#Summer2021 - The Dry Tortugas National Park and Key West

 Day 11

This morning we got up early and drove the 30 minutes or so to Key West to catch the excursion ship Yankee Freedom III to the Dry Tortugas National Park/Fort Jefferson.  It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places in the world.  It is 70 miles or so west of Key West, and is a little-known chapter of our history.  There are also great places to snorkel and bird-watch.  I took many pictures but unfortunately my phone, with pictures, took a swim in the Gulf of Mexico.  It remains to be seen if it will recover.  

Perhaps Stephanie will have some pictures I can share!

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We left the camp around 6:20 and arrived at the parking garage and the wharf around 7 am.  After checking in, we boarded around 7:30 for an 8 am departure.  The ride was nice and much smoother than our fishing trip.  

We arrived at the Dry Tortugas around 10:30.  Our "cruise director," I supposed (Hollywood) led a 1 hour, 20-minute tour of the fort and helped Sadie with some of the Junior Ranger answers in his talk.  After lunch aboard, we went back into the fort for some things we had not seen and then borrowed snorkel fins to explore the outer moat wall.  I forgot my phone in my pocket, and the resultant swim killed the phone.  I will be without one for a week or so.

Dr. Mudd set John Wilkes Booth's leg on the night of Lincoln's assassination.  He was sentenced to life at Fort Jefferson.  He served about 4 years.

The approach to Fort Jefferson and Dry Tortugas

Our ship as seen from one of the casemates

View of one of the bastions

Artillery would have been placed in these casemates.  Cisterns for the fort were beneath the floors

This place is beautiful!

The boat departed back for Key West around 2:45, and we were back by 5:30.  We walked the harbor walk where the boats are, and a bit of Duvall St., bought a fridge magnet and a Christmas ornament and headed back to the car by way of Caroline St.  

So many old houses!  Some of the shops were questionable, and we left Key West a bit disgruntled.

Back to camp, and hot dogs on the griddle.  And an early to bed.  Brandon and his family went to Mallory Square and got home late.  They were so tired that they did not really get to enjoy it.