Drive to the Keys…
Checked out of the Royal Pacific Resort by 9:30am and headed for the Florida Turnpike.
It’s a fairly long drive. Around 340 miles and five plus hours. Posted speed limit is 70mph on much of the turnpike, but it’s disregarded by everyone! I watch a state trooper tailgate someone at over 80mph!
We stopped for fuel and lunch at one of the service plazas. Never noticed these before – not so common on interstates etc. Similar to our motorway services, but smaller, better run, cleaner, cheaper…
Grabbed a Wendy’s burger
The small drinks are iced tea and pink lemonade. I genuinely don’t know how it is possible to get that much sugar into a liquid and it not become a paste?
We stopped briefly in Homestead to pick up some snacks and visit a liquor store. Find an interesting bourbon to sip on our balcony in the evenings.
Eventually we picked up State Road 1 which is the spine of the Florida Keys
Eventually reaching Marathon Key around 3:30pm. 6 hours including two stops.
Walked into the lobby to be greeted by a smiling and very English receptionist. Was a bit surprised! So was she. Turns out Poppy has dual nationality and came out here just over a year ago.
Gave us a quick tour and made some recommendations for local diners, shops etc. the resort is very casual. Free water sports, parking, wifi… nice and low key.
The room is also very nice…
Ocean view room… I’ve had that description on many, many rooms I have stayed in. It’s not usually this close a view though! I’ve had cabins on cruise ships with greater distance from the water than this.
We unpacked-ish and sat on the balcony with cold sodas. Jus tried spray cheese for the first time.
Early evening, we headed further in to Marathon to pick up a few bits and grabbed a takeout pizza. No restaurant or food service on site. Cool little Tiki Bar though.
It’s goes dark so quickly…
