AL/GA/FL TRIPOINT UPDATE!
The news is good...

Our too-laid-back HP Club man in Alabama, Gary White, a proven Southern Gentleman, has successfully made contact with the Florida landowner and established the criteria for achieving this tri-corner.

Mr. Ansley Whatley is graciously open to this site's visitations based on hunting season dates. The access window is set between the end of April and October 15th. He asks that ample/advance visit plans are sent via his e-mail address answhat@aol.com. Do not, otherwise, attempt to access this tri-point site via the Chattahoochee State Park.

While, the landowner recognizes the significance of this post as importantly historical, and is agreeable to access wishes, please show respect and appreciation for Mr. Whatley's willingness to welcome visitors.

This maxim, of course, applies to all highpointing pursuits and other club spin-off activities where landowners are a factor. And, while we really are a bunch of incurable eccentrics, always try to behave as if you're closer than you are to the summit of the bell curve, i.e., "normal."

Although we never got to bag a new tri-corner and picture on our trip (maybe next year), this really neat state-intersect sign on the west bank of the Chattahoochee River, is mounted atop a post, and faces the river.

A dedication ceremony was held 21Jan00 by Voyage of Discovery, Inc., (VOD), in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Historic Chattahoochee Commission, Dothan Landmarks Foundation, and other groups.

DRY TORTUGAS - WEST OF KEY WEST
Definitely drier than Key West....

This was a serendipity stop for us on our Southern-Most U.S. 48 trip that turned out to be our south venture highlight. In Key West, we boarded the Yankee Freedom II ferry early Fri, Feb 20 for a bumpy "ocean-in-motion" 68 mile sail to DT. A cold front from the NW stirred the blue sea into 6 ft waves, but we arrived alive 2 1/2 hrs later at Fort Jefferson/DT - an absolutely fascinating historical brick enclave plunked onto a 14-acre dot of terra firma in big water named Garden Key.

The 11-acre fort leaving little left, was the intended "Guardian to the Gulf." Construction began in 1846 but forgone in 1875 resulting in a not-quite completed/armed fort. Still, there are a helluva lot of bricks here (16 million). In the Northern Hemisphere this masonry hulk of it's kind is second to the Great Wall of China.

If we go again, er...if you go: think about sticking around a few days for camping, snorkeling, fishing, swimming, sunbathing, birding, exploring, and generally hanging out, cheap. It's .6 miles around the fort via the moat when you need to step out. Take tent, food, and water (beverages). Per the name Dry Tortugas, there's no fresh water available except to keep the NP staff hydrated.

The return trip was on calmer water. The Yankee Freedom II crew are pros who know the route and these waters intimately. See the borrowed YouTube video below for a nicely presented look at DT.


Dry Tortugas National Park Ferry: http://www.yankeefreedom.com/
NP info: http://www.nps.gov/drto/