Florida City/The Keys/Miami/Fort Myers -- Apr. 20th

What a crazy day! I woke up in Florida City and started heading down to the Florida Keys on my way to Key West. I've heard how cool the road is that goes there and couldn't wait to do the drive. I got to Key Largo and pulled into the visitor info center. The place looked like a cheap beach travel agent office and the 55 year old surfer dude with one earring was a joke. I asked what I needed to see, and he said,"we only got one road, you see something you like, pull over." I asked for a non-corporate local dive for lunch and he gave me an embossed brochure for 10% off a sprots bar with over 40 flat screens. I decided he was an idiot and started looking at a map. Two other people came in, and he said the same thing to them! I left and noticed that the ACTUAL visitor info center was just down the road. I talked some smack on the other guy there to the older woman helping me out, and she agreed he was an idiot. She told me about a nice place right on the water that was locally owned and I checked it out. It was a little swanky, but a good menu and not too pricey. I got a buffalo tuna bite salad, it was amazing!
Most of the road is actually on land, then there are small gaps to fill in between. The first 2 islands, Key Largo and Islamorada, were my favorite of the day. The road was very beautiful at parts, but most of the time it was one lane, and the speed limit was 55 at the most, and there were cops all over the road. I would be surprised if I averaged more than 45 mph the whole trip, which was longer than I expected. It took me about 8 hours to go to Key West and back. I did buy some new shades and a new shirt, because within about 30 minutes of the keys my tshirt was drenched. All in all though it was a great trip, I'm glad I went all the way through. The scenery and wildlife were gorgeous. I wanted to make it back up to Miami for sunset, eat, and see Dolphin Stadium before I headed to Fort Myers to meet up with my buddy Jared. It took a little too long though, and I knew I wouldn't make it, so I went back to the Bayside Grille, where I had lunch, to watch the sun set. I met a couple older ladies from Germany there, doing the same thing, and we got to talking. She said she liked Nebraska. Evidently she saw her first coyote outside of Grand Island and visited the sand hills. Pretty interesting. I took off after sunset, got into Miami, and hit up another dive from my list. It was called Scully's Tavern and I had a Presidente to drink, and ordered what Guy Fieri did. It was an awesome dolphin sandwich and the fish was encrusted with Ruffles. It was euphoric. I then had a piece of key lime pie, because I felt I had to before I left South Florida. Every place I go, it's key lime pie. They also have road signs off the interstate for orange juice and pineapples. I drove a bit further into Miami after that and took a few night pictures of Dolphin Stadium. Then, at about 11, I started the 2 hour drive to Fort Myers. I get on the toll road and notice I'm getting a little low on gas. Further and further, no gas station. I call Jared and asked him if he knew if there was a place coming up soon. He said,"didn't you see the sign, no gas for like 100 miles?" Obviously I had not. He siad he'd throw on his shoes, get a gas can and meet me, and to pull over at a rest area if possible. The road I was on is called Alligator Alley, because it goes through the Everglades and before the put up a bunch of fences, alligators would sun themselves on the highway. Also it was pitch black and no street lights. I really didn't want to run out of gas here. Just then a sign for a gas station appears, and I am saved! It was about 30 cents more expensive than the last one I saw, but supply and demand, right? I told the attendant I was lucky to find them as I only had about 15 miles left before I went dry, and he said thanked me and said most people just complain about the prices. Got into Fort Myers, met Jared, we went to a cool little dive bar and had a couple drinks, then went home and crashed.