Dry Tortugas -2

I’m taking advantage of a quiet day to post more photos of the Dry Tortugas.

As you recall, we left at 7 AM:

It was a 3-1/2 hour run out to the Dry Tortugas. Mostly out of sight of land. You pretty much leave Key West and keep heading west for another 68 miles.

It’s incredible sight – a brick fort built almost 70 miles west of Key West – absolutely in the middle of nowhere. Here’s how it looks as it begins to take shape on the horizon:

Here from 1 mile away.

Here’s a drone shot I copied off a poster:

Wikipedia tells me it is the largest brick masonry structure in the Western Hemisphere,^[4][5] and is composed of more than 16 million bricks. Crazy.

The appeal for us was more the outing than the fort. Beautiful beaches, clear water, lots of conch shells…some of them huge:

We did some snorkeling and some swimming. Saw a cuttlefish…fish real one I’ve ever seen:

A helluva day at sea! Beautiful conditions, crystal clear waters. Guinness ran on the beach; we walked and snorkeled. Saw a 7′ Goliath Grouper. Right under the boat. It swam up and opened its mouth, as though it were looking to be fed. I held tight to Guinness’ float coat!

Some folks come by seaplane; some by ferry. That’s Freedom at anchor; we came ashore in the dinghy.

Here’s a secret selfie that Jane took, while I was relaxing and Steve was at the wheel.

Back at Key West by 6PM. Just in time for sunset!