Sunday, March 17, 2019
Florida City to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
26.8 miles - no wind
Today we ride “the stretch.” That is a 20 mile stretch of Route 1 which links mainland Florida to Key Largo, the north end of the Keys. The road has a very wide shoulder and also 20 culverts and underpasses for animals such as crocs and Florida panthers to cross safely under the road. The biggest animal we see is an iguana. Even though traffic is moving at 60 mph, the wide shoulder allows for a low-ish stress ride.
When we reach the state park it is still early and we have to wait until the 1:00 pm check out time to see if we will be allowed to stay in the “primitive” campsite. This site doubles as a group site so if some scouts spontaneously show up they have priority. I am pretty confident that isn’t going to happen on Sunday. No one shows and we are in! Yay!
We rent a double kayak and Tom goes snorkeling and looking for sea life. We get a little turned around in the mangroves even with the nice laminated map that comes with our rental. In the end, we manage to avoid the very narrow passageways (which I HATE) and also the area where the bigger ships go.
We walk to dinner at The Fish House. They still source their fish from local fisherman and our supper is delicious. The key lime pie is pretty good, but I will need to keep trying other places as we move south in the Keys just to be sure.
The temperature is still 78 degrees when we get in the tent, but it cools off overnight and the sky is starry.
Tomorrow we are going to try to get on one of the snorkeling boat trips that go out to an offshore reef. And rest. It’s an official rest day. We get to sleep two nights in the same place.
Monday, March 18, 2019
Rest Day - 0 miles
Today we get to go snorkeling. Full disclosure: I have only been snorkeling once and I didn't last too long in the water before I got nervous looking down at the depth and got back in the boat. This was in Bermuda quite a few years ago. I am going to try again today on the reef which is more shallow and supposed to be amazingly beautiful.
I am going to try snorkeling again one day. Maybe in some very calm, shallow water.
Florida City to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
26.8 miles - no wind
Today we ride “the stretch.” That is a 20 mile stretch of Route 1 which links mainland Florida to Key Largo, the north end of the Keys. The road has a very wide shoulder and also 20 culverts and underpasses for animals such as crocs and Florida panthers to cross safely under the road. The biggest animal we see is an iguana. Even though traffic is moving at 60 mph, the wide shoulder allows for a low-ish stress ride.
When we reach the state park it is still early and we have to wait until the 1:00 pm check out time to see if we will be allowed to stay in the “primitive” campsite. This site doubles as a group site so if some scouts spontaneously show up they have priority. I am pretty confident that isn’t going to happen on Sunday. No one shows and we are in! Yay!
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| Tom's mad knot tying/tarp skills allow us to leave the fly open and stay cool during the overnight rain. |
We rent a double kayak and Tom goes snorkeling and looking for sea life. We get a little turned around in the mangroves even with the nice laminated map that comes with our rental. In the end, we manage to avoid the very narrow passageways (which I HATE) and also the area where the bigger ships go.
 |
| Tom saw a skate and a bunch of smaller fish while I paddled the double kayak |
We walk to dinner at The Fish House. They still source their fish from local fisherman and our supper is delicious. The key lime pie is pretty good, but I will need to keep trying other places as we move south in the Keys just to be sure.
The temperature is still 78 degrees when we get in the tent, but it cools off overnight and the sky is starry.
Tomorrow we are going to try to get on one of the snorkeling boat trips that go out to an offshore reef. And rest. It’s an official rest day. We get to sleep two nights in the same place.
Monday, March 18, 2019
Rest Day - 0 miles
Today we get to go snorkeling. Full disclosure: I have only been snorkeling once and I didn't last too long in the water before I got nervous looking down at the depth and got back in the boat. This was in Bermuda quite a few years ago. I am going to try again today on the reef which is more shallow and supposed to be amazingly beautiful.
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| The boat heads out to the reef |
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| The weather is perfect, but the captain reports 2' to 3' seas |
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| I only managed to stay in the water until the first wave washed over me, then I was back on the boat. |
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| Tom reports that he saw the "Jesus statue" and every color of fish. He dove down deep and saw the beautiful coral and every fish imaginable. No shark, though! |
I am going to try snorkeling again one day. Maybe in some very calm, shallow water.
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