I don't care how many times we make this ride...it never gets old. We spend 2 -3 months during the winter in the Keys...we still have about 4 months before we head out..this came at the perfect time. Thanks for sharing.
I am absolutely blown away by the design, engineering and execution of such a feat. I've never been to Florida, but thanks to FWJ, I'm there right now. Holy wow.
I am glad you got to visit and film the Florida Keys, Jim, before this devastating Hurricane Irma has caused chaos there. I truly hope it will not take too long for the area to recover. This hurricane is really an American tragedy.
The middle and lower Keys got the worst of it, but every area covered in this years series sustained damage. It will take time but in 10 years time you should be able to do a "new keys" trip.
Agreed. I live in Central Florida and I got to feel the effects of Irma. But it was down to a Cat 1-2 by the time it reached me. I can only imagine how it must have been for the folks in the keys and on the islands when it was a Cat 5! Hope for a speedy recovery to all my fellow Caribbean peeps!
Thank you for taking me back to my teenage years spent at The Keys. We always stayed in Islamorada on weekends. Your soundtrack adds something extra special. Ty again. Cheers.
Just discovered your videos a few weeks ago and really enjoy going along for the ride and also like the foot notes. Great to see places I will most likely not get to go. 👍🏻 well done. Thanks Jim.
Oh yes that had to be my favorite of them all, I use to drive down there every year in the summer and loved that trip so much, watching this makes me want to go down again, maybe next summer, thank you SO much for posting this Jim!!
Another superb video Jim!! Heading there in 3 weeks for the drive........and thanks for putting a face with the name at the end! Best wishes in your upcoming adventures!
Whole 42 mins! Loved it! Spectacular view along the way. Wish I would have the chance to drive down there. Must be an unforgettable memory of a lifetime! Thank you for this video!
Thank you for riding along, to be honest, that drive to Key West is a bit overrated, not as great, exciting or interesting as you'd think, especially compared to some rides out west.
Done this drive twice. Things I remember: Cuba on AM radio, breathtaking movement of tropical clouds, 7 mile bridge with no land in sight. Fantastic production, both video and supporting music. Right up there with your I-90 Wyoming video with Seal.
This video is so cool, and so well done! Love the music, especially the cover of "People Gotta Move", love the key changes in it (get it, Key changes?!) at 23:20 going over the Seven-Mile Bridge. What memories this brings back, as the original by Gino Vannelli was probably still playing on the airwaves the first time I drove the Overseas Highway in 1975! Yes, driving across the old bridge was quite an experience and thrill, we did so three times between 1975 and 1979, it WAS very narrow, no shoulders, the guard rails (which were made out of the old railroad track rails) were right outside the passenger window. I remember passing seven cars at once in my VW Beetle! Years later, when the new bridge was built, my wife and I bicycled out on the old bridge south-bound to Pigeon Key. I never knew that there is a sort of "off/on ramp" onto the island from the bridge! Thanks, Freewayjim, for this wonderful post, we will be making this trip again in December, 2021! PS: Google maps of the old bridge reveal "Fred the Tree", and "Donna the Bush", two pieces of "flora" that are actually growing out of the concrete and asphalt, and have been designated as a photo op (obviously while moving), and are clearly visible at 24:48. Where did these names come from?! Maybe a bumper sticker we saw in the 90's on a Keys' resident's car can answer that question: "We're all here... because we're not all there" :) Edit note: upon our making the aforementioned trip in 12/21, we happened to cross the Seven-Mile Bridge in the dark. Sure enough, there was "Fred the Tree" all lit up for Christmas! What a sight! Don't ask me who did it or how it is powered up, or how anyone even got there (that section of the old bridge is cut off on both ends), but that's all part of the mystique. PPS: At 24:33, I sent that same post card to any number of people back in the 70's, when I was a young and adventuresome college kid. And I drove it in a '68 VW Beetle! Thank you, Freewayjim! :) PPPS: At 21:38, there is an interesting comment about the mural on the K-Mart, on the left side of US 1 southbound. We stopped by on 12/7/21, there is a Winn-Dixie almost next door, the K-Mart is unfortunately closed, but the mural is still there, and looking good! I hope that some entrepreneur will take up that building and make it into something good, including this really cool mural.
Hey Freeway Jim! Nice video. I HAVE to take the wife and kids on a road trip to Key West. it is a mission, and I have told my wife that we need to plan a trip for sometime next year . I told her that we will take a week at least. Drive with our 3 kids from Atlanta to Key West, and come back and spend a couple of days in Miami before heading back home. Great trip!! My wife actually agreed to the trip despite the fact that she HATES spending large amounts of time in the car on road trips lol. The video convinced her. THANK YOU!!!! lol.
That was a fantastic ride from the comfort of my couch. Now I'm tempted to try it from the comfort of my car. I hadn't really considered it before. I know there's always more to the view, and I'm more the kind to stop-n-gawk and eat at little holes in the wall. I bet there are some really neat ones along here, from the fun and kitschy to the old historic charm, just seeing you pass them. Thanks for the great video! ~ Michelle F.
Michelle, somewhere around 20:00 is Mungo Jerry's "In The Summertime". One line of the lyrics is "we're always happy, life's for living, that's our philosophy" Don't just do it from your couch, do it for real. My wife and I have done this trip numerous times (from Pennsylvania!), and I can say that I drove over the old Seven Mile Bridge three times in the 70's. You owe it to yourself. Peace! :)
Loved this video. I have driven this road to Key West three times in the last four years, and will drive it again when we visit Key West in two weeks from today. I think I would have freaked out driving the original Seven Mile Bridge in the dark. I got a chance to walk on the easternmost part of the original Seven Mile before it was closed for rehabilitation. The original rails were used as side rails to keep cars from falling into the water as the bridge was so narrow. Happy the State of Florida updated the road, along with many bridges, in the past 30-40 years. The original Bahia Honda bridge must have been some experience also (driving on top of the original railroad bridge). Yes, there were times I wished the road was wider, but as it is, is such a beautiful drive. Cannot wait to do it again. Thanks for posting this excellent trip, along with all your other videos.
I'm glad the original Seven Mile Bridge and Bahia Honda bridges were updated by FLDOT, to newer bridges that were wider. I'd hate to drive on one of those original bridges decades ago, when it had to have been a narrow white knuckle drive to go over either bridge! And that the original bridges are now being reused as fishing piers, is a nice way to reuse them!
I've downloaded this one ..great work and ever song fits ..im going to play this in my car very good work Jim..im moving next month to Alabama from Illinois going to Huntsville ty for all your great work jim!!
Thanks so much for bringing us places!! not only that, the amount of great music i discovered along your journeys leaves a double whammy!! much thanks!!
Jim,forgot to mention the music was awesome, my favorite that still touches me today as it has in the beginning Robert Palmer it takes every kind of people,so powerful,thank you :))lolwes
Great video Jim!! I couldn't stop watching. Excellent soundtrack too (strong finish with a classic by the great Bob Marley)! Thank you for posting Jim.
Great trip! Was in Key West in 1983, at which time I got my wallet stolen from motel room. Now that we live in Florida, I hope to get back soon with much better results. Thanks for taking US 1 to the end. I've been to both ends--Key West and Ft Kent, Maine--and covered much of the road in between.
Love all your videos. They're a mini stay at home vacation for me. This is definitely one of those drives where you have to let your vacation start when you leave the mainland and take it easy. I give myself at lease a half day to get from Miami to KW I got 'stuck' in Marathon as the 7 Mile Bridge was closed due to a motorcycle accident with fatalities.
Very nice ride! Was worth waiting to see so I could enjoy it without a problem and no distractions! Very nice ride- and a great soundtrack- this is also one of my bucket-list rides too- as I have always wanted to see more of the US and all! Very nice ride- sad to see the season end- will look forward to next year and the new season ahead!
Dig it. We crossed "Seven Mile Bridge" after dark on 12/7/21 (didn't plan on doing it in the dark), but it was worth it. Approaching "Fred the Tree", we saw a glow of light on the old bridge. Sure enough, someone decorated Fred for Christmas! No Scheiße! Don't ask me how this was powered, nor do I know how anyone even got onto that spot, but as I recall the bumper sticker from way back when, "We're all here... because we're not all there." Well done, you Key-residents. And rock on Fred, and Donna. :)
Your videos are a great tool for me; gives me a perspective of far away places from the highway point of view. So when I travel, I will tend to commute instead via the non highway small roads to view local sites. Thanks very much for the videos and keep up the great work.
This was the PERFECT finale to this year's season. I cannot begin to describe how much I enjoyed this video! The soundtrack was incredible, too! Jimmy Buffett and Eric Clapton are among some of my favorite musicians, very nice to hear them in this video. Lots of other great music, some of which I was introduced to for the first time, so thank you! US Highway 1 across the keys was certainly spectacular. It was very exciting to see the southern end of this magnificent, dignified American Highway. The length of this video was a true treat for me, since I enjoy your content so much. Also intriguing to hear the history of he railroad and the bridges along the way - VERY NEAT! I cannot thank you enough for your hard work and quality content, this made this Friday evening very good for me. Thanks for the ride, and see ya next year!!
That was a Great Summer Finale! It's longest video you ever made plus you made it to the Key West while dealing with Norrow roads & oncoming traffic and it was kind of great seeing the sites of the old railroad bridges in the video.
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful videos I really enjoyed so much that's I will never be tired to watch it again and again thank you so much
Finally got to watch this relaxing on a Friday nite and I was waiting for you to say how much US-1 is to US-17 in the SC Lowcountry (18.33) LOL. Thanks for the great ride down Number 1 thru the keys!
Finally, due to school I have not been able to see this very much anticipated video! Key West is way nicer and cozier of a town than I expected, nice video!
Excellent looking video and a very fun ride through Florida. The music helped a whole lot. Looking forward to see what you do next year. Thanx for posting this.
Honestly, I'm glad you chose this section of US-1 as the Final Video for the Year. It's incredible how much stuff is between Miami and Key West along the US-1 Corridor. It makes for a very fascinating Final video compared to I-520 in Augusta. But seriously, 2 1/4 Hours to Cover 100 Miles? Must've felt like a drag to get to Key West at some Points. Even worse, US-1 is essentially the ONLY route to the Mainland of Florida from the Islands out there. If any of those Bridges Go (aka get Damaged or Destroyed), You'd have thousands of People trapped around those Islands with no way back to the Mainland. Overall, Nice work on this!
Great video! Always enjoyed when I drove to Key West. I'm surprised you didn't mention that the Southern End of US-1 passed right next to Ernest Hemingway's Key West house, and that the "Southern" terminus of US-1 actually faces Northeast. In spite of those missed opportunities, I loved the job you did cataloguing the drive down!
Thanks, not missed opportunities, just the balance of enough vs too many annotations...I almost mentioned that we were facing NE near the end but decided against it.
Fitting video for the season finale. Massive like. I am reliving my 2015 drive over and over with this. Juxtaposition of three concurrent threads (video, music and commentary) makes this a must watch. Who needs GoT when we have Freewayjim :)
Great one to end the season and how cool to hear some Ocean Blue very clever, and took me back to my high school years. Hope you enjoyed KW it's one cool and unique place!
Thank you Jim for producing such a wonderful video for all to watch. I stayed in a motel in Homestead FL in 1984 and drove down to Key West with my wife and 3 daughters aged 18,15 and 12 at the time a really a wonderful scenic drive. Nothing in Australia can compare with this. I have a friend living in Fl, Orlando. He married an American woman is how he entered the US. He loves Fl and wouldn't live anywhere else unless forced to by his employment. We hear from the global warming alarmists that sea levels are going to rise and wife out half of Florida. Real Estate prices along this highway don't reflect that belief. There is a sea level station in Sydney Harbor and it was revealed that in the last 110 years the sea level there has gone up and down to a variation of 2 inches much to the disappointment of the climate alarmists. In a 100 years I expect Florida highway no1 will still be there.
@@Freewayjim Thank you Jim. In Australia too we are told that the seas are going to flood us all out but as Florida seaside properties are only for the rich, I certainly couldn't afford to buy a house within 30 miles of the Sydney beaches.
Hehe... just before your comment about passing lanes popped up, I was thinking the same thing. Looks like a beautiful road, I probably would've been frustrated by Mr. Mustang too. Sometimes I just have to take a deep breath and make up my mind to enjoy the scenery and get out of 'freeway mode'.
Went to middle school there at HOB (Horace O Bryant). You passed it on the left right into old town. Also went to Key West high for 2 years. It was great we would take class trips diving and have beach days.
I've always thought I would love to live in Key West. After watching this wonderful vid, I still feel that way, but I can see that I would dread the drive along that narrow highway with so many small towns.
Fantastic drive! I want to drive this myself. I plan to take the AutoTrain from near Washington DC to near Orlando, Florida. Not sure if I will take the train both ways, or "Take the Long Way Home." That would be great music for a drive, if you haven't used it already. Thanks for the virtual vacation FreewayJim! I look forward to next year.
This video is remarkable. I'm truly amazed. I wasn't sure what to expect. Just as you mentioned, I also seriously wonder what it would be like to live there. I was surprised a little by the number of businesses! And, how cool would it be to buy a car from a dealer in Key West? I'd love having that advertisement on the back of my car! Great video, Jim! Thank you!
Fun fact: The New Jersey Turnpike Authority (oversees both Turnpike and Parkway) actually sued them because of the logo. Case got thrown out in federal court. My tax dollars at work.....
Nothing better then living in Florida. I lived in Ponte Vedra Beach Florida and in Margate Florida for 10 years. I use to tell my friends not to come down and visit because they will not want to leave. very beautiful, very relaxing, very clean and I love the tropical beauty
Jim,thank you very much for your labor of love,as i have mentioned before this video is very bittersweet,i remember my trip with my former sweetheart she took my to key west now tow years ago ,July 2015.i have place this in my favorites .boy does it still hurt missing her :))lolwes
I too hope everyone there is okay after what has happened. A very different drive than i thought it would be considering ive seen only photos news items and movie scenes about the area .Thank you for sharing this and hopefully others will get to see it in all its beauty and splendour.
My Dad took me on that drive and back in 1976. Even though the first 40 miles and Marathon is so much more built up every place in the Keys is as laid back as I remember. Anybody that burns out or gets an anxiety disorder instead of going broke paying for a shrink would be better off spending time anywhere in the Keys. Thanks for the season, it was short but sweet concluded by the great finalle. Already waiting for next year while hoping you can find the time to sneak in a quickie off season trip.
What a great way to end the season!! Really enjoyed that, the soundtrack worked well with the surroundings & it was fun & interesting to see the Keys all the way down to Mile 0!!
Freewayjim yes I did enjoy... it must be so wonderful to live anywhere along that stretch, especially key West.... just not when there's a hurricane threat like you say.... no matter how long the video I don't want them to end lol
Freewayjim my aunt lisa and grandma sue live in wildwood Florida which is near Orlando. The good side of that video is jimmy buffet and he was born Christmas day. I liked that when you used his music. Comment me back
Jim, thanks for another season of great video / musical experiences. This was the perfect end...though I'm still a little surprised that it didn't include Key Largo by Bertie Higgins. ;)
Thank you very much! Several people have mentioned that song, here is why I did not use it. The video started in Key Largo which means that would have been logically the opening song of the video, which would have been....a buzzkill. I'm not going to start a 42-minute video with a slow sappy song like that. Yes, I get the connection but more thought than an obvious connection (sometimes anyway) has to go into putting a multi-song soundtrack together that will help keep people's attention; tempo, and energy matter in cases like this, Margaritaville is a much happier and upbeat song with a more favorable tempo, therefore, it got the nod.
LOL, I'm not a Parrothead by any means but I felt the song worked and fit the vibe of the area (of course), when making these videos you have to be objective with music IMO.
Absolutely...and you do it well. Look forward to your next journeys, especially if you come back out this way. Hopefully, you won't have another "bad drivers of Las Vegas" experience. Hehe...
The drive through Marathon brings back a lot of great memories as a kid going to see my grandparents. The turnoff for their house was at 19:47. I ate at the old IHOP location down the street from the one mentioned at 21:26 (it was in the plaza with Publix about 15-20 seconds later). Rode the Seven Mile Bridge many a time going to Key West, including the old one when I was very young. I believe the Home Depot at 38:05 was the site of the old Magic Carpet Mini Golf where I played quite a few rounds.
Nice job Jim and this section of US-1 which you filmed to Key West has earth equipment like excavators due to Hurricane Irma covering overseas highway with sand since it was on CNN today with John King and wolf Blitzer
When I was there (southern most tip@90miles) there was a freaky old bearded dude in a black hooded cape selling Vulture Figurines all shapes and sizes... lmao he was like a baseball vendor selling peanuts...yelling Vultures get your Vultures Here😆he was selling Ironicity@Sunset... never4get it...
I remember taking a road trip with my parents back in early 2000 went all the way down to Key West, this is an amazing drive if you love ocean scenery. Great Season Finale.
10 years ago (after a VERY stressful spring watching my mother get treated for stage 4 cancer), me & my family went to Miami & Key West! Key West was definitely expectation shattering for me (specifically how old that town is), but the LONG, at-grade, mostly 2 lane drive... Along with the super shallow ocean waters at their beaches was all part of the "Never Again!" package for both my parents...
Hey Freewayjim I like your videos just started watching them a few days ago. Now in the intro of this video u are crossing the Skyway Bridge in Tampa Florida. I have been across that bridge and have actually fished under it for some Tarpin! I even crossed the bridge in the same lane as u lol. And one more thing I am planning a trip to Colorodo next year to see my friend and I have watched your vids on CO and it helped me a lot thanks!
Thank you for watching and for the comment, hope you enjoy your trip to Colorado, my camera/video can't do it justice so prepare to be wowed in person! (West of Denver at least)
Thanks Freewayjim! I cant wait for my trip to CO I'm gonna go through the Rocky Mountians for the heck of it! And come back through agin and return home here in Alabama. You should make another Alabama Video and come through Huntsville aka The Rocket City. I'm 15mins away from Huntsville and grew up there almost all of my life. I watched your Alabama videos to and was like yup been there! lol. Alos ive already watched your Rocky Mountian Videos to and was like omg those mountians are huge! My friend literally live on the foothills of the Rocky Mountians and he gets a really good view everyday I'm kinda jealous lol.
But I do have a question for you about ATL roads. With the collapse of I-85 between Midtown and Buckhead. There has been renewed talk of the GA-400 tunnel to I-285 South, the so called "Northern Arc" or a complete second beltway around metro Atlanta (particularly important to me since I live in Cartersville ), and MARTA transit expansion into Cobb, Gwinnett, further in Fulton , DeKalb, and Clayton counties. And by expansion, I mean primarily heavy rail. Plus expansion of the Atlanta Streetcar. And possibly BRT transit. Do you think any of these initiatives will actually happen, or will it be the same NIMBY that has contributed to Metro ATL's traffic whoes that has stopped transportation solutions in the past? I'm interested in your take. BTW, I LOVE your videos.
I doubt any of these will happen anytime soon (especially the roads). There is a big push for more MARTA like transit but I question the cost effectiveness of it, the streetcar doesn't get much action as it is now so I don't know about expanding it. These are some tough questions moving forward for sure. Thank you very much for watching!
If I recall correctly they proposed an outler Atlanta beltway as early as he 1970's. They sure should have took action on that! Perhaps some opposers didn't want the new freeway to "destroy the trees" but quite frankly the suburbia houses and retail already has by now. Should have been a road there long, long ago. The Atlanta Area is sprawling monstrously, and there is no outer beltway to support both it and long-distance traffic. I-285 and all other interstates in the city are such a mess with traffic. It saddens me and frustrates me because I live in Dalton, Ga, and me and my family drive through Atlanta quite often, and it is usually a nightmare :( Hopefully they will come up with something though. If they bring back the outler Atlanta beltway proposal I will be one of the strongest supporters!!!
I don't care how many times we make this ride...it never gets old. We spend 2 -3 months during the winter in the Keys...we still have about 4 months before we head out..this came at the perfect time. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for watching!
I am absolutely blown away by the design, engineering and execution of such a feat. I've never been to Florida, but thanks to FWJ, I'm there right now. Holy wow.
Very nice video Jim! Really, Key West is a beautiful area. I hope to visit one day. The music and the scenery just makes this video calm and cool!
Thank you! Key West is definitely worth visiting, I hope you get there.
I am glad you got to visit and film the Florida Keys, Jim, before this devastating Hurricane Irma has caused chaos there. I truly hope it will not take too long for the area to recover. This hurricane is really an American tragedy.
Thanks, me too.
The middle and lower Keys got the worst of it, but every area covered in this years series sustained damage. It will take time but in 10 years time you should be able to do a "new keys" trip.
Agreed. I live in Central Florida and I got to feel the effects of Irma. But it was down to a Cat 1-2 by the time it reached me. I can only imagine how it must have been for the folks in the keys and on the islands when it was a Cat 5! Hope for a speedy recovery to all my fellow Caribbean peeps!
Edward Kollin: if another hurricane doesn’t come to it and rip it up again. Which, with its location, is very possible.
At 31:08 you get to the landfall location, Cudjoe Key.
Thank you for taking me back to my teenage years spent at The Keys. We always stayed in Islamorada on weekends. Your soundtrack adds something extra special. Ty again. Cheers.
Thank you for the comment and for watching, glad you enjoyed it!
Just discovered your videos a few weeks ago and really enjoy going along for the ride and also like the foot notes. Great to see places I will most likely not get to go. 👍🏻 well done. Thanks Jim.
Thank you for watching and welcome aboard!
Omg i needed this video in my life. I miss florida so badly. This was my favorite weekend drive when i lived there.
Thank you for watching!
Oh yes that had to be my favorite of them all, I use to drive down there every year in the summer and loved that trip so much, watching this makes me want to go down again, maybe next summer, thank you SO much for posting this Jim!!
Thank you for watching, glad you enjoyed it!
Another superb video Jim!! Heading there in 3 weeks for the drive........and thanks for putting a face with the name at the end! Best wishes in your upcoming adventures!
Thank you for watching, hope that you enjoy your drive down there.
Great video. Thank you. It brought back a lot of fond memories from when I lived in the Keys in the '80's. I think I'll watch it again.
Thank you for the comment and for watching!
Excellent end of season video and great to put a face to the name "Freeway Jim".
Thank you!
Freewayjim it is great to finally meet you!
Freewayjim West Virginia
I have 7 videos from West Virginia. th-cam.com/play/PLBD7472C804CAC810.html
Whole 42 mins! Loved it! Spectacular view along the way. Wish I would have the chance to drive down there. Must be an unforgettable memory of a lifetime! Thank you for this video!
Thank you for watching, yes it's worth doing, to see Key West was definitely worth it.
Thanks for allowing us to join you for the ride. I wondered what I was like to drive to Key West.
Thank you for riding along, to be honest, that drive to Key West is a bit overrated, not as great, exciting or interesting as you'd think, especially compared to some rides out west.
Done this drive twice. Things I remember: Cuba on AM radio, breathtaking movement of tropical clouds, 7 mile bridge with no land in sight. Fantastic production, both video and supporting music. Right up there with your I-90 Wyoming video with Seal.
Much appreciated, thank you!
I've done this drive numerous times before, and it's. Even absolutely magical every time. Glad you got to enjoy it!
Thank you, I'm glad I got to do it.
This video is so cool, and so well done! Love the music, especially the cover of "People Gotta Move", love the key changes in it (get it, Key changes?!) at 23:20 going over the Seven-Mile Bridge. What memories this brings back, as the original by Gino Vannelli was probably still playing on the airwaves the first time I drove the Overseas Highway in 1975! Yes, driving across the old bridge was quite an experience and thrill, we did so three times between 1975 and 1979, it WAS very narrow, no shoulders, the guard rails (which were made out of the old railroad track rails) were right outside the passenger window. I remember passing seven cars at once in my VW Beetle! Years later, when the new bridge was built, my wife and I bicycled out on the old bridge south-bound to Pigeon Key. I never knew that there is a sort of "off/on ramp" onto the island from the bridge! Thanks, Freewayjim, for this wonderful post, we will be making this trip again in December, 2021!
PS: Google maps of the old bridge reveal "Fred the Tree", and "Donna the Bush", two pieces of "flora" that are actually growing out of the concrete and asphalt, and have been designated as a photo op (obviously while moving), and are clearly visible at 24:48. Where did these names come from?! Maybe a bumper sticker we saw in the 90's on a Keys' resident's car can answer that question: "We're all here... because we're not all there" :) Edit note: upon our making the aforementioned trip in 12/21, we happened to cross the Seven-Mile Bridge in the dark. Sure enough, there was "Fred the Tree" all lit up for Christmas! What a sight! Don't ask me who did it or how it is powered up, or how anyone even got there (that section of the old bridge is cut off on both ends), but that's all part of the mystique.
PPS: At 24:33, I sent that same post card to any number of people back in the 70's, when I was a young and adventuresome college kid. And I drove it in a '68 VW Beetle! Thank you, Freewayjim! :)
PPPS: At 21:38, there is an interesting comment about the mural on the K-Mart, on the left side of US 1 southbound. We stopped by on 12/7/21, there is a Winn-Dixie almost next door, the K-Mart is unfortunately closed, but the mural is still there, and looking good! I hope that some entrepreneur will take up that building and make it into something good, including this really cool mural.
Thank you for the comment and for watching, and safe travels on your drive in December.
Hey Freeway Jim! Nice video. I HAVE to take the wife and kids on a road trip to Key West. it is a mission, and I have told my wife that we need to plan a trip for sometime next year . I told her that we will take a week at least. Drive with our 3 kids from Atlanta to Key West, and come back and spend a couple of days in Miami before heading back home. Great trip!! My wife actually agreed to the trip despite the fact that she HATES spending large amounts of time in the car on road trips lol. The video convinced her. THANK YOU!!!! lol.
That is awesome thanks for sharing that! I hope all goes well on your trip!
That was a fantastic ride from the comfort of my couch. Now I'm tempted to try it from the comfort of my car. I hadn't really considered it before. I know there's always more to the view, and I'm more the kind to stop-n-gawk and eat at little holes in the wall. I bet there are some really neat ones along here, from the fun and kitschy to the old historic charm, just seeing you pass them. Thanks for the great video! ~ Michelle F.
Thank you Michelle, I think you'd enjoy the ride and the destination of KW, hope you get to do it some day.
Michelle, somewhere around 20:00 is Mungo Jerry's "In The Summertime". One line of the lyrics is "we're always happy, life's for living, that's our philosophy" Don't just do it from your couch, do it for real. My wife and I have done this trip numerous times (from Pennsylvania!), and I can say that I drove over the old Seven Mile Bridge three times in the 70's. You owe it to yourself. Peace! :)
Loved this video. I have driven this road to Key West three times in the last four years, and will drive it again when we visit Key West in two weeks from today. I think I would have freaked out driving the original Seven Mile Bridge in the dark. I got a chance to walk on the easternmost part of the original Seven Mile before it was closed for rehabilitation. The original rails were used as side rails to keep cars from falling into the water as the bridge was so narrow. Happy the State of Florida updated the road, along with many bridges, in the past 30-40 years. The original Bahia Honda bridge must have been some experience also (driving on top of the original railroad bridge). Yes, there were times I wished the road was wider, but as it is, is such a beautiful drive. Cannot wait to do it again. Thanks for posting this excellent trip, along with all your other videos.
Thanks for watching and for the comment!
I'm glad the original Seven Mile Bridge and Bahia Honda bridges were updated by FLDOT, to newer bridges that were wider. I'd hate to drive on one of those original bridges decades ago, when it had to have been a narrow white knuckle drive to go over either bridge! And that the original bridges are now being reused as fishing piers, is a nice way to reuse them!
I've downloaded this one ..great work and ever song fits ..im going to play this in my car very good work Jim..im moving next month to Alabama from Illinois going to Huntsville ty for all your great work jim!!
Thank you for the comment and for watching, glad you enjoy it!
Thanks so much for bringing us places!!
not only that, the amount of great music i discovered along your journeys leaves a double whammy!!
much thanks!!
Thank you for the kind comment and for watching!
Jim,forgot to mention the music was awesome, my favorite that still touches me today as it has in the beginning Robert Palmer it takes every kind of people,so powerful,thank you :))lolwes
Many thanks for that, I never know with how the soundtracks will be received :)
Wow I appreciate the work you put in the infos, there is just enough that its entertaining to check the whole video. Cheers!
Thank you very much for that and for watching. Yes, there is a balance to be had there, I try to keep that in mind when making these.
All your videos are superb Sir, I always enjoy music
Thank you!
Great video Jim!! I couldn't stop watching. Excellent soundtrack too (strong finish with a classic by the great Bob Marley)! Thank you for posting Jim.
Thanks Tim, glad you enjoyed it!
Great trip! Was in Key West in 1983, at which time I got my wallet stolen from motel room. Now that we live in Florida, I hope to get back soon with much better results.
Thanks for taking US 1 to the end. I've been to both ends--Key West and Ft Kent, Maine--and covered much of the road in between.
Thank you for the comment and for watching!
Me, too. I'd love to drive the whole thing someday, end to end.
Love all your videos. They're a mini stay at home vacation for me. This is definitely one of those drives where you have to let your vacation start when you leave the mainland and take it easy. I give myself at lease a half day to get from Miami to KW I got 'stuck' in Marathon as the 7 Mile Bridge was closed due to a motorcycle accident with fatalities.
Bnb
Very nice ride! Was worth waiting to see so I could enjoy it without a problem and no distractions! Very nice ride- and a great soundtrack- this is also one of my bucket-list rides too- as I have always wanted to see more of the US and all! Very nice ride- sad to see the season end- will look forward to next year and the new season ahead!
Thank you for watching!
24:48 to the right, on the old bridge, is a Keys celebrity, "Fred the Tree," and his little sister "Donna the Bush" before it.
Dig it. We crossed "Seven Mile Bridge" after dark on 12/7/21 (didn't plan on doing it in the dark), but it was worth it. Approaching "Fred the Tree", we saw a glow of light on the old bridge. Sure enough, someone decorated Fred for Christmas! No Scheiße! Don't ask me how this was powered, nor do I know how anyone even got onto that spot, but as I recall the bumper sticker from way back when, "We're all here... because we're not all there." Well done, you Key-residents. And rock on Fred, and Donna. :)
Your videos are a great tool for me; gives me a perspective of far away places from the highway point of view. So when I travel, I will tend to commute instead via the non highway small roads to view local sites. Thanks very much for the videos and keep up the great work.
Thank you very much for watching!
Thanks man! I was looking for this ride the first time i saw the road on a map.
Greetings from Spain! :)
Awesome! thank you for watching!
This was the PERFECT finale to this year's season. I cannot begin to describe how much I enjoyed this video! The soundtrack was incredible, too! Jimmy Buffett and Eric Clapton are among some of my favorite musicians, very nice to hear them in this video. Lots of other great music, some of which I was introduced to for the first time, so thank you! US Highway 1 across the keys was certainly spectacular. It was very exciting to see the southern end of this magnificent, dignified American Highway. The length of this video was a true treat for me, since I enjoy your content so much. Also intriguing to hear the history of he railroad and the bridges along the way - VERY NEAT! I cannot thank you enough for your hard work and quality content, this made this Friday evening very good for me. Thanks for the ride, and see ya next year!!
the*
Great video! I did this drive years ago. I like your commentary and all the side information.
Thank you very much!
That was a Great Summer Finale! It's longest video you ever made plus you made it to the Key West while dealing with Norrow roads & oncoming traffic and it was kind of great seeing the sites of the old railroad bridges in the video.
Thank you Nathan!
what an awesome ride! Some day, I'll have a chance to visit Key West!
i'd say not worth it if you don't drink alcohol :)
Good for night owls. The sun never rises before 6:36am!
I made this drive back in 1999... really fun seeing all this. Thank you!
Thank you for watching!
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful videos I really enjoyed so much that's I will never be tired to watch it again and again thank you so much
Thank you for watching!
Finally got to watch this relaxing on a Friday nite and I was waiting for you to say how much US-1 is to US-17 in the SC Lowcountry (18.33) LOL. Thanks for the great ride down Number 1 thru the keys!
LOL! Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for sharing the road trip Jim. Have a good winter. Look forward to next year`s trip.
Thank you Bill!
Finally, due to school I have not been able to see this very much anticipated video! Key West is way nicer and cozier of a town than I expected, nice video!
Also is that you in that picture at the end?
Thank you for watching and yes that's me.
Oh yeah! This one is on the bucket list for sure! :)
Excellent looking video and a very fun ride through Florida. The music helped a whole lot. Looking forward to see what you do next year. Thanx for posting this.
Great ride and the music the best👍♥️🎶, thanks from New York
Thank you very much!
Honestly, I'm glad you chose this section of US-1 as the Final Video for the Year. It's incredible how much stuff is between Miami and Key West along the US-1 Corridor. It makes for a very fascinating Final video compared to I-520 in Augusta.
But seriously, 2 1/4 Hours to Cover 100 Miles? Must've felt like a drag to get to Key West at some Points. Even worse, US-1 is essentially the ONLY route to the Mainland of Florida from the Islands out there. If any of those Bridges Go (aka get Damaged or Destroyed), You'd have thousands of People trapped around those Islands with no way back to the Mainland.
Overall, Nice work on this!
Thanks, yes the drive was more of a drag than I thought it would be and yeah, no way I'd end the season on I-520 :)
Fun watching this video again on June 10, 2023.
Also a Saturday.
Great video! Always enjoyed when I drove to Key West. I'm surprised you didn't mention that the Southern End of US-1 passed right next to Ernest Hemingway's Key West house, and that the "Southern" terminus of US-1 actually faces Northeast. In spite of those missed opportunities, I loved the job you did cataloguing the drive down!
Thanks, not missed opportunities, just the balance of enough vs too many annotations...I almost mentioned that we were facing NE near the end but decided against it.
Thanks Jim. Thanks a lot. Now, I'm really missing KW today. One of my favorite vacation spots in the US.
Thanks for the song suggestion :) yeah KW is a really cool place.
I like your taste in music. you introduced me to a lot of artists I didn't have a clue about them before like Quincy Jones. keep it up man.
Thank you very much!
Fitting video for the season finale. Massive like. I am reliving my 2015 drive over and over with this. Juxtaposition of three concurrent threads (video, music and commentary) makes this a must watch. Who needs GoT when we have Freewayjim :)
Thank you for watching!
Great video, thanks for sharing. I've always wondered what it was like to drive through the Keys like that.
Thank you for watching!
It never gets old.
Great one to end the season and how cool to hear some Ocean Blue very clever, and took me back to my high school years. Hope you enjoyed KW it's one cool and unique place!
Thank you and I did enjoy KW, wish I had more time to spend there.
Great video.I believe this one and the nighttime Miami video were your best of the season.Keep up the good work.
Thank you very much!
Thank you Jim for producing such a wonderful video for all to watch. I stayed in a motel in Homestead FL in 1984 and drove down to Key West with my wife and 3 daughters aged 18,15 and 12 at the time a really a wonderful scenic drive. Nothing in Australia can compare with this. I have a friend living in Fl, Orlando. He married an American woman is how he entered the US. He loves Fl and wouldn't live anywhere else unless forced to by his employment. We hear from the global warming alarmists that sea levels are going to rise and wife out half of Florida. Real Estate prices along this highway don't reflect that belief. There is a sea level station in Sydney Harbor and it was revealed that in the last 110 years the sea level there has gone up and down to a variation of 2 inches much to the disappointment of the climate alarmists. In a 100 years I expect Florida highway no1 will still be there.
Thank you for watching and for the comment and I agree with your assessment.
@@Freewayjim Thank you Jim. In Australia too we are told that the seas are going to flood us all out but as Florida seaside properties are only for the rich, I certainly couldn't afford to buy a house within 30 miles of the Sydney beaches.
@@johnhutchinson2981 Exactly, and they keep on building new skyscrapers in Miami, hmmmm.
Awesome...I always wanted to see what driving there was like. Thank you FreewayJim!
Thanks for watching!
LOVE Spyro Gyra and their music from that time! one of my fave songs from that era.
I recall it was quite popular in the day.
Hehe... just before your comment about passing lanes popped up, I was thinking the same thing.
Looks like a beautiful road, I probably would've been frustrated by Mr. Mustang too. Sometimes I just have to take a deep breath and make up my mind to enjoy the scenery and get out of 'freeway mode'.
Highways & Byways Agreed. Sometimes it is hard to enjoy the drive when traffic gets slow, but it can be a perfect opportunity to enjoy the scenery.
Great music choices as usual and a fitting finale to this year's series.
Thank you!
Went to middle school there at HOB (Horace O Bryant). You passed it on the left right into old town. Also went to Key West high for 2 years. It was great we would take class trips diving and have beach days.
LOL @ Mr Mustang. Been stuck behind him every drive to Key West. Beautiful drive, when someone else is behind the wheel.
Awesome! I'm usually on the Gulf Coast for vacation but I seriously need to rent a convertible and make this drive!
I've always thought I would love to live in Key West. After watching this wonderful vid, I still feel that way, but I can see that I would dread the drive along that narrow highway with so many small towns.
zachmatt3 Yeah, having to drive over 100 miles just to get to the mainland US...
Fantastic drive! I want to drive this myself. I plan to take the AutoTrain from near Washington DC to near Orlando, Florida. Not sure if I will take the train both ways, or "Take the Long Way Home." That would be great music for a drive, if you haven't used it already. Thanks for the virtual vacation FreewayJim! I look forward to next year.
Thank you, "Take the Long Way Home" is not a safe song to use due to copyright restrictions unfortunately.
Watching this while hurricane harvey bangs on my door. Another fantastic video!!
Thank you Nash, stay safe!
Freewayjim You're welcome, I will!
Amazing video!! And you're right, a passing lane would be pretty cool for such a long ride.
Thank you very much!
This video is remarkable. I'm truly amazed. I wasn't sure what to expect. Just as you mentioned, I also seriously wonder what it would be like to live there. I was surprised a little by the number of businesses! And, how cool would it be to buy a car from a dealer in Key West? I'd love having that advertisement on the back of my car! Great video, Jim! Thank you!
Thank you very much!, the Keys and Key West in particular are some of the most unique places I've ever seen, glad you enjoyed it.
I love your videos! Your music choices are spot-on! Thanks for this! 😎 👍 🏖️ ☀️
Thank you very much!
Love the music!!
Thank you very much!
Indeed. Especially after having made this trip about five times. Never gets old.
This is one I've been waiting for. I love the tropical scenery. Thanx :)
Thank you for watching!
Excellent video! Would love to do this drive some day!
Thank you very much!
Thanks for another great season Jim!
Thank you for watching!
Fun fact: The New Jersey Turnpike Authority (oversees both Turnpike and Parkway) actually sued them because of the logo. Case got thrown out in federal court. My tax dollars at work.....
Gary Donovan betcha MY home state (presently, as typing this) of Illinois is infinitely better at playing bullshit games than Joisey is...
Nothing better then living in Florida. I lived in Ponte Vedra Beach Florida and in Margate Florida for 10 years. I use to tell my friends not to come down and visit because they will not want to leave. very beautiful, very relaxing, very clean and I love the tropical beauty
Jim,thank you very much for your labor of love,as i have mentioned before this video is very bittersweet,i remember my trip with my former sweetheart she took my to key west now tow years ago ,July 2015.i have place this in my favorites .boy does it still hurt missing her :))lolwes
Thank you for watching, much appreciated.
I too hope everyone there is okay after what has happened. A very different drive than i thought it would be considering ive seen only photos news items and movie scenes about the area .Thank you for sharing this and hopefully others will get to see it in all its beauty and splendour.
Thank you for watching!
Thank you!
Simply amazing...I always wondered what this highway was like after seeing it on maps
My Dad took me on that drive and back in 1976. Even though the first 40 miles and Marathon is so much more built up every place in the Keys is as laid back as I remember. Anybody that burns out or gets an anxiety disorder instead of going broke paying for a shrink would be better off spending time anywhere in the Keys. Thanks for the season, it was short but sweet concluded by the great finalle. Already waiting for next year while hoping you can find the time to sneak in a quickie off season trip.
One of my dream roads. Really cool to see!
What a great way to end the season!! Really enjoyed that, the soundtrack worked well with the surroundings & it was fun & interesting to see the Keys all the way down to Mile 0!!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it (now you have to get down there, lol).
yesss 42 minutes... I'm here for all of it
Thank you! hope you enjoy the ride.
Freewayjim yes I did enjoy... it must be so wonderful to live anywhere along that stretch, especially key West.... just not when there's a hurricane threat like you say.... no matter how long the video I don't want them to end lol
Freewayjim my aunt lisa and grandma sue live in wildwood Florida which is near Orlando. The good side of that video is jimmy buffet and he was born Christmas day. I liked that when you used his music. Comment me back
Comment you back for what? you made a statement (under somebody else's post no less)...ok, next.
Freewayjim LOL
Jim, thanks for another season of great video / musical experiences. This was the perfect end...though I'm still a little surprised that it didn't include Key Largo by Bertie Higgins. ;)
Thank you very much! Several people have mentioned that song, here is why I did not use it. The video started in Key Largo which means that would have been logically the opening song of the video, which would have been....a buzzkill. I'm not going to start a 42-minute video with a slow sappy song like that. Yes, I get the connection but more thought than an obvious connection (sometimes anyway) has to go into putting a multi-song soundtrack together that will help keep people's attention; tempo, and energy matter in cases like this, Margaritaville is a much happier and upbeat song with a more favorable tempo, therefore, it got the nod.
Very good point...being a Parrothead for decades, I'm certainly not complaining :)
LOL, I'm not a Parrothead by any means but I felt the song worked and fit the vibe of the area (of course), when making these videos you have to be objective with music IMO.
Absolutely...and you do it well. Look forward to your next journeys, especially if you come back out this way. Hopefully, you won't have another "bad drivers of Las Vegas" experience. Hehe...
Thanks and LOL, going west is a possibility for next summer, my wife has never been so fingers are crossed.
The drive through Marathon brings back a lot of great memories as a kid going to see my grandparents. The turnoff for their house was at 19:47. I ate at the old IHOP location down the street from the one mentioned at 21:26 (it was in the plaza with Publix about 15-20 seconds later). Rode the Seven Mile Bridge many a time going to Key West, including the old one when I was very young. I believe the Home Depot at 38:05 was the site of the old Magic Carpet Mini Golf where I played quite a few rounds.
Nice job Jim and this section of US-1 which you filmed to Key West has earth equipment like excavators due to Hurricane Irma covering overseas highway with sand since it was on CNN today with John King and wolf Blitzer
Thanks
I lived in Key West for 5 years! This road brings back memories!
Nice video!!! I am surprised you didn't use Bertie Higgins Key Largo in the music mix. Love to go to the keys....
Not a good song to kick off a long video with, needed more tempo and energy, plus it didn't fit that well IMO.
Very true,,,Thanks for the great vids. Can't wait for your next trip.
I enjoyed every second of this. I absolutely love this part of Florida!
Thank you for watching, glad you enjoyed it!
"Down South" by Tom Petty was a great pick from his catalogue. Makes me miss him even more, every time I hear it (R.I.P. Tom)
Thank you!
Did you go to the southernmost point where it tells you how far you're from Cuba?
Yes, my son got out and took a selfie at the marker.
That spot is on my bucket list.
When I was there (southern most tip@90miles) there was a freaky old bearded dude in a black hooded cape selling Vulture Figurines all shapes and sizes...
lmao
he was like a baseball vendor selling peanuts...yelling
Vultures get your Vultures Here😆he was selling Ironicity@Sunset...
never4get it...
I remember taking a road trip with my parents back in early 2000 went all the way down to Key West, this is an amazing drive if you love ocean scenery. Great Season Finale.
Thank you!
Also in reference the northern terminus of Route 1 is in Fort Kent, Maine at the Canadian Border 2,369 miles away
Been to Key West too, awesome drive from Dallas along the coastline. Love the golfcarts on the road in Key West :). Brilliant place, great food.
10 years ago (after a VERY stressful spring watching my mother get treated for stage 4 cancer), me & my family went to Miami & Key West!
Key West was definitely expectation shattering for me (specifically how old that town is), but the LONG, at-grade, mostly 2 lane drive... Along with the super shallow ocean waters at their beaches was all part of the "Never Again!" package for both my parents...
Did the forests here look any different from the forests up north? Besides the presence of palms
excellent video! i wonder how key west is in the fall and winter! Is it warm too then?
Thank you, good question.
Yes.
Cool soundtrack. Thanks for the memories. Some things haven't changed much on this highway.
Thank you for watching.
Hey Freewayjim I like your videos just started watching them a few days ago. Now in the intro of this video u are crossing the Skyway Bridge in Tampa Florida. I have been across that bridge and have actually fished under it for some Tarpin! I even crossed the bridge in the same lane as u lol. And one more thing I am planning a trip to Colorodo next year to see my friend and I have watched your vids on CO and it helped me a lot thanks!
Thank you for watching and for the comment, hope you enjoy your trip to Colorado, my camera/video can't do it justice so prepare to be wowed in person! (West of Denver at least)
Thanks Freewayjim! I cant wait for my trip to CO I'm gonna go through the Rocky Mountians for the heck of it! And come back through agin and return home here in Alabama. You should make another Alabama Video and come through Huntsville aka The Rocket City. I'm 15mins away from Huntsville and grew up there almost all of my life. I watched your Alabama videos to and was like yup been there! lol. Alos ive already watched your Rocky Mountian Videos to and was like omg those mountians are huge! My friend literally live on the foothills of the Rocky Mountians and he gets a really good view everyday I'm kinda jealous lol.
But I do have a question for you about ATL roads. With the collapse of I-85 between Midtown and Buckhead. There has been renewed talk of the GA-400 tunnel to I-285 South, the so called "Northern Arc" or a complete second beltway around metro Atlanta (particularly important to me since I live in Cartersville ), and MARTA transit expansion into Cobb, Gwinnett, further in Fulton , DeKalb, and Clayton counties. And by expansion, I mean primarily heavy rail. Plus expansion of the Atlanta Streetcar. And possibly BRT transit. Do you think any of these initiatives will actually happen, or will it be the same NIMBY that has contributed to Metro ATL's traffic whoes that has stopped transportation solutions in the past? I'm interested in your take. BTW, I LOVE your videos.
I doubt any of these will happen anytime soon (especially the roads). There is a big push for more MARTA like transit but I question the cost effectiveness of it, the streetcar doesn't get much action as it is now so I don't know about expanding it. These are some tough questions moving forward for sure. Thank you very much for watching!
If I recall correctly they proposed an outler Atlanta beltway as early as he 1970's. They sure should have took action on that! Perhaps some opposers didn't want the new freeway to "destroy the trees" but quite frankly the suburbia houses and retail already has by now. Should have been a road there long, long ago. The Atlanta Area is sprawling monstrously, and there is no outer beltway to support both it and long-distance traffic. I-285 and all other interstates in the city are such a mess with traffic. It saddens me and frustrates me because I live in Dalton, Ga, and me and my family drive through Atlanta quite often, and it is usually a nightmare :( Hopefully they will come up with something though. If they bring back the outler Atlanta beltway proposal I will be one of the strongest supporters!!!
Don't know why I kept making those spelling mistakes, I meant to say OUTER*
Excellent video, Jim!
Thank you!
AWESOME RIDE!! ThankU!!🙏🏿😍🚙
Thank you for watching!
I’ve been there twice, and I can definitely say it needs to be on any bucket list
Another great season jim . Very well done sir. Looking forward to next season
Thank you!
A nice epic to end the season. Thanx for the ride...
Thank you for watching!