Dry Tortugas

[rcwhite]

Provisioned the boat and left Charlotte Harbor for the Dry Tortugas in the afternoon.
Ran overnight and arrived at sunrise. While it takes a bit of convincing, we both enjoy
the overnight runs once underway:)

Interesting history and a lovely stop. Hope to bring company on a return trip sometime.
Even better, no cell service!

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When we were anchoring we noticed the boat behind us was one me met in the Dismal Swamp coming
down the coast last fall. Small world:)

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Was visiting the next day and we left together for the Marquesas after lunch. A bit
sloppy with the 15kt trades but a pretty ride just the same.
Anchored in the lee and walked the shore in the evening and again in the
morning before heading out. Still no cell service...life is good.

We continued on to Johnston Key. Nice quiet place to anchor north
of Sugarloaf key. No place to walk but good swimming off the boat.

From there we went north and anchored in the gulf off of Cape Romano.
Good swimming and a beach to walk. Ruth collected some driftwood which
is a bit unusual down this way.

The domes are the remainder of a house that was once at the tip of the Cape.
Interesting reading and something to remember when looking at the houses still being built at the tips of the barriers.

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North to pick up the ICW around Ft Myers. Quiet travel is now over.
Spent the night at Cayo Costa and had a nice long walk and beach day
before heading up the river to tie up and rejoin the world.

[Norseman]

Do you need a dinghy to get to shore, or is there dockage available?

[rcwhite]

No dockage, services, or provisions. You need to come prepared to be self sufficient.
We did see a sportfish (charter?) drop passengers off at the ferry dock before it arrived
but they had to get rides back out to the boat from the other boaters with tenders.

[Norseman]

No dockage, services, or provisions. You need to come prepared to be self sufficient.
We did see a sportfish (charter?) drop passengers off at the ferry dock before it arrived
but they had to get rides back out to the boat from the other boaters with tenders.

Ok, we are self sufficient but don’t carry a dink.
Only anchoring available, but drop people on and pick up from a dock is doable?
(Not looking for overnight docking)

[rcwhite]

Not something I would plan on myself. Ferry ties up for the day. On an earlier 26’ boat we had a 8’ roll up. Stored easily in its bag and was small enough we could keep it in the cockpit inflated when traveling any distance. Worked well enough for us with a couple of toddlers but not something you wanted to row a long distance:)

[Norseman]

Not something I would plan on myself. Ferry ties up for the day. On an earlier 26’ boat we had a 8’ roll up. Stored easily in its bag and was small enough we could keep it in the cockpit inflated when traveling any distance. Worked well enough for us with a couple of toddlers but not something you wanted to row a long distance:)

We had a brand new 8’6” dink and 3.5 hp motor for the Albin 28TE but never used the rig and never installed davits. Sold the boat and motor a few months ago, but on previous boats we had all kinds of tenders and were really self sufficient, including a 9’ Dyer Dhow sailing dink with centerboard, rudder, oars, etc. used it 2 years before I bought a little 2 hp Yamaha. Had fun sailing and rowing but at 29 years old, everything is cool and not a problem. Now I am too old, too heavy and too unstable to jump in and out of small dinks 10-15 times a day.
So, can’t enjoy the Fort without a dink...?