Saturday, January 10, 2009

In the blink of an eye!!

Boy life comes at you fast some days…

The day started nice enough but then the weather forecast was not to my liking for anchoring off of Tahiti Beach tonight. It is rather exposed and there was now more wind than originally forecast now forecast and the direction bothered me. That and I wanted to fuel and water up on the way out and the moderate wind we already had would have been aft of me going in and leaving the fuel dock -- there was a large Trimaran moored to one end of the dock and not moving.

Thus change of plans. Stay today, do maintenance, and go to town for a little shopping – I really wanted to find a couple of Bahamian story books. The story about a young school teacher from England and comes here to teach at Nassau but instead ends up in the Crooked Island, and the story of the Out Island Doctor and his “castle” here in Marsh Harbour.

Well I rearranged the V-berth storage, changed the oil in the generator motor, and played with a special bridle to stop the boat dance on anchor – didn’t work too well. So far the Riding Sail works best but not sure how it will perform in strong wind.

After lunch we were getting ready to go to town and I was descending the cabin ladder when I stepped off too soon . I twisted my knee and went right down to the floor on my back – carefully protecting my head -- but skinned my arms and one arm came down across the table and smashed Karen’s sunglasses. I ended up nearly in her lap and she let out a scream.

Fortunately I’m still flexible and didn’t break anything but I am becoming sore as the day goes on.

We went to town and I guess maybe we never shopped here on a Saturday before but just about every store closes at noon on Saturday. Just Liquor, bakery, and grocery open. We bought a few cookies from the bakery.

Back on the boat the rest of the afternoon was spent reading and trying to warm up in the sunlight. There is a moderate breeze blowing 12 – 15 kts and the wind chill is in the mid 60s.

Ohhh well could be worse I guess.

It is also getting lonely here. There were 43 or more boats here when we arrived but now there is maybe 25. The harbour is opening up.

No plans for tomorrow yet – just looking forward to nice quiet evening under the VERY BRIGHT full moon and I’ll lick my bruises with a little help from Ron Rico.

Friday, January 9, 2009

Yes Virginia there is a Conch Heaven

Conch Heaven – is there such a place?? I would have to say YES and it is here in Marsh Harbour. It is the Conch Salad produced by none other than the “Hollywood George” at the open stand next to the Harbour View Marina…I bought some today and it was every bit as good as I remembered.

Today was our first full day in Marsh Harbour. After the cruisers net and “mail call” I heard of a boat “Breaking Wind” that had folks going back to the states tomorrow and would be willing to accept mail to be sent from there.

I quickly filled out my property tax forms and sent them back. They are dated and I did not want to depend on Bahamian Island Time Postal Service.

We then went to town. WOW the Standard Hardware store is unbelievable. It has been remodeled and looks every bit as nice and efficient as any Lowes store. Kudos to their owner.

We avoided the grocery store because we heard that the largest one – Maxways or the old Solomons had burned down and there is just one – Price Rite and it is packed on Friday/Saturday.

We walked around town and otherwise little has changed. There is a new very nice liquor store across from Mangoes restaurant -- Tupps, the old Sapodily’s has burned down and been razed – nothing there now..

Turned out to be a very light wind day and very nice.

We had the crew from Born to Cruise Wayne and Jill over for sundowners and had a great time talking about cruising and anything else we wanted to talk about.

Tonight the sky is absolutely beautiful. The nearly full moon is dazzling and it is a special one – called something like Peregrine where twice a year it appears closer than actually is and causes larger and shallower tides than normal. Ohhh might go bump in the night here – huh??

We are thinking of heading to Lubber Quarters and Tahiti Beach tomorrow. Should be settled weather and we can do some beach combing and maybe head to Cracker P’s for the “Full Moon” party tomorrow night or just hang on the hook down there and enjoy the full moon.

Time to head into the dock too to fuel up and water up – We are down to 40 gallons of water. Not bad for more than 2 weeks.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Marsh Harbour -- Hub of the Abacos

Finally made it to the heart and soul of the Abacos – Marsh Harbour. Not that we were in a hurry at all – hell we have been in the Abacos since 12/21/2008.

Treasure Cay was nice and we will be back. It is laid back and everything is convenient but it is NOT Marsh Harbour.

That cold front last night was just plain WEIRD… It came in like most. Wind progression South SW and 15 – 20 with higher gusts. Then about 9pm we had a real big gust that laid the boat over and clocked us to the NW. A couple of smaller gusts and heavy rain for just a few minutes. Then no more wind the entire night.. What gives?? Usually blows as strong after the frontal passage. Ohhh well we will take it. Slept well and NO squalls last night.

Today we did laundry and some light grocery shopping. Then after lunch we packed the dinghy aboard and headed to Marsh Harbour just 1.5 hours after low tide. Had plenty of water until I left the entrance then it dropped as low as 6.2 feet. Once I made the TRCAY waypoint then I had plenty of water.

We had a nice motor sail to Marsh Harbour and got in around 4pm. There were several boats here and I anchored easily but now the wind has me sitting over the anchor of the trawler behind me..Oh well he will just have to live with it and the wind progression should turn me another 90- degrees tonight.

Seems to be something going on at the Jib Room tonight but Karen is tired so we will just relax here tonight.

Tomorrow we hit the town!! Nothing big. Hardware store for a cookie sheet and contact cement, then Buck-a-book to replenish the reading supplies.

Ohhh on the cruisers net tomorrow morning I’ll finally announce our official arrival in the Abacos!!

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Anchor Watch in Treasure Cay Abacos

There is a little snake in every paradise!!

Here it is the cold fronts. We have a strong one coming in today and into the wee hours. It was supposed to start blowing 20-25kts last night but it didn’t. At 7am this morning it was maybe 5 kts. Around 11am it did pipe up to 15 – 20 gusting to 25 kts and held all afternoon but this evening it is back to 15 – 18kts – not bad.

Boats here keep moving around and dropping their hooks in different places. Very disconcerting because it is really just a perception problem on the folks moving – I know – I’ve been there.

I spent the late morning helping John on Sweet Surrender work out some issues on his SSB radio – an ICOM M600. Never seen one before but seems to work pretty well. The instruction manual is just sh-t but otherwise a good rig. Most of the issues were operator but after viewing the manual – no wonder – very poor..

The rest of the afternoon was spent watching the anchor and other boats as the wind blew strong. Finished another of the Clive Cussler books today “Raising the Titanic” very old – very good book.

Around 4:30pm John and Debbie from Sweet Surrender came over for a sundowner and we had a great time and conversation. I really enjoyed them and their plans and their recent cruising adventures – it’s what this is all about.

Hopefully the forecast squalls for tonight around midnight will not show and no one goes bump in the night when the wind clocks from the SW to the NW.

Tomorrow morning after a possible couple, early showers will be a nice day. Depending on how we feel – maybe spend another day here or head to Hope Town or Marsh. There are several cruisers planning on leaving south to the Exhumas on the heels of this cold front which will fr\ee up space in Hope Town.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Lazy in Treasure


Just a lazy day in Treasure Cay.

The weather forecast has a strong cold front coming through tonight and through tomorrow. So comes the vacillation… Go into the Marina? Swing on one hook?? Swing on 2 hooks?? Etc.

Well the holding is good here and the water shallow 8.5 to 6.5 feet of water. Thus I’ll swing to one hook. I checked my anchor in the clear water this morning and it is completely buried

Not too many boats here today – less than 10 and then around 4pm 3 more came in and anchored around me.. Hmmm they always look to close. The anchorage can support up to 24 boats if they space properly.

This is the calm before the storm.. Has been blowing from the SE most of the day less than 15kts and now at 5pm it is calm – usually means a wind shift coming.

Ohh well we have had several very nice days and after we get through the next couple a beautiful light wind weekend is forecast.

Didn’t do much today. Tried to do laundry but all the machines were in use both times we went. Yesterday when we checked it out all but 2 machines were idle. Ohh well try again tomorrow if we can get off the boat for the wind -- I don’t like wet dinghy rides – especially with fresh laundered clothes.

Tonight we plan a big treat – Lobster tails. We will fix the couple I bought at GTC about a week ago. Looking forward to that and some baked potatoes – actually fixed in the microwave. Ohhh have I mentioned I have an 8KW generator to power the microwave!! I tried running it off the inverter once to microwave some popcorn but it drew 80 amps from the battery bank – I won’t do that again.

Plans are just to hunker down here till Thursday or Friday till the cold front passes then move on down to Marsh Harbour or Hope Town.

Ohh they have a Post Office here at Treasure Cay. I dropped by and it was closed. The sign said “eye trouble gorn (sic) to doctor in Miami”. Hmmm will be closed awhile I guess. Well it is the Bahamas.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Got to LOVE Treasure Cay




That white stuff on the ground is NOT SNOW – it is just some of the finest white sand you will see anywhere!! The beach at Treasure cay is one of the world’s top ten beaches and it shows. The sand is so soft and unbelievably does not get hot in the sunlight. Just a joy to walk on.

We came in here today at just 1.5 hours off of low tide and had plenty of water. The shallowest was only 6.7 feet.

We are anchored in the basin and by registering with the marina we get full use of showers pools and facilities for only $10 a day. Not a bad deal considering the cost of water here -- .25 cents a gallon. We went to the grocery store here just because we could – didn’t really need anything except Tonic water for the Gin and Tonics and some ice.

After a light lunch just hung out at the beach. It was very nice except for the folks that brought their yippee dogs and bawling babies.

We checked out the facilities and they have a very nice Laundromat with real commercial quality machines and only $4 a load – it was $7 on Great Guiana Cay but we didn’t do any there. Tomorrow will be laundry day. Strong cold front coming in Wednesday/Thursday so we will ride it out here on the hook. This is an all weather anchorage and if I chicken out – there is a fine marina here with lots of empty slips for $1.30 a foot.

Enjoy the pics from the beach…

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Enjoying Great Guana Cay


Great Guana Cay – actually Fisher’s Bay on Great Guana cay. A very nice anchorage albeit a little difficult to get the hook to stick because of the grassy bottom and being so close to the open ocean there is a pesky little surge here which causes the boats to bounce. Especially annoying in Temptation when the big 120 gallon water tank is nearly full. The water sloshes and every few minutes makes an annoying racket.

We took showers today and used a bit of water and got the level down to 90%full and it is better but still sloshes. Ohh such little annoyances but this is offset with a low of 66v degrees and a high of 75 degrees today and sunny.

Karen went to a local church today with the girls from several other boats and their heathen husbands remained aboard to do what heathens do – I cleaned sinks, check engine oil, and other things and used the binoculars to look for girls in skimpy bikinis.

Ohh Great Guana Cay is a heathen’s paradise what with Nipper’s and Grabbers here.

After the girls returned from church we had a simple lunch then went to town to go to Nipper’s this afternoon. WOW it was more crowded than I remembered but still this is a holiday weekend – the end of the holiday. Lots of young women in skimpy bathing suits dancing and drinking —what an environment. Ohh but the waters and beach were magnificent once you looked past the Nipper’s deck.

We stayed till happy hour started at Grabbers then went there. Cheaper drinks but no snacks – they would come after happy hour but that would be after dark so we left when we had just enough light to find our boat in the anchorage.,

A simple dinner then reading till bedtime. This is a heathens paradise but only for a day for us

We will leave for Treasure Cay tomorrow – need an all weather anchorage and good grocery store before the next rather strong cold front comes through on Tuesday/Wednesday.