Lay Day at Fort Matanzas (Day 048)

Fort Matanzas, Summer Haven, FL MM 792.4

Weather: Sunny; temp range mid 50s to low 70s (cool on the beach); NE wind 15 -20

The Anchorage at Fort Matanzas

Comment: After breakfast on board, we launched the dinghy and took a ride to the ocean. Actually, we stopped short of the ocean as the current was rushing out and we didn’t want to scoot under the bridge. We went back to the NPS ferry dock area and met Dave, Andrew and Vanessa for a beach walk, a long beach walk. Vanessa is a first class beachcomber. She scored a fishing rod with reel and lure and a piece of an old finger bowl with the letter “S” stamped on it. We presumed that the “S” was the last letter of the Matanzas marking, identifying the bowl as an item from the fort. The park rangers could not discount our assessment.

Dave and the world's greatest interpreter

Back at the dinghies, we used Tally Ho’s cast net, one of Vanessa's finds from a previous beach walk, before we set off on a bivouac to the local restaurant for a late lunch. The restaurant was on the other side of the river, clear across a causeway bridge that spans three miles of dunes, wetlands and river. We ate well for the long walk back to the boats.

Sunset from Fort Matanzas

Between walks, we took the NPS ferry to Fort Matanzas where we listened and questioned the interpreter. This is the second time we have heard this gentleman provide his interpretation of life and events at the fort. He is extremely knowledgeable and gives a most impressive and entertaining presentation. Among all of the interpreters I have ever heard, this guy is the best! He truly makes history come alive. A visit to Fort Matanzas is worth it, just to watch and listen to this person. Unfortunately, we did not get his name, but will look for it when we return in the spring.

Arial view of our anchorage at Fort Matanzas



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