Our group activity actually started the day before at a rider meeting held at the Fairfield Inn in Marathon. We met riders and staff; a small group of eight riders. We shared our stories of what brought each of us to this Keys ride. Most of the riders agreed that they were interested in the “pampered” aspect of the tour. We are riding with Bubba’s Pampered Pedalers. Alan and I chose the ride because Alan wanted to experience the Keys via bicycle.
On Monday morning we began our ride. We were shuttled from Marathon to Key Largo. We began riding about 9:30 am and the temperature was 78 with winds of 17 mph out of the ENE and gusts over 21 mph (making for great tailwinds). The temperatures have not varied much from lows around 78 to highs of 80/81. The route took across many bridges from key to key. At times we had to change what side of the road we cycled on due to damage to the bike trail. At times we also cycled in the road, but those times were limited. Alan and I were part of a small group of several riders who took a short “detour” into Long Key State Park. A local ranger explained that the campground had been destroyed during Hurricane Irma in 2017 and was never rebuilt. He also described the devastation to the mangrove trees; we could see new mangroves, just a few feet high, within the old, fallen trees.
Shortly after leaving the state park, we were on bridge, before Duck Key, when Alan got the first flat of the bike ride. The bridges with pedestrian/cyclist trails also have people fishing. Thus, the flat culprit was a fish hook with a tiny barb that made it very difficult to pull out by hand. We called the mechanic, Adam, for assistance. Alan walked his bike at least a quarter of a mile to get to the end of the bridge where Adam met us with a pair of pliers and a set of helping hands. Adam waited at the last bridge of the day to be sure we didn’t pick up any more errant hooks. We cycled 48 miles.and were the last ones to the hotel and were greeted with an icy cold Yuengling! Later that evening we had a group dinner at the Sunset Grill.
Our group, after crossing a bridge, at about mile 30 of the ride.
Halloween decor along the roadway.
A prime photo spot along the route at the Rain Barrel Village in Islamorada.
Our first SAG stop was at the location of the Keys Hurricane Monument. It was erected in memory of the civilians and veterans that perished during the great hurricane of 1935. An 18 foot tidal surge destroyed everything on Upper and Lower Matecumbe Keys, Windley Key, Craig Key and Long key. This photo is the back of the monument. There are ashes from hundreds of the victims in the crypt. The crypt is dug into the bedrock and extends above the floor of the monument.
The front of the Hurricane Monument.
It is impossible to capture the color of the water as you bike along the Overseas Highway - US 1.
Long Key Post Office.
Some of the destroyed mangroves inside of Long Key State Park.
A few new growth mangroves can be seen in this photo.
Still inside Long Key State Park.
Alan riding on the bridge - just before he discovered the hook in his tire.
The hook culprit.
Back at the hotel enjoying a brew and left over Key Lime pie from the prior night’s rider meeting.
A group dinner at the Sunset Grill.
The Sunset Grill restaurant has a pool for customer use!