HYDROFOIL TO KEY WEST FROM FORT MEYERS BEACH

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I WAS INTRIGUED BY THE IDEA OF A DAY TRIP TO KEY WEST ON THE KEY WEST EXPRESS FROM FORT MEYERS BEACH TO KEY WEST AND RETURN INSTEAD OF DRIVING THERE (A TRIP THAT TAKES A FULL DAY EACH WAY). SO I TRIED IT OUT ON DECEMBER 18.

THE BOAT STARTED BOARDING AT 7:00 AM, SO I LEFT FROM SARASOTA AT 5:30 TO DRIVE TO FMB. THE BOARDING WENT SMOOTHLY AND WE LEFT THE DOCK A LITTLE LATE FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON. THE HYDROFOIL MOVED VERY SMOOTHLY (THE GULF WAS VERY SMOOTH THAT DAY) AND QUICKLY (ABOUT 40 MPH) FOR THE 3 1/2 HR TRIP. SEVERAL DOLPHINS PLAYED IN THE WAKE AS WE LEFT FMB. A SNACK BAR WITH GOOD COFFEE, PASTRIES AND BREAKFAST SANDWICHES WAS REASONABLY PRICED AND GOOD. THEY ALSO HAD HOT DOGS, HAMBURGERS AND OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE AND A BAR FOR THOSE WHO WANTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. THE FIRST DECK WAS COMFORTABLE BUT ENGINE NOISE WAS VERY NOTICEABLE. TV'S WERE SPACED AROUND AND SPORTS CHANNELS WERE AVAILABLE BUT BECAUSE OF THE TIME OF DAY THERE WAS VERY LITTLE LIVE SPORTS. THE SECOND DECK WAS MUCH QUIETER AND A MOVIE AND TRAVEL HINTS WERE SHOWN. THE TOP

DECK WAS OPEN AIR AND PRETTY COOL. IT WOULD BE NICE ON A HOT DAY. WE DOCKED AT KEY WEST JUST BEFORE NOON.

I GOT ON THE CONCH TRAIN FOR A QUICK TOUR OF THE CITY. I HADN'T BEEN IN KEY WEST FOR 35 YEARS SO IT WAS A GOOD REMINDER FOR ME. I WANTED TO GO BACK TO THE HARRY S. TRUMAN LITTLE WHITE HOUSE AND HEMINWAY'S HOUSE, BUT I HAD TO DECIDE WHETHER I WANTED TO DO THAT OR EAT AND DRINK. I DECIDED TO EAT AND DRINK AND DO THE SIGHTSEEING ON MY NEXT TRIP. I WENT TO THE CONCH REPUBLIC SEAFOOD RESTAURANT FOR A NICE LUNCH AND THEN TO SLOPPY JOE'S FOR DRINKS. SO MANY BARS AND SO LITTLE TIME! BOARDING FOR THE RETURN TRIP BEGAN AT 5:00 AND THE RETURN TRIP LEFT THE DOCK AT 6:00.

WE DOCKED AT FMB AT 9:15 AND THE TRIP BACK TO SARASOTA WENT WELL. IT WAS A NICE TRIP! I WOULD DEFINITELY DO IT AGAIN AS A DAY TRIP AND ALSO CONSIDER STAYING AT A HOTEL OR B&B FOR MORE LEISURELY TIME THERE.

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Photos

THE KEY WEST EXPRESS
AT DAWN

MY TRANSPORTATION
THE KEY WEST EXPRESS

FROM THE EXPRESS
SUNRISE

LEAVING FORT MEYERS BEACH
DOLPHINS PLAYING IN THE WAKE

KEY WEST
CONCH REPUBLIC SEAFOOD

KEY WEST
SLOPPY JOE'S