{"id":20173,"date":"2017-04-28T19:59:27","date_gmt":"2017-04-28T23:59:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=20173"},"modified":"2017-04-28T19:59:27","modified_gmt":"2017-04-28T23:59:27","slug":"day-8-friday-april-28-key-west-to-marathon-key-florida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=20173","title":{"rendered":"Day 8. Friday, April 28 \u2013 Key West to Marathon Key, Florida"},"content":{"rendered":"

Even starting\u00a0before sunrise, the temperature was 77\u00b0\u00a0and the heat index was 90\u00b0; this is going to be a hot one!<\/p>\n

We pedaled down for our obligatory picture with our bikes<\/em> of our Key West start. \u00a0\"\"<\/a>The photo is fuzzy because of the humidity on the lens.<\/em><\/p>\n

And a slow start it was; within an hour I managed two flat tires; we had not even\u00a0clocked eight miles once we finished the tire changing.\"\"<\/a>\u00a0Once past the Key West mayhem and out on the open road, we felt the breeze the weatherman had predicted. \u00a0Thankfully, it\u00a0kept us cooler in the thick humid morning. \u00a0We passed mangroves,\"\"<\/a>a million boat related shops \"\"<\/a>and finally the gorgeous sea. \"\"<\/a>\u00a0By ten, we’d only pedaled 27 miles, but we were tired and hungry. \u00a0Though we stopped at the first place we came to, it was absolutely delicious (and the a.c., wonderful). \u00a0But we inhaled our meal so quickly, we did not manage a photo.<\/p>\n

Refreshed and back out on the road the wind \"\"<\/a>had picked up several notches (as in 15 mph) and was blowing directly in our face. \u00a0We took refuge on the bike path, \"\"<\/a>when available, but every bridge was a challenge. \u00a0However the water color was amazing, \"\"<\/a>every possible shade of beautiful<\/em> surrounded us.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Hot and already beaten up by the wind, we knew Seven Mile Bridge would be a challenge. \u00a0We stopped a few times on the bridge, just for a break from pedaling into the wind (and to take a picture)\"\"<\/a>\u00a0but \u00a0never imagined it would take us nearly an hour to get over the bridge. \u00a0Even the amazing water was beginning to loose it’s appeal. \"\"<\/a>\u00a0Another mile after crossing the bridge, we collapsed into the first place with cold refreshment. \"\"<\/a>\u00a0Though only two and a half miles from our hotel, we took a long stop, pedaled another mile for lunch and an hour later checked in.<\/p>\n

Across from our little motel is the Cracked Conch Cafe<\/strong>, no website, no menu posted, but if you eve<\/em>r go through Marathon Key, we highly<\/em> recommend stopping. \u00a0The New England Conch Chowder is amazing,\"\"<\/a> as is the Seafood Platter (not your ordinary platter)\"\"<\/a> and Conch Stuffed Chicken.\"\"<\/a> \u00a0And don’t forget dessert; Key Lime Pie is on the menu, but we could not resist the Death by Chocolate! \u00a0\"\"<\/a>It was a hard fought 54 miles today, but\u00a0dinner made it worth it.<\/p>\n\n\t\t