High Winds and Choppy Seas

         2.6.2024

Big Pine Key Florida

                                            

One of the goals of this trip was to visit the three National Parks in Florida.  We've accomplished two, Everglades and Biscayne.  The third is a bit trickier.  The Dry Tortugas are islands set out in the Gulf of Mexico.  This park is only accessible by a 3 hour boat ride or seaplane.  We splurged and months ago booked the seaplane.  It is a bit of a drive from Big Pine Key to Key West so we got up early (for us) and headed south.  Of course we knew the 24 mph winds with 40 mph gusts didn't bode well for the flight or even the likelihood that it would still happen.  And just as we crossed the last key before hitting Key West the seaplane company called to let us know that our flight was cancelled.  They offered us a different day which we readily took.  Hopefully, the weather on the 13th will be much better.  We were both relieved that the trip was rescheduled!

So, we were already in Key West at 8:30 AM.  We had to create a plan B.  I googled breakfast in Key West and found Moondog Cafe and Bakery.  The reviews were great, and they even had the little Trip Advisor seal so we changed the GPS to there.  We were early by Key West standards so we easily got a table and enjoyed an amazing meal.

We both enjoyed our breakfasts.  Fort Zachary Taylor was on our list to visit last year, but we didn't get there.  So, we decided to head in that direction.  This fort is the longest in use in US history.  Built just before the civil war it was used consistently until the 1950's and then again during the Cuban missile crisis.  It currently holds the largest collection of original cannons from the civil war.  During an expansion the old cannons were used as land fill to extend the island.  So, when historians started excavating the site the old cannons were easy to find.

There are both a Navy base and a Coast Guard base adjacent to the fort.

The wind and the waves were really rolling so we decided to go for a walk along the beach surrounding the fort.

This pelican was hunkered down.

As we walked around the point we met a resident who is a photographer.  He offered to take our picture and told us about a Coast Guard Buoy Keeper in port offering tours.

Our new friend told us you know the seas are rough when all of the shrimp boats are anchored off shore.  We counted about 20 that we could see.

There were some good size waves crashing on the beach.

We watched as this Carnival Cruise Ship came in to port.  Gotta admit I'm glad we weren't on a ship today.

Kenny took the tour of the Buoy Keeper, Barbara Marbury.  I got on, realized the swaying, and got back off.  This ship maintains the buoys along the coast.  It is stationed in Alabama but is docked here to celebrate the anniversary of the lighthouse it is named for.  Kenny enjoyed meeting the crew members who were the ones doing the tour of the ship.

This vessel is a museum.  We didn't visit it today and it is here if you come to Key West.

As we left one of Key West's roosters was milling in the parking lot.