Garden Key, Dry Tortugas to Key West, FL—Friday, Feb. 28---March 1

Meeting for early drinks and appetizers on “Horizons,” but still not caught up from the overnight, we made our way back to boats and berths by 8:00 for an early night on the 27th.  Even stronger winds than on our crossing gently rocked us to sleep, reinforcing how glad we were to be in the safe harbor of Garden Key. 

Awaking Friday morning refreshed, Dennis fixed a full breakfast and the two of us set out to explore Fort Jefferson.  A ferry brings a boat-load of people from Key West around 11:00 each day so at 10:30 there was time to explore the quiet grounds on a self-guided tour.   The fort though never finished or used for the purpose built, has a rich history and is a none-the-less fascinating and beautiful place.  Erected in 1846 to 1874, sixteen million bricks later, with the lower cisterns sinking and cracking allowing salt water to contaminate the fresh water, the army abandoned Fort Jefferson.  At one time or the other over those years it housed nearly 2,000 people, soldiers, prisoners and some civilians, with the most famous of the prisoners being Dr. Samuel Mudd, who was eventually pardoned for his role in assisting in President Lincoln’s assassination.  It is fascinating that such a remote park could provide a rich and fascinating walk through history.  Imagining all the ships and variety of people who passed by this placed throughout the years was intriguing.  If the harbor could only talk!!!

After hearing about the good snorkeling, we were anxious to get wet.  Dinghying back to Aurora we donned our gear, including our wet suits to ward off the 75.6 degree water temperature and headed back to shore.  Rewarded for our efforts to snorkel around the Fort we saw colorful parrot fish, conchs, nemos, starfish, plants, beautiful corals and Dennis saw a squid.  Later that day we saw a nurse shark underneath the boats.  Probably the most unusual animal we saw all day was in the mote around the fort was the resident crocodile.  Nobody’s really sure how he got there, or where he came from, but he seems to be surviving quite nicely. 

Although we would have loved to stay an extra day and snorkel some more, with winds predicted from due east on Sunday we made plans to set out early Saturday to catch the Northeast winds for a smooth ride into Key West. 

True to predictions the winds were pleasantly 5-10 knots, giving us some assistance on our 68 mile motor sail into Key West.  Resting comfortably in the anchorage overnight then taking dockage at A and B Marina early Sunday, we were all were excited to again have the amenities which come with being in a slip. 

Our destination and timing from here are uncertain, but will post again as soon as we have service.