Monday, February 21, 2011

Rock and Water - The Dry Tortugas

January 30th, 2011
We’ve enjoyed Key West for several days now...its starting to add up, 13 nights. We headed out from Key West yesterday morning at about 9 a.m. We went out the night before to a few bars with Vashe, our Czech friend. He’s a sailor too! Showed us his boat that is a work in progress--amazing beautiful boat. It will be perfect when he’s done. Hope we get to see it! We’ve been re-supplying and stocking, in preparation for the Dry Tortugas. Got more canned foods, few perishables. and eventually more beer and ice. Restocked - Check! 
There’s been so many days here at Key West that I can’t remember all of them. We’ve spent several days on the boat, with no motor on our dinghy to travel ashore. We also spent several days dealing with high winds. Since our new anchor (with lots of heavy chain) we’ve felt very comfortable with the higher winds...although you can never really feel comfortable with a CRAZY rocking boat! Most uncomfortable to sleep on! Anywho. We’ve restocked, made a few friends and now is the time to move on to the Dry Tortugas. So we did. 
We left out, 9 a.m., and traveled to Marquesa Keys. Good anchorage on the east side.  Scenic sunset and grilled out with hotdogs! Yep. Hotdogs! We’re goin’ gourmet! Went to bed at 8 p.m. and then woke up at 4 a.m. This morning we were lucky to have wind and raised the sails. Got movin’ by 4:45 a.m. Took us ALL day at 4 knots. Made it into the Dry Tortugas anchorage at sundown (6 somethin’). The entry was tricky, a new channel was open and one part of it was only about 8 feet in depth and probably 75 feet wide. It felt very tight and shallow, but we made it. Anchored out--here we are to listen to the Terns squawking outside and watching the sun set and rise. 

Sunset at Marquesa Keys, trip out

300 degrees, the number I stared at the WHOLE way out to the Tortugas!

Arriving at Sundown.

Black Skimmer

First Night - Sunset

Our boat anchored (second from right)

Brown Pelican

Fort Jefferson Lighthouse

Magnificent Frigatebirds

Royal Tern

 Lots of Magnificent Frigatebirds!

View from inside the Fort, looking out at the moat.

Inside the Fort

Amazing masonry!

Dub looking out on the blue water

 Lincoln assassination conspirator, and a man who helped with doctoring folks as a prisoner here.

Loggerhead Key dock

Ancient coral beds, Loggerhead Key

Little shell guys!

Our friend, Jay, at the boat house, Loggerhead Key

Little hermit crab

Loggerhead Key Lighthouse





Sunset - Second night


Sunset - Third night



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