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A Ride to Key West (USA)

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2013 11:12 am
by Shoe
Took a nice ride from Islamorada to Key West. We had gone the previous day by truck, but I was on a mission to take the PCX.

The trip takes you along a string of scenic Islands joined by numerous bridges.

Here she is at our most southern Point.

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The end of US Highway 1 (Mile marker 0) A few blocks North of the previous picture

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One of the few places in the US that has designated Scooter "only" parking

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One of the bartenders mentioned that owning a car in Key West is a burden and most natives get around on scooters. I'm willing to bet that there are more scooters than cars on the Island. Parking is at a premium!

Just a picture of a salt flat along the way

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Here's Seven Mile Bridge. Got a little hairy with the cross wind, especially the section near the Southern end. It rises quite a bit above Sea level in order to allow sailboats under it.

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One I couldn't pass up

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Total trip, 175 Miles and scored 96 mpg's

The PCX is a blast to ride! Only downfall is the lighter weight and the tall windshield. It really grabs the wind at higher speeds (over 55 mph), compared to other bikes I have owned in the past. It will serve me well for years to come!

Re: A Ride to Key West (USA)

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2013 12:32 pm
by you you
Nice pictures. A bit different to Yorkshire at the moment

Re: A Ride to Key West (USA)

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 12:34 pm
by maddiedog
We drove down there once, it was quite fun. Long drive from here though -- almost 20 hours, so we took the car.

Me and my wife at the same spot:
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We thought all the chickens in trees were funny, there's no wild chickens where we live:
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And there were lots of scooters when we were there too:
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Re: A Ride to Key West (USA)

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 1:12 pm
by Shoe
That is quite a haul for us as well, even more though considering we start in Michigan. Add 12 hours from Atlanta

Left Friday around 1pm, arrived at my folks house near Gainesville around 8:30 am, spent the day there and drove to the Keys the following morning (another 6 + hours). Talk about road dust....

Those chickens are a hoot. The day I took the scooter I arrived close to daybreak and many of them were running the streets. A few almost bought the farm since I wasn't prepared to dodge chickens...lol

When we left Michigan it was still quite mild by our standards and mid to upper 70's were easy to take. One day we reached the 80's. got back in the wee hours of the 31st and Winter had arrived. 8" of snow on the ground and temps in the low teens.

I wanna go back!

On a lighter note, we did have a blast on the 1st running the hound on rabbits. :lol: It took him a while to redevelop his hatred toward them, but we ran 6 and took 2 (I was a little rusty as well....)

It will be March before we know it! I can already hear those walleye calling me!

Re: A Ride to Key West (USA)

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 6:58 pm
by Urbanian
Love the pics! Post more!

I remember seeing bunches of scooter rentals in KW. How many scooters on the streets are rental v. privately owned?

Re: A Ride to Key West (USA)

Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 10:15 pm
by WhiteNoise
Very nice photo's Shoe, and perfect time of year to be there! Did you by any chance eat at Crabby Dick's? I sat on the upper deck facing Duval chomping Stone Crab Claws and putting down Cuba Libra's....yummy folks! Bought a t-shirt there as well that says, "Don't mess with me, I'm Crabby!" Gosh everyone notices it when worn and wants one. Wish I bought a dozen or so...would've been easy pocket money. Rented a scooter for a day and rode in places I shouldn't have been (I blame that on the other riders I followed :lol:) Slid around in mud in the Graveyard (forgive me Father). Had a great 10 days of partying. Did anyone see the "Six Toed Cats?"
Adding a sunset photo taken At the southern most point. Here's my question, do you Shoe, Dave or anyone know what's across the water? I was told & forgot :roll:

Re: A Ride to Key West (USA)

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 11:09 am
by Urbanian
WhiteNoise wrote: Here's my question, do you Shoe, Dave or anyone know what's across the water? I was told & forgot :roll:
Are you talking about the Cuban refugees or the police boats hauling them back in?

Re: A Ride to Key West (USA)

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 1:14 pm
by maddiedog
Urbanian wrote:
WhiteNoise wrote: Here's my question, do you Shoe, Dave or anyone know what's across the water? I was told & forgot :roll:
Are you talking about the Cuban refugees or the police boats hauling them back in?
:lol: :lol: :lol:

I think he's referring to the NOAA weather station on the one pic. There's a lot of naval bases around there too, could have been something to do with that. ;)

Re: A Ride to Key West (USA)

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 1:20 pm
by you you
Or simply South America?

Re: A Ride to Key West (USA)

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 2:02 pm
by Shoe
here's a pic of a secured site.

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Seen it the day before in air and took the scooter as close as I could get to the launching pad. Looked like it was tethered, unlike many blimps we see for sporting events.

This one was North of KW

Re: A Ride to Key West (USA)

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 6:43 pm
by you you
At least it's not a drone killing people in a country you haven't declared war on.