Today would be our longest riding day of the trip, from Key Largo to Marathon. We were starting our ride through the direct path Hurricane Irma had taken across the keys . . .

. . . the morning started with Greg noticing his tire was soft . . . so time for another repair . . .

. . . although the cabana had a full kitchen we had only used the refrigerator. As you can see, the boys couldn’t finish all their beer from the night before and left it for the next guests. ‘The horror . . . the horror’!!!

. . . ahhh, we are going to need a ‘bigger boat’!!!

Floridians are not shy!!!!

Great views as we biked along, passing over bridge after bridge, from key to key . . . !!!!!

. . . but there was also evidence of the hurricane including many ‘mobile home parks’ where the infrastructure was gone. In most cases, the areas had been fenced off and there was a security guard posted 24/7.

Lots of sun, a tailwind and LOTS of traffic!!!!

Beautiful but noisy. Reminded us a lot of cycling two years ago on the main highway in Canada while on our Banff to Whitefish trip.

Hey . . . time to eat lunch and what better place than at Crazy Billy’s!!!

. . . actually had a healthy lunch. Fresh fish ceviche and salads!

This place didn’t blow away during the hurricane but just sort of  ‘sat down’ . . .

Soon we were in Marathon at our Holiday Inn and Suites . . .

. . . where the staff were very helpful. When Greg made the reservations they asked if we needed any special accommodations. He told them TommyH had taken a fall on his bike, slipping on ice, right before we had headed south. He was having trouble getting on and off his bike, needing to swing his leg up and over his panniers.. They were ready for us with this ‘senior aid’ for those with sore joints. I thought it was sort of overkill.

It’s always a little tricky getting our bikes into the rooms for safe keeping, especially my TREK 5000,  the former Lance Armstrong Tour de France model’.  Here Greg kept his locked up outside until the ‘coast was clear’. Better not to ask and just move them in when the opportunity arises.

Martinis, fish dinners and key lime pie rounded out the day at the Island Fish House restaurant.