Hanging around the Keys

Day 19

I have a good sleep, and wake up just before sunrise, which here, is around 6:30 am.

I make a coffee, and get dressed to watch the sun come up. I keep the room really 

cool for sleeping, then turn the heat on to warm the room up, when I awaken. The problem 

this morning, there is no heat that I can find. Though I find out why, when I open my door.

It's warmer outside then in my room!

Another gift from the heavens overnight. Now, only if, I actually liked coconuts.

Ok, so not the best sunrise, but it works for me.

Coffee and a Key's sunrise, what more can you ask for?

There's the moon slowly setting, but why does it look bigger in person then in photo's?

You've got a lovely bunch of coconuts. I can actually say this without getting slapped.

It seems yesterday a delivery truck took out the internet for a part of the resort (my part).

So I just have to head down to the office area and work from here. Oh, life is so rough

sometimes. I'm going to dread looking at these pics a few months down the road in the 

dead of winter.  Anyway, I get yesterdays blog done by 9 am, and head back to the room.

I get around to the 3 S's and then head into town, to pickup a care package box from

the post office. As you can see from above, not everyone has recovered from the

hurricane last year. Key West got off lightly, but Marathon was ground Zero. It's the

reason my resort has been completely redone, well, they are still working on it. Time

to head back and pack a few goodies in the USPS box.

The Rainbow Bend Resort. I'm here for a couple of nights. Originally built in either the

late 50's or early 60's. So you can get the feel and style of it. Though with the hurricane

of last year, more or less taking it to the walls, it's been rebuilt. Which for me is good. Old

school meets new school. When I booked the resort, I thought it was a lot closer to Key

West, well I was wrong about that. It's about half way along the Keys. But as I found out

later, it wasn't a bad thing.

First time I've seen some iguana's since coming on the Keys.

They will let you come reasonably close. I got a feeling some guests feed them.

Can you spot the iguana?

Zoom, and here he is. It looks like a few of them live in the bushie thing. I go

through all the crap I have traveled with, and see what I can send back.

 Rock from Crazy Horse, check...

All boxed up and ready to go. A easy 10-15 lbs of stuff packed. The mask comes

back with me.

It's around 2 pm, so I decide to make my slowly over to Key West. First stop, mail box.

Quick and fast, nobody except one person ahead of me. They actually put weight limits on

the boxes, but I'm no where near that.

Since these guy's are in the same mall as the post office, I'll check them out. I did last

trip and was not impressed. They get you in the door with the 4 for $10 t-shirts. But

those are only on one rack, at the back of the store, and a bad design.  Still the same

old crap.

Not a bad shirt, but is it worth $25 bucks. No, and that's why it stayed there. Little did

I know that finding a reasonably priced t-shirt in Key West was going to be a challenge.

I pull over to take a picture of the old railroad/road bridge. The nice causeway I'm

on now, was built in the 80's

History of the overseas railroad:

As I've said, "booking a room in Marathon was a mistake", not after being able

to ride this great road for a couple of hours.

Seafood shack and Tiki bar, how could I not stop here for a late lunch?

They have some kibble in a vending machine for a quarter, so why not feed the

fish, while waiting for lunch.

Good California roll, it was Sushi Thursday, it was cheap and just enough to get

me by, in case I find something to eat in Key West.

I guess these guys are done for the day. Just down from the tiki bar are the docks for

some commercial fishers. Time for the rest of the ride. The temps are in the high 80's,

so just a touch hot, but perfect for riding.

I get into Key West around 4 pm. I decide to part right at Mallory Square. Parking is

$5 per hour, with a max of $40 for 24 hours. Street parking around Duvall st was $4 per

hour. I saw the ticket guy twice when I was there. So just pay!  Now the hunt for

t-shirts.

They aren't super friendly, but you can get close enough. They call them Gypsy

roosters. Further down I have the info about them. You can't eat them, but you can

adopt them!

Winner, winner, rooster dinner. The law says you can't actually eat them. Though it's the

only place that I know of, where if you ordered Chinese dinner, with chicken balls,

they would actually be chicken balls, or rooster balls.

You can always tell when a cruse ship is in, by the amount of people downtown. Though

it would be leaving shortly.

Last time I was here I bought sponges. Maybe when I get home I should actually

try them out.

I like these, though getting them on the back of the bike is a no go.

One of my friends suggested I try this place. I'm not a big Key Lime pie guy, as the

stuff we get at home is fake and the favors just turn me off. But I'm willing to give

it another go, plus I respect Davy Loves opinion. What's vacation about if your not

willing to give things a second go.

I was very tempted by the Key Lime pie milkshake, but we did come here for the pie,

stay focused!

Wow, it's good, tart, but not in a bad way, and yes, I will get it again. But only when

I'm down here.

I make my way over to Duvall st, and the hunt for the elusive T-shirts begin.

A interesting store, they take your photo's and turn them into 3D miniatures.

When I get time, I'll look into it further.

Roosters can fly, or fly enough to get themselves into trees.

Spot the flying rooster.

This is so wrong on so many levels.

Still hunting for t-shirt deals. It goes like this, "Oh, I can make you what you want, it will

be $35", thanks, but I'll pass. Either they were to expensive, or the cheap ones were just

that, cheap.  Remember, from past posts, Ripley's is following me. At least 10 down now,

just 22 to go.

Does anyone actually buy any surf stuff from these guys? I bought a polo shirt from

them at the Cocoa Beach rally. It fell apart soon after, so stay away!

I head back to Mallory Square just after sunset. Hunting for t-shirts took longer than

planned. Though there is enough people hanging around.

All the tourist ships coming back to port after taking them to watch the sunset.

It is worth it to come and see. Though, no cat guy this time.

From $44 to $22, which makes it reasonable, but way to big for the trailer.

They don't cost too much, have a great history of the Keys, and you can actually use it.

Just another piece of rooster art work. The mall is half closed. This is the way Key West

works. Souvenir shops and art gallery's, etc are open during the day and a bit after the

sunset. Then it's bar time. So by the time I got to the mall, it was half closed. But up

stairs was t-shirt heaven. Two for $25 in my size. Plus it was that wick away stuff that

keeps you comfortable. Literally one of the last places I was going to try.

Key West is nice at night. I walk around some more. Then head back to the bike.

Everything you want to know in one easy flyer.


Now time to head back to the motel room. Since I'm in Marathon, which is around

50 miles away, it takes around a hour to get back. Not a lot of traffic, so driving is

easy. The bike has upgraded HID lights, so, no problem there as well. The really

nice part is that it is still in the low 80 degrees. I can count on my hands on how much

warm night driving that I've done. It is pleasant. Chances of thunderstorms tonight

20%. Guess what I run into, the 20%. I've only got a bennie on, so I pull over and

wait out the storm under a balcony. 10 minutes later I'm good to go. The storms

down here move out fast. The darkness going over the 7 mile bridge is amazing,

nothing on either side. Then when you come down the other side with all the beach

front properties,  it feels like your coming in for a landing on a plane. There are

deer down here, so you have to watch it. Though I saw none. I make it to the motel,

a little wet, but it's not cold. Time for bed as I've got to leave early. I've got a 6 hour

drive ahead of me, and a 80% of thunderstorms after 10:30 am. So if I leave early,

hopefully I'll miss most of them. Why not stay another night? Rates have gone up

because of the NASCAR race in Miami. So off to Orlando for me, where rates are

1/2 the price.



Today's mileage

137 miles or 221 km

Totals for this part of trip

4109 miles or 6612 km