🧑‍🤝‍🧑 / 🏡 Camping in dry tortugas

[Krimson]

Finally got reservations. Any of y'all been before?

 

[TerryP]

Finally got reservations. Any of y'all been before?

What's the water temp down there right now?

I've got several friends in the Audubon Society here locally. I've heard about it on a few occasions.

Context: I'm not a "bird watcher." I'm a "bird listener." Half of the time I don't know what I'm hearing early in the morning...doesn't change the point. I'm told that's a great place to see, and hear, a lot of different birds.

 

[Krimson]

I'm not sure reservations are for April. We get to key west mid December and leave mid April. This time last year I'd say water was upper 70s

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

Finally got reservations. Any of y'all been before?

Have not, it's on my list of places to visit... I won't be camping though, just visiting. I haven't been past Miami, but want to get down to Key West for a stay and then check out Tortugas... Camping there seems like it would be a ton of fun though.

The chase is taking forever, but getting to as many MLB Parks and US National Parks as possible are the 2 things that usually steer my summer vacation decisions the most.

 

[Krimson]

Have not, it's on my list of places to visit... I won't be camping though, just visiting. I haven't been past Miami, but want to get down to Key West for a stay and then check out Tortugas... Camping there seems like it would be a ton of fun though.

The chase is taking forever, but getting to as many MLB Parks and US National Parks as possible are the 2 things that usually steer my summer vacation decisions the most.

This is a national park I'm actually looking forward to. I like most of them but the crowds, I just can't enjoy it. Main reason I wanted to camp, take a kayak to the loggerhead key while the tour boat is in then come back to the fort and explore after they leave.

 

[TerryP]

take a kayak

Own, or rent?

 

[Krimson]

Own, or rent?

Will have to rent, no good place to put one on the camper

 

[TerryP]

Will have to rent, no good place to put one on the camper

Hook, line, and sinker. Ya got me here.0

How is there no good place on the camper? I'm in a Mirage Pro 14', 360...maybe 140lbs when fully loaded.

You go to a rental car place. You can't choose what "luxury" you want. You can with Uber. Can you renting a kayak?

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

This is a national park I'm actually looking forward to. I like most of them but the crowds, I just can't enjoy it. Main reason I wanted to camp, take a kayak to the loggerhead key while the tour boat is in then come back to the fort and explore after they leave.

I'm in the very early stages right now, started last weekend, of looking into a possible trip to Utah to hit the National Parks in the southern part of the state maybe early this summer. I don't care for crowds either, in any setting really. It's one reason I don't go to as many Bama football games as I used to go to. Crowds and weather/temp pretty much find their way into any equation where I'm going to be outside at this point.

 

[TerryP]

I don't care for crowds either, in any setting really.

 

[TerryP]

I'm in the very early stages right now, started last weekend, of looking into a possible trip to Utah to hit the National Parks in the southern part of the state maybe early this summer. I don't care for crowds either, in any setting really. It's one reason I don't go to as many Bama football games as I used to go to. Crowds and weather/temp pretty much find their way into any equation where I'm going to be outside at this point.

This rings so true.

 

[Krimson]

Hook, line, and sinker. Ya got me here.0

How is there no good place on the camper? I'm in a Mirage Pro 14', 360...maybe 140lbs when fully loaded.

You go to a rental car place. You can't choose what "luxury" you want. You can with Uber. Can you renting a kayak?

I want am old town big water pedal. It's over 13' so can't mount it on back. Have a5th wheel so can't do over cab mount, slide outs make interior space too small so there's no good spot that I know of on the camper. I can choose what luxury i want kayak wise by who I rent from down there but may or may not get exactly what I want. I want the old town but I can't transport it and the ebikes and the current camper so I have to rent.

 

[Krimson]

I'm in the very early stages right now, started last weekend, of looking into a possible trip to Utah to hit the National Parks in the southern part of the state maybe early this summer. I don't care for crowds either, in any setting really. It's one reason I don't go to as many Bama football games as I used to go to. Crowds and weather/temp pretty much find their way into any equation where I'm going to be outside at this point.

If you want any pointers let me know as far as Utah. We hit Bryce, arches, and zion with Bryce being my favorite. We went there early and some of the trails were closed due to snow still but we saw a lot and it wasn't crowded. Zion was terrible for crowds and we got there early so didn't get to hike the Narrows. If you hike there are a couple great slot canyons that aren't in the park so aren't crowded. Arches, meh, just not that great. Didn't make it to canyonlands. We've been to about 30 NP and the crowds are just so bad I don't want to see any more.

Also any key west questions I've spent about a year down there overall so let me know.

I try to avoid crowds and look for 65 to 80 temp wise everywhere we go. Not always accomplished but my goal.

 

[TerryP]

I want am old town big water pedal. It's over 13' so can't mount it on back. Have a5th wheel so can't do over cab mount, slide outs make interior space too small so there's no good spot that I know of on the camper. I can choose what luxury i want kayak wise by who I rent from down there but may or may not get exactly what I want. I want the old town but I can't transport it and the ebikes and the current camper so I have to rent.

I can picture it in my head but I can't tell you the model. ( @It Takes Eleven it's 4:20 in the morning.) IF I was inside I'd look it up on my laptop...hate searches on my phone but I'm not leaving my deck or my coffee.

A friend of mine has a black one. It cost more than my Hobie: close to six thousand. I found my Hobie on sale at ... 48 with tax? It was retailing for more...just a deal I ran into in a bait shop. I know his is an Old Town because the logo is right under his seat. Sleek.

I never take my phone on the water. If I did, I'd lose it. History. I say that, to say this.

Much like a boat trailer, a friend of mine has built a pulley system on his truck (PVC) so he can "ratchet" his kayak on his truck. Pretty wild. "Red neck" as hell. But, it works.

A guy about a mile from here has an RV he mounts two on the back...vertically. I don't know how he does it. I would ask...but, you don't know this guy.

Hrmmm...leads me to a new thread idea. Your neighbors.

 

[Krimson]

I can picture it in my head but I can't tell you the model. ( @It Takes Eleven it's 4:20 in the morning.) IF I was inside I'd look it up on my laptop...hate searches on my phone but I'm not leaving my deck or my coffee.

A friend of mine has a black one. It cost more than my Hobie: close to six thousand. I found my Hobie on sale at ... 48 with tax? It was retailing for more...just a deal I ran into in a bait shop. I know his is an Old Town because the logo is right under his seat. Sleek.

I never take my phone on the water. If I did, I'd lose it. History. I say that, to say this.

Much like a boat trailer, a friend of mine has built a pulley system on his truck (PVC) so he can "ratchet" his kayak on his truck. Pretty wild. "Red neck" as hell. But, it works.

A guy about a mile from here has an RV he mounts two on the back...vertically. I don't know how he does it. I would ask...but, you don't know this guy.

Hrmmm...leads me to a new thread idea. Your neighbors.

They make a rack for the back of your camper to mount them vertical but it can't be over 13' 6" and you're going to be at least a foot off the ground so 12' kayak at most. I have 2 ebikes back there already so can't use the mount.i could attach a trailer but double towing is illegal in about half the states so I just rent one occasionally.

 

[TerryP]

They make a rack for the back of your camper to mount them vertical but it can't be over 13' 6" and you're going to be at least a foot off the ground so 12' kayak at most. I have 2 ebikes back there already so can't use the mount.i could attach a trailer but double towing is illegal in about half the states so I just rent one occasionally.

I caught that, realized, and do agree. I'd rather have my bike than my kayak. Where I go camping, most often, isn't biking area.

The "Boyz" are at Santee right now. (I have a cheese sauce I'm making to go over potatoes so I haven't left yet.) The guy I mentioned earlier with the Jon-boat? I know he's on one of five islands out there. I'll find it tonight. Lake Moultrie, if you want to Google Map. (By find it, it'll be, "Dude, come pick me up, I'm at this dock." I know they are close to Taw Caw for the bass.

Is my life Tom Sawyer? I know where they are fishing...I'm heading there in shorts, a t-shirt, and a pole.

 

[PurlJam]

Context: I'm not a "bird watcher." I'm a "bird listener." Half of the time I don't know what I'm hearing early in the morning...doesn't change the point. I'm told that's a great place to see, and hear, a lot of different birds.

Well damn, figured you as a bird shooter.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

They make a rack for the back of your camper to mount them vertical but it can't be over 13' 6" and you're going to be at least a foot off the ground so 12' kayak at most. I have 2 ebikes back there already so can't use the mount.i could attach a trailer but double towing is illegal in about half the states so I just rent one occasionally.

I've seen setups for shorter kayaks with a single bar on the roof of the pickup (clear of the fifth wheel) and a front hitch with a horizontal bar to hold the kayak beyond the front bumper. There's a visual impact with that, but just an idea.

 

[Krimson]

I've seen setups for shorter kayaks with a single bar on the roof of the pickup (clear of the fifth wheel) and a front hitch with a horizontal bar to hold the kayak beyond the front bumper. There's a visual impact with that, but just an idea.

Yeah I've seen those too, same issue up front I'm carrying 2 ebikes. Hitch on back is only rated for 300lb so hitch and 4 bikes are over the limit. Kayak i want is 13.5' i think so it would stick out front quite a bit too. Thought about trying inflatable but think I'd rather rent a real one.

 

[TerryP]

Yeah I've seen those too, same issue up front I'm carrying 2 ebikes. Hitch on back is only rated for 300lb so hitch and 4 bikes are over the limit. Kayak i want is 13.5' i think so it would stick out front quite a bit too. Thought about trying inflatable but think I'd rather rent a real one.

What is your name? I could find out...but, want to ask. just the first