Saturday, March 23, 2013
Friday, March 22, 2013
today's destination and stop was West Miami, FL
Was woken up at 5:30 am by a garbage truck emptying the dumpsters in the campground within very close proximity of our tentsite. That wouldn't have been so bad except their backup warning signals had to have been higher in decibels than anything else on the planet. After that wake up call, we got everything arranged back on the bikes and made our way on the road to Miami. We had intended to follow the atlantic trail up through South Beach and on to Fort Lauderdale but took a last minute detour at Homestead and made our way up hwy 997 instead. We passed lots of nurseries and farms. We stopped at one and picked our own strawberries! On the way to West Miami we got caught in a rainstorm. We sought refuge at a Pilot truck stop where there were many others on motorcycles doing the same. We called to find a hotel for the night and finally found one. It turned out to be about 8 miles out of our way but we were ready for a nice soft bed, real pillows and no annoying lights or garbage trucks. On the way to the hotel I had the next flat. Donnie was riding ahead and a sheriff cruiser that had just passed me told him I had a flat. He promptly turned around on his trusty steed to come and save the day. Continuing on the Tamiami Trail we got caught in another rainstorm, this one was much harder and longer. After a day of dealing with rain, flats, more rain and heavy traffic in Miami we finally settled into our hotel. Had the opportunity to sneak in a load of laundry. We went to one of the best little family run Italian restaurants we have ever eaten at. Life is good.
Miles Day 3 = 56.7
Total Miles = 166.8
My hero and expert tire-changer
Picking fresh strawberries....YUM !!!!
Was woken up at 5:30 am by a garbage truck emptying the dumpsters in the campground within very close proximity of our tentsite. That wouldn't have been so bad except their backup warning signals had to have been higher in decibels than anything else on the planet. After that wake up call, we got everything arranged back on the bikes and made our way on the road to Miami. We had intended to follow the atlantic trail up through South Beach and on to Fort Lauderdale but took a last minute detour at Homestead and made our way up hwy 997 instead. We passed lots of nurseries and farms. We stopped at one and picked our own strawberries! On the way to West Miami we got caught in a rainstorm. We sought refuge at a Pilot truck stop where there were many others on motorcycles doing the same. We called to find a hotel for the night and finally found one. It turned out to be about 8 miles out of our way but we were ready for a nice soft bed, real pillows and no annoying lights or garbage trucks. On the way to the hotel I had the next flat. Donnie was riding ahead and a sheriff cruiser that had just passed me told him I had a flat. He promptly turned around on his trusty steed to come and save the day. Continuing on the Tamiami Trail we got caught in another rainstorm, this one was much harder and longer. After a day of dealing with rain, flats, more rain and heavy traffic in Miami we finally settled into our hotel. Had the opportunity to sneak in a load of laundry. We went to one of the best little family run Italian restaurants we have ever eaten at. Life is good.
Miles Day 3 = 56.7
Total Miles = 166.8
My hero and expert tire-changer
Picking fresh strawberries....YUM !!!!
Thursday, March 21, 2013
today's destination and stop was Key Largo, FL
Shortly after leaving Marathon, Donnie got our first flat tire. Saw 3 other couples also touring but going south rather than north like us. A day of riding the bike lane on Highway 1 and going across too many bridges to count them all. Stopped at a little bar when we hit Key Largo where we had beers and raw oysters. Anyone that knows me know that Donnie was the one who had the oysters (I can't eat anything that is slimy and looks like snot). We had planned to stop at the state park down the road for the night but they were full and had NO sympathy for a couple of road weary travellers that only required a 10x10 space to spend the night. The park nazi made it clear we should have planned ahead with reservations. Well excuse me ma'am...the whole point of touring is not knowing where you will end up each day. We called to another campground a few miles further down the road who assured us they had a tent space available. Upon arriving at 5:40pm we were met with a sign in the office they closed at 5:30pm...yes, I said CLOSED....that would have been a very helpful piece of information to tell us over the phone earlier when we told her we were on our way on bicycles. Fortunately, the office manager lived in an RV in the spot across from the office. She literally came racing out and over when she heard Donnie yell out a few choice "french" words commenting on the fact they were closed. But all ended well and we settled in for the evening after Donnie made sure to unscrew some ill placed flood lights in the area. And for anyone concerned about Hercules - my mother says he is healing fine but won't go anywhere near the cat !
Miles Day 2 = 58.5
Total Miles = 110.1
Shortly after leaving Marathon, Donnie got our first flat tire. Saw 3 other couples also touring but going south rather than north like us. A day of riding the bike lane on Highway 1 and going across too many bridges to count them all. Stopped at a little bar when we hit Key Largo where we had beers and raw oysters. Anyone that knows me know that Donnie was the one who had the oysters (I can't eat anything that is slimy and looks like snot). We had planned to stop at the state park down the road for the night but they were full and had NO sympathy for a couple of road weary travellers that only required a 10x10 space to spend the night. The park nazi made it clear we should have planned ahead with reservations. Well excuse me ma'am...the whole point of touring is not knowing where you will end up each day. We called to another campground a few miles further down the road who assured us they had a tent space available. Upon arriving at 5:40pm we were met with a sign in the office they closed at 5:30pm...yes, I said CLOSED....that would have been a very helpful piece of information to tell us over the phone earlier when we told her we were on our way on bicycles. Fortunately, the office manager lived in an RV in the spot across from the office. She literally came racing out and over when she heard Donnie yell out a few choice "french" words commenting on the fact they were closed. But all ended well and we settled in for the evening after Donnie made sure to unscrew some ill placed flood lights in the area. And for anyone concerned about Hercules - my mother says he is healing fine but won't go anywhere near the cat !
Miles Day 2 = 58.5
Total Miles = 110.1
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Marathon, FL
First day of our ride! We got off the ferry and rode briefly around Key West. We took a photo op at the Southermost Point in the US. Unfortunately I didn't bring my cord to download pics from my camera so those will come later. We saw loads of wildlife along the ride to Marathon. Lots of lizard things (not sure if they were iguanas or monitors) and a huge red rooster in the wild. We crossed over 7 mile bridge right into a campground that had no vacancies for tent camping....Ugh! But we were able to plead our way into a sweet RV site for the tent camping price.
Miles Day 1 = 51.6
Total miles = 51.6
Key West Express Ferry
Ft. Myers. FL to Key West, FL
We made the ferry !!!! Bikes and all our stuff. It was touch and go for a while. We had heard the ferry company didn't want to take bikes with attached racks and panniers so were very concerned our trip would be modified before it even began. But we had no problems and everyone on board was extremely accommodating and friendly. While on board, we met a really nice couple (Jeff and Lynn) from Darbyshire England who let us share their booth. They are here visiting relatives on Pine Island and taking the ferry to spend a day in Key West. After hosing off the bikes with fresh water to take the salt off of them, we were ready to finally start at mile marker 0 on Highway 1.
Hanging out on the top deck of the Ferry
Bikes are loaded and sea worthy
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