Southeast Swing: Key West NAS, FL - Patrick AFB, FL

Key West NAS, FL -  Patrick AFB, FL

351 miles

Began today's journey at mile marker 0 of US Route 1.....highway ends at Fort Kent, Maine on the Canadian border, 2,369 miles from Key West, making it the longest north-south running road in the US! 

Stopped at the famous Seven Mile Bridge today to take a walk on the portion of the old bridge which has been converted to a fishing pier. The new bridge connects Knight's Key to Little Duck Key and has been in service since 1982. Continued my way up the Keys with a stop at Islamorada for another look at some of the prettiest water I've seen in the US! 

After leaving the Overseas Highway, I pressed North on the Florida Turnpike to Stewart and continued towards Patrick AFB along A1A. This section of the coast was very quiet and low key......many more homes than high rises. I loved the wide open beaches! 

Just outside of Fort Pierce, FL is the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum, also known as the Navy SEAL Museum. This little gem houses exhibits to inform and educate on the role of Navy Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT) and Sea, Air, Land (SEAL) teams. They have several raiding craft and a Navy UH-1 out front. Well worth the visit.... 

My last stop of the day was at Melbourne Beach or what is affectionately known as Juan Ponce de Leon Landing. Many scholars agree that this is the location the Spanish adventurer first stepped foot in modern day Florida back in 1513!

 The beginning of it all! 

Entrance to the historic Seven Mile Bridge

New bridge on the left, old on the right

Lovely panorama at Islamorada 

National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum 

Threatening clouds at Juan Ponce de Leon Landing 

What must this have looked like 500+ years ago? 

Mural commemorating Ponce de Leon's arrival in the New World 

Southeast Swing: Homestead ARB, FL - Key West NAS, FL

Homestead ARB, FL -  Key West NAS, FL
130 miles

Fantastic ride via the Overseas Highway to Key West. Easily the most spectacular scenery of the trip so far. The islands were lush and awash in color from the many blooming plants and flowers. I liked how the sun really brought out the hues of the water....it varied from a deep sapphire blue to sparkling turquoise green and everything in between. Simply gorgeous views in every direction!

I set out to see all I could of Key West in the short time I had here. Luckily, the island is perfectly suited for a motorcycle and parking was easier to find than being in a larger vehicle. Started out with a walking tour of Fort Zachary Taylor which was one of a series of forts built during the Civil War era to defend the nation's southeastern coastline. Very cool!

From there I traveled to the Old Town to check out some historic homes and then proceeded to the southernmost point, Smather's Beach, and Duval Street, which is like the Bourbon Street of Key West. So many interesting restaurants and bars with a few famous ones like Sloppy Joe's and Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville.

Of course you could not travel to Key West and not try a few of the local delicacies like conch fritters and key lime pie....fantastic! Took in a few street performances at Mallory Square before sunset and then hoofed it back to the NAS. It could not have been a better day.....

Look at that water would ya?

It doesn't get more south in the US than this!  

RT selfie

Fort Zachary Taylor

Smather's Beach on the south side

Gorgeous home in Old Town

Duval Street

What's a visit to Key West without a stop at Sloppy's? 

Jimmy Buffet's restaurant/bar Margaritaville

Slipped the RT into scooter parking like I owned the joint!

Which way you headed? 

Southeast Swing: Naples, FL - Homestead ARB, FL

Naples, FL -  Homestead ARB, FL

125 miles

Shortest day of the trip so far but so much to see....The Everglades are quite vast and just teeming with plants and wildlife. First stop was at the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve, which is known as the orchid capital of the US. They have a cool boardwalk there and saw quite a few alligators just relaxing in various spots along the route. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to see any orchids today...too early in the season?  

Stopped by the Big Cypress National Preserve and Everglades National Parks as well on my journey today. Much to see and do at both of these parks. Felt like I left with a better understanding of this important ecological paradise. 

Other cool stops today included Wooten's Airboat tours to see their latest airboats and swamp buggies, the Miccosukee Indian Village and a quick visit to the smallest post office in the US located in Ochopee. There was actually a customer there mailing a package....pretty cool. One could spend a few days visiting everything there is to see in this area. 

Finished the day with a drive around Homestead ARB and a visit to a BBQ joint I haven't been to since my dad was a reservist at Homestead 30+ years ago...Shiver's BBQ. It was ridiculous good!

View from the Tamiami Trail

What do you see in the shadows? 

Airboat tours! 

Smallest post office in the US at Ochopee

Lil gator hanging with a few finned friends 

Miccosukee Indian Village

Bountiful grasses in Everglades National Park

Yet another top shelf BBQ plate at Shiver's in Homestead.... 

Southeast Swing: Naples, FL

Had a great few days with family in Naples....really enjoyed seeing the sights and sampling the culinary delights of Southwest Florida again. A true jewel on the Gulf! 

Naples City Dock

Great meal at the Dock at Crayton Cove

Bayfront Naples

Clam Pass Beach

Inlet waterway to the Gulf 

Vanderbilt Beach at sunrise

Southeast Swing: Crystal River, FL - Naples, FL

Crystal River, FL - Naples, FL

230 miles

Very smooth ride to my hometown of Naples today.....took the scenic route from Crystal River through Palm Harbor and Clearwater before stopping in St. Petersburg to visit the University of South Florida's St. Petersburg Campus. Took a few classes toward my undergraduate degree here "back in the day" as they say. Also stopped by the landmark pier and checked out a Tampa Bay Rowdies scrimmage at their downtown facility.  

Left St. Pete via the Sunshine Skyway bridge to Bradenton and then took the Tamiami Trail Scenic Highway (aka US 41) all the way down the "left" coast to home. Will be staying here for the next few days before departing for the Everglades and Homestead ARB on Wed.

Great downtown location for the green and gold

Home of the USF sailing team

Go Bulls! 

Tampa Bay Rowdies facility at Al Lang Stadium

Iconic St Pete pier

St. Pete skyline (USF campus on left) 

Southeast Swing: Hurlburt Field, FL - Crystal River, FL

Hurlburt Field, FL - Crystal River, FL
345 miles

Covered a lot of ground today. As many times as I have traveled throughout Florida, I can't ever recall taking this route. This leg was much more open and less traveled compared to the stop and go of Biloxi to Ft Walton yesterday. My favorite leg of the trip so far.....

The weather was ominous from the start..... By the time I got to Panama City it started to rain (airshow at Tyndall AFB today). As I passed the front gate, I felt for the masses who were lined up in the rain to see the Thunderbirds, F-22 demo and others perform this afternoon. I read later that that the show went on after a few weather delays.....good news!

I really enjoyed low-key feel of the beaches on this side of the panhandle. The routing through this area included the Big Bend Scenic Byway....a very sweet drive along the coast. I finally met up with the storms again near Perry but fortunately I was just south enough to only get about 20 minutes of light showers. If you are wondering, I started the day without the liners. I did put them in for a bit but had them out when I was riding in the rain. No issues thanks to the windshield/fairings (if moving that is....)

Crystal River is a cool little town that's famous for being able to swim/snorkel with Manatees in King's Bay. Much of the water here is spring fed and has a gorgeous blue/green hue.... Had a nice walk to two of the local waterfront parks and discovered an excellent deli (with the help of Urbanspoon of course) that made Cuban sandwiches. One of my fav Florida dee-lights! I must say that sandwich was tight!

Storms brewing over Mexico Beach

Fishing rig at Appalachicola docks

Historic Downtown Appalachicola

View from Big Bend Scenic Byway

 

D-Day training site at Carrabelle Beach.... Who would have thought? 

Carrabelle Beach

What happened to the other half of this tasty Cuban? 

Crystal River is THE place to swim with Manatees

My cool 50's motor lodge for the evening