Inca Gold Spotted in the Florida Keys May 2012

[keithwand]

Yep we are actually going to be adding some miles (now have 3,100) to this garage queen and taking it on a trip in May from Orlando to Key West.

Maybe we'll run in to a few others along the way.

[islandtime]

Re: Inca Gold Spotted in the Florida Keys May 2012

As I've warned others in the past when they asked me for Conch Republic (Fl Keys) information, keep your Bird low and slow on A1A. Bubba just loves foreigners, the fines aren't cheap, and when it says "NO PASSING", they mean it. We've seen far too many head-on (fatal) collisions. Also, the other little trick, if you don't want to get stuck on the 18-mile stretch for hours, take Old Card Sound Rd (bear left) at Florida City. It's fairly traffic-free, and a very pretty drive. It still brings you into Key Largo.

[RustyFrye]

Re: Inca Gold Spotted in the Florida Keys May 2012

, keep your Bird low and slow on A1A.

And watch out for those little deer!... wherever they are.

[Ol'Dave]

Re: Inca Gold Spotted in the Florida Keys May 2012

"....take Old Card Sound Rd (bear left) at Florida City. "

Elle. That road sign was taken down for a reason LOL Good note for fellow T-Bird lovers, but shhhhhssss to others :-)

[fums6]

Re: Inca Gold Spotted in the Florida Keys May 2012

We recently drove from St Petersburg to Fiesta Key, which is just north of Marathon. Went down I75 till Naples and then turned east until we reached the Florida Turnpike. Got off near Homestead and then Rt 1 down the Keys. Easy trip, fuel prices not much higher than anywhere else, maybe a cent or two. Saw police from Key Largo south but obeyed the speed limits so no problems. Eating is still expensive but the fish is fresh and yummy. Have a great time Keith.

[Rondor]

Re: Inca Gold Spotted in the Florida Keys May 2012

I too like the old road, and yes driving in the Keys is completely different experience. Daily expressway drivers have a real problem it appears. It is illegal to be in a hurry in the Keys and most of the rest of the south

[islandtime]

Re: Inca Gold Spotted in the Florida Keys May 2012

Saw police from Key Largo south...

Common misconception. The Keys do not run north/south. They run east/west, but down there we refer to traveling as "down island" or "up island". Directions are superfluous.

It is illegal to be in a hurry in the Keys and most of the rest of the south

Thus, my screen name - "Islandtime"

[AZTB]

Re: Inca Gold Spotted in the Florida Keys May 2012

Directions are superfluous.

[keithwand]

Re: Inca Gold Spotted in the Florida Keys May 2012

As I've warned others in the past when they asked me for Conch Republic (Fl Keys) information, keep your Bird low and slow on A1A. Bubba just loves foreigners, the fines aren't cheap, and when it says "NO PASSING", they mean it. We've seen far too many head-on (fatal) collisions. Also, the other little trick, if you don't want to get stuck on the 18-mile stretch for hours, take Old Card Sound Rd (bear left) at Florida City. It's fairly traffic-free, and a very pretty drive. It still brings you into Key Largo.

Thanks guys for the suggestion. My sister and family have a condo in Key Largo and I think that is how we would come from the Miami Airport.
I believe we crossed some small bridge and saw really old houseboats that were barely afloat that were grandfathered in.
The Tbird should be the perfect car for this trip.

[islandtime]

Re: Inca Gold Spotted in the Florida Keys May 2012

I believe we crossed some small bridge and saw really old houseboats that were barely afloat that were grandfathered in.
The Tbird should be the perfect car for this trip.

Yes - that's it. Very rustic. You might even want to stop in at Alabama Jack's.
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&su...ed=0CCcQ8gEwAA

[fums6]

Re: Inca Gold Spotted in the Florida Keys May 2012

Elle, I always picture you in VA not FL so I wondered at first how you were so knowledgeable about the Keys. Anyhow, as you know, we were just south (west?) of Islamorado when we were at Fiesta Key. We felt that altho many speak of Marathon we thought more highly os Islamorado. Nicer restaurants especially.
ps: If US highways are oddly numbered from north to south, why isn't US 1 not US 2? Just a question.

[Lindy]

Re: Inca Gold Spotted in the Florida Keys May 2012

Be careful Keith and enjoy!

The Key's have a reputation for lost Inca gold: remember the Nuestra Señora de Atocha, which left Cuba for Spain in September of 1622 as vice flag ship of a fleet of 28 ships. The vessel was discovered about 70 miles off Florida near the Marquesas Keys in 1985 by Mel Fischer with its treasure of gold and silver bars and coins intact.

Lindy

[keithwand]

Re: Inca Gold Spotted in the Florida Keys May 2012

Definately going to stop at Alabama Jacks for lunch.

This is great to be getting such great suggestions from everyone since its been years that we have visited the Keys.

I know theres a really large Outdoor store on the water somewhere that has a restaurant and bar.

I had a client/ friend that had a Marina just this side of the Marathon bridge. He took us fishing and did we ever catch a lot of grouper.

[2K2BIRD]

Re: Inca Gold Spotted in the Florida Keys May 2012

Keith,

After you get that car out of the garage for this road trip you'll find out what you have been missing. You might as well go ahead and get set up for Nashville in June so you'll have the next trip planned. After all you don't want to miss the Gathering of the Gold.

[islandtime]

Re: Inca Gold Spotted in the Florida Keys May 2012

ps: If US highways are oddly numbered from north to south, why isn't US 1 not US 2? Just a question.

US Rt 1 was originally dubbed the east coast highway from Maine to FL. As you can see from the attached pic, it zig-zigs all up & down the coast. It was the main north/south road until I-95 came in to being. Construction of the Overseas Hwy in the Fl Keys began in 1923, but it wasn't until 1928 that it was opened, and even then, the islands were connected mostly by ferry. After the great hurricane of 1935 wiped out Flagler's FEC railroad extension in the Keys, and the RR went bankrupt, it was decided to use the old rr bridges to connect the highway. Some time in the '40s, the FL DOT incorporated the Overseas Hwy into the Rt 1 system as "A1A" (I am a walking encyclopedia on Keys history). BWT, US Rt 2 is in the northern part of the US, in two sections, from Washington to Michigan, and then again from Vermont to Maine. It also 'zig-zags'. How do I know these things? Extensive travel from the time I was very, very little, and a dad who made sure I knew how to read maps (I still don't use GPS).

The Key's have a reputation for lost Inca gold: remember the Nuestra Señora de Atocha, which left Cuba for Spain in September of 1622 as vice flag ship of a fleet of 28 ships. The vessel was discovered about 70 miles off Florida near the Marquesas Keys in 1985 by Mel Fischer with its treasure of gold and silver bars and coins intact.
Lindy

See second pic - I have a little piece of that bounty! I wear it all the time. I'm member of the Atocha Coin Club.

I know theres a really large Outdoor store on the water somewhere that has a restaurant and bar.

That's the World Wide Sportsman, part of Bass Pro Shops, MM 81.5, bayside, Islamorada, across from the Hurricane Memorial. http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/st...&storeId=10151