United States
Key Largo

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    • Day 14

      Day 14 - Livin’ on Key West Time

      May 15 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

      17:00
      I’m sad to leave my little enclave in Homestead. It’s such a blissful and chilled out place to spend time. Onwards though, to the Keys. I’d be lying if I said I really knew anything about the Keys, except that it’s where a lot of the South American drugs bound for the US are landed, and there’s a lot of fishing to be done there. I’m up in good time, and on the road by 08:30. I decide to head straight down to Key West, at the very tip of the Keys archipelago, and home to the southernmost point of the continental United States.

      The traffic’s a little clunky getting out of Homestead and Florida City, but after a few miles, I’m into an easy, fast cruise. It’s about 150 miles, all the way along the venerable US Highway 1 - the 2,370 mile road that runs the entire length of the eastern seaboard of the US. It’s been my constant companion for the past week, and ends at Key West. There’s nothing standout about the drive, but that doesn’t detract from my enjoyment of it. The Keys are a bustling community, and I spend a great couple of hours watching the world go by as I cruise on by. ‘Towns’ here are really just collections of buildings alongside the highway, intersected by giant road bridges between the islands. I won’t pretend that I’m not slightly entranced by it. Even the Sat Nav keeps me entertained - there's something strangely hypnotic seeing the road on which you're travelling stretch for miles, but with only water on either side of you. Likewise, the view of the road bridges stretching out for miles in front of the car is unfamiliar, but inviting.

      Arriving into Key West, I’m both hungry and thirsty. There’s a seafood place called Eaton’s Seafood Market that I’ve read good things about, so head there for some lunch, and a massively needed beer. They deliver on both fronts. I have a crab-cake sandwich, some stellar onion rings, and a quite pokey hazy IPA that gives me just a little bit of a a haze.

      Key West is an interesting town. My good friend Jolene has described it as ‘New Orleans but with old people.’ I’ve not been to New Orleans, but somehow understand exactly what she means. I suspect in the height of Summer, and over a weekend, this place is a wild ride. Here and now, before the Summer season really kicks off, it’s a slightly circumspect experience. There are countless golf buggies on the roads, and I've seen several hire shops around the town. I can't believe the DUI rules are any different to driving a standard car or truck, so I'm not entirely sure what the point is. This is what Google's for. *HOLD PLEASE CALLER*

      Ah, ok - so it's partly because a lot of the roads in Key West are quite narrow (to which I can attest) and that parking is limited (to which I can also attest), ergo - golf buggies.

      I set off to find the southernmost point of the USA, and find…. a queue. There are about 50 people queueing to take a picture next to the monument. I mean - I guess it’s a thing if you’re not from here, but I enjoy taking pictures of the people taking pictures. There are a couple of other places I’d wanted to check out while I was in town, but there are reports of rain-storms coming in later, and I don’t particularly fancy a long drive in the rain, so set off for Key Largo. I meet some rain, but it’s hardly a patch on the torrential experiences I had back in Virginia (which feels like an eon ago, by the way) and by the time I’m arriving into Key Largo, it’s sunshine all the way.

      I find my accommodation easily enough, and am pleasantly surprised. I’ve got a large, one bedroom apartment, with a balcony overlooking the marina. It’s lovely. I settle down with a much deserved glass of wine, and take the load off.

      21:00

      I head out around 18:00, conscious that I’ve not eaten much today, and have limited supplies at my apartment. Bizarrely / irritatingly, the place I want to get to is 20m from my apartment. It is, however, on the other side of the Marina, and there’s no obvious bridge across which to pass. I briefly consider swimming across, but end up walking the long way around, which is c. 20 minutes. It’s still hot, even though the sun is kissing the horizon. I arrive somewhat sweaty, and urgently in need of a beer. The beer is quickly sorted. I’ve no idea what it is, beyond a very pleasant IPA. I order another, and perhaps a third. The menu deserves a peruse, so I indulge it. There’s a cracking sounding grouper special, so I jump in. It’s fab. Grouper is redolent of cod, but with more flavour, and better texture. I very fondly remember having ‘grouper fingers’ in the Bahamas about 35 years ago, which my Dad rechristened groper fingers - obvs. These days they’d be called grouper goujons, and be thrice as expensive. The fourth beer is the one that really hits the spot.

      I briefly consider popping to the downstairs bar, where there’s some half decent live music playing, but am conscious that I’m jaded, and rapidly approaching refreshed. I check the IPA details on the way out. It’s an 8.2% whopper. Of course it is. I walk (rather than stumble) back to my apartment, which is deliciously frosty, and grab a beer from the fridge, the last of the six pack I bought on about day 2 of my trip. My only fixed plan tomorrow is to be at Miami Airport by 18:00, and the airport’s only a couple of hours away…
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    • Day 39

      Key Largo [Montag, 05.09, Tag 38]

      September 6, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

      Nachdem die Hitze im Wohnmobil schon um 7 Uhr morgens unerträglich wurde, habe ich mich ans Meer gesetzt und habe gelesen. Dabei haben mich zwei Leguane aufmerksam beobachtet.
      Später beim Frühstück kamen immer mehr Leguane aus dem Gebüsch gekrochen, am Ende saßen welche in allen möglichen Größen am Ufer und haben uns beim Essen zugesehen.
      Ich mag diese Tiere total, sie bewegen sich immer so gemächlich und schauen einen mit ihren Knopfaugen immer so interessiert an.
      Danach haben Alina und ich uns noch eine Weile im Pool abgekühlt, bevor wir uns auf den ziemlich langen Rückweg nach Miami gemacht haben.
      Da heute Labor Day, ein Feiertag in den Usa ist, hatten leider ziemlich viele den gleichen Plan, sodass wir richtig in den Stau geraten sind. So haben wir selbst die letzte Abfahrt von dem Glasbodenboot, mit dem wir heute eigentlich fahren wollten verpasst.
      Während wir im Stau festgesteckt sind, konnte Mama aber wenigstens auch mal ein Stück das Wohnmobil gefahren. Gegen 17 Uhr haben wir uns dann einen Campingplatz in Key Largo gesucht, da der Stau einfach kein Ende nehmen wollte.
      Der Campingplatz war echt schön und obwohl das Meer aussah, als ob wir in den Everglades gelandet wären und überall Gestrüpp und Wasservögel im Wasser herumstanden und der Pool so warm wie Badewasser war, hatten wir dort noch einen tollen Abend. Wir haben zusammen Beachvolleyball gespielt und sind ein bisschen geschwommen, wobei sich ein Mann mit uns unterhalten hat, der alle mögliche Sprachen gesprochen hat und immer abwechselnd Englisch und Französisch gesprochen hat. Anschließend wir es uns neben unserem Wohnmobil gemütlich gemacht. Dabei hatten wir eine tolle Geräuschkulisse, die sich anhörte, als ob wir im Urwald gelandet wären.
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    • Day 11

      Everglades - Wootens Airboat Tours

      June 8, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

      Wir haben uns auf den Weg in die Everglades gemacht, um einen Traum wahr werden zu lassen: eine Airboat Tour durch Mangrovensümpfe und Grasland. Bei schwüler Hitze tat der Fahrtwind gut. Captain Tom hat uns viel über Pflanzen und Tiere in dem Gebiet erzählt. Ansonsten stand der Nervenkitzel im Vordergrund...

      We made our way to the Everglades to make a dream come true: an airboat tour through mangrove swamps and grasslands. In the sultry heat, the airstream was nice. Captain Tom told us a lot about plants and animals in the area. But we mainly enjoyed the thrill...
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    • Day 4

      Fahrt von Naples nach Key Largo

      May 20, 2014 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 24 °C

      Von Naples aus führte uns die Fahrt durch die Everglades, genauer gesagt über die Loop Road, nach Key Largo.
      Die Loop Road ist eine schmale Naturstrasse welche vom Tamiami Trail weg geht, um einen grossen Bogen zu machen und dann wieder auf den Tamiami Trail zurück führt. Die ideale Strasse wenn man Tiere wie Alligatoren beobachten möchte.
      Ohne Stress und gut im Timing fuhren wir so von Naples nach Key Largo. Im Hampton Inn, unserem Hotel für die nächsten 3 Nächte, erwartete uns ein wunderschöner Sonnenuntergang.
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    • Day 5

      Tiere beim Hotel Hampton Inn, Key Largo

      May 21, 2014 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

      Bei unserem hübschen kleinen Hotel gab es immer etwas zu sehen. Wenn die Sonne am Morgen hervor kam und den Asphalt langsam aufwärmte kamen aus allen Ecken Leguane. Scheu waren die Tiere überhaupt nicht und man konnte sich ihnen langsam bis auf ca. 1m nähern. Warf man einen Blick ins Meer entdeckte man auch immer wieder andere Tiere. Leider sahen wir keine Manatees, welche es hier auch geben soll. Aber grössere Fischschwärme und eine grosse Qualle tauchten neben den schwimmenden Leguanen auch mal auf. Abends dann tauchte immer eine Waschbärfamilie auf und der Papagei welcher der dem Barkeeper gehörte und sehr zahm war, war sowiso die Hotelattraktion.Read more

    • Day 3

      Delayed a Tide

      June 1, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

      Of course we didn’t get off the dock at 830 am!!!
      After a medical visit, more food loading, a trailer pickup, dogs fed, chocolate cake for breakfast, spotting of the local sleeping nurse sharks and more crew shenanigans we plan to sail out around 3 pm!! Chuck, our land support has pulled thru with every chart plotted and weather spotted! Communication is at an all time high people!! Where’s the freaking bathroom key?? 🤣🤣🤷🏼‍♀️ I think everyone he enough coffee!
      Also I totally got a quick shower in!! Yaaaaaaasssss
      This!! This is what could happen!! Ok off to planning! I think???

      Stay tuned for more operation RV to tropics but no swimming and back!!
      Hahahahaha
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    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Key Largo, Cayo Largo, KYL, की लार्गो, 33037, Ки-Ларго

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