Sunburned in Marathon

I made it halfway through the Keys!
The journey today was diverse at all times although I basically rode on the same road the whole day.
In the morning I left a bit later than usual and turned into the road to the toll bridge pretty soon after I got out of the hostel. It was very pretty in the early morning sun and there was hardly any traffic, but it went straight for miles and miles and never seemed to end.
The first view from the bridge was awesome over all the water and green islands like a string of pearls over the deep blue sea.
I had only had a grapefruit for breakfast in the hostel, so I was very hungry by the time I finally reached Key Largo and US1, so I got some bad food right at the first gas station I saw. At that point I had already ridden 26 miles or so.
I turned on US1 and was disappointed by Key Largo and the Upper Keys. There is a bike trail, but a lot of it is definitely in much need of maintenance and not really suitable for riding it on a road bike. It was also not very scenic, basically a four lane highway through a bunch of fast food chain restaurants and cheap tourist trap like stores, some residential houses and woods. There was little sighting of the ocean on that first stretch.
All that changed after a while and especially Table Island Key was absolutely gorgeous with emerald colored water and again views over those long narrow green islands. There were many bridges to cross, but maybe because it was Sunday there was never that much traffic. I felt pretty save the whole way. At some places the bike trail is also better than at others.
I met a guy from Taiwan on his bike who had started riding in New York City around Thanksgiving. That must have been an amazing journey that he is just about to finish! His bike is heavily packed so I was riding much faster than him and I can also go further in one day, so I left him pretty quick.
The motel where I met Jon in the afternoon is really cut and our room is small but light and kind of “island style”. I like it very much, as well as the bright red painted outside walls of the whole place. We haven’t checked out the pool yet, but that’ll be the next thing to do.
My legs are finally tired now, my right hand fell asleep and hasn’t fully recovered yet and the part of my body I sit on the bike saddle isn’t very happy, either. I, who has just gone through a long Central Florida Summer, got a real sunburn today – remember, it’s one day before Christmas. I think the reason why the ride today was more strenuous is because I took less breaks, the wind was partly against me and also the 6 bottles of beer that I had last night. It was hard, but it was also fun.
Tonight we are – so fitting, as we are marathon runners – staying in Marathon, just 50 miles north of Key West. I’m looking forward to an easier day tomorrow and an afternoon of sightseeing in Key West.
I can’t believe we’re almost there now!

See more progress on: ride my bike to Key West