FLORIDA KEYS

Monday, January 21, 2019. I awoke early, invigorated from a long night of restful sleep. But it wasn’t just the reposeful slumber that had revitalized me, it was something more significant. For a full week I’d been feeding my famished soul a nourishing buffet of wanderlust. And my mind, body, and soul were finally beginning to work together. That’s THREE mouths I now had to feed!!! So I’m not just invigorated when I wake up, I’m exhilarated!!

I showered, loaded up my ride, and checked out of my room. I was back on the road and headed southward toward the Keys before 9 am

I had no timeline so once again I took the scenic route. It was a cool and cloudless morning but the sun provided enough warmth for me to cruise with the windows down. It would take several hours to make it to Key Largo so I figured a little road trip music was in order. Jack Johnson, Bob Marley, Sublime, and Stick Figure, (to name a few) would accompany me on my drive.

I coasted into Key Largo around 3:30 pm. Since I had never been there before, the first place I stopped at was the visitor center. Visitor centers are a gold-mine of information! You can find maps, brochures, coupons – all for free. And the people who work there are knowledgeable about the area. Also, if you’re traveling in an unknown place, don’t be afraid to stop a local and ask them for recommendations. It’s been my experience that locals will always instinctively want to suggest places they like to go to. So, you’re usually not disappointed. (Or you can just start a travel blog and have your friends tell you where all the great spots are!)

The Florida Keys is made up of lots and lots of tiny little islands. The biggest, and most well known being Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, and of course, Key West.

Thanks to my new friends at the visitor center, I was able to find a very affordable campground (ocean side) in Key Largo for that night.

Key Largo Kampround is a cool, laid-back, funky place to stay. They have RV and tent camping (with or without electricity), a heated pool, playground, a private marina, and their own lagoon. A lagoon, for crying out loud! I’m telling you it was like walking into a Gillian’s island community! Some people, like myself, were only there temporarily. Some people lived there year-round. And some people, known as Snowbirds, live there seasonally. Everyone there was outgoing and friendly. A few of us even met up that night at the rec center and drank beer and played dominoes until about 10.

I was still a little “keyed” up from dominoes when I got back to my campsite so I worked on my blog for an hour or so before retiring for the night.

The next morning I couldn’t wait to get to Key West! This would be a milestone town on my journey because before I ever left Texas, I was determined I’d make it to Key West.

Key West was everything you’d expect it to be. Warm, sunny, and pleasant. With a mix of Victorian and Colonial architecture on every corner of every block.

Duval Street is where the tourists go. I don’t usually care much for the “tourist” spots but Duval Street was different. Subtle, quaint, and charming. (Not “in your face” like some places that make sure you don’t forget you’re a tourist.). And not as expensive as I’d expected it to be – but still slightly over my budget!

Right off Duval and Olivia is the Hemingway home. My whole life I’ve had a love of great literature. So I have a deep appreciation for the works of authors like Ernest Hemingway. It was both inspiring and humbling to be standing there. I’m only now starting to realize what a profound affect it would have on me.

If you haven’t already been to the Florida Keys, I highly recommend it.

I would leave Key West that afternoon around 4 pm. Next stop MIAMI, BABY!!!