Friday evening, as we were preparing for a shrimp dinner onboard, our oldest daughter Chris and our "second daughter" Michele, strolled down the pier. They flew from Maryland for a long weekend and a surprise, three-day visit!
On Saturday, we took a day trip to Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas National Park, which lies 73 miles west of Key West. Cruising at 30 MPH on the Fast Cat, the trip took less than 2 1/2 hours. Underway at 8:00 AM, we ate a continental breakfast leaving Key West. After arrival, we took a guided tour of the spectacular fort, learning it's history from our knowledgeable guide. Then we had a sumptious lunch aboard, followed by a few hours of snorkeling in the fish-filled, pristine waters. Surprisingly, the water was cold, so we wore our wet suits. The boat returned to Key West at 5:00 PM.
On Sunday, the girls rented scooters and explored the island. After breakfast at Sara-Beth's Restaurant on Monday morning, they drove back to Fort Lauderdale's airport for the flight home.
We'll be leaving Key West tomorrow morning (Tuesday), starting our trip north. We'll probably spend a few days in Marathon on a mooring ball before continuing onward. Hate to leave this lovely place, but it's time to return to the "real world".
Ebb Tide II underway
