is so clear everything |
| silver and precious stones. Which, as the Indians | | | | down there can be easily seen. |
| kept telling these white strangers, were just a | | | | OK. If the fish can see so well, how come they |
| little further away. | | | | don't pass up a free feed with a sharp hook as |
| Today the islands are explored by large numbers | | | | seasoning? Who needs to take up jogging when |
| of people in search of nothing more exciting than | | | | fishing is such good exercise here on Mullet Key. |
| finding a place to have a good day out. Sun, sea | | | | You get the legs toned up walking out on the pier |
| and sand, and all the usual pastimes and sports to | | | | and then the arm muscles worked out hauling in |
| be had at the seaside, plus maybe a little history. | | | | the catch. |
| The latter is not obligatory. If sun bathing and a | | | | Similarly there is no shortage of boat ramps for |
| dip in the Gulf to freshen up is what you fancy, | | | | launching into the wet, and five floating docks for |
| there is the choice of the East Beach Picnic Area | | | | moorings. Madelaine Key has the first of the boat |
| at Bonne Fortune Key, or the North Beach Picnic | | | | ramps as you arrive at the park. There get to be |
| and Recreation Area on Mullet Key. Both sites are | | | | so many craft out there in the Gulf and Tampa |
| well provided with shelters, rest rooms and the | | | | Bay that it's like a boat owners convention. Get |
| usual picnic and BBQ facilities. Plus, of course, | | | | many more and they will need waterborne traffic |
| facilities for the Handicapped. Showers? | | | | police. With Clearwater, St Petersburg and Tampa |
| Apparently not. If your choice of fodder is either | | | | on the doorstep it can get pretty busy on the |
| burgers or hot dogs there are concession stands | | | | briny at the weekends. Not so ashore. With seven |
| to appease the appetite, and drinks to quench the | | | | miles of beaches, the park can cope with more |
| thirst. They even have a variety of sandwiches | | | | people than visit here at any one time. |
| with green salad bits and pieces if fast food is not | | | | That little bit of history? Forts were the thing in |
| for you. If you have brought your own rations | | | | the 19th century. Plenty of forts to discourage an |
| you can spread out anywhere on the miles of | | | | enemy. So in 1895 yet another stone fort was |
| sandy beaches. If you don't fancy the great | | | | built. This time on Mullet Key. Eight 12 inch mortars |
| outdoors and sand in the salad? This park even | | | | were placed on its ramparts to guard the |
| has a restaurant. | | | | entrance to Tampa Bay. They never fired a shot |
| Wherever you go in the Sunshine State you will | | | | in anger, and Fort De Soto eventually became a |
| find the rod and line brigade. Florida has fishing | | | | military curiosity for generations of visitors to |
| enthusiasts like a dog has fleas. To cater for this | | | | explore. The view alone across the waters of the |
| devoted band of optimists, the park provides two | | | | Gulf and the entrance to Tampa Bay is worth the |
| fishing piers. Not modest constructions either. You | | | | effort. To the south is where another visitor set |
| very nearly need roller skates for the longest. | | | | foot in Florida in 1539, but that is another tale. |
| Except you would probably get lynched if you | | | | |