This Week on the Island 12/09/2007
'This week on the Island' is written by Doug Bennett and is an update to friends about happenings in Key West last week. Everything is true except for those parts that are lies.----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The picture this week is Fort Jefferson on Garden Key in the Dry Tortugas National Park 70 miles West of Key West. The Spanish captured and butchered turtles (Tortugas) here for food, but there was no water (dry) on these islands. http://www.fortjefferson.com/home.htm Fort Jefferson was a Union prison during the Civil War. The Union kept Union deserters here and they were forced to build the Fort. It is also the place Dr Mudd was held captive after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. It is America’s largest coastal fort and it was never completed. Between Fort Zack in Key West and Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas, the Union captured thousands of ships bringing supplies to the South during the Civil War. There is a large reconstruction project going on now.
The picture this week is Fort Jefferson on Garden Key in the Dry Tortugas National Park 70 miles West of Key West. The Spanish captured and butchered turtles (Tortugas) here for food, but there was no water (dry) on these islands. http://www.fortjefferson.com/home.htm Fort Jefferson was a Union prison during the Civil War. The Union kept Union deserters here and they were forced to build the Fort. It is also the place Dr Mudd was held captive after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. It is America’s largest coastal fort and it was never completed. Between Fort Zack in Key West and Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas, the Union captured thousands of ships bringing supplies to the South during the Civil War. There is a large reconstruction project going on now.
The Weather: Beautiful and in the low 80's, then rain and down to 67 degrees and then sun and back to the low 80's.
The book this week was 'Nature Girl' by Carl Hiaasen.
Sunday was beautiful and in the mid 80's so I went kayaking. Also Sunday there was a 'Save the Union' party at the end of Williams Street next to Schooner Wharf. 'The Union' being the 'Western Union' the last tall ship built in Key West. http://www.schoonerwesternunion.org/ . It has been given to Key West and an organization has been created to 'save' the ship, have it restored, and put it back into the tourist business. There were bands all day starting with 'Michael McCloud' , 'The Unpaid Bar Tabs', 'Howard Livingston and the MM24 Band', 'Caffeine Carl', and others.
Monday was another wonderful day, so we (Sassi, Wyleigh, Jo and I) took the top off the Suzuki Samurai and drove around the island. Spent some time at the dog park and Higgs Beach.
Tuesday it started raining and by noon it was down to 75 degrees. (I hate these cold winter days). It kept dropping and by Tuesday night it was down to 67 degrees.
Wednesday Jo and I went shopping , the sun came out, and it got warm again.
Thursday was a great day for a bicycle ride around the island, the sun was bright and the temperature was just right.
Friday was another beautiful day and another bike ride.
Saturday night was the Christmas Party at Margaritaville on Duval Street.
Other than walking the dogs about 5 miles a day and exercising every day, that is about all I did this week. And so goes another week for that old retired guy living in Key West.
Key West, You have got to love it
'Living the life that others dream'
Doug Bennett
Lat 24.5597N, Long 81.8016W
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posted by Doug Bennett at 2:52 PM
