Heading North

Right now we are in South Carolina visiting Julie's sister.  After our Waves and Wingers cruise to Key West and Cozumel we returned from Miami to Panama City Beach for a couple days of r&r and another ride.  We plan to spend a couple of days here and then begin our journey back to the frozen tundra of Iowa.  However, I did look at the long range forecast for Waukon and the temps look pretty good.

THE CRUISE
We departed Miami on the 24th.  We drove down from PCB the day before and stayed overnight at a motel that would also let us park the truck there for 5 days. On our way down we stopped at Daytona to check on a new seat for the trike.  Right across from the seat store was the J&P Cycles new store.  Of course we had to venture in and check it out.  It's quite an establishment!  They even have a big shop where they will put on any accessories and even do tires. 

Driving through Miami is a real treat!!  Don't plan on that trip being on the schedule for Wednesday Night Riders!  The motel we stayed at was right close to the airport and it looked like departing planes were going to fly right into our window.

We spent a day at sea and then arrived at our first port, Key West.  Key West is a unique place, to say the least.  Wayne Martin and I rode down there in the early 80's, and it's a whole new ballgame.  To refresh, it is the southern most city in the U S.  It is actually closer to Havana, Cuba than it is to Miami.

THE SOUTHERN MOST HOUSE IN THE USA

THE MOST PHOTOGRAPHED AND MOST STOLEN SIGN IN THE USA

HENRY FLAGLER--BUILT A RAILROAD FROM ST AUGUSTINE TO
KEY WEST--THE 8TH WONDER OF THE WORLD

THE US GOVERNMENT CONSTRUCTED THIS BUILDING WITH SNOW AND
ICE GRATES ALONG THE EAVES ON THE ROOF.  IT HAS NEVER SNOWED
IN KEY WEST

IN KEY WEST CHICKENS RUN LOOSE AND ARE A PROTECTED SPECIES

A KAPOC TREE--USED IN LIFE PRESERVERS

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  CIGARS ARE STILL POPULAR IN KEY WEST
  
  Another unusual feature of Key West are the beaches.  The sand for the beaches has to be hauled in, because it gets washed away into the coral.
  
  ENOUGH FOR NOW
  I'LL POST NEXT ON COZUMEL