Tuesday Oct 22 Marathon to Key Largo 51 miles - 322 cum

We were a little late in waking up today as yesterday was pretty tiring. We still managed to get on the road and head for a restaurant by 8:30AM. We found a little breakfast and lunch only place just about a mile up the road. We both had the deluxe oatmeal for breakfast which comes with bananas, blueberries, walnuts and brown sugar plus lots of coffee. It was delicious and very filling.

Keith looks a little tuckered!

We continued on the road towards Key Largo. It was hot but not quite as hot as yesterday. We stopped at a bus shelter after crossing one of the bridges and found it very pleasant in the shade with the breeze coming off the ocean. In fact we stayed for quite a while , just relaxing in the shade. Finally we reluctantly continued on.
We began to get hungry and started looking for a place to have lunch. We noticed a little place called the Halfway Cafe. It is located halfway between Key West and Miami. It is just a tiny little place, about 12 feet wide and 40 feet long. The owner has painted it in various island colors and it is very attractive. She said she had just bought the place but it was a restaurant for about 25 years. In fact, she worked as a waitress for 6 or 7 years before she bought. The food is excellent. You should give it a try if you are down in the Keys. It is at mile marker 80.

My lunch at the Halfway cafe.

It started to get hotter as we left but we knew we only had another 20 miles to go so we pushed on and made it around 4:30PM. We checked in, took showers and went to the Tiki bar for a cooling drink. After our drinks we went to a restaurant on the docks for dinner. We sat outside on a 2nd story balcony overlooking the water and along came the African Queen from the movie starring Bogart and Hepburn. It has been restored and now operates as a tour boat. It looks like it did in the movie. and is docked by the Holiday Inn. A few years ago you could see it but not take a ride. I wish we had more time so we could have gone out on it. Tomorrow we leave the Keys

One of the many bridges

Water looks refreshing!

Inlet at the Holdiay Inn where the African Queen is berthed.