A Salty Piece of Land
2/26/2014 – Crossing the bridge on US 1 to Key Largo, I felt a strange sense of accomplishment. The Florida Keys have been featured in songs and movies, stories and documentaries. As I counted down the miles to the end of US 1, reality took over, with traffic, construction, and drivers whose attitude hadn’t changed with the latitude (sorry Jimmy). I couldn’t wait to get to my first campsite since Utah on long Key, but stopped long enough to get a great lunch without tourist trap prices. Harriette’s served up my first cup of conch chowder, which reminded me of the best clam chowder I have ever had-strong sea flavor with hearty additions.
I have to give Florida State Parks props. First, unlike Idaho, if you’ve paid for camping there’s no entry fee. Check in was quick, site and bathrooms clean, and the view of the Atlantic from all of the Long Key State Park camp and day use sites was incredible. The park had a one mile loop trail around mangroves, pine and palm, and a little coastal prairie. With the walk from the campsite, it added to a decent two mile walk before pork chops, mac and cheese, and applesauce for dinner. Sleep was difficult though. The geography is basically ocean, ten feet to camp, ten feet of road, ten feet of barrier plants, US Hwy 1. And traffic up and down the Keys doesn’t stop. But this strip of a key allowed me to camp looking at the stars over the Atlantic Ocean.