I've been toying with the idea of driving to Key West.  Just bouncing it around in the back of my mind.  What would the costs be?  So I did some very rough computations and set up 4 different manners of getting there by land.  For these figures I used $6 a gallon for gas, fairly low priced hotels, roughly most of the tolls, a mid-size car rental in two sets of figures, but not include food or goodies.  They all should take about the same length of travel time give or take a few hours.  I think that the bus is the longest of them all and the most uncomfortable as well.  And these figures are for round trip.  Again these are not accurate but are for fun:

• First method is take the Amtrak to Miami, rent a car and head to Key West, that comes in at $1,865.  Not too bad.
• Second method is to take the Auto Train.  That is drive to VA, put the car on a train and get on board then off in Florida after that hit the road.  That comes in at $2,115 which is the most expensive route so far.
• The third method is to take the Grey Hound to Miami, rent a car and go for it.  That is $1,872, third place.  And like I said, the most uncomfortable way to go.
• Finally and that is to drive down and back.  That comes in at only $1,293 a sure winner when it comes to costs.  And the drive should take two days.  Maybe driving to Key West can become a reality.  Gotta play some more.

Taking the lead from a blog I read, Key West Diary by Conch Scooter, I took a few photos around the local area and commented on them.

One of the most prestigious yacht clubs in the Untied States is no more.  That is the Knickerbocker Yacht Club.  The KYC was the second oldest yacht clubs on Long Island Sound.  Now the doors are closed forever and the building is falling apart.

 

The sign with the once proud burgee  is nothing but scrap wood now.

 

 The famous Louie's Shore Restaurant.  Started out on a barge called the Kare Killer that was anchored in the bay.  Years later the Zwriline family move into the current location.  The business was sold several years ago and the new owners revamped the place.  The food is not bad either.  It so happens it was used in the movie, Meet the Fockers.

A lone sailboat on a mooring.  The only one on the bay right now.  But soon it will have loads of company.

 

 The Pride of Cow Bay.  The pilot house of an old tugboat made into a museum and donated  to the Town of North Hempstead by tow local business men that worked on restoring it themselves.  But no one can ever enter it.  There are faded photos in the portholes only.  What a waste.

A local hardware store.  The original burned down under mysterious circumstances many years ago.  The original plans for this one included roof top parking.  But that didn't fly.

The entrance to Mill Pond Acres.  An affordable private community.  The starting price for these affordable condos is only $850,000.  Now that is affordable by who's standards?  But believe it or not they are all sold out.  Right across from the entrance is the sewer plant.  Would you pay $850,000 to live across from something like that?

Finally, the infamous cellphone tower that went up without the communities permission that now has two armed guards and two Nassau County police officers protecting it 24/7.

 

I plan on taking more photos of the area and post them here as time goes on.

I wonder if anyone is reading this blog so far.  No one has commented on anything nor has anyone added it to follow.  I cannot go by the Blogger stats for I don't think they are accurate.  It would be nice to know if there are people reading this blog.

But now I have to spend the day at the unemployment office and waster more time.  Oh the joy of it all. 

I still have not gotten my severance package from the company which means we still do not have COBRA.   Gotta love New York.

Right now it is 48 here in East Egg.  Looking at the webcam at the Hog's Breath it is a chilly 67, at least it is chilly for Key West.  The sky is crystal clear by the cams at Sunset Pier and Mallory Square so I have a feeling it will be yet another perfect day in paradise.

Anyway I have to get a move on.  There is no parking at all at unemployment and I have to find a place to park.  Oh happy happy joy joy.

'till next time.