Mosquito Mojito's

We met an English couple while walking the Royal Palm Trail in Collier-Seminole State Park recommending we should call into Robert’s in Homestead.....all I can say is the tropical thick shake’s are worth stopping for.

Arriving in Key Largo our search for warmer weather had ended as it was now hot and humid. It had a laid back atmosphere but my senses were bombarded with large billboards offering everything from boat tours, scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing charters, restaurants, art studios, T-Shirt outlets and many more.

Key Largo

Then as we drove out of Key Largo along the “Overseas Hwy” and over the first of 42 bridges gazing at the incredible blue of the water I realised this was our first view of the Atlantic Ocean. We had driven 5,805 miles (9,342 km’s) to see it. 

Overseas Hwy

Gazing at the beautiful water

We crossed the new 7 mile (12 km’s) bridge and turned into Bahia Honda State Park, just before Big Pine Key, our home for the next 2 nights. We woke to warm sunny weather and we went for our first swim in the Atlantic Ocean.

It was much later when I began scratching that I found I had been eaten alive with either sand or water fleas. We took a short walk along the old Bahia Honda Bridge and watched the sun set as we dreamed of sailing into the sunset. 

Bahia Honda SP

Atlantic Ocean

There was not much chance of sleep as our campground backed onto Hwy 1 and the traffic seemed intent on an all night serenade. Wide awake we broke camp early the next morning and made our way directly to Leo’s Campground in Key West. At $77 per night and this was the cheapest accommodation from hotels to campgrounds we could find.

After lunch we rode our bikes 4.5 miles (7 km’s) into Key West. We sat sipping coffee and eating Key Lime Pie at Mallory Square watching tourists and the many free range roosters walking around the streets. In the popular Duvall Street spring break crowds were partying to noisy music.

We rode by beautiful timber homes with lovely coloured shutters, white fences, balconies and lovely tropical gardens ending up at the southernmost point of the US where we waited in a long line to take a photo. 

All around were beautiful homes

It's an expensive place

Island shopping

Key Lime Pie and Latte's

Just the thing for a lazy afternoon

We're on key West time now

I could live here

Nearest land south....Cuba

Lovely tropical gardens and decorative balconies

Charming architecture

Roosters, vehicles and bikes 

We stopped at Ernest Hemmingway’s home on our way back to the pier to have a seafood dinner at the Half Shell Raw Bar. We enjoyed half a dozen of the best tasting raw oysters, lobster bisque, spicy conch fritters and Mahi Mahi fish with salad. We sipped beer and Mojito’s a perfect way to end the day

Dinning out...

That evening we packed our backpacks ready for our 4 day trip to the Dry Tortugas NP.

We were up and ready in the dark for our 6am taxi ride to the ferry the next morning and the ferry departed as the sun rose. The day was sunny and windy and the crossing was rough.

Our first view of Dry Tortugas NP

Landing at Fort Jefferson

Jetty at Fort Jefferson

After arriving we collected our gear and pitched our tent in the campground.  We had four amazing days exploring Fort Jefferson, snorkeling around the Fort, paddling our kayak around the Fort and over to Bird Island where we saw Frigate birds and Terns, standing on the jetty watching sharks swimming in the water below and our favourite pastime was looking for Elvis....

Our backyard

Setting up home..

This was the biggest Blue Bottle I have ever seen

View from the top of the Fort

Until recently these were two islands.... 

This 3 story uncompleted coastal Fort was under construction during the civil war and was supposed to have been fortified with 400 canons though it never fired a shot in anger. When a confederate flotilla demanded the Fort’s surrender the Commandant gave them 15 minutes to depart or he would “blow them out of the water”. It worked but it was only a bluff as no canons had been installed at the time.

Fort Jefferson

Some Pelican madness

Pristine blue water  

The beach behind the campground

Our campground

I feel like I'm back in the Fly Islands of Papua New Guinea

Watch out for blue bottles

Moat around Fort Jefferson

Holding the sands of time...

Tropical purple fan coral

We met two sea kayaking enthusiasts who paddled to Loggerhead Island twice (a total of 12 miles (19 km’s) and asked if we would join them.

Loggerhead Island.....a view using my zoom lens

We were keen to go but unsure of our kayaks seaworthiness if swamped and I wondered about my physical abilities so we declined. On their return from their second trip they were glad we hadn’t accompanied them as it had been a tough crossing, even for them, as they had to use their paddles to climb huge waves that then crashed over them as they paddled into a stiff headwind.

Bird Island

Where's my dinner

I need a new home...

Serenity at sunset

One of the frigate birds gliding above the fort

Paradise at last

Ahhh....we could get used to Island life 

Elvis, as John called him..... left the moat....

and yes the moat has an alligator…..!!

Booby's on Hospital Island

We enjoyed a farewell dinner with our new friends at Mo’s Restaurant back in Key West before they dropped us off at Leo's on their way to Flamingo campground in Everglades NP.