Day 24: Homestead to Key West 130miles/209km

-

Let's ride to Key West.

It is a short day's ride.

I am reminded about the skill of engineers again today. Those who design and build big projects and those who design and make mechanical and electrical systems involved in our Flower Power machine. I am especially thinking of Richard who shares my birthday. And my brothers.

Come with us along this extraordinary part of Highway US1 which connects many islands or keys of this tropical archipelago. The Atlantic Ocean on the east and the Gulf of Mexico to the west.

There was a lot more traffic on the roads than I show in these images. It is the day after a long weekend, Memorial Weekend.

It is a lovely day for a ride. The photographs tell the story.

 

 

A railway track was put in place a hundred years ago. I am guessing that the broken bridge on our right was part of it.

 

Most of e keys that we ride over are built up with housing, shops and medical facilities and the like. I am curious about how water is supplied and trash disposed of.

 

 

We are in the tropics at 23deg 33'N

And we arrive at the southernmost point of the USA mainland.

90 miles from Cuba.

Closer to Havana than to Miami.

 

A good place to stay for a rest day.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Homeward bound: Picton to Queenstown, New Zealand. 875km, 11.5°C-22°C

-
Image
We saved the best for last. The longest distance we have ever ridden two up in one day. From Marlborough's Wairau Valley vineyards... To lake Rotoiti And the forest-clad hills  That accompany us south and to the west coast. Coffee stop at the Beeches in Murchison Awesome pies for lunch in Hokitika Whitebait fritters at the Paringa Salmon Farm. So good to be on familiar roads, So close to home We decide to make a run for Queenstown while the sun is still shining. Through the Gates of Haast Over the Haast Pass To the warmth of Central Otago at Makarora Along the shorelines of Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea Through the early evening golden light  Etching patterns on slopes of the Crown Range. Home to Te Komata  Our house on the hill Which welcomes us with open arms. We are truly blessed to live in this part  of the world. Vineyards spread across the Wairau Valley. Home of Marlborough wines.   Lake Rotoiti - high water this summer. Beyond lake Rotoiti Dual single lane rai
Read more

Ngorogoro Crater

-
Image
Ngorogoro Crater formed 2.5million years ago after a volcanic eruption. The crater is about 19km in diameter and has steep sides. The road descending into the crater is definitely a 4WD road. Steep and rugged. The floor of the crater has lakes which provide water for animals year round. There is a resident population of wildebeest and zebra, buffalo, zebra, many hyena, lions and birds. While we were visiting the area the skies were magnificently moody. The crater is around 2300m altitude so it was pleasantly cool. Short grass necessitates knee bending for the warthog whilst feeding. One of the many hyena cooling off. A weaver bird.  There were lots of weaver bird nests in the trees. Some birds were on the winge carrying straw to their nests. The superb starling. A contented wildebeest Plenty of lions on the prowl. Weaver bird nests Zebra galore  Lions having breakfast on a freshly killed buffalo. Getting around by Caravan 
Read more