USA4CT - Ride Day 8 - Tour Day 5 - June 5, 2013 - Wed

Start Time: 0800 EDT
Stop Time: 1630 EDT
Start Location:  Florida City, FL
Stop Location: Florida City, FL
Lodging: Best Western
Dinner: Key Largo Conch House
Miles Traveled Today: 262
Weather: 80's, cloudy, showers - Rain suits on

Well, due to the threat of Tropical Storm conditions in Key West over the next couple of days, we decided to just ride down get our picture and gas receipt and ride back to Florida City. We wore our rain suits but it didn't really rain until about 5 miles from Key West. Then it poured it down as we approached the Southernmost buoy for our pictures. There was no one at the buoy so we pulled our bikes up to take the pictures. Bill took my picture first and that went well. I moved my bike and Bill pulled his up. I had the camera up to take the pictures when I heard this loud voice from behind me saying, "Motorcycles must be removed from the buoy area immediately!!" I turned around and a Key West police car had pulled up. I walked over and ask if we could just park by the curb for a few seconds to take a quick picture. He got back on his car bull horn and said " Motorcycles must be immediately removed and parked in an approved street parking lot". So we had to stop and move out of the area. That really set the stage for our time in Key West!!!!

We moved to the Key West post office for Bill's certification picture. As it turned out, it was a great picture especially since some chickens came walking by in the picture. Really made it authentic then!! Of course, note that Bill is parked in a "no parking" zone. That was the only space available to get a picture of the post office sign. I think we were just lucky the same Key West "Keystone" cop didn't come by again with his bull horn to make us move (maybe he would have arrested us this time). I think the cop looked a lot like Barney Fife!!!!

 

As soon as we got our gas receipts we headed out of town. The Key West police certainly left a bad taste in our mouth for Key West. We were then glad we had not decided to stay in town for the night!!

We stopped at the Key Largo Conch House for an early dinner. It was great. We had eaten breakfast there two years ago on another motorcycle trip to Key West.  We both had the Lobster Bisque soup as a starter!

I just had to have the award winning conch fritters as my main course!!!

Yes, that is Key Lime pie!!! What a smile on Bill's face!!!!

After arriving back at the hotel in Florida City, I noticed a Goldwing with a trailer in the parking lot with an Iron Butt license. Met the owner in the lobby. They were Keith and Sharon from Georgia and they were also on the USA4CT!!. They were about a day ahead of us. They had left Madawaska on the morning of the day we arrived and had been in Key West a few hours before us. Keith was having a problem with a wheel on his trailer and planned to head back home to Georgia to get a replacement before heading on to San Ysidro. We did exchange email addresses and phone number to stay in contact along the way and maybe meet up again somewhere.