Return to Key West

After a week up north in cold rainy conditions, it feels great to be back!

Key West

On a trip home to check on the house I snapped this aerial view of the marina where Sensei is docked. The airport and downtown Key West are in the background.

Manatee!

We frequently see manatee in the marina. Today there were four, basking in the perfect weather.

Butterflies

Today's adventure: a visit to the Butterfly Conservatory. Peaceful, like being in a fairy tale.

Stock Island

From our walk today around Stock Island. Only in the 60s today, but still beautiful.

Downtown Nightlife

Dry Tortugas

As we arrived in the Dry Tortugas, we had a bit of bad luck. We wrapped up some fishing gear on our prop. This pile of rope, most likely from a crab pot, is what we pulled out from under the boat after we anchored. There are so many pots in the waters here that it's almost inevitable that you'll snag one. And in fact, we snagged another one on our way home. Fortunately, we have cutters on our props that cut up the lines and I think that's what allowed us to keep going. 

Dry Tortugas

Our anchorage in the harbor at Fort Jefferson. 

Dry Tortugas

One of the many cannons mounted at Fort Jefferson stands watch.

Dry Tortugas

Several hundred Cuban refugees recently made their way to the Dry Tortugas. The homemade "chugs" are cobbled together from whatever materials they can find, and are fitted with small car engines. These are gathered on the beach here for disposal and are awaiting transport back to Key West. The passengers onboard these chugs are the lucky ones. Many of them sink on the journey across the Gulf Stream.

Dry Tortugas

Each day, the seaplanes bring tourists to see Fort Jefferson. Here one takes off right past our stern. 

Fort Jefferson

We made a 3 day trip to the Dry Tortugas this week! More pictures to follow…

A Walk Around Key West

A Walk Around Key West

Sloppy Joe's has some early customers this morning.