Which was it yesterday? We went to Marsh Harbour on Thursday to do some provisioning and get water. I took on 130 gallons! AT 25 cents a gallon it was worth the trip vs 38 cents a gallon in Hopetown. After taking on the water we anchored, had lunch, then went to Maxwells for a big purchase. When we headed over there I stopped at the Corner Value store to inquire about propane -- one of our tanks ran out last week. They said it works just like clock work -- their words. You have the tank there by 9am and it is returned at noon. If you have it there between 9am and 1pm it will be back by 4pm and it was only $25 vs $37 in Hopetown. In Hopetown you have to leave it for several days on a dock before someone comes -- no schedule. I didn't want to leave a $300 aluminum tank laying around for a few days.
Well Friday morning I had a QSO with Bubbles and Skat and Victoria Gaye and I was bragging what a good deal the propane process was in Marsh HArbour. Wow cheaper and no worries about your t ank being stolen.
Friday morning (that's Friday the 13th) I had the tank there by 8:30am. I came back at just before 12pm and it was no where to be seen. I asked.. Ohhh there was a problem with the pump it might be back at 4pm today or tomorrow sometime. Ohh Pooh we wanted to leave that afternoon!!
Ohh well had a nice lunch and then while killing time I took my dinghy motor prop that had spun some weeks ago over to Abaco Props. They said they could re-hub it and they did it while I waited and even let me watch the process. Coool, well at least something was accomplished today.
Back on the boat I cleaned the knot log sender, the seawater strainer on the main engine and tightened the packing log -- it was leaking pretty profusely yesterday.
Well at 3:40pm I went to get my tank. It wasn't ready but they said it would be here shortly. I killed 30 minutes and then it showed up. GREAT..
We were too tired to head out this afternoon so we stayed in Marsh another night planning to go to Man O War for the fair tomorrow.
Good thing we stayed. The wind piped up over night from the West and it would have made anchoring off Man O War real uncomfortable where it was not an issue in Marsh Harbour.
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Got Fleas
Today we sailed over to Man O War this morning for the annual Fair and Flea Market there.
Beautiful weather although the wind was building as we got there. It was blowing 12 - 15 kts out of the West which put us on a lee shore but the Ol Rocna really bit in so I didn't worry about it.
The wave action was quite rambunctious and made it difficult to mount the engine. Once that was done and we ran 75 yards to the protected South harbour the ride was easy.
The harbour was packed. Lots of small motor boats running around and many had no idea how to handle the crowded conditions. Just eyes straight ahead and the hell with everyone else and -- hey -- why not make a substantial wake!
I tried to find the public dock but it was difficult to discern. We went to the marina but the dinghy dock there was overflowing. Back to the public dock and we tied up but couldn't get off the dock. Someone had set up a flea market booth on the dock and we would have had to climb under a wind break and a table to get off!! HOW RUDE!!
We went next dock over to the Aubrey's Grocery dock and tied up there. We planned to buy something when we left.
The fair was crowded but did not have a large number of vendors. The biggest thing going was the food tent, but at $18 a dinner we passed. We watched the hermit crab races which were a lot of fun and checked out the used book vendors. Karen found 4 books she wanted.
BAck on Temptation for lunch and kill some time before heading to Hopetown. Got to work that tide and can't come in till half tide on the rising tide.
We are back on our mooring just as the wind has really picked up -- it wasn't supposed to do that till late tonight. Anyway this is a good spot as we wait the next weather event tonight and tomorrow, then a nice mild day Monday, then back into really foul weather Tuesday and Wednesday. Ohh well the pattern will change soon.
Hopefully Monday will be mild so I can take the boat out to a real nice sandy patch and dive on it. It has quite a bit of growth on the bottom that needs to be scrubbed off.
Ahh the joys of boat ownership.
But before you feel sorry for us -- the low today was 65 degrees and the high was 74...
Beautiful weather although the wind was building as we got there. It was blowing 12 - 15 kts out of the West which put us on a lee shore but the Ol Rocna really bit in so I didn't worry about it.
The wave action was quite rambunctious and made it difficult to mount the engine. Once that was done and we ran 75 yards to the protected South harbour the ride was easy.
The harbour was packed. Lots of small motor boats running around and many had no idea how to handle the crowded conditions. Just eyes straight ahead and the hell with everyone else and -- hey -- why not make a substantial wake!
I tried to find the public dock but it was difficult to discern. We went to the marina but the dinghy dock there was overflowing. Back to the public dock and we tied up but couldn't get off the dock. Someone had set up a flea market booth on the dock and we would have had to climb under a wind break and a table to get off!! HOW RUDE!!
We went next dock over to the Aubrey's Grocery dock and tied up there. We planned to buy something when we left.
The fair was crowded but did not have a large number of vendors. The biggest thing going was the food tent, but at $18 a dinner we passed. We watched the hermit crab races which were a lot of fun and checked out the used book vendors. Karen found 4 books she wanted.
BAck on Temptation for lunch and kill some time before heading to Hopetown. Got to work that tide and can't come in till half tide on the rising tide.
We are back on our mooring just as the wind has really picked up -- it wasn't supposed to do that till late tonight. Anyway this is a good spot as we wait the next weather event tonight and tomorrow, then a nice mild day Monday, then back into really foul weather Tuesday and Wednesday. Ohh well the pattern will change soon.
Hopefully Monday will be mild so I can take the boat out to a real nice sandy patch and dive on it. It has quite a bit of growth on the bottom that needs to be scrubbed off.
Ahh the joys of boat ownership.
But before you feel sorry for us -- the low today was 65 degrees and the high was 74...
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Go fly a kite!
The weather has been poor for the Abacos these last few weeks. Cold fronts are coming through like clockwork -- every 48 hours. This gives us only one nice day every 2 days. The weather is not terrible but it keeps us from traveling to the many cool Islands we would like to visit. It should change in another week or so. Assessment from Chris Parker.
The temps are fine with the lows in the mid 60s and the highs in low 70s and mostly partly cloudy. Just too much wind to comfortably travel and anchor out. Hopetown is great for these cold front passages. No matter how strong the winds are we can still leave the boats and walk around town and site see or buy provisions or walk the beaches -- and of course -- climb the Lighthouse and go out in the balcony and really feel the strong winds. The view of both Ocean and Sea of Abaco is just spectacular.
Now the weather has been great for kite flying. I have 4 very nice cellular kits and one 30 foot dragon kite. I've been going to the beach to launch and it has been interesting. They fly very stable until they pass over the tree lined dune tops and then it gets scary. I had my Dragon kite up about 150 feet and it was flying fine then suddenly it plunged straight down past the tree tops before it reversed and climbed back. I'm sure it gave some a scare who might have been walking below those trees. I brought it in after that.
The TriStar was the most stable. It just went up and stayed up -- little pull on the line. The rotating Spinbox -- the FLASH is always a great fly and spectacle. It did well but took a few dives toward the ground to scare me. Apparently the wind coming from the sea rides up over the dunes then as I pass the apex there is an occasional strong downdraft
I flew these kites over a three day period and had Jim and Barb from Skat fly with me. It was great fun and a away to turn some lemons into lemonade -- the too strong winds for pleasure boating.
I've been bike riding too. Took a LONG ride Sunday to Sea Spray Marina in Whitesound and passed the Abaco Inn and resort. Wow that is a beautiful place and seemed to be hosting an artist retreat. Seemed like everyone was under a shade tree with easel and brushes and mostly white canvas -- hmm I wonder if it was mostly for show.
The temps are fine with the lows in the mid 60s and the highs in low 70s and mostly partly cloudy. Just too much wind to comfortably travel and anchor out. Hopetown is great for these cold front passages. No matter how strong the winds are we can still leave the boats and walk around town and site see or buy provisions or walk the beaches -- and of course -- climb the Lighthouse and go out in the balcony and really feel the strong winds. The view of both Ocean and Sea of Abaco is just spectacular.
Now the weather has been great for kite flying. I have 4 very nice cellular kits and one 30 foot dragon kite. I've been going to the beach to launch and it has been interesting. They fly very stable until they pass over the tree lined dune tops and then it gets scary. I had my Dragon kite up about 150 feet and it was flying fine then suddenly it plunged straight down past the tree tops before it reversed and climbed back. I'm sure it gave some a scare who might have been walking below those trees. I brought it in after that.
The TriStar was the most stable. It just went up and stayed up -- little pull on the line. The rotating Spinbox -- the FLASH is always a great fly and spectacle. It did well but took a few dives toward the ground to scare me. Apparently the wind coming from the sea rides up over the dunes then as I pass the apex there is an occasional strong downdraft
I flew these kites over a three day period and had Jim and Barb from Skat fly with me. It was great fun and a away to turn some lemons into lemonade -- the too strong winds for pleasure boating.
I've been bike riding too. Took a LONG ride Sunday to Sea Spray Marina in Whitesound and passed the Abaco Inn and resort. Wow that is a beautiful place and seemed to be hosting an artist retreat. Seemed like everyone was under a shade tree with easel and brushes and mostly white canvas -- hmm I wonder if it was mostly for show.
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