Leg 11 - Homestead, FL to Key West, FL (Second Corner) to Naples, FL

Left Homestead, FL at 6:10 am, Wed. May 21st. I have been on the road now for a little over two weeks. My riding muscles are getting in good shape. Also, my mind has become accustomed to long stretches of maintaining focus on the task of riding. I have found a rhythm that includes stopping every couple of hours, either for gas, something to eat or to take care of nature and re-hydrate.

This leg was unique. There is one road from Homestead to Key West, Hwy 1. It is 135 miles long and I needed to traverse it twice, the only time on this trip I will need to retrace my tracks. On the ride out I had a tail wind of 15 mph. Nice for getting better gas mileage. It was a beautiful ride with long bridges between the keys, blue water on both sides, sunny and a nice 75 degrees.

I arrived at the southern most point of the continental US just after 9 am and asked a passerby to take the following photo.

I ate breakfast at a local cafe called 'Six Toed Cat'. The 'Popeye' omelet and honey wheat toast hit the spot. I have gotten used to having iced tea for breakfast instead of my usual hot black tea. No doubt I will switch back when I get back up north.

There is something unusual about Key West. There are wild chickens all over. One rooster was strutting on the sidewalk just outside the deck where I ate breakfast. He would crow the customers for bits of food. The server said it was ok to feed them, so he got my left over toast and a slice of tomato. On the way out of Key West, there was a police patrol car stopped in the oncoming lane. I noticed a hen with four little chicks crossing in front of me and stopped to allow them to cross over my lane. Seems like the locals and the wild chickens live well together.

I took one other photo to document this second corner. It shows Hwy 1 mile marker 0 (zero).

The return to Homestead, FL on Hwy 1 was just as beautiful. I was happy to have the opportunity to see it twice. 

Once in Homestead I stopped for another bite to eat and more iced tea. I found a Honda dealer in Naples, FL who had tires in stock for my bike. I had scheduled a stop in Naples to see a long time friend and it was an opportune time to change tires. The cupping on the front tire is a bit worrisome. I simply depend on my tires too much to try and stretch out the mileage. I knew I would be changing tires on this trip at some point.

The dealer only had a 4pm appointment open tomorrow, so I will be staying in Naples for a few days taking in the sties and visiting with my friend.

I got to Naples around 4:30 pm. I took 'Alligator Alley', Hwy 41, through the Everglades National Park. I actually saw an alligator lying in a pool along the highway at a rest stop, the only alligator I have seen in the wild since arriving in Florida. 

Overall, 395 miles and 10 1/2 hours.