Coral Gables to Key Largo, FL 72 miles - Cum 2,303 miles

I am in the zone! I think I have been here for a week or so but today it really hit me hard. The zone is where you feel like there is nothing but the bike and the highway. I am starting to lose my connections to anything else. It just seems so natural to get up and get on the bike each morning and ride 50, 60, 70, 80 miles, it doesn't matter how many, just ride!!! I guess it is a good thing that the ride will be over soon so I can get back to reality.

We stayed at a really nice hotel last night in Coral Gables. The staff was exceptional, we really hated to leave, but leave we did. We started out looking for a breakfast diner but eventually found a Starbucks that filled the bill. We were going to ride Rte1 figuring it would be light traffic because it was a Saturday but wrong! We went back to the Banyan Cycling route which was along Cutler road and a bike trail. It was fun and the huge Banyan trees made it look like something out of the Lord of the Rings! We continued on the route to Florida City, or at least the route we thought would go to Florida City. We took a road which dead ended at Homestead Air Force base. When we turned around to go back we were on a four lane highway with no traffic that went no where. Only Florida could afford something like this. A biker named Jim came along and we talked with him for awhile and he gave us some good directions.

We eventually went by the Speedway and to Route 1. We had been debating if we should go on Rte 1 or take the old Card Sound road. The traffic on Rte 1 solve that problem so we went 7 more miles and took the Card Sound road.

Bob and I spotted a couple of alligators in the canal along the road, if we saw two, how many must be lurking out of sight?

We stopped at Alabama Jack's just before the bridge which officially takes you into the Keys for a celebratory drink. They were playing some really good country and western music. I started to feel like the trip is almost over. The keys are the beginning of the end of the trip.

We continued through the Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge to Key Largo. We found a hotel to stay in which is next to the Holiday Inn and the African Queen boat which was featured in the movie Key Largo. We went to dinner at an outdoor restaurant and had a great time talking to all of the folks there. We met a couple from Youngstown Ohio who are vacationing here. Had a great dinner and started to relax.

You can tell I have been on the road a lot by the strange tan lines on my forehead. I bought a new helmet this year with large vents. I didn't think about the sun when I bought it!

Tomorrow is an easy day, 50 mile into Marathon.