NEW KEYS EVENT? was ... Islamorada Invitational

[ricki]

I just did a quick search for campgrounds and the first one I checked out looks interesting. It is by the Seven Mile Bridge in Marathon, FL. The guy said they have "plenty" of camping space available on weekends in March.



The guy said we should call Michele tomorrow to see if she would be up with the concept. He told me they have a 100 ft. wide beach on the Atlantic side!

#1 Knights Key Blvd.
(Mile Marker 47)
PO Box 500525
Marathon, Florida 33050-0525
Toll Free: (800) 348-2267
Phone: (305) 743-4343
Fax: (305) 743-2907
E-mail: knightskey@aol.com


WHOOPS just looked at this on Googleearh.com. It looks like we would have clean wind only from the S to W as there is an island to the SE and E. This makes it a poor prospect for this time of year.

I will keep looking.

Rick, check out this link, http://www.skypic.com/flkeys/10-9108.jpg , this what I have used in the past to find new launches. think we could have a problem with the downwind area on a NE. Neil

[ricki]

Originally Posted by Neil 1

Rick, check out this link, http://www.skypic.com/flkeys/10-9108.jpg , this what I have used in the past to find new launches. think we could have a problem with the downwind area on a NE. Neil

I agree. I looked up the site on googleearth just after I put up the post. I put a note in above about this. I think it would be clear only for S to W winds. It is a poor risk for this time of year. There are a lot of campgrounds in the Keys though perhaps most may be on the Gulf side. Keep looking I guess. I will give Paul Menta a call and Brad too to see if they have any ideas.

You can have googleearth show campgrounds in the Sat. image through "Find Business." I have been looking, no joy yet however.

[ricki]

This may be a long shot but it could be a nice venue, if we could get permission, transport, etc.. There is camping and it looks good for wind from most directions. Kent has been talking about doing something around the island for years. It doesn't seem to have beaches on the Atlantic side, perhaps seawalls and shallows to go with. Does anyone know?



Boca Chita Key







More info at:
http://www.key-biscayne.com/kb/keys/bocachita/
http://www.biscayne.national-park.com/camping.htm
http://www.nps.gov/bisc/visit/camping.htm

Yep that place looks amazing but it would be hard to get everyone there and they would be very strict on rules regulations and insurance. N

[ricki]

Yes, regs and insurance may be significant issues at many venues sad to say at any Park, Boca Chita, Bahia Honda, etc.. Anyway, here are some more ideas.

http://www.hometownlocator.com/Displ...h&SCFIPS=12087

Cocoplum Beach and Sombrero Beach in Marathon. I found this cruising down the Keys via Googleearth.com. It looks like they might open up from ENE to E to SW. Not great if a strong NE front comes through but it is just one more idea.

These beaches are a few miles to the north of the campground described a couple of posts above this.


Still more about beaches in the Keys appears at:
Click for map - http://floridakeystreasures.com/Beac...roeBeaches.gif

http://floridakeystreasures.com/Beac...sbeaches.shtml

1 FT ZACHARY TAYLOR STATE PARK
2 SIMONTON STREET BEACH
3 SOUTH BEACH
4 HIGGS BEACH
5 SMATHERS BEACH
6 BAHIA HONDA OCEANSIDE
7 BAHIA HONDA BAYSIDE
8 BAHIA HONDA SANDSPUR
9 VETERAN'S BEACH
10 SOMBRERO BEACH
11 COCO PLUM BEACH
12 CURRY HAMMOCK STATE PARK
13 ANNE'S BEACH
14 ISLAMORADA LIBRARY BEACH
15 FOUNDER'S PARK BEACH
16 HARRY HARRIS COUNTY PARK
17 JOHN PENNEKAMP STATE PARK

Something that may help you in finding venues for other races in various parts of the state is:

http://www.satelliteviews.net/cgi-bi...y=&ftype=beach
http://www.hometownlocator.com/State...h&StateCode=FL

It seems to show beaches all over the state.

[C. Moore]

Count me in guys. That would be great to have a Border X event down there.

-Chris

[slingshot05]

Originally Posted by y2kcmoore

Count me in guys. That would be great to have a Border X event down there.

-Chris

sounds awesome, i'm in depending on how school is going at the time.

[BigR]

If you guys could sort out the logistics , an event would be great down there.

Not too many beaches close to places to stay tho',

Adams key and Boca chica key are 40 miles from land so you have to be well stocked with supplies

[ricki]

Originally Posted by BigR

If you guys could sort out the logistics , an event would be great down there.

Not too many beaches close to places to stay tho',

Adams key and Boca chica key are 40 miles from land so you have to be well stocked with supplies

"Boca Chita is a small island that is located approximately 12 miles south of the Cape Florida lighthouse on Key Biscayne, and Boca Chita Key is located approximately 9 miles from Convoy Point. "
http://www.key-biscayne.com/kb/keys/bocachita/

Still a permit would probably be required as may be the case at any other public launch (i.e. park). Transport would be a major issue as well.

I think our best bet might be to contact some of the small mom and pop hotels along the Straits side of the Keys. I am trying to remember the names of some of them up keys from the Pelican Cove in Islamorada. One small place hosted an outrigger event there a month or so ago. It would be good to get in touch with them for starters.