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Monday, December 24, 2001 - Alligator Alley
95 miles. East of Everglades City, FL to Key Largo, FL
There is some debate as to which road is now
actually called Alligator Alley. The Florida state road map shows I-75 as
Alligator Alley but surely U.S. 41 is the original Alligator Alley, since for
years it was the only road traversing the Everglades on an east-west axis. I
finished off the Alley in the early morning without seeing a single gator,
except for a small road killed one.
Most of the way is flanked by cypress, the diminutive
pond cypress, and not the much larger related bald cypress. The Tamiami Canal
also flanks the road for miles on the north side of the Everglades. This
controls water flow into the Everglades.
Upon reaching Fl-997 where I would turn south towards
Homestead, I paused for brunch at the Micosukee Seminole Indian gambling casino.
I was a bit surprised that they allowed me entry, given my appearance, but I
went upstairs past the burbling banks of slot machines and had an excellent meal
from the breakfast buffet. It would keep me going for the rest of the day. I
burned the 20 miles into Homestead. Here the road is flanked by large fields of
vegetables and fruit grown for the nation's consumption in winter.
I then continued on down the Card Sound road, avoiding
the heavily trafficked U.S.1. This is a flat stretch thru mangrove with a free
(to bicycles) toll bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway. Right before the
bridge occurred a typical traffic incident that cyclists must always be ready
for. I came around a bend in the road and was confronted with three oncoming
cars, the rearmost of which was swinging into my lane to pass the two cars in
front.
He was flying and had no intention of backing off for
me. I had to bail out onto the shoulder which was only a couple of feet wide
because of a retaining rail common on these low-lying Key roads. It was just
enough room as the car roared by inches away. Alertness is essential to navigate
the dangers of the road, and dealing with oncoming traffic in your own lane is
one of the most dangerous threats we face.
By this point I was really pumped up. From the bridge
to U.S.1 I attacked and was averaging about 20 MPH. I expected homes and
businesses on this stretch but this part of Key Largo is largely subtropical
forest and unpopulated. I continued on to Key Largo where I got a motel room.
Rates here are higher than you might expect because of the great masses of
tourists. I went about 95 miles today, spurred on by the flat terrain and the
looming end of the trip.
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