The Islamorada Street Fair was a great success for the Bike tour this weekend. We had Florida Travel and Leisure Magazine along for the ride and will do a piece on the bike tour in June. These photos were taken from the Pinder Grave Yard located on the Cheeca Lodge Property. Cheeca Lodge Beach was at one time the heart of Islamorada dating back to the mid 1800's. This graveyard is what has survived since the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. I am going to try to do something new in March and see i...
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We left off in Tavernier around the 90 mile marker going from Tavernier Creek Bridge to the Old Road. The Old Road is on the ocean side of US !. It is the old Overseas Hwy before the expanded one was built along side of it. The Old Road has a nice bike path on it all the way through Islamorada. This is where the scenery begins. The path is shaded with nice high trees on both sides. The area is residential with some pretty high end homes along the ocean. However, due to the tree line, you will...
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 I occasionaly get a phone call asking me about cycling the whole Keys. I have done it several times myself. However, I prefer to take my bike and kayak to different parts of the Keys and experience some of the State Parks, bridges and local islands. With the bike path construction underway throughout the Keys, one day soon, the bike path with the exception of a few bridges will connect the whole length of the Keys.

I will do three write ups going into detail riding the bike path from Key Lar...
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Please call to confirm if you will be taking the tour at 305-879-0390.

February 7th-10 AM at Hurricane Monument.
February 14th-10 AM at Hurricane Monument.
February 27th and 28th- 10 AM at Hurricane Monument.

Full Moon Bike ride 8 PM at Hurricane Monument by appointment last week of February.

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December's schedule will be the following:

• December 2nd Full Moon Bike Tour at 9 PM- Meet at the Hurricane Monument

• December 19th and 20th at 10 AM-  Meet at Midway Cafe
• December 26th and 27th at 10 AM- Meet at Midway Cafe
• December 30th and Jan 1st-Full Moon Bike Tour 8 PM- Meet at Hurricane Monument
  
• January 1st,2nd and 3rd at 10 AM-  Meet at Midway Cafe at 10 AM
  

Remember, bring your own bike or rent one locally. Call Mark at 305-879-0390 to hold a spot. Please do not show up without ...
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Full Moon Bike Tour December 2nd at 9 PM. We will meet at the Hurricane monument. Please bring a flashlight or bike light. The tour is four miles long and should last an hour and fifteen minutes. Might want to bring a light sweater. Call Mark for a spot on the tour.
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On October 2nd, 3rd and 4th, 2009 at 8:00 PM, there will be a Full Moon Historical Bike Tour. The tours will be modified to 5 miles and we will stay on the bike path the whole tour. Things to bring for this tour will be a bike, a bike light or hand held flashlight and a rear reflector. If you need, I can help you with these supplies. This should be a really comfortable ride and the view will be spectacular. Full Moons in Islamorada light up the sky. Call to reserve a spot. I am limiting it to...
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I had a very nice group this Sunday on my bike tour. The Brooks family were in attendance from Islamorada. Also Debra Winger from the Lower Keys attended the ride.  If you have attended this bike tour and have photos, please forward them so I can post them. Every weekend has been special and the people are always fun and interesting. In fact,I keep learning something new all the time. One of our riders was staying at the Pines and Palms and gave us a tour of the place. Very nice, 1950's style...
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The dates for the bike and kayak tours are set for the first weekend in October which are the 3rd and 4th. The start time will be 10 AM. However, we will meet at the boat launching area on Indian Key fill on the bay side. The groups will be limited to 10 each day.  You can bring your own bike and kayak if you wish. We will stage on Indian Key fill and our club will have people to watch the bikes and kayaks during the tour. Once we set up, our group will ride straight to the Hurricane Monument...
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This stop is a location in 1994 where the largest drug bust in the Florida Keys occurred.  Over 3,500 lbs of cocaine was seized in the early morning hours in Islamorada.  A neighbor thought someone was breaking into the house and called the police.  When the police arrived they arrested five drug traffickers.  This drug ring was under investigation by the Feds for several years and they could never catch these guys.  A couple of local deputies did more in a day's work than the DEA did in thre...
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One of our stops is the Green Turtle in Islamorada.  It was originally the Rustic Inn Lodge built in the early part of the 19th century.  It survived the 35 Hurricane. Later it became the world famous Green Turtle. Several of the bodies were cremated and buried in the parking lot after the 35 Hurricane. Two years later, the ashes were removed and placed in a crypt at the Hurricane Monument a stones throw away from this picture.

My favorite story about the Green Turtle is in the 70's John Belus...
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