We had a nice run up to Treasure Cay yesterday. We were in by 11:30am. As usual the wind was stronger than forecast and of course -- wrong direction than forecast -- on the nose as usual. Not too crowded but had to pick a spot between some boats. It was a good one because we had good internet from the Marina.
After a quick lunch of leftovers we went to the beach for one last swim on that amazing beach. It is just so beautiful. Picked up a few things at the grocery and fixed Bratwurst for dinner.
A very nice evening even with more boats coming in. There is a mass exodus a foot right now with folks scrambling to get back to the USA. The radio is just full of crossing chatter. Not sure why the rush because the window this Friday/Saturday is not great.
The area is looking like little Canada with so many Canadian flags flying. I would say there are about 2 Canadian boats for one American right now in the anchorages. Most have come up from the Exumas and are heading back to the states.
We were off early this morning for Green Turtle Cay and a trip around the infamous Whale Cay Passage. Naturally more wind than forecast and wrong direction. The passage around the whale was fine with little rocking and rolling. Apparently White Sound in Green Turtle cleared out from yesterday with many boats leaving today to stage for a Saturday crossing. We had the pick of the anchorage almost and found a nice spot with good internet coverage from the Green Turtle Club Marina. No worries -- we plan to go into the marina Saturday for 3 days and they will be well compensated.
I did some work this afternoon changing the main engine oil and the water/fuel separator on the dinghy. I had to change a fuel fitting on the dinghy fuel hose too. Naturally the oil change was messy and compounded by a bottle of CLR that I found and had leaked most of it contents -- what a mess to cleanup.
I took the dinghy out for a test run of the new filter and went to a little beach at the front of White Sound and saw a huge manta ray swimming gently in very shallow water -- real cool.
Well we are throwing financial caution to the wind to night and going for dinner at the Green Turtle Club -- Steak Nite -- and stay awhile to watch the local band the "Gully Roosters" perform.
I just LIKE Green Turtle Cay. So relaxed and friendly.
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Monday, March 30, 2015
Marsh Harbour one last time
Well we cut the cord to HopeTown today and made it over to Marsh Harbour around 10am. Should have been here sooner but the boat is sluggish. The growth is bad. I hope to have it cleaned off soon in Green Turtle Cay.
Marsh was crowded. There were 62 boats here when we got here. Most have come up from the Exumas. You can tell because their lifelines are full of diesel and water jugs.
We launched the dinghy immediately and headed to the grocery. The public dock was too full of dinghies to tie to so we went to the Jimmies dock between Harborview and Mangoes. It was full too but we found one cleat to tie to.
After a long walk to Maxwells grocery we bought enough groceries to last 2 weeks. It was too much to carry back so I asked a taxi there to take us back -- they said $10. A little high because others have charged $6 but I give them $10.
Once at Mangoes I go to pay and I hand her a $20 and she says "Thank You". I said what about my change -- she says she has none. She could tell I was flustered so she got change from someone -- NO TIP here today. Damn she thought a $10 tip on a $10 ride was normal... What this ain't NY!
Well we hit Jimmies and the Wholesale grocer and are full up for the most part.
There has been a steady stream of boats leaving this afternoon. I guess some want to cross back this week but there is no big window. Well I guess they will make their own -- not us we are pleasure boaters.
Off to Treasure Cay tomorrow to fuel up and water up and spend a day or two there then off to Green Turtle Cay to watch for a very nice weather window.
Marsh was crowded. There were 62 boats here when we got here. Most have come up from the Exumas. You can tell because their lifelines are full of diesel and water jugs.
We launched the dinghy immediately and headed to the grocery. The public dock was too full of dinghies to tie to so we went to the Jimmies dock between Harborview and Mangoes. It was full too but we found one cleat to tie to.
After a long walk to Maxwells grocery we bought enough groceries to last 2 weeks. It was too much to carry back so I asked a taxi there to take us back -- they said $10. A little high because others have charged $6 but I give them $10.
Once at Mangoes I go to pay and I hand her a $20 and she says "Thank You". I said what about my change -- she says she has none. She could tell I was flustered so she got change from someone -- NO TIP here today. Damn she thought a $10 tip on a $10 ride was normal... What this ain't NY!
Well we hit Jimmies and the Wholesale grocer and are full up for the most part.
There has been a steady stream of boats leaving this afternoon. I guess some want to cross back this week but there is no big window. Well I guess they will make their own -- not us we are pleasure boaters.
Off to Treasure Cay tomorrow to fuel up and water up and spend a day or two there then off to Green Turtle Cay to watch for a very nice weather window.
Sunday, March 29, 2015
So Long HopeTown
Ahhh it is getting to be that time to plan to head back to the USA.
Tomorrow we will leave HopeTown and go to Marsh Harbour for a few days to reprovision for a couple of weeks. Then it is on to Treasure Cay to await a weather window to cross the Whale Cay Passage to Green Turtle Cay where we will await a weather window to cross the Gulf Stream back to the USA.
Today is a little sad as we realize it is our last full day in HopeTown for this cruising season. It has been both fun and comforting in this nice snug harbour where we weathered many a cold front this winter. This weekend has been a very strong cold front but good sleeping weather. This has been the first time in weeks where the temps dropped below 70 degrees for the night. It was 66 degrees this morning and most folks where wearing there winter clothes until the sun warmed us up to about 77 degrees.
We went to the beach to fly a kite and go swimming and Karen went on one last sea glass hunt. It has been grand.
Unfortunately now they we said it -- "go back to USA" it is all we think of now. Time to prep the engines and filters and get everything ready. Clean or get cleaned the boat bottom before leaving -- we have a thousand miles to travel to get home. Expected ETA is mid May.
Hey we aren't going to rush home. There is plenty of cruising destinations left to visit.
Tomorrow we will leave HopeTown and go to Marsh Harbour for a few days to reprovision for a couple of weeks. Then it is on to Treasure Cay to await a weather window to cross the Whale Cay Passage to Green Turtle Cay where we will await a weather window to cross the Gulf Stream back to the USA.
Today is a little sad as we realize it is our last full day in HopeTown for this cruising season. It has been both fun and comforting in this nice snug harbour where we weathered many a cold front this winter. This weekend has been a very strong cold front but good sleeping weather. This has been the first time in weeks where the temps dropped below 70 degrees for the night. It was 66 degrees this morning and most folks where wearing there winter clothes until the sun warmed us up to about 77 degrees.
We went to the beach to fly a kite and go swimming and Karen went on one last sea glass hunt. It has been grand.
Unfortunately now they we said it -- "go back to USA" it is all we think of now. Time to prep the engines and filters and get everything ready. Clean or get cleaned the boat bottom before leaving -- we have a thousand miles to travel to get home. Expected ETA is mid May.
Hey we aren't going to rush home. There is plenty of cruising destinations left to visit.
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