Tortugas Trip Day 3 - Fort Jefferson on Garden Key

Grace and I wanted to sleep in a bit due to our later arrival and long sailing day yesterday. However, I launched the tender and rowed to Fort Jefferson on Garden Key. Last night, I was told to check-in at the Ranger Station at 8:00am.

The Dry Tortugas are a National Park. It is remote and provides no facilities. You must even bring your own water. That is not a problem on Distant Horizon. We have two 50 gallon water tanks of fresh water. 
There are only three ways to get to this National Park: Fast Ferry, Sea Plane, or your own boat.

Fort Jefferson on Garden Key, Dry Tortugas

Nobody was there, so I filled out the park entrance form, paid the fee and dropped it in the metal mail slot. Then, I went back to Distant Horizon.

After Grace and I had breakfast, we rowed back to the fort and signed in at the Ranger Station. Ranger Hall gave us a nice overview, but had to go. There was a Coast Guard helicopter approaching. He said they never just visit and was surprised he was not informed in advance of their arrival.

We wandered around the fort and walked on the beach. Along the beach we talked with a couple from the boat nearest ours. The man was asking about the weather. He said he was new to sailing and didn’t have a firm grasp on what the cold fronts meant. I explained the cold front and it’s impact as it pertains to sailing.

We knew we had a few days before it would impact us. The next morning they were gone when we got up. The ranger said they had been here two days and wasn’t surprised to see they left. That was the plan they had given him upon their arrival. Good! I thought I scared them with the cold front explanation.

Eventually when we were getting hot, Grace and I rowed back to Distant Horizon in the tender.

A great view of the sunset; right from the cockpit of Distant Horizon.

Last night we arrived by moonlight. Tonight the moon once again dominated the night time sky.