Entry # 47 Day 38

Well that was my last night of getting eaten alive by mosquitos and waking up in a puddle of sweat, at least it didn’t rain....much. I ate a good breakfast trying to use up some of the food so I didn’t have to carry it the rest of the way ( like I would notice the weight of an extra envelope of oatmeal missing from the trailer) I guess its just something you do to make yourself feel better.

I go to ride away and find that my rear tire is almost flat, I am stunned and make up my mind right away that I will not change out this tube, mostly based on the fact that I don’t have a replacement tube and I forgot to patch the old tube with the hole in it.  I came up with a theory called “the leaky tire theory” if you pump the tire up and ride fast the tire will warm up, the air molecules will expand and wont be able to fit through the hole. I had to stop twice in the first 8 miles to pump the tire back
up but after that the leak slowed down. I took this picture after passing by

 a bike shop, I had to have faith in my theory.

Some time after this point on the ride I was pedaling in the bike lane looking at the scenery to my right, when I turned my head to look forward again there was a tow truck passing traffic and his wheels were over the bike lane line, he flew by me in the opposite direction and scared me half to death. I had flashbacks of Jax in the Sons of Anarchy series finale .....oops I should have said spoiler alert.

I stopped here for a coffee, the southernmost coffee roasters in the US.

While I was drinking my coffee, I started talking to the owner of this BMC bike, his name was Neil, he asked me a few questions about my trip and then when he walked over to look at my bike, he smiled and said “you did that trip on this bike?” I just laughed and said yes, all the time we were talking I kept watching the chickens, one peck from their beaks and my tires were done for.

I wanted to get a picture of the bike at this sign but it was in the median, not worth the risk.

I finally get to this buoy around noon time and there is about 20 people in line waiting to get their picture taken with it, some things just don’t happen like you imagine they will, because of the line I was unable to strike the victory pose and lift the bike and trailer over my head. I finished the rest of the 38 mile ride without adding any more air, Leaky Tire Theory Proven.

Key West is so much more developed since the last time I was there in the 80’s, I wouldn’t have recognized it.

This is Ty, he is the guy that took my picture at the buoy so we had to go out and have a drink, I was amazed at all the chickens in the bar.

Kind of cool picture.

What The?? I don’t think I have ever seen a banana tree before or even as much as a plantain tree.

I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to find a way home, Delta airline was a no go, Greyhound wouldn’t let me take the bike and trailer, Fed-Ex wanted over $300 to ship the bike home, My plan now is to rent a mini van, drive to Miami and take the train to Boston. My buddy suggested that “ I should Whiskey throttle the bike into the drink and take an Uber home”, I couldn’t do that to the Rincon. My boss at Ryder is trying to line up a truck run for me but I don’t think its gonna happen.