Day 4 - to Key West

From Sanford Florida to Key West

After a restful night (at least for me) morning came right on time. For my riding com-padres it might have been early but they trooped on and had breakfast before I could  get myself downstairs to eat.

Then repacking the trailer,  but first unlocking it from the light pole and attaching in to the Goldwing. Driving around front to make it easier to get stuff to it. The luggage rack was loaded and brought downstairs. Luggage and other odds and ends packed and we are ready to go. Booting up the old GPS to guide us across from Sanford to US 95 was like easy. Enduring the ride with the directions were not as wonderful. GPS took us on GA 528 which is a toll road having stops every so often to pay tolls. I had to pay for three axles each of four times prior to getting off this very nicely paved but extremely slow road. WOW! Never again will I venture onto a toll road in Florida nor will my riding associates.

After hitting US 95 again the GPS wanted us to go down the Florida Turnpike. After our experience earlier in the day with GA 528 not one of us wanted anything to do with the Florida Turnpike. So down US 95 it was. We made good time and were really racking up the miles. Then US 95 stops and US 1 is the road to use from there on out. We were dumped into some city traffic and it was exceedingly slow. All the time on US 95 the GPS is continually recalculating a path for us back to the Florida Turnpike. Finally I just had to give in. We turned to go down the Florida Turnpike. It seems if you do not have an Easy Pass they take a picture of your plate (license plate that is) and bill you. Well I sure hope it works cause I really don't want to see a large fine in the mail next week. Anyway the turnpike allowed us to go quickly until it too ran out. Back to US 1. From Key Largo to Key West is about 115 miles or so. The road is two lanes and if someone slow gets in front of your you crawl along. If not you can at least go 60 mph safely. The drive took about two hours.

Finally in Key West and driving on Roosevelt Boulevard (which is all torn up and really difficult to navigate on a motorcycle) the GPS said to turn on Simonton Street and go to the hotel. I missed the entrance on the first pass by but found it when I went around the block. No signs out front to say this was the Best Western in Key West. Time was after 8:00 pm, we had been on the road 11 hours.

Once in the drive it was time to register, then time to park the bikes and have a beer before doing anything else. Afterwards portaging the luggage to our room was a hot and sweetie task. But the rewards are great. We could take off our shoes and sit in the air conditioning leisurely drinking a beer. All  the while taking turns showering and getting the sweet and road dust washed off. That felt great.

Out of the hotel and looking for someplace to eat. We headed down to Duval Street. Which was just one block down. Walking on this famous street in Key West was really neat. We would come to lean tomorrow that the most entertaining part of Duval Street is at the other end. It is only 1.2 miles long so that couldn't be too bad could  it? After a few blocks we stumble onto a Five Guys place. For those who do not know, this is a hamburger joint. I got a hamburger with all the trimmings and fries. I was not overly impressed with the food but it was clean and hot. I would much more enjoyed a Fudruckers or something like that. Don't get me wrong the place was OK but only OK.

Walking back to the hotel by myself because the guys were interested in staying out for a while seeing what kind of mischief they could see. I went to bed immediately and slept like  a stone from the very long intensive day.

TTFN