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Winter Solstice at America's Southern Most Point
Christmas Southern Biker Style

Book your biker vacation to Key West now!

This trip began December 23, 2003 with the idea of riding as far south as possible for Christmas. The weather leaving South Carolina was comfortably in the 60's as I began my ride south. My first stop was Ridgeland to visit a few Jasper ABATE members and suck down a couple of cold ones with lunch at Schooners. If you're hungry I recommend visiting Schooners; Tracy's Place was closed as I arrived near noon.

Riding down I-95 at a brisk clip with a full belly and making good time to Daytona I stopped by the Boothill Saloon. The Boothill and Daytona were much more accommodating than one would find during bike week; the locals were friendly and the beer was cold. Boothill is a beer only bar. I applied a few Sons of Liberty Riders' decals to the walls and doors of the Boothill while I drank my beer. After a few cold ones it was time to ride south again with enthusiasm.

The next pit stop was Miami and a diner for a late night snack. Riding into the Keys at night will cheat you of some great views; about 50 miles into the Keys the rain began. I have yet to take a long trip without getting wet. I arrived in Key West shortly before sunrise and found a place to crash at the Blue Lagoon. After taking a power nap I rode toward the southern end of the island and ate at The Sands. I had Coconut Grouper which was tasty.

As sunset approached I head towards Mallory Square as my good friend Uncle Rock told me it was not to be missed. Rock was right the square was a carnival of freaks and vendors. The sunset festival reminded me of the parking lot party before a Dead concert. While I scoped out the square I may have met Brother Speed's long lost brother; seems the man took his seaborne winnabago away. Seeing is believing you'll have to see the pictures for yourself.

I turned in early and watched some tourist TV to plan the events for the next day. Christmas Day I found a small dinner and ate a breakfast burrito. Next I rode to the Southernmost marker; I declined waiting in line to get a pictures of the bike and myself. There is an interesting federal installation on the actual southernmost part of the island plenty of dishes and towers.

The weather was great though the locals claimed it was cold and wore heavy jackets at night. I visited many of the local waterholes including Sloppy Joes to see Hemingway's blue marlin hanging on the wall. Sloppy Joes claimed to pour drinks 20% stronger than other bars but the prices were much more than 20% higher too! I found an interesting rooftop bar called the Garden of Eden which strangely reminded me of the Ladson Tackle Shop; prices were kind and the locals were informative in regards to which bar were tourist rip-offs. I passed on Capt Tony's after getting the local scope. I did visit a nice nudie bar off Duval Street that was almost as nice as the one Spot found in Greenbay.

The day after Christmas I awoke after just a few hours of shuteye with a really bad head. After a slow start I packed the bike and proceeded to check out and continue the adventure. Riding with little more planned than to eat and call my South Florida friend Buster. I found a mom and pop restaurant on Big Pine Key and ate a Seafood Omelet; sorry no picture the photographer was too hungry. By the time I arrived on Key Largo I was ready for a few cold ones. Paradise Pub was stop one and only had beer; I met a local biker there riding a Shovelhead and swapped a few stories. He suggested I visit the Last Chance Saloon on the mainland. A drunk chick with a big bulldog was cussing away at a few other locals on the other side of the bar; made me feel right at home.

The Caribbean Club was my next stop on Key Largo. This bar had some local history and a shady past; complete with a mysterious death and fire in 1955. The Caribbean Club is slow during the day but packed with bikers and locals after dark. The "real" bikers park in the back which challenges your ability to ride in a technical manner. I continued to ride north and missed the Last Chance Saloon as I entered the mainland but found Sam's Hideway Tavern and called Buster. Buster rode down on his Harley and met me before I hardly dented my drink. Turned out he lives four miles from the Last Chance.

I rode back to Buster's oasis and later met his best friend John before riding by his dad's Historic Landmark Hotel. The Historic Landmark Hotel is a must see when visiting Homestead. Riding with Buster and John I was able to met a lot of local bikers and find some of the local biker bars; there are plenty more to visit on my next trip south. Buster and friends ask me to tell y'all to send more Americans; hey it really is another day in paradise in Homestead and Key Largo. I'm not sure if I'll come back home next time! Buster is building a cherry 45 flathead; the man is motorcycle poor no doubt. You can't tell from the picture but his custom street rod has a Harley hood ornament. The odometer of my 2003 FLHT reached 30,000 just as it was time to head back.

After a few days of too much fun in Homestead with the locals I headed north toward Fort Myers. Alligator Alley was a long ride through the glades but I never saw a gator. I did have a nice corndog at a gas station along the alley. I rode I-75 to 80 in Fort Myers and headed for the beach. I never made the beach as sunset approached but pulled into a dive with a motorcycle painted on the side; I think the place was called the Hogpen. I met a biker named Lumpy who moved to Ft Myers from Greenville South Carolina; he and other locals told me of a few other watering holes. I rode to Redbones but they asked me to remove my colors so I finished my drink and rode on; I was not aware ABATE, MRF or SoLR patches qualified as colors. As I left the dump there seemd to be some sort of medical emergency as one of the patrons apparently O.D. or just fell out.

I rode another 50 miles or so from Ft Myers before finding a good place to crash for the night. When I awoke I rode back south to 80 to visit a Vineyard. Riding north again but through the middle of the state on 27 I saw a lot of orange grooves. Out of the middle of the trees I found a bar with several bikes in the middle of no where. The Bar is located about 1/2 mile before 98 on 27 near Haines City. West has a fine place with about two inches of peanut shells on the floor; well worth the stop should you visit Florida.

I spent the night in Haines City and began to ride seriously upon rising. I met another interesting person from the Upstate of South Carolina as I packed my bike. The ride up 27 to I-4 and Orlando was long. I-4 was backed up and slow going a good way to Daytona. Arriving in Daytona I took a picture of the graveyard before traveling up A1A most of the way to Jacksonville. Jacksonville was the last comfort stop and meal before leaving Florida.

Blasting into Georgia I pulled in the first rest stop and donned my helmet and leathers to stay warm. Georgia was smooth sailing with few cops to slow progress. One final gas up near Ridgeland before reaching the house and my dog.

Final stats: 8 days, 1,942.6 miles and $750

~FastFred

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