Touring - Keys Tour Day 2

I didn't sleep well the first night probably because of the heat and decided to just break camp in the middle night and get an early start(I don't know the exact time because I didn't have a watch at that time).It was still dark as I reached Homestead and then Florida City .Then I took Card Sound Road over to the Keys as this is what is uaually recommended due to less traffic though it does add maybe 15 extra miles.I think this may have been a mistake as the mosquitos chased me the whole way and the desolate views of the Everglades stated getting repetitive. At least I once again took few rest stops over this stetch of perhaps 35 miles(if the report of 15 extra mi. is accurate)to Key Largo where I picked up US 1 and all the traffic and commercial developement. As the mid-day head started and I got in a Keys frame of mind I took numerous stops in the Upper Keys to rest and refuel.At Lower Matecumbe Key part of the Middle Keys I met an interesting character heading the opposite direction.He was an Apache Indian from Phoenix who had been out touring for 5 months originally on a MS sponsored tour.However he told an incredible tale of being beaten up by a group who stole his custom bike and gear and smashed his knuckles with a hammer .lAnyway after a stay in the hospital and some new equiptment including a mtn. bike given to him by MS he was back out touring on his own .I bought his watch for $2 so he could buy a part for his B/B as he couldn't get to his savings account over the holiday. Then we parted company as he wanted to see the fireworks at Holiday Key.I headed on and stopped earlier than I would have liked at Long Key State Park because the had remote sites for $5 and the mosquito's were reportedly not bad .What was left out however was that there were swarming stinging smaller bugs and the racoons invaded the campsites at will at night.However I did get my best nights sleep .This turned out to be a high milage day of perhaps 85-90 miles.

Did your Apache friend say where he was beaten and robbed of his bike? This would be of great interest to those of us who ride alone and have very little room for a shotgun.
Thanx.

No he didn't and I kept asking him more about this in fact.He was very talkative basically telling his life story(in a very disjointed manner) if you listened long enough but was not good at answering questions or providing detail.That was basically the reason I mentioned this iso that solo tourers with expensive bikes and flashy stand out clothing remain alert to dangers out there.I don't really think a weapon is necessary just avoiding certain situations at certain times of day.And if persons or groups of persons make you uncomfortable don't hang around.While stressing he was not predugise he did have a few unkind words for blacks ( who he said would steal anything)and bad neighborhoods when I said I had ridden down via Krome Ave so this may have been a hint at the problem I don't know for sure.