The GPS gets to take the day off. The highway is straight and flat all day long, heading due south. At the end of this day's drive we will be as far from home as we can possibly drive and still be in the US.
Our route, on the Everglades Parkway, takes us across the 720,000 acre Cypress Swamp in the Big Cypress National Preserve. This is known as Alligator Alley. The road is lined with an 8 foot wire fence topped with barbed wire. Perhaps to protect the swamp residents from fast moving cars. We decide the fence is an "alligate". We have the top down and the sounds we hear are reminiscent of the jungle ride at Disneyland; bird calls and whatever else.
One of the goals of this trip is to drive the overseas highway to Key West, and today's the day. The road travels from key to key via bridges that take us out into the Florida Bay. We fly along with water on both sides. The bridge at Marathon Key is seven miles long, probably the most spectacular stretch on the route. We stop at Bahia Honda State Park on Bahia Honda Key. This is a 524 acre park shaded by gumbo limbo trees. It boasts a beach that is ranked as one of the most beautiful in the US. It also holds the remains of a bridge that was once a part of "Flagler's Folly". In 1905 Henry Flagler built a railroad to Key West along the route that is now US Highway 1. His railway was destroyed by a hurricane in 1935, but his idea was the inspiration for the highway we're on today.
Two F22 Tomcats flew over at about 500 feet as we reached Key West. Quite the welcome.
Happy Birthday to Bonnie!
Running Odometer:4238
States: Florida Total: 14
Our route, on the Everglades Parkway, takes us across the 720,000 acre Cypress Swamp in the Big Cypress National Preserve. This is known as Alligator Alley. The road is lined with an 8 foot wire fence topped with barbed wire. Perhaps to protect the swamp residents from fast moving cars. We decide the fence is an "alligate". We have the top down and the sounds we hear are reminiscent of the jungle ride at Disneyland; bird calls and whatever else.
One of the goals of this trip is to drive the overseas highway to Key West, and today's the day. The road travels from key to key via bridges that take us out into the Florida Bay. We fly along with water on both sides. The bridge at Marathon Key is seven miles long, probably the most spectacular stretch on the route. We stop at Bahia Honda State Park on Bahia Honda Key. This is a 524 acre park shaded by gumbo limbo trees. It boasts a beach that is ranked as one of the most beautiful in the US. It also holds the remains of a bridge that was once a part of "Flagler's Folly". In 1905 Henry Flagler built a railroad to Key West along the route that is now US Highway 1. His railway was destroyed by a hurricane in 1935, but his idea was the inspiration for the highway we're on today.
Two F22 Tomcats flew over at about 500 feet as we reached Key West. Quite the welcome.
Happy Birthday to Bonnie!
Running Odometer:4238
States: Florida Total: 14
"Alligate".......very funny! Please don't forget about the cat circus. We eagerly await news!
ReplyDeleteNana, I hope you will post a picture of the cat circus on your blog. I tried smiling at our white cat this morning, but he just stared back at me. Do cats in Florida smile?
ReplyDeleteSounds amazing!
ReplyDelete