Don't Forget the Keys

 How could I possibly write a month's worth of posts about sailing and not mention our favorite 'K' word – Keys.

As in the Florida Keys.

That enchanting chain of islands South of Miami beginning with Key Largo and ending in Key West.

Although, truth be told, the Keys extend onward south and west to the Dry Tortugas and Garden Key upon which rests Fort Jefferson, and one of the most fantastic trips we have ever taken.

Fort Jefferson

A little history:

Shortly after purchase of Florida from Spain, the US military began to look at this series of islands as a place to build a fort to suppress piracy. It was initially considered a poor choice for a fort due to the lack of fresh water (hence its name) and the low profile to the water. A lighthouse was built to guide ships around this area of shallow water.

Several years later the fort was built – one of the largest all brick structures in the Northern Hemisphere encompassing 16 acres and using 16 million bricks.

While the fort was never actually used as a military instillation, it was used as a Civil War prison, housing Dr Mudd, the physician who treated John Wilkes Booth – the man who killed President Lincoln.

one of the many corridors around the fort's perimeter, off these halls are the various cells

The site is now a National Park.

None of this was the reason we visited.

While my family has a propensity to visit forts, thanks to my Dad's cavalary background – thanks Dad! - it was more the adventure of a seaplane trip and awesome snorkling that sealed the deal for me.

Without a private boat, there are only two ways to get to Fort Jefferson – by ferry or by seaplane.

Leaving Key West

While the ferry was less expensive, it took a couple hours to get to the island.

The seaplane gets you there in 40 minutes and gives you a bird's eye view of the ocean with a narrated tour by the pilot.

Not to mention the exhilaration of take off and landing in a seaplane!

Key West from the air

approaching the fort. note the two sailboats - someday....

unloading after an amazing water landing

We opted for the half day visit but in retrospect wish we had taken the full day trip.

We were also lucky enough to visit on a day when the ferry was down for maintenance which meant we only shared the island with about 10 other visitors and two State Park rangers.

Initially we didn't want to 'waste our time' wandering around a massive brick building with that beautiful water beckoning.

Fools.
We managed a tiny bit of snorkeling, but due to some previous turbulence and lack of time, didn't get any good photos under water. but above...

there goes our ride...

The first site to greet us was the rangers raising the flag on the Fort.

 

Even in our politically heated atmosphere, this was a breathtaking experience and we stood silently and watched as one ranger raised the colors and the other saluted.

Walking a little farther down the beach we spied a large metal boat. 

Inside were a empty water bottle, a man's t-shirt and a child's shoe. Prayers in Spanish were painted on the metal.

We had found a Cuban refugee boat.

It felt almost contrived. As though placed there as a tourist attraction.

A ranger assured us that this was indeed an actual refugee boat. He went on to tell us that these boats are built in mere hours, after much planning to allow for a moonless night, a place to assemble the boat, get it to the water, add an engine of some sort and launch. All in darkness before the police can catch and confiscate the vessel.

With no real navigation and only sometimes a truck engine to power it, these open boats head for the United States in search of refuge.

The Dry Tortugas are often times the first land these boats reach. And being US soil, the rangers are obligated to assist the people on them.

Even with the more open communication between Cuba and the States, incidents of refugees has increased.

It is a sobering thought, to have actually sailed in a safe, well made boat on rough water in daylight, to imagine a family, with small children in these open, rapidly built vessels leaving their homeland in hopes of a better, safer life.

This is not a politically minded blog, but I can't help but wonder what it might take for our world to become a place where people do not feel they must risk their lifes for a better, safer place.

Okay.

Back to the fun.

sailboats at Key Lime Sailing Club, ready to go

Our first trip to the Keys was a Griswold-esque, Hemingway fueled, Jimmy Buffet sound-tracked odyssey. I was always a little leery of the 'party' atmosphere of Key West specifically, and the Keys in general.

Do not be.

There is so much more to the Keys than drunken revelers.

So I will end this post with some pictures of our favorites.

the view from our cabin at Key Lime

kayak mangrove paddle. in the rain. awesome.

the actual African Queen is docked in Key Largo

the hurricane memorial in Isla Morada. commemorating those who died in the devastating hurricane in the 1930's

one of our favorite spots in Key West

Scott Kirby, the owner of Smokin'Tuna and one of our favorite musicians.
he once stole some of my french fries

these dancers outside the old customs house near Mallory Square
le vie dassante!

a huge Kapok tree

a very photogenic six-toed cat at the Hemingway house

because sometimes this is a neccesity

end of the road

I love the chutzpah - there is a fabulous hotel named Cayo Hueso, known as the Southern Most House.
This well hidden place was just south of it...

sunset from the southernmost point
because you can't end a post about the Keys without a sunset

I know I teased today's post with a mention of a story about Key Lime Sailing Club. But after researching, I found I have written several posts about this awesome place.

If you want to read more about Key Lime click here: https://www.keylimesailingclub.com

And if you would like to read more about our Key Adventures, please check out these past posts.

https://www.coastofillinois.com/2017/06/where-horizen-ends.html

https://www.coastofillinois.com/2016/11/salt-shakers-and-explanations.html

https://www.coastofillinois.com/2016/11/orientation-and-mangroves-in-rain.html

https://www.coastofillinois.com/2016/11/open-ocean-sailingthats-right-open-ocean.html

https://www.coastofillinois.com/2016/12/bloodline-giant-lobster-and-so-much-more.html

Oh, and if you haven't heard Scott Kirby's music, I highly recommend it. 

Check out his website: www.scottkirby.com and his newest CD Chasing Hemingway's Ghost.

And if you haven't had enough, here is a post about our roadtrip to Canada to hear Mr Kirby, even though one month after this trip he was performing less than an hour away...

https://www.coastofillinois.com/2014/07/just-10-short-hours-away-coast-of.html

https://www.coastofillinois.com/2014/07/the-road-to-a1-eh.html

https://www.coastofillinois.com/2014/07/your-papers-please-coast-of-illinois.html

This has been yet another post for the A to Z challenge. 

If you would like to read other posts in the challenge click here: a-to-zchallenge.com

A-Ahoy

B-Bells

C-Catarman

D-Dramamine

E-Escape

F-Flags

G-Galley

H-Head to Heel

I-IC24

J-Jib/Jibe