Florida Keys tour
#1
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Florida Keys tour
Managed to get in a tour this winter in the Keys last week. Rode from Key West to Miami and drove back in a rental car. Beautiful weather except for the one shower that hit right as I was packing up one day, which is the worst time, because everything was out. This is the third trip I’ve done in the Keys, and the only time I’ve ridden the section from Key Largo to Miami. Took the Card Sound Road route, which was OK, but not for those who like riding on the shoulder. Started at a ridiculously expensive hotel in Key West, then in the state parks at Bahia Honda, Curry Hammock, Long Key and Pennekamp, hotel in Florida City and the last night at Boyd’s Campground in Key West. It was fun and a nice break from the cold weather. Here are some photos from the trip.
Bridge to Bahia Honda. Very windy day with gusts to 30 knots.
Bahia Honda beach
Sunset at Curry Hammock
Lots of bugs at Long Key in the morning
Anne’s Beach in Islamorada. Nice place to take a break.
Front tire blowout in Islamorada. Local shop delivered a new tire to me, thankfully.
Super windy night at Boyd’s, so I used the rental car as a wind break
Boyd’s Campground
Beach at Zachary Taylor State Park
From Fort Taylor in Key West
Bridge to Bahia Honda. Very windy day with gusts to 30 knots.
Bahia Honda beach
Sunset at Curry Hammock
Lots of bugs at Long Key in the morning
Anne’s Beach in Islamorada. Nice place to take a break.
Front tire blowout in Islamorada. Local shop delivered a new tire to me, thankfully.
Super windy night at Boyd’s, so I used the rental car as a wind break
Boyd’s Campground
Beach at Zachary Taylor State Park
From Fort Taylor in Key West
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#3
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I was there pre-Irma, looks like things are recovering nicely. We paid about $100 USD for a tiny little site at Boyds which we shared with a dumpster.
Bummer about the blowout. With 26 inch tires for pavement being harder to find, I am starting to think I should always carry a spare. In the past when I carried a spare, it was a very lightweight tire intended to be good enough to get me to a good bike ship, not a high mileage replacement tire.
Bummer about the blowout. With 26 inch tires for pavement being harder to find, I am starting to think I should always carry a spare. In the past when I carried a spare, it was a very lightweight tire intended to be good enough to get me to a good bike ship, not a high mileage replacement tire.
#4
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I was there right after Irma, and it is much better now. Some of the infrastructure at Bahia Honda has been replaced and repaired, but still half of the park is closed. Long Key is still mostly closed and under construction, but the primitive tent sites and bathhouse have been restored. Those were the two hardest hit state parks. Curry Hammock suffered little damage and is fully operational, and the other parts of the Keys were largely spared. And yes, $100 for a tent site where you can hear your neighbors breathing is ridiculous, but compared to $500 a night for a hotel, it’s a bargain. I had no problem finding a replacement tire in 26”, but for remote touring, carrying a folding spare would be a good idea.
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Couple years ago two friends and I did KW > Islamorada > KW. Love the weather, love the scenery. I will say that on some of those bridges it can be a bit tight with the trucks. Not terrifying, but not comfort-zone, either.