Journey's End

Journey’s all come to an end but in the telling of the journey the end is not as definite. The Panama Canal will always stay with me but my telling the story seems to end at this point in the lower keys. The many different sights and experiences enjoyed with a group of good friends has a lasting quality that will be relived many times in the future. One last night of the “Duval Crawl” (the term used to describe the partying on Duval St. that connects both sides of the island) in Key West and the telling comes
to a natural end. But with an ending another door always opens, Next the mad-dash down Route 66 to Arizona and back, trip starts as soon as I get back to home and work.

Coming Attractions

This is obviously not Key West. My Sweetheart just told me I have to make a quick trip to Dewey, AZ. If there is anything of interest between Dallas and Dewey, I'll get some pictures. For the time being I'll leave you with these two pictures from mystery locations. Be back in a weeK

Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas National Park

Fort Jefferson is the focal point of the Dry Tortugas National Park. The dry Tortugas are 68 miles west of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico. The name given the islands by Ponce de Leon means turtles, for the sea turtles he caught there and dry for the fact there is no water on the islands Getting there crosses a relatively shallow area called the “quick-sands” The “quick-sands” are the final resting place on many ship wrecks. Plans for Fort Jefferson started as early as 1825 but there is a simple way to remember the final date of construction. Before the Civil War the light red bricks came from Pensacola, Florida. After Florida seceded from the Union the dark red bricks were imported from the North. The top fourth of the fort is made of these darker bricks. So final construction occurred during the Civil War and the fort housed over 1000 troops by the end of the war. It was believed that the fort would be a great defense of the Gulf of Mexico. It turned out many ships could steer clear of the islands. After the Civil War, Dr. Samuel Mudd was imprisoned here for the role he played in the assassination of President Lincoln. Today the park is beautifully maintained by the Park Service Rangers who live on the island full time. The white sandy beach is small and the water crystal clear and surprisingly more crowded than you would think being this far removed from Key West.