December 7th, 2007 | categorizilation: all categories,USA (FLorida)
Today’s distance / 今日の走行距離: 19.8 kms
Average speed / 平均速度: 13.2km/h
Time on skateboard / 走行時間: 1h 28m
Total skateboarding distance to date / 今までスケボで走った距離: 1132.04km (plus 428.5km)
Ascent / 上り: negligible
Descent / 下り: negligible
So, the trans-US skateboard trip begins. Set off from Key West at about 10am, and got about 4kms before spending a few hours at a shopping center on the edge of town shopping for shoes. As comfy as the Crocs are, they are not really the greatest thing for skating in. Bought some cheap skate shoes and hoped that they wouldn’t cause too many bad blisters. Bought way too much food – I am out of practice.
I was however stoked to find that tortillas are cheap here. Ready to eat wonders! All I need to do is find a store around lunch time to get some refried beans and some tomatoes, and I’ve got a quick easy meal.
Reality hit soon and hard however, and I realised just how much fitness you can lose in two months of doing not much at all. For more than two months I have been either sitting on a boat, or sitting around waiting for a boat. The lack of activity became apparent after only about 10km on the board; sore legs, sore feet, heart working overtime…
The road surfaces didn’t help in places, the shoulder of US1 often stony. Wide enough, but heavy in traffic also. In places, the Florida Green Way was a reprieve - a smooth cycle and pedestrian path that will eventually stretch all the way up Florida.
It was getting dark at 5:30pm, so I stopped for dinner – instant Idao mashed potatoes. I think the No-seeums (tiny bugs – smaller than sandflies – that bite) did better than I did for a nutritious dinner however. They ate me alive as I cooked. I slept under the eves of a closed roadside cafe.
Be carefull of that american food Rob. We dont want you to grow to the size of the stay puffed marshmallow man before you leave!
We reckon you are now in the most dangerous part of your journey so far – the USA. Look out for terrorist gunmen who are on the rampage all over the states!!
Do you still have your beer-can stove? I would have thought hot refried beans a bit tastier than cold ones.
