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Key
Largo. I spent 17 years in
and around this town. I
have much to write about the last few days, but time is running away from
me. And Klondike and I need
to hit the road early tomorrow. So
check back in the next weeks and see what we have added to this section. Have
been staying with my family, who run the Yellow Bait House in Key Largo.
And it seems every time I reach into my pocket to pay for
something, they are paying for me! I hope someday that I can repay them. My mom has brainwashed Klondike! My
brother, Richard, has lent me an extra cell phone so I can keep in touch
with them, and call into Peak 95.1 radio and News at Noon (NBC) in
Colorado Springs. I am also
supposed to give weekly reports to the VillageSun.com, one of our new
sponsors in the Keys. Here's
a tip of the hat and a toast for my brother!
CHEERS! Yesterday
we walked into Key Largo and along the way discovered a Chuck-Will's-Widow
(part of the hawk family), sitting on the bike path next to US One.
And we were just in time! The
bike path sweeper was about 75 feet away and headed in our direction.
I am not sure if the driver would have recognized that it was a
bird sitting in his way. As
luck would have it (is there such thing as luck?), Laura Quinn's Florida
Keys Bird Rehab Center was just up the road about a half-mile.
I delivered the bird to them, and Klondike and I continued on our
way. They said they it didn't
look to be injured, just tired as the winds were very heavy that day.
They said they would let it recover for a few days and then let it
go. What a feeling!
I don't think my feet touched the ground for the next ten miles! Tomorrow
we begin our trek up Hwy 27, through Central Florida. For over 60 miles there is nothing but four-lane highway,
grass, water, mosquitoes and alligators.
Not one tree! And I
don't recall any places to pitch a tent, either.
Sawgrass and swampland border both sides of the road.
This is the Everglades. Several times in the last few days I have run into old cop buddies of mine I have known since my days on the fire department in Key Largo. Each has been quick to discourage us from spending much time on US One or the lower sections (near Miami and Ft. Lauderdale) of Hwy. 27 due high crime rates. I will make my decision in the morning just where I am going to start.
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