CIA spymaster Corey Pearson gets
well-deserved R&R at the Bahia Honda State Park at mile marker 37 in Big
Pine Key in the Florida Keys. He walks over the talcum-powdered sand beaches
and explores the historic bridge that spans the entire park, learning about the
history behind the railway bridge as he hikes on it and underneath it.
The park is featured often in the MISSION OF VENGEANCE and PENUMBRA DATABASE spy thrillers- it’s a haven where Corey soon
forgets about the dangerous encounters of this last assignment as he snorkels
in the clear waters, watches the pelicans and gulls flying overhead, and as he takes
in the spectacular views from the beach, walkways and bridge. He has his
communications Bluetooth micro-receiver stuck in his ear just in case HQ wants
him, thanks to the Wi-Fi availability at the gift shop!
The park
is over 500 acres and has an offshore island where he finds the best snorkeling
and beachcombing in all of Florida. When hunger hits, Corey strolls into the
gift shop and buys munchies at the snack bar, and occasionally rents a kayak or
books a snorkeling tour to the fabulous Looe Key National Marine
Sanctuary.
The CIA spymaster likes traveling to the
Florida Keys; it’s like skipping into a Caribbean wonder-world without the
passport… a fake passport in his case. The
US-1 highway unites the keys into a single magical island to him, and as he
drives along the coral-reef turquoise waters, enjoying the numerous mangrove
marshes offshore, he plays Bob Marley/Jimmy Buffet tunes on the CD.
He prefers basic camping in a tent, which
brings him closer to nature. Bahia Honda’s Sandspur campground is his favorite.
As he sits in his lounge chair, sipping a cold beer, he enjoys the Sandspur’s spectacular
view of the Atlantic Ocean. The sunrises are stunning, and he often strolls
down to Sandspur beach to swim with the wild dolphins that glide through each
morning. Corey also enjoys the nearby Loggerhead beach and wades along its large,
pristine sand bar.
One of his favorite things to do is wait
until midnight when the wind calms and the ocean is so glassy it mirrors the
sky. He takes his kayak out and lets the ocean take him out into the empty
vastness.
Ironically, Corey fell in love with the
Florida Keys and Bahia Honda State Park when he was assigned to track Chinese
spies in the area. His cover was a nature enthusiast who enjoyed primitive
camping up and down the keys. He witnessed his Chinese targets taking photos of
the Naval Air Station Key West and the U.S. Army base in Key West. He even shadowed
one Chinese spy cell to Mar-a-Lago, which it scrutinized thoroughly.
Eventually, when he gathered sufficient
evidence, the spy cells were gathered up by the FBI and convicted of illegally
exporting critical technology- they worked at federal research institutions in
Florida, while still on their home countries’ payroll! Corey knew the bust was
only the tip of the iceberg, since Florida and the Florida Keys are home to research
institutions, defense installations, universities and, yes, even President
Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach.
You would enjoy getting R&R at Bahia Honda
State Park in Big Pine Key, Florida Keys. If you ever pass Mile Marker 37, stop
in and enjoy. If it soothes the soul of a stressed-out intelligence officer,
it will do so for you, too!
Robert Morton is a member of the Association Of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and enjoys writing about the U.S. Intelligence Community. Subscribe to his free "Spy Agency Happenings!" newsletter.
No comments:
Post a Comment