Day 17 - Key West, FL (Feb 13, 2011)

Day 17 – Sunday, February 13, 2011 - Key West, FL

Today Karen and I are go on a motorcycle trip with the Southern Cruisers Riding Club #422 of Key West, FL.

We are meeting at Truman Ave., and White St., for 9am, BUT (and there is always a “but” here in the Keys) – no one shows up. We did get a text from Wayne he can't ride, his son is down from Orlando. So we wait, at 9am a car slowly cruses the parking lot, the very attractive woman ask if we are waiting for a group of motorcyclists ? “Yes we are”.

Hi - I am Jane, I usually ride a Triumph, not riding today, so my question is were are others ?, simple answer it is too cold – it is +17c, no sign of black ice, no snow, it is sunny and there is a North wind at 20kmh.

Well down here in the Keys, unless it is above 21c (70f) no one ventures out, for us Northerner's who have faced the snowstorms of Nevada on US#50 in late May, this is excellent bike weather. Jane tells us that her mother lives in Crystal Beach (ON) – so she is the first person we have meet in this entire trip that knows were Niagara-on-the-Lake is. She gives us a tip for a good restaurant on Big Pine Key, so we are OFF!! – EAST on US#1. I would bet that Wayne asked her to drop by, she was an excellent ambassador of the club and of the Keys.

The ride is fantastic, very little traffic and we enjoy the road (US#1) which by the way is now a National Road - Byway, much like sections of old Route 66. We cross a number of Keys and Bridges before reaching Big Pine Key in about 40 minutes at MM30 (MM is Mile Marker). Of note Big Pine is home to the National Key Deer Refuge, not that we have seen any yet, but we are told they are the size of a dog.

Following Jane's recommendation, we are having breakfast at Big Pine Restaurant, which is a very busy family style restaurant – one that we would recommend. The coordinates are as follows: North side of US#1, MM30 – Big Pine Key, (305) 872-2790. It is next to the Big Pine Post Office (29959 Overseas Hwy). GPS: 24.67006 , -81.36407. I don't think they have a web site. So if traveling to or from KW this place is worth the stop – busy place, great food, you won't be disappointed.

After our breakfast (brunch) we start our way back – but take a detour down a paved road

(Middle Torch Road, then left onto Dorn Road) to “somewhere” - remember this is no agenda trip. We are on Big Torch Key, but to reach the end of key, which is a long one 16km, you have to cross Middle Torch Key and then Big Torch Key with lots of 90 degree turns. There was NO traffic (ie cars) at all, and we are able to stop and get some photos of the salt ponds with the Mangroves and some of the fantastic sea birds of the Florida Keys – we were not disappointed in this off the beaten track excursion, in fact I would recommend this to anyone as well. I will post the GPS tracks soon, it is another diversion that is worth the ride. (what is that saying it is the “journey” not the “destination” - I agree!)

We were back at our condo just after 12:40, so we had a excellent ride thanks to our friend Jane and her recommendation.

For the rest of the afternoon we sat on the deck and watched another fantastic sunset in Key West.

Ken and Karen in Key West, FL