2018 Florida – Legs and Feets

Key West 15-16 November

We knew this would be a very long day (84 miles) so we got out of bed early and headed down the road right at 7 am.

We stayed at the La Jolla an older motel with large rooms. Their costs were high but were justified due to location. The motel was right on the western coast and provided diving masks and snorkles, kyacks, bikes and all sorts of fun stuff. Unfortunatly we were just there for the bed and shower. We did not have time to play with their toys.

The recient huricanes have left their mark throughout the area. We saw signs of trash in the shrubs on either side of the road or buildings distroyed by high wind or water damage.

Oil Magnate Henry Flagger first visited Florida in 1878 and recognized its potential for development. By 1896 he had developed a railroad to Miami. In 1912 work began on the overseas extension . This was the first overland access down the keys. The bridge to the right our road is the origional railroad bridge. It currently is not in use.

Wegotour first flat of the tour today. It was a previously installed patch failure. We just changed the tube problem salved. It was interesting to feel how the bridge moved with the traffic. A large truck would pass and it was difficult to stand.

For much of the ride we rode on a trail parallel to the main highway. We arrived in Key West about 5:00 pm and found our motel. We went to the store and purchased a salad and microwave tv dinner.

We awoke late because today was a rest day. Besides we needed to wait until businesses opened. This may sound silly but Feets really wanted to find the famous chickens in Key West. This was not hard because we fould this handsome fellow on the way to the 0 mile marker.

Speaking to the O mile marker we found it.

The next oblicatory site was the southern most point in the United States.

We visited the Ingham a US Coast Guard ship lanched in 1936. It was used in WWII and sunk German sub U-636 it was moved to the Pacific and used by General MacArthur’s to return to Corregidor.

Feets crowled down to the water at Ft Tayler and touched the ocean.

We visited the President Harry S. Truman’s summer White House.

We had lunch at B.O.’s Fish Wagon and had a fried fish sandwich.

Finely we visited St. Paul’s Episcopal Church founded in 1832 the oldest in Florida’s Diocese.

We picked up our luggage and were back at the dock to catch the Key West Ferry service to Ft. Myer Beach.

Fort Myers to Auburndale 17 -18 November.

Now it is our time to return to Gainsville. We debarked from the Ferry from Key West about 10:00 at the Fort Myer Beach-Key West Ferry Docks. Fort Myers is actually 15 miles from the beach which is an entirely different city. For some reason Legs was just wore out and did not have any energy. By the time we traveled the 15 miles to Ft. Myers it was time for another breakfast.

Fortunatly most of the trail was off the main road, was smooth and quite.

Originally Fort Myers was a Spanish and later British settlement but when Florida joined the US it was the army headquarters in the Florida- American Indian Wars in the 1930’s. Many Seminole were forced to be removed to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River. However the Everglades of Florida was too tough for the US troops and two tribes were never defeated and still control some of their historic territory. Fort Myer was also used by Confederate blockate runners during the civil war.

Just north of Ft. Myers we stopped at Manatee Park. This park is adjacent to a power generating plant that warned the water a few degrees. Unfortunately we did not see any manatees except this fellow who posed for a shot with Legs.

Much of the day was spent riding past the Babcock Ranch Preserve.

After 62 miles we arrived in Arcadia and stopped in for Bar-B–Queat Slim’s. They had a three meat platter for $16 which was large enough to share.

Of course we had to top it off with their home made Key Lime Pie. Sunday was another early day. The sky was cloudy and the winds light. Most importantly it was a cool day.

We were definately in beef country today.

At noon we found Smoken Joe’s BBQ just south of Bowling Green. Again a very ample plate of food to share. The meat was slow cooked and you had a choice of BBQ sauces to smother your meal.

Several power poles exibited ospray nests.

The trail to Auburndale followed an old railroad grade. Most of the signs along the way had little messages of encouragements. We thought this message was espically meaningful to us. It reads. “The distance is nothing; it is only the first step that is difficult.” Maquise du Deffand.

Headed for the Keys 14 November

We got up early in the morning and headed toward the keys. We had 15 miles from the Everglades campground to Homestead Florida.

Feets is ready to go.

Another 20 miles from Homestead to Key Largo and we were at the keys. The day was hot and the wind was at our head. We visited the Visitor Center at Key Largo and took this picture as proof we were there.

Along the route we found many of these iguanas along the road.

We stopped by the Key Largo Conch House and had the recommended sea food taco and catch of the day Panini

Outside Feets found this directional sign.

We made it to the Key named Lslamoada we stopped for a coffee and treat and found this flower outside the restaurant.

Everglades November 11-13, 2018

We left Hollywood beach early in the morning and started our ride on the beach boardwalk.

We were able to stay on the beach boardwalk or SR A1A until we arrived in Miami.

As we left Miami headed south under the airial metro line. This was rather nice since we were under the track which was lined with vegetation and shaded by the above ground tracks. Further south the old rail line was paved and created a bus only lane all the way to Homestead. We were able to ride faster but the route stopped at most cross streets. It was 4:00 before we arrived at the Everglades National Park.

After a quick check-in at the entrance gate we headed to Royal Palm and the Anhinga Trail. Along the trail we found this wonderful allagater.

We got back to the bike just at dark and headed the four miles to the Long Pine Campground.

It rained all night so the morning was soggy wet with the rain and dew.

The next morning we took off to Flamingo Visitor Center. We saw Saw Grass Prairie of course this grass land was flooded.

We also saw these low shrublands.

We saw mangrove wetlands.

The maintenance worker who ordered this sign had quite the sense of humor. Besides the bridges along the road there was one other sign that stated the elevation was 4 feet. This National Park is very close to sea level.