Key Lime Pie on the Grain Train

After a 100 mile ride through yet another Nashua, the Florida Scenic Highway through the keys wasn't what I expected.  I thought it was a four lane bridge over the Gulf with the occasional island every so often (like the one they blow up in so many movies).  It's really a gigantic sand bar with tons of commerce and only a few bridges.

After visiting the Key West Chamber of Commerce to find the best motel rates in the best area, I walked to the "Southernmost point in the continental US"...right past the "southernmost hotel", "southernmost beach" and "southernmost fruit stand".  A lot of superlatives for the area.  If you look past the famous, giant concrete "buoy", you'll see a part of the island that is actually more south!

I then walked up and down Duval St looking for somewhere to eat.  A Key West Sunset Ale at Rick's Bar, and then an amazing dinner at Fogarty's @ The Monkey Bar.  Pecan crusted Mahi-Mahi over rice with cinnamon dusted carrots followed by Key Lime Pie. I told the waiter it was the best meal I've ever had - no lie.  I also had a mixed drink called the Grain Train - a frozen beverage made with grain alcohol that tasted like Sweet Tarts.  For whatever reasons, I slept poorly last night.  So I walked back to the motel for a quick nap and woke up four hours later at midnight!  So much for catching the sunset.  But I also need to get up real early so that I can get my bike in the picture next to the buoy for my third photo album cover.  There is a steady stream of people, and bikes aren't supposed to go on the sidewalk.  The sun was also low and behind this afternoon so the shadows would not have worked today anyways.

I guess this is my halfway point geographically, so I'm on my way home tomorrow.