KEY WEST, FLORIDA
With a day to relax in Key West before heading home, I awoke to a beautiful day with nothing planned. Some of my teammates from the Key to Keys ride were flying home while others were sleeping in from a late night on the town. Still others had family members join them in Key West.
Me? I had my bike.
I started with no real plan. I began by riding back to the buoy that marks the Southernmost Point of the Continental United States and seeing many “Southernmost” landmarks including hotel, hotel on the beach, furniture store, and hockey rink.
I passed the Key West AIDS Memorial. I don’t like to think of “them” vs. “us” but it makes me wonder why no Cancer Memorial. I’m not suggesting less be done for AIDS but more needs to be done for cancer.
I left headed north – the only way one could head, and rode. As I rode I got to thinking about the Seven Mile Bridge which many teammates got to ride yesterday but we survivors, did not. And I rode.
The ride was a combination of shoulder on US 1, bike lane on US 1, and bike path separate from US 1. From the original highway which featured separate one lane bridges, many of the bridges are fully intact and are designated for riding down the middle and fishing from the sides. This is part of the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail.
I had pictured mile after mile of bridges but most of the highway through the keys is actually on land. The big exception being the Seven Mile Bridge.
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| Not all bridges are intact |
I knew it was near mile 50 and wasn’t concerned about riding 50 miles. But I was unsupported and to ride 50 north would require 100 miles total. I wasn’t sure how my body would react to the distance. Or the winds.
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| Railroad Bridge, then Highway Bridge, then Ruins |
As I rode farther north, I decided that I would turn around at noon unless I was on the bridge. At noon I was a couple miles short. I lied. I kept going.
Just short of the bridge I stopped at a campground/gas station/food store. I bought a water and Gatorade but the water was too much to fit in my bottle. In the store I explained that I was coming back and wanted to leave my half-full water behind the counter and the woman offered to keep it in the Snapple cooler instead. So cool. Off I rode.
I rode across the Seven Mile Bridge greatly enjoying the trip. It seemed to be littered with GU packages and sponges and I thought damn cyclists. We have to do a better job and not drop our energy packets when empty.
I touched the sign to Marathon Keys then turned around and rode back. Stopping at the food store to pick up my water one woman wanted to know how many miles I had ridden. I wasn’t displaying mileage so I showed her the buttons to push on my Garmin so she could see it — but not tell me. I didn’t want to know. I was just enjoying the ride.
I also found out that the litter on the bridge was from yesterday’s seven mile race across the bridge. Damn runners.
I had a bit of a headwind riding the first 60 miles and was able to ride the final 44 miles at more than 20 mph. Tailwind. Nice. Real nice.
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| Pigeon Key |
I felt good except for too much sun. Each day on the trip began with applying SPF 50 sunscreen and then halfway through I was always able to reapply at the team car. With no support today I only applied before I left. But the legs felt good. And I can cross the Seven Mile Bridge off my bucket list.
