Dry Tortugas....con't

While I was snorkeling,  Alistair had my camera and got some unique shots......for eg.  this one of a sea plane landing...........:o)    This one is for you....Roy!

 sea Plain without the added scenery!

And colourful birds around the island.  Actually there are over 600 species of birds that live, or migrate through this little island every year.  Besides the snorkelers, and history buffs,   most of the day visitors with us were avid bird watchers.........not difficult to tell a bird watcher......the enormous zoom lenses that weighed more than their bodies and the Tilly hats were a dead give away!!      But the birds were beautiful!

Private sail boats and yachts came to anchor off the island for the day but most of the visitors came by Ferry, with us, about 50-100 people in total, so the island was not crowded at all.  Esp.inside the Fort itself.  Our Ferry is the only large boat allowed  to visit the island.

This made for a very peaceful, quiet, and relaxing day!!!!!

                                              LEAVING FORT JEFFERSON

 After a wonderful day, we left for Key West.

 Sun, snorkeling and walking, made for some very tired passengers on the way home.  Most people were asleep.  :o)))  I count 3 in this shot.

 Cute couple!!

 We passed this Cruise Ship while pulling into dock in the harbour.

Our pier!  Made some friends and had a great time aboard the boat....the end to a wonderful day!!

A Day At "Dry Tortugas" National Park

Almost 70 miles west of Key West, nestled among spectacular coral reefs, fascinating shipwrecks and sandy beaches lie seven undeveloped coral and sand islands known as the Dry Tortugas.  On Garden Key, the centre of these sandy islands, stands Fort Jefferson, America's 3rd largest 19th century coastal fort.  Originally named "Las Tortugas", (the turtles) and discovered by explorer Ponce de Leon in 1513, these islands became known as the"Dry Tortugas" because they had no fresh water.  Frequented by pirates and Spanish ships, they are rich in pirate legend.  In 1825 a lighthouse was built and later in 1846, Americans built Fort Jefferson, essential for securing  the Gulf of Mexico from intruders.

It never saw battle but was used in the American Civil War as a Union Military Prison and housed such infamous men as the four conspirators in President Lincoln's assassination........including Dr. Samuel Mudd who offered medical aid to John Wilks Booth when he was shot, fleeing from captivity.

Today the fort is wildlife refuge, and proclaimed Fort Jefferson National Monument in 1935.

An aerial view of the Garden Key and Fort Jefferson National Park.  Staffed all year round and offers day visits for tours and amazing snorkeling as well as sandy beaches and over night camping.

We boarded the "Yankee Freedom II" Ferry, at dock in Key West and spent 2 hours at sea to reach the Tortugas.  Beautiful boat that served  breakfast and lunch, with comfortable accommodations and even frequent dolphin sightings off the bow.

 Alistair saw all the dolphins and they never were around when i was on deck......so sad.

Our first good look at the fort. All the other Tortugas are just sand with birds on them and one island had a lighthouse.

Getting ready to pull into the dock.

Ferry dock.

There were loads of Pelicans fishing near by!!

 

Swallowing a fish!!!!

And that would be me.......holding up yet another sign.....

Front of the Fort, with a moat surrounding it.  We were told that an aligator has found its way into the moat so don't walk in it!!!!!!!  OKAY..........

Our  Ferry at dock on the Island.

View from inside the Fort looking out at the Gulf.

Hall ways inside the Fort.

View of the Fort wall.

View of the gater occupied Moat and our Ferry.

I am the white speck on top of the wall!!!!!!

These guns were never fired in battle.

After the tour of the Fort I went snorkeling

 while Alistair drank beer and socialized.........or so he said......

Alistair took my pic snorkeling..............actually I look like a dead body floating..........

SHES ALIVE....SHES ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!

Lazy Lakes RV Park

 Our RV park on Sugarloaf Key was surrounded by 2 lakes and the ocean.  Beautiful location. 

 
Our RV backed onto one of the lakes.  You can see it with our scooter on the back.

They rented house boats, kayaks, canoes, and had slides for water fun.

I swam in the pool......not the lake.....after I saw the water just full of these little guys.  They are a type of jelly fish that are harmless but...........I prefer NOT to swim with company!!

The pool was on the other side of our RV, just a few steps away.  It was extremely hot and humid when we were there so we spent a lot of time in the pool, especially late in the day.

View from our RV back window of the rest of the motor homes that surrounded the lake.  It was a large park with mostly permanent residences.  The price of housing was really steep in the Keys, so a lot of people lived year round in RVs and fifth wheels.

I count 2 different drinks in this picture.....must have been a hard day vacationing....:o)

Florida Keys

After touring the Everglades, we headed further south to Key Largo and all the other Keys.  Set up camp on Sugarloaf Key, next to Key West!

We saw a lot of water, boats and Mangrove Forests.

 More unique mail boxes.

 This is advertising on a rather LARGE scale..........Not very appetizing to me and I love Lobster!

 The Keys are called the "CONCH REPUBLIC"!!  They actually decided to separate from the US at one time because of the strict smuggling laws that caused all cars, boats, trucks etc. to be stopped and searched before entering the Keys.  The stop and search law was reversed after the threat to separate.

 Another Key.

More lavish advertizing.  Not sure what for??????

We saw assorted mail boxes......dolphins, manatees, (some with babies), fish and more.

Not a mail box, but interesting!!

Manatees and babies.