Distance: 58.1 km
Ride time: 3:09:09
Average: 18.4 km/h
Max speed: 26.6 km/h
Total: 37888 km
I had originally skipped the idea of starting the US ride in Key West. First of all someone had told me that it was not allowed to cycle over the bridges down there, secondly I was not sure how to make it the 250 km from Maimi down there.
The other day in Pete’s house we were looking at possible routes through Florida, and I noticed that the East Coast Greenway did very much begin in Key West and goes all the way to Maine. When Pete generously offered to drive me down there my mind was set. There could only be one place to begin the US ride; Key West – the southernmost point in the US and only 90 miles from Cuba!
One morning we put the Bianchi into Pete’s jeep and began the ride towards Key West. It was a beautiful ride even from the car, and I new it would be even better on the bike.
The first days in Florida I had been in air condition almost all the time. As we got out of the car in Key West looking for a place to have lunch, the 95°F or 35°C hit me hard. We found a nice Panani sandwich place for a bite to eat, and interestingly enough I met both a Norwegian and a Danish couple in there! What are they chances, at the end of the world…
Pete drove me down to the Mile Marker 0 stone where I put the bags back on my bicycle. It was time to do a bit of cycling again. Only some 3000 miles to Canada from here! As I left heading north I once again said thank you to Pete for such an amazing welcome to the US. Really an incredible time in Florida so far. I will probably get a chance to see Pete once again when I’m back in Fort Lauderdale in 3 or 4 days.
For now there was only way to go; following Highway US1 heading north!
During the day I gave Ron a call. I had never met Ron before, but he is a cousin of my friend Paul up in Chicago. Ron works for the State Parks, and a little later he called me back saying he had already found a place for me to stay for the night. Ron even said he would be meeting me later when I would be arriving at Honda State Park. Wow, the southern hospitality extends all the way to the Florida Keys!
After enjoying a few more miles of beautiful island cycling I met Ron and his friend Meredith in whose house I was invited to stay. Ron had brought a big box of cold Budweiser beer, and since I was pretty thirsty from cycling int he heat I had quite a few.
Later we went to a local bar for Pizza and even more beer.
I can’t imagine a better beginning for the ride in the US; Breathtaking ride, new friends, and cold beer. If this is an indication of how the US will be, I should be OK 🙂
So, I guess you were able to ride across the bridges after all. 🙂
I so have to get to Key West. If nothing else, but to enter the papa lookalike contest. 🙂
Beautiful pictures and I’m so happy people are taking care of you so good!!!! Anxious to get the next blog!! Keep safe and have a great ride!
Like always, great post! Your adventures help me get past a boring moment, thinking about how I should be traveling again. Even tho I’m back home two weeks…
Hi Thomas, I guess it was a nice ride thru the keys, since you are in the USA it looks more like a beer festival than a bicycle trip towards Canada. Keep safe, bonne route.
Hehe yes, the USA has been a very social ride so far. Great time down here in Florida. Now I’m almost in GA!
Thanks you Wenzel. Glad you like the posts, and hopefully they will give some insparation for new adventures 🙂
Thank you Suzanne! Florida has been a great and very social ride so far. Great times down here!
Haha Stephen, I didn’t hear about that contest, but it sounds fun. The Florida Keys is a great place!
My husband and I met you in the panini shop in Key west. We sat next to your friend on the stools. Just wanted to say hi! and best of luck getting to Canada! We were so excited to have met you and enjoy following your progress. I have a photo I took of us, but don’t know how to get it to you.
Hi Christie! Great to meet you down there at the Panini place in Key West. It was a very special day for me as I was just about to do my first miles in the US. Happy to know you have been following along. I’m already in NC now, even though my blog is behind. Great great ride in the US! If you could send the photo to my email at thomaas@andersen.net it would be great. Thanks and have a great weekend! Thomas
[…] the US1 highway heading north – the same highway I had started on from Key West on a very hot and humid summer day some 3800 kilometers ago. Back then Canada had seemed like a very distant country somewhere up […]