Dry Tortugas

February 10, 2025: Key West

Spent a week in Key West with Bill and Molly from Salty Paws: tours at the Truman Little White House; Ernest Hemingway House; and USCGC Ingham; Bruschetta Restaurant; Moondog; Sunset Bar & Grill; and the Red Shoe. Pretty interesting - and cool - town. Inhabited by the Calusa and Tequest Indians, visited by Ponce De Leon in 1513, but only first settled in 1821 by Americans after Spain ceeded Florida to the US. In the 1830's it was the largest city in Florida! Destroyed by hurricanes and by fire today it is a tony community of 25,000 with lots of bars, lots of restaurants and lots to do.

On Thursday the 6th, Jess and Mike arrived! They had been very excited about joining us for a bit of a cruise on Navigator in February - especially with the potential to visit Dry Tortugas. Jess and Mike have a bucket list goal of visiting all the National Parks - and Dry Tortugas happens to be one of the most unique - and hardest - National Park to get to. It lies 70 miles off shore from Key West. You can book a day trip by ferry (completely booked months in advance) or even book a float plane ($800/person) - or hitch a ride with someone who owns a boat capable enough to make the journey. Navigator.

But beyond that, you need a weather window of at least 3 solid days - one day out, one day to see the park, and one day to return. To make threading the needle even more difficult, Jess and Mike basically had only 3 days - so no waiting around for the weather to improve. The only chance was if the weather cooperated the three days they were here. The whole thing was so fragile that we made alternative plans to only go to Boca Grande - some 25 miles distant because even two days earlier the weather did not look like it was going to cooperate.

The morning before Jess & Mike arrived Bill, Liz and I were sitting around the pool comparing plans. Bill explained their hope to visit Dry Tortugas and that in his view the weather looked favorable. I looked at Bill and said "how favorable?" Quickly I realized that we might just have a chance.

That night all six of us went to dinner at the Red Shoe to celebrate Liz's 60th Birthday - and Mikes 32nd Birthday. Excellent meal, excellent company, wonderful occasion.

We got up Friday morning and I took one more check of the weather - and collaborated with BIll - and by 7:30 AM we were off. We had a bit of a following sea - up to 2 ft on our starboard quarter - but not too bad - and as forecast, the conditions improved.

Drove most of the 8 hours on the flybridge arriving in Dry Tortuga about 4 pm to find Salty Paws at anchor in a beautiful little harbor. Of course we went ashore and checked in at the Ranger Station, met two Rangers and a "Bark Ranger" before wandering around Ft. Jefferson.

Here is where Dry Tortugas really get to be unique. It is a civil war fort occupied by the Union and played a pivital role allowing the Union to successfully blockade Confederate shipping (cotton) from getting to mills in Europe. Besides a few small sand bars where Loggerhead Turtles lay their eggs and Sooty Terns and Frigate birds nest- basically the fort is the whole thing. Bricks were brought in from as far away as Maine to build the fort. Cannons from Watervillet, NY. They had to create a rain water collection system to provide drinking water - hence the name "Dry" Tortugas. The fort housed over 400 soldiers during the war.

On Day two we explored the fort further, walked Bush Key beach and got a bit of snorkeling in. Oh and we played "Oh Hell" with Bill and Molly.