After getting up at 5 AM and eating a quick breakfast, we forked our scooter and buzzed off into the dark for Flagler Station to get aboard our high-speed (30 mph) catamaran ferry that took us 75 miles west to Fort Jefferson.
Arriving at the fort 2 1/2 hours later, the weather was cloudy and cool, so no snorkeling for us. We brought our gear to snorkel, but even the people who wore wet suits were complaining, so we took that off our things to-do list. This place is still primitive from the standpoint of running water, electricity, Internet service, bathrooms (none). There were more amenities during the Civil War than there are today. Luckily, we were able to use the facilities on the ferry boat that we came over on. You can stay here and camp for up to 3 days if you want and take either the ferry or the sea plane back to Key West. It's tent camping on the sand if you are into that sort of thing.
This is probably the most laid back national park we have ever visited. Basically, they told us not to do anything stupid and turned us loose to explore on our own. There is a self-guided tour after the 20-minute talk on the history of Fort Jefferson that you can take, snorkeling anywhere you can get in the water (except the mote) and hike around the Key and look (and only look) at all the conch shells, coral, hermit crabs and seashells washed up on the beach. Like all other National Parks, it’s take only pictures, leave only footprints. If you don't know much about this super interesting place then google it and. It’s amazing.
That's a short look at the news and here is a long look at the views:
Our 75 mile route from Key West to Fort Jefferson on a ferry boat
We passed this sugar white island that looked like a perfect place to dinghy to and snorkel
Arriving at Fort Jefferson
Aft view from Ferry
Coming around to the docks
A De Havilland Otter also brings tourists from Key West
Our ferry in the background behind the Otter
Lots of Bricks - More than any structure in the western hemisphere
Lots of repair work after hurricane Irma
The Mote
The whole entrance was under construction
Inside Fort Jefferson
Inside the powder magazine
Other views inside the powder magazine
Anyone ever told you your name will be Mudd if you do such and such? This is where they threw the doctor that helped Booth after he shot President Lincoln.
Looking down from the top of the Fort
Powder magazine from outside
Panoramic view
The Man ON the High Castle
Path around the top of the walls
Millions of bricks
All the cannon are restored pieces left at the fort when it was abandoned
Lots of restoration yet to be done
We walked around this piece of the Key and found all kinds of neat stuff
Looking back at Fort Jefferson
Shells people find but don't take
Looks like the work of girls to me
Hermit crabs all over the key all dressed in their claw picked coverings
Reminder of Irma
Back to more cheerful things
Picking our way along the prickly surf
Where are my Tevas when I need them?
Viridian water!
Who wouldn't want to dive into that beautiful water?
Me :/
All the halls along the walls of the fort on the first and second levels look like this. Walls several feet thick of solid brick and granite
Ocean view
Heading back east
Arriving back at Key West, Mallory Dock area (Historic Sea Port)
Customs Building (red brick) in the background
This is a motorized tiki bar
Still signs of hurricane debris along the jetty
Back safe in the dock
Arriving at Fort Jefferson
Aft view from Ferry
Coming around to the docks
A De Havilland Otter also brings tourists from Key West
Our ferry in the background behind the Otter
Lots of Bricks - More than any structure in the western hemisphere
Lots of repair work after hurricane Irma
The Mote
The whole entrance was under construction
Inside Fort Jefferson
Other views inside the powder magazine
Anyone ever told you your name will be Mudd if you do such and such? This is where they threw the doctor that helped Booth after he shot President Lincoln.
Looking down from the top of the Fort
Powder magazine from outside
Panoramic view
The Man ON the High Castle
Path around the top of the walls
Millions of bricks
All the cannon are restored pieces left at the fort when it was abandoned
Lots of restoration yet to be done
We walked around this piece of the Key and found all kinds of neat stuff
Looking back at Fort Jefferson
Shells people find but don't take
Looks like the work of girls to me
Hermit crabs all over the key all dressed in their claw picked coverings
Reminder of Irma
Back to more cheerful things
Picking our way along the prickly surf
Where are my Tevas when I need them?
Viridian water!
Who wouldn't want to dive into that beautiful water?
Me :/
All the halls along the walls of the fort on the first and second levels look like this. Walls several feet thick of solid brick and granite
Ocean view
Heading back east
Arriving back at Key West, Mallory Dock area (Historic Sea Port)
Customs Building (red brick) in the background
This is a motorized tiki bar
Still signs of hurricane debris along the jetty
Back safe in the dock
That's it! A motorized tiki bar! I'm going to start up one on Lake Guntersville.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you will get priority in the locks!
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