It's a three hour ferry ride west of Key West to the old Civil War fort that has been turned into a National Park on the 16 acre island. On the scrap of land in the middle of nowhere (well out of cell phone range!) there are a few camp sites underneath the fort's walls just outside the moat. With absolutely no supplies or facilities beyond a crude salt water toilet (which turned out to have been uopdated to a composting model):
I have sailed out there several times and enjoyed anchoring in the protected lagoon south of the fort, but I have never camped on the beach so this will be a first. Also the weather through the weekend is forecast to be windy with the chance of thunderstorms so things might be more interesting than just three days of bland sunshine...
As far as my lack of connectedness goes I have lined up daily essays to cover my absence but I won't be around to clean up the spelling goofs and layout oddities that blogger likes to throw in from time to time. All of which offends my sense of order. Somehow I doubt I shall have too much time to worry about such trifles for there are tents to erect and meals to cook and reefs to snorkel. And all too soon I will be back at work Saturday night ready to obliterate comments and download photographs, I'm sure. Au revoir.
7 comments:
Dear Sir:
Camping on the beach... How conch-like. Please decribe the crude salt water toilet in more detail. A late Aunt od mine used to go to pre-casino Atlantic City, with salt water taffee, that could have been made in a toilet.
I envy you the soul-purifying experience of camping on a beach in a thunderstorm.
Fondest regards,
Riepe
Twisted Roads
I have always thought that the little stretch of beach out there was really nice-- incredible ocean view, with beautiful water, and so much coral rolling around it hurts the foot. Really unlike any other part of the US that I have seen.
Since you asked Mr Riepe, on my last trip to the Fort on 5/7/07, the toilets were in fact Clivus composting units. I am not a toilet expert, but I am told that Clivus is a top level brand-- a cadillac of composting commodes it seems. None of that stops thems from smelling like... well, I guess like what's in them... and the flies seem to treat them like good ol' fashioned crappers... the only thing good I can say about them is that they sure beat the alternative.
I camped there for 2 nights in July 2002. I liked it very much even though I was ill-prepared. We had enough water, and a tent, but our food was lame. Guys who had been before knew what to do; namely, bring big-assed coolers, steaks, baking potatoes, eggs, bacon, beer, sipping whiskey, pork tenderloin, fishing tackle, matchlight charcoal, plenty of ice, and cookies to share with the Rangers or for trade with the shrimpers.
We had a small stove, water and freeze dried hiking type meals. that was about it. Again, OK but not luxurious like the views of Sunset and Sunrise. Also coffee would have been great. A kayak too.
There were rats that patrolled the campsite at night.
Camping with out coffee and a perculator so set in the coals of a fire?? I was carrying coffee and a perculator when I was a cub scout.
If you lie motionless in the tall grass, you can bag a couple of the rats on patrol. Attack from the rear so they don't disperse. They roast up nicely on a spittle when the going gets rough.
Conchscooter - enjoy your time off.
-Peace
Abientot , dear CS, and may the reefs and rats warm your soul.
Dear First Anonymous:
This will amaze you, but I am rather familiar with the Clivus toilet. A friend of mine has one in his house! The structure was built in 1860 and originally had no indoor plumbing. The previous occupant used an outhouse, grandfathered into the living conditions, well into the 1970's. When my buddy bought the house, it failed the perk test. The Clivus was his only answer and it took him forever to find a construction official to certify it.
There is no odor in the household model as solar panels on the roof charge a battery and run a vent fan 24/7, which channels fresh air down through the toilet (no water) and vents through a smallpipe on the roof. One a year, he removes a spackle bucket of topsoil from this thing. I was amazed.
Fondest regards,
Jack
Twisted Roads
The bearded fellow at the sign was our guide also, Captain Jack I want to say. He had one rubber boot on over a cast, apparently had broken his foot or toes somehow. He was quite knowledgeable about the fort and its history of course.
D
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