Dry Tortugas ...at last!

FRIDAY, 12:20 P.M.

We Made It! Hurray! We have the anchor set in the Dry Tortugas between Garden Key and Bush Key. Our latitude is: N24 37 47, W82 52 27

We had good wind after the storm last night, so we could sail all the way back to the Dry Tortugas. Therefore, we still should have enough diesel to get us to Key West, but, we may stay here a while to re-coop. There is an old Fort on the island you can walk around. Looks pretty neat.

We need to do some projects while we are here, since the boat went through such a beating. We have some leaks we need to attend to and the boom rubbed on the bimini, so I need to get out the sewing machine.

But, we are so thankful that the boat is not rocking, rolling, or anything. It is wonderful!

I have bruises all over me from the movement of the boat when you try to go down below to do something. We ache from head to toe from moving constantly with the waves. Linda Hall, of Parrot Head, calls crossing the Gulf the 7 day diet, and I believe it.

But, today we can go for a walk. That will be kind of neat. We have literally lived in the cockpit for 6 days.....so we are ready for some other scenery.

Crossing the Gulf was tough, but, we are safe and secure in an anchorage to rest. We will probably move on to the Keys when we are ready.

Thanks for sharing our adventure with us.

Just an update on our time in the beautiful Dry Tortugas. We arrived here around noon on Saturday and have enjoyed it immensely. We are rested up and getting the boat back together after the Gulf crossing and ready to head on "down the road".

While here, we have:

* Snorkeled

* Have a Jew fish that hangs out under our boat that is ~ 300+ lbs. that bangs on our hull

* Seen a 4-5' Southern Stingray under our boat

* Toured the Fort Jefferson National Park

* Saw many Cuban boats that have come ashore to be rescued in the past.

* Last night, one Cuban homemade boat came in with 15 people on it. They are in the apartment at the Fort to be rescued  by the Coast Guard. They had made it! The very small boat is full of tortilla looking food, water, back packs, a big gasoline motor in the middle and wooden benches to sit on.

* We took a dinghy ride over to Loggerhead Key. Looks better from afar than on the island. Found some shells.

* Met a professional fishing guide, Rob Hammer, and he invited us to dinner and he brought us a big red snapper the next day. He is back today with another group fishing. He is supposed to have George Bush Sr. here in April. The Secret Service came down with him last week to prepare for Sr.'s trip. He brings his customers here from Key West, camps out, and fishes, prepares their dinner and fishes the next morning and heads home for $900 + fuel....He is booked up for two years. He is on ESPN......

* Bartered for some fish with the local Cuban fishermen. We gave them a 6 pack of our beer we purchased for bartering and got 5 Blue Runner fish. They also have lobster, but, we have so much fish now, we will have to wait on that.

* Watched seaplanes come and go near our boat

* Got some well deserved rest.

It is a beautiful place, but, we will head on to Key West with the next weather window. We will probably be there for Christmas, if we know what day Christmas will be....ha ha