Travel Tips

On Monday, I had called about taking a half day seaplane trip to the Dry Tortugas - thinking I would use my Xmas money for that - Bob is dead set against going so I would be going by myself. It was going to cost $179.00

It is a 1200 noon flight, and I am to be there by 1130. So we have to leave the trailer by 1100, and I want to shower and have lunch first. I went in to do the internet about 9, and it got to be 10 and it takes me about 20 minutes to drive from one base to the other so I can get a shower etc. because the speed limit on Sigsbee is 15 mph. So I broke off what I was doing before I was finished..

I did get a shower, and went to get lunch about 11. I took my lunch into the car, and we got to the airport about 11:15. I checked in and took snorkeling equipment that they provide, and got the little drinks cooler. There was another couple going.

They loaded us into the plane - I was in the back seat, and the other couple was in the center seats. They put the coolers and snorkeling stuff in the pontoons. As we were taking off I realized it was very noisy so I put in ear plugs.

Send Photo to a Friend

Channel in the Marquesas

The windows were a bit crazed (the other couple had the better picture taking window) but I got some good pictures (and some that you can see the lines in the windows) of Key West from the air and also the Marquesas - the channel is very clear from the air. I also got a picture of the fort from the air - actually both forts - Ft. Taylor and Ft. Jefferson. The one of Ft. Jefferson shows the sand bar really clearly (top picture)

Send Photo to a Friend

Plane after I got off

They have little stairs to get off the plane, but they don't use them. You get our onto the pontoon and walk along it and jump off the end onto the sand. We were told to be back at the plane by 2:45 because the plane has to be in the air by 3.

There was a plane there already, and with ours, there were two planes. Both of them took off empty and returned to Key West. The weather was warm and sunny - I had been worried that there was going to be a front come through and would be too cloudy for photos.

Send Photo to a Friend

Couple - she's in a bikini

I went in and walked around the fort a bit, and got my passport stamped (one of my main objectives) and also bought a post card of the Loggerhead Key light. This was partly so I would have a picture because we didn't go close enough in on the approach to get a photo of it. And also because I had only a $20 bill with me and the plane had a sign over the pilot that said tips were appreciated, and if I was going to tip him, it wasn't $20 worth. So buying the postcard gave me change.

I went back to my stuff and drank one of the canned drinks (I got Lipton Tea in a can, and a water bottle) they gave me. The other couple came back and said they were going to snorkel. Where they used to have salt water toilets, they now have changing rooms. If we want to use the bathroom, we have to go on the catamaran ferry which is at the dock. When we were there before, the ferry wasn't allowed to stay at the dock and had to go off and anchor.

Send Photo to a Friend

Bird Island

The camping area (which is $3/night or $1.50/night with Golden Age passport) has composting toilets. To camp, you have to bring all your food and water with you. Apparently there are no showers. There were only 3 sailboats in the anchorage. I think boat people have to pay the fort entrance fee too.

I decided to walk around the fort on the moat wall rather than snorkel, so I did that. First I went out to take a picture of the sooty terns. Boy are they noisy

Send Photo to a Friend

Approaching front

Then I came back to my stuff. Another sailboat came in and anchored, and two work boats (fishing boats). People were concerned about the weather as they could see the front approaching, and were afraid it would be rough going back. After a bit I saw our plane coming back, so I walked over to the steps and sat
down on them.

Send Photo to a Friend

Loggerhead Key light from the ferry

The plane had 4 people in it and as they got off they said that I was going to be going back on the ferry because the plane had 'blown a cylinder'. They said the other plane had turned around and gone back.

And that proved to be it - the pilot made some calls and told me that I was to get on the ferry to go back!!! He took the coolers and snorkeling gear from us and said they'd pay for a cab to the airport. He then flew the plane back empty.

I was concerned because a cab to the airport wouldn't help me, since I didn't have a car at the airport. I had a husband wandering around the Keys without a clue.

I found out that Bob had lunch at Burger King after he left me, and then went out to Cudjoe Key and bought some crab traps for our SIL which he had sent UPS because he said there was no way we'd get them in our car even if we didn't have any luggage in it. Then he went back to the trailer. I had asked them to phone him, and they did, but by the time he realized that the phone was ringing it went to voice mail, and he does not know how to retrieve voice mail. He thought it would be a text message for some reason. He tried to call the number back, and said he got someone speaking Spanish.

So at 4 he went back out to the airport and saw the plane was there, but I was not. And at that point they told him to pick me up at the ferry dock.

Meanwhile I was having a conversation with a couple from California - their first time in FL. They were afraid it was going to be rough coming back because of the front coming through, but other than a few drops of rain when we left, it was very smooth. On the boat, they told us that they talked to the fort on the radio and by 3:30 it was raining there with winds gusting up to 30 mph. (We left at 3) Of course from the fort to Key West, we are going east, and the front is going east too.

As we got off, they told me that Bob would be at the ticket office, and actually as soon as I got down to the office I saw that he was in the Mercedes in the parking lot. They refunded the whole $179 charge. So I got to go in the seaplane and come back on the boat and it didn't cost me anything.

(Bob told me that he flies planes with two engines and if he only has one engine it is an emergency, so no way was he going to take off in emergency status with only one engine. He said they didn't even check the oil, and that what happened proved that he was right not to go.)

Next - Dinner at Key West Bight