A few years ago, Gary and his cycle friends completed the 100 mile Key Largo to Key West ride. It was a wonderful experience for him, and his friends, but I think he may have received as much satisfaction riding with me on the Key West Loop this week.
We only rode 14 miles or so, but we rode completely around the island, dodging traffic, pedestrians, construction, and poor road conditions. We found ourselves meandering past quiet, cottage lined streets, pedaling along the serene ocean wall path, and riding right through the middle of that Duval Street area congestion.
It was at once scenic and hectic, and I am so happy that I faced another one of my fears- bike riding in Florida traffic and finding possible death- all to actually find ourselves accomplished and renewed.
Luckily, this week we were able to explore many of the other Keys, such as Marathon, Cudjoe, Big Pine, and Little Pigeon Keys. One of the items on our check list was to bike across the water along one of the many bridges.
We decided to bike along a two mile section of the famous 7 Mile Bridge that connects Marathon Key to what is referred to as the Lower Keys along Highway 1, also known as the Oversees Highway.
The old 7 Mile Bridge was originally built as a railway back in 1912. At the time, it was hailed as an engineering marvel. After the hurricane of 1935, the rails were damaged, and by 1939, the bridge was reopened for vehicular traffic and remained so until the 1980’s.
The Old Bridge is now used simply as a scenic pedestrian and bike path that ends on Little Pigeon Key. The new bridge was completed in 1982 and allows for only two lanes of traffic. There are plans in the works to build a new modern bridge by 2030 that will also run parallel to the existing two bridges.
It is an enjoyable, short ride across the bridge with the most amazing views to both your left, the Atlantic Ocean, and to your right, The Gulf.
I don’t believe I will ever gear up to my husband’s level of biking, nor do I wish to ride faster than my current max of 12 miles an hour speed. But joining him on these rides, whether in new, uncharted locales, or paths we happen to stumble upon, provides me with a new purpose in retired life… taking advantage of more time spent with the one I love.
Lovely sentiments. Enjoy the journey not the destination.