 |
| Skies off the Bow |
The morning was slightly cooler than before, meaning it was about 75. We got up early had some hotel lobby coffee and headed for the marina. There were about 120 on the trip. The tour leader was cheerful and went around whistling. The majority of people were older or late middle aged, with a smattering of younger couples. There are some camp sites on the island so some people were going to camp. The island and area around it are all part of a National Park. The passengers that interested us the most were a group of four young men from Argentina who struck up a conversation with an older couple. They never stopped laughing and talking. On the way back, they enlarged their circle to include some people from Cape Cod who all belonged to a yacht club there and a girl who was traveling alone. There was alcohol served on the way back and they all drank and laughed uproariously the whole way.
 |
| Snorkel time |
The trip out was about two and a half hours. They served breakfast. It was gorgeous. There were a lot of high clouds but they moved through and it was only slightly windy. I did have my wind breaker on the boat, but the island itself was warm. We stayed up on the outside for the whole trip except for a short film about how the snorkel equipment was given out and an orientation to the island. We were told there was a crocodile out there that had been swept out about eight years previously. Thankfully we didn't meet him. The guide said that he disappeared like clock work when the ferry pulled in.
 |
| Moat around Fort Jefferson |
We walked around the perimeter of the fort on a trail outside the moat when we arrived. We then got our snorkel gear and went snorkeling from the south beach over some old coal station pilings. There was a lot of pretty coral which had grown up there and tons of fishes. We did see several jelly fish while walking around, and one when we started snorkeling. Neil almost ran into it, but we didn't see any after that. The wind and current started picking up while we were snorkeling and the visibility went down. I had on my wet suit but Neil did not wear his. I needed it.
We had lunch and watched a few sea planes come in. You could visit the island by private boat or seaplane besides taking the ferry. We saw someone from a private boat that had a big German Shepherd with them. We looked later and found that it cost between $300 and $600 per person to take a plane out depending on how long you stayed. After lunch we toured the fort which was fabulous. We saw Dr. Mudd's cell and learned what a shot furnace was ( a giant structure to heat cannonballs so they would set a fire when they landed) from a fellow park visitor. She told us she had just learned it a few weeks earlier herself.
 |
| Parade Grounds |
The views from the fort were all amazing. The top level was scary. There were leaks inside where stalactites and stalagmites were forming in some of the passages ways.
 |
| Lincoln Conspirator's Cell |
When we got back, we showered and walked over to Duval St looking to eat. W got lost but found our way and ended up at a place recommended by the hotel called the Rooftop Cafe. It was nice and quiet compared to Duval Street. The food was mixed. My conch chowder tasted canned, but the empanada appetizer was really good. We had drinks! Neil got a Mile One tee shirt on the walk back. A hugely drunken crowd was out on Duval. We heard lots of languages other than English everywhere!
