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| Sunset at Mallory Square |
Greetings from Key West. We have been here since the 17th and will be staying until at least the 5th. Sarah came in on the 19th and spent ten days with us that flew by. We walked miles in old Key West seeing the sights--sunsets at Mallory Square (always a show with the street performers), shopping on Duval Street, several trips to West Marine (I think Tom has visited that store at every stop. I recommend buying stock!), the Mel Fischer Museum, the lighthouse and southern most point in the 48 states. On top of all that we tested many of the wonderful restaurants. One very memorable meal was breakfast at Blue Heaven where the lobster eggs benedict is sinful! John and Kib Michener, long time friends from St. Louis who happened to be in Key West on the 20th and 21st, met up with us there and at dinner. Was great to be able to spend time with them.
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Resident at Blue Heaven. Click to enlarge and check out the chick peeking out from under mama's right wing.
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We headed out to the Dry Tortugas to visit Fort Jefferson on Friday, the 23rd. Fort Jefferson was built in the 1830's, a massive structure constructed of 16 million bricks and granite spiral staircases. While it was occupied, it was never really used as a defensive fortress. It is most famous as the Civil War prison where Dr. Mudd, who treated John Wilkes Booth for his broken leg following Lincoln's assassination, was sentenced. The tour of the fort is fascinating. Walking around the top (one mile total) provides incredible views and quite a feeling of isolation. We anchored in the harbor for two windy nights.
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| Fort Jefferson on Garden Key |
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| Tom and Linda standing on the top of Fort Jefferson. Raydiance a tiny speck in the harbor. |
The second day we motored over to Loggerhead Key, tied to a mooring ball ( a challenge with windy conditions) and dinghyed to the island. We spent the day snorkeling. Great fun. "We" now includes a fourth, Mike Lawrence, a young man Sarah has met here. He and his parents are from the outer banks in North Carolina and they are spending the month in Key West as this is the slow time in their business. He was game to come out on the trip to the Tortugas. We enjoyed his company.
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| Lighthouse on Loggerhead Key |
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| A close-up of the coral "sand" |
One of the highlights of the trip to the Tortugas was a visit to our boat by five good-size nurse sharks. We first noticed them the night Sarah and Mike dinghyed back from the fort after sunset. They kept us company the whole time we were at anchor. Way cool.
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Nurse shark under boat at Garden Key harbor--Fort Jefferson
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The trip back from the Tortugas was BUMPY. The forecast 2-3 foot seas overnight turned into 4-6 footers. We were pounding into them. Between the ride and constant watch for crab pots ( two new four letter words!) we were all glad to reach a marina and tie up for the night.
For the last few days we have been at a marina on Stock Island, the next island east from Key West. It has a resort feel and Mike and Sarah have enjoyed the pool and kayaking-though they prefer the night life atmosphere of old town. Sarah left yesterday and I miss her already. I'm hoping it's a mild winter in the midwest so she will get a spring break and be able to join us around Easter.
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| View from restaurant at Key West Harbour Yacht Club on Stock Island |
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| Sarah and Mike |
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