One Lap

Date: 11/04/2013

Day: 39

Location: Key West, FL

Miles Today: 155

Total Miles: 8743

The Last Southing, US 1 to Its End; Key West, Seen on the Road

The Last Southing

Highway 1 extends 127 miles from the mainland of Florida to Key West, leaping from Key to Key over many bridges and causeways. It is about a three hour drive. The Keys are mostly coral and generate white sand. It is unnerving to see no dirt, just this coral rubble on the ground everywhere. If they need dirt, they must import it.

There is some debate in Florida and certainly in the Keys, as to their status as part of the south. Certainly the vowels would lead one to say 'no." South of Dixie sums up the attitude.

The very clear tropical water shows '57 Chevy turquoise when the bottom is white enough.

It is remarkable to see green plants growing out of salt water.

Really clear, warm water.

Whatever those white sticks are for, they make fine bird perches.

This is the 7 Mile Bridge (actually 6.79, but who's counting.)

There is no "End of Hwy 1 South" sign, but you look back and see this.

Key West

There is no doubt that you are out in the middle of the ocean when you are in Key West. It certainly is a place where people come to party. Other than tourism and the Naval Air Station, there is little industry other than the Government -- it is a county seat.

Picturesque sport fishing dock in KW.

Three really big fish seen from the wharf side. And the water so clear you can see their shadows.

Key West supports several Irish bars. This one manages to draw a decent Guinness.

This is a decal, but not a bad one.

Marmaduke?

Is the term "raw bar" used in the west? The Colonel is not an oyster guy and cannot remember.

Not a bad name for a bar of a certain type.

But the explanation is even better. Sorry for the unavoidable reflection.

Look closely where this cigar roller has his shop -- in a stairwell. The desk he rolls on is removable. Rolling cigars is a serious cottage industry in Key West.

Cigars out in the air, getting dry. Cool stand, though.

An indoor - outdoor drinking emporium, the Hogs Breath Saloon; one of many similar. The motto of this one is "Hogs breath is better than no breath." The Colonel is still not making this stuff up.

Please God, not Tequila and Coke.

If you look very closely, you will see that this is a monument in honor of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps of the United States was placed in 1866 by one J. V. Harris, a Confederate veteran. Interesting. There is a story here not known to us.

Nice bike stand.

Great classic Neon sign. It should be a bar, but it is a tourist focused Deli and drugstore.

The Bull looks like another KW watering hole, but the Colonel bets the real party is at the roof garden of the Whistle Bar

Above and below, back streets of Key West, tourist free other than ourselves. Interesting upper story extension.

This is a classic tropical building; the veranda, the louvered windows, the lattice around the porch. The guy on the bike is about as old as the Colonel. He has his freshly done laundry in the basket of his bike. The scale and flatness of KW makes bicycles a reasonable way to get around.

The laundry is on the left, but what does "Dog 30" mean?

No helmet law in Florida, so scooter renters need have none. This gal appeared to have a Mai Tai in her right hand.

The faithful Acura continues to purr along, in spite of service significantly overdue -- that questionable bashed in hood, remember? Next time the Colonel comes this way, however, it will be in a red convertible.

Seen on the road

Wait; isn't a pizza with an upper crust a Calzone?

One of the famous flying sharks of south Florida. The Colonel talked to a guy while taking this picture who claimed to have a similar plastic shark up against the wall of his swimming pool halfway down in the deep end.