Day 14 - Venice to Key Largo

We stopped at Kona's coffee in Venice for tasty beverages and scones. Gwen narfed down a huge soup bowl of hot chocolate and we pulled out the map and phone to make plans. We scored a two day reservation at the Amoray dive resort in Key Largo and the hit the road about 11:30. 250 miles left to go today. Ugh! Instead of taking hwy 75 (alligator alley) we elect to take old highway 41, the Tamiami trail based on some advice we received in Sarasota. Supposedly 75 is fenced the whole way and there's not much to see, and 41 runs right through the glades. It's hot out and we're hoping for a nice cool rain. We get our wish and it rains torrentially for about a half hour and then off and on thereafter. We're totally soaked and our boots are full of water. When we stop for gas in Ochopee the mosquitos are fierce under the station canopy despite the surrounding downpour. Onward down hwy 41 where we stop at the Big Cypress Oasis visitor center. Tons of gators here and they are not shy like the ones in Louisiana. Before we leave we figure out that the Xcelerator hand dryers in the bathroom dry your chonees if you direct the blast down your pants. Noting like having at least a semi-dry butt. Also dried our socks and got some water out of our boots. Back on the road and into the rain. We pass quite a few places that offer air boat rides and one place with gator wrestling. Many are clsed or not too busy because the tourist season is really in the winter. Anyway, no time to stop. When we turn off 41 to go south we hit traffic and a lot agriculture and palm nurseries around Homestead. We roll into Amoray dive resort around 7 pm and it looks like paradise. It's an older place but well kept and the staff are great. Off to Thai food for dinner.Read more