WOW what a week. It has been several days of 60+ miles days and we finally arrived at North West Creek marina yesterday afternoon after one of the best travelling days ever!!
We spent a layday in Charleston on the 17th for weather. It was a day of several thunderstorms so a good time to relax and provision a bit. On the 18th we left out Charleston Inlet to run offshore up to Winyah bay to anchor for the night. Once near the turning point in the inlet we turned towards the heading we would use for the trip and it was too rolly for our testes. It was a shame because we had a favorable current going out at 7+ knots and now we turned back in at 5kts to return and head up the ICW. We made the Ben Sawyer bridge right at low tide and there are trouble areas just north of there so I opted to anchor for an our before going on. One of the reasons I did not want to repeat the ICW. We made it okay but fought current most of the day and finally arrived at the south Santee river for the night to anchor.
The next morning we headed up the ICW towards Georgetown, SC and on to Barefoot landing. It was a very long day of more than 13 hours. The current was against us all day and we averaged only 5.2 knots to run 62 miles and arrived at 7pm. We took a slip and were happy to finally arrive -- no anchorages here.
We were off the next morning at 6:15am and had a fast favorable current all the way to Wrightsville Beach for a total of 72 miles -- longest run on this trip. Fortunately they had dredged the inlets this spring. We hit Shallotte Inlet an hour before low tide and made it across seeing a low water of 7.2 feet. Then on to the troublesome Lockwood Folly. Hmmm we were going to hit it at dead low tide and today that was .6 feet below the average. I anchored for an hour before going through. I wanted to be on the rising side. We made it through there with a low of 6.2 feet!! That's close but no bump. We anchored in Wrightsville beach around 6:30pm and enjoyed another night on the boat. Well maybe "enjoyed" is not the word. There are now hundreds of small boat operators here and they have absolutely no respect for anchored boats. We rocked and rolled from the wakes till dark then had a comfortable night on the hook. Wrightsville is not one of my favorite anchorages anymore.
The next morning we left about 6am to try and make Swansboro, NC. normally we would stop at Mile Hammock but we wanted to get home -- like the cows we could see the barn door and picked up the pace. This was another great run with favorable current. We made Southport around 2pm and fueled up at the marina just before southport. Then off into the Cape Fear river for the best run EVER. We were hitting 9.1 kts at times with the current and had favorable current all day to Wrightsville beach.
The next morning we were headed to Mile Hammock bay and possibly on to Swansboro. Wow -- another great day of favorable current. so we would go through as it was going up. That worked and we saw a low of 7.2 feet across the inlet. The marker bouys around 72 A nd B are not set right but the updated NOAA charts showed a "J hook" path through the shoal area and we used that rather than the buoys. We hit Mile hammock around 2pm and kept going to Swansboro. The wind was favorable and we motor sailed arriving around 5:30pm. Unfortunately the anchorage is not very good. I anchored in the White Oak anchorage years before on Luna Sea and wrapped the anchor line around the keel. It took an hour to clear. Tonight it would be worse with 20+ kts from the SW hitting us and a very strong current. However the Rocna Anchor did us proud and stuck on the first attempt and held all night. It was noisy when the current switched 180 degrees at midnight and we were pushed forward over the anchor for awhile. In the morning all was fine and the anchor came up with no hitch although I needed boat power to break it loose. It was really stuck well.
Yesterday was my finest run ever! We left Swansboro just after 6am and headed for North West Creek Marina expecting to arrive around 7pm. We fought the current for about 2 miles to the Bogue Inlet then the dogs of hell were unleashed. We had a favorable current and ran at 7.2 kts + all the way to the Morehead City Turning basin. Made it in just 2 and 1/4 hours. We slowed down through the turning basin then went under the Morehead 70 high Rise and the speed jumped to 7.0+ and held all the way to the Neuse. Unbelievable.
Once on the Neuse with the wind gusting to the low 20s on the nose we ran at 5.6kts most of the way to the marina. We arrived at just after 3pm -- an unbelievable run. Once at the marina I went to the gas dock to pump out and top my diesel off and I really didn't want to go to the slip in this strong wind with no lines rigged. Since they were out of diesel they let us stay the night on the gas dock and it was welcome.
Today my crew -- Jill and Wayne Poston -- left me to return home. They wanted a Budget Rental car and the closest that was available was in Richlands, NC at the Albert Ellis Airport or about 62 miles from here. It was a pleasant trip through the most remote areas of NC top\ get there!! They are off on the way home and I'm back on Temptation offloading all kinds of stuff and planning to leave here on Tuesday for a trip home. Wow I've been gone since June 5th!
Sunday, July 23, 2017
Sunday, July 16, 2017
Outsiders
Yep we be outsiders. Yesterday we ran inside from Beach Marine marina to Cumberland Island where we anchored for the night. We tried to buy fuel in Fernandina but the gas dock there is still out of order since hurricane Matthew last October! Damn we need to modify the plan. After a discussion we decided we had enough fuel on board to run outside to Charleston, SC the next day.
It was a pleasant evening at Cumberland then early in the morning - first light- we left out the L O N G St Marys inlet and headed for Charleston. Conditions were pretty good although we did have some roll. Later the wind piped up to 10 - 15 and we had a lot of roll. We reached the Sea Buoy at Savannah River just after dark. Man it was busy with anchored boats and 4 going in and one out. These are not small boats but large 500+ freighters and container ships. The one coming out was headed for us. I checked his name on AIS and he hadn't seen us yet, We negoitiated that he would pass my stern -- all is well now.
We just headed for Charleston in this rolly motion all night. Wasn't dangerous but very uncomfortable however we knew we were shaving 6 days off a passage up the ICW and numerous white knuckle shallow areas.
Wayne and Jill were able to get some sleep but I was up all night with just 4 - 20 minute cat naps. I took an hour nap after tying up this morning and will get the rest tonight.
The mega docks are not so great anymore. It was not crowded but it took 20 minutes to get a dock hand to catch our lines for a transient slip. With lots of rain expected this afternoon and tomorrow we will spend a couple of days here then it is back to heading to New Bern.
Ohhh I feel good to be bypassing all of Georgia and southern South Carolina. Man the ICW is very poor in those areas as well as several areas in NC.
It was a pleasant evening at Cumberland then early in the morning - first light- we left out the L O N G St Marys inlet and headed for Charleston. Conditions were pretty good although we did have some roll. Later the wind piped up to 10 - 15 and we had a lot of roll. We reached the Sea Buoy at Savannah River just after dark. Man it was busy with anchored boats and 4 going in and one out. These are not small boats but large 500+ freighters and container ships. The one coming out was headed for us. I checked his name on AIS and he hadn't seen us yet, We negoitiated that he would pass my stern -- all is well now.
We just headed for Charleston in this rolly motion all night. Wasn't dangerous but very uncomfortable however we knew we were shaving 6 days off a passage up the ICW and numerous white knuckle shallow areas.
Wayne and Jill were able to get some sleep but I was up all night with just 4 - 20 minute cat naps. I took an hour nap after tying up this morning and will get the rest tonight.
The mega docks are not so great anymore. It was not crowded but it took 20 minutes to get a dock hand to catch our lines for a transient slip. With lots of rain expected this afternoon and tomorrow we will spend a couple of days here then it is back to heading to New Bern.
Ohhh I feel good to be bypassing all of Georgia and southern South Carolina. Man the ICW is very poor in those areas as well as several areas in NC.
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Making Tracks
Ohh boy we have had a couple of good days cruising. Tuesday we did 60 miles from Titusville to Daytona, Wednesday was a half day to Palm Coast Marina for food and laundry and fuel and a pump out. I really like Palm Coast marina. So friendly and helpful. I like it so much -- I bought the T-shirt! Don't think I had an easy day though. I found my fresh water pump leaking at the pressure switch I repaired and then replaced it with the old one. I retied the spring line while leaning on a lifeline and it Broke big time sending me to the space between the dock and boat. Like a cat I reclaimed my balance nearly instantly at the expense of several pulled muscles. Damn getting old is a bitch.
After a temporary fix to the lifeline and a slightly less leaky switch on the fresh water pump we went to dinner at an India restaurant at the European village. Food was very good and I found a beer I need again. It's Indian and called Kingfisher.
Today we left at 7am and made the Mantazas inlet area about 2 hours after low tide. It is notorious for shallow water. It was good to it's reputation. As I started across it the depths dropped to 6.2 feet! Then came up. We didn't ground but got real close. The rest of the trip was with good depths and a favorable current all the way. WE blew past St Augustine and made it through the bridge of lions at 11am. Up around Pine Island we had to cruise through very dense smoke from a wild fire. We pushed on to Beach Marine Marina as the tide was following. We took a slip there because the next anchorage was 12 miles away and we were 1 hour from low tide and those anchorages are no good then.
I stopped in this marina 12 years ago on my first trip to the Bahamas. It is much larger now but about half is still damaged from hurricane Matthew last fall. We are just here tonight and then will press on tomorrow.
Sorry but no more sharing of the plan forward. Every time I have indicated that plan it has changed. From now on you will hear only about what we have done.
Overall today was a GREAT cruising day, and note ---- we are now in North Florida!!
After a temporary fix to the lifeline and a slightly less leaky switch on the fresh water pump we went to dinner at an India restaurant at the European village. Food was very good and I found a beer I need again. It's Indian and called Kingfisher.
Today we left at 7am and made the Mantazas inlet area about 2 hours after low tide. It is notorious for shallow water. It was good to it's reputation. As I started across it the depths dropped to 6.2 feet! Then came up. We didn't ground but got real close. The rest of the trip was with good depths and a favorable current all the way. WE blew past St Augustine and made it through the bridge of lions at 11am. Up around Pine Island we had to cruise through very dense smoke from a wild fire. We pushed on to Beach Marine Marina as the tide was following. We took a slip there because the next anchorage was 12 miles away and we were 1 hour from low tide and those anchorages are no good then.
I stopped in this marina 12 years ago on my first trip to the Bahamas. It is much larger now but about half is still damaged from hurricane Matthew last fall. We are just here tonight and then will press on tomorrow.
Sorry but no more sharing of the plan forward. Every time I have indicated that plan it has changed. From now on you will hear only about what we have done.
Overall today was a GREAT cruising day, and note ---- we are now in North Florida!!
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Pleasure Boaters
We are pleasure Boaters!
We left Ft Pearce Sunday morning and motored to dragon point for the night. Fought a terrific squall for about an hour. Rain so heavy we couldn't see marks and had to slow down and run on instruments. All clear at dragon point and went behind the swing bridge there and had the whole anchorage to ourselves. The area before the swing bridge is full of mooring balls now. It was hot, we were hot, so we ran the genset and had pleasant AC all night long for the cost of 5 gallons of diesel. Remember we are pleasure boaters.
Left early yesterday morning for the Canaveral canal. Along this we had to negotiate 2 bascule bridges and a canal lock. Once through all that we stopped at the Point Marina for fuel. Then we had to wait while a large cruise ship came in and turned in the turning basin to dock -- quite impressive. We had lunch aboard and left around 12:30pm and headed to sea. Conditions looked good. Wind under 10 knots with 2 feet seas mainly on the nose. We had to go 7 miles before we made the turn to head north. Now the seas were 2 - 4 feet with wind between 11-15. So much for the forecast 5 - 10 kts. . Once we turned the seas were mostly on the beam and rolling us miserably. We had 15 miles to go before we altered course again and the forecast was for more wind tonight. The stuff down below started making a lot of noises. We lasted 10 minutes then unanimously decided to go back in and head up inside to St Augustine and try this again. Remember pleasure boaters!
The ride back with the wind and waves just quartering on us gave a very smooth ride. Boy we could go like this for days but we had to get in. There was an adventure too with a large tanker coming in behind us. He was way out there then right on top of since he could go 16 kts to our 6 kts. The Pilot negotiated a passing scenario with me and all went well.
We got to the first bascule bridge and it was on a schedule now. We had to wait 40 minutes for it to open, then we did the lock and it was on demand but it is SLOW to operate. Then the last Bascule bridge was still on a schedule and we had to wait 25 minutes there. Now we were back in the ICW and it was 7pm. We ran for another hour up to Addison point bridge and anchored behind the causeway just as it was getting dark -- 8:15pm.
Wow a 13+ hour day and we had gone nearly 62 miles but in actuality only went 22 miles on the ICW.
The plan now is to go to Daytona today and anchor, then Palm coast marina tomorrow arriving at noon so we can do laundry and a grocery run, then onto St Augustine Thursday and either try the inlet and go offshore or maybe continue up the ICW.
Ohhh I like running the AC on anchor except for using 5 gals of diesel but it's worth it to pleasure boaters. We are sleeping like babies. I know sound like it too -- waaa waaa.
Just as I was feeling a little sorry about the new change of plans this morning I was sitting in the cockpit sipping my coffee and looking at all the cars on the NASA parkway heading to work. I felt better after that.
We left Ft Pearce Sunday morning and motored to dragon point for the night. Fought a terrific squall for about an hour. Rain so heavy we couldn't see marks and had to slow down and run on instruments. All clear at dragon point and went behind the swing bridge there and had the whole anchorage to ourselves. The area before the swing bridge is full of mooring balls now. It was hot, we were hot, so we ran the genset and had pleasant AC all night long for the cost of 5 gallons of diesel. Remember we are pleasure boaters.
Left early yesterday morning for the Canaveral canal. Along this we had to negotiate 2 bascule bridges and a canal lock. Once through all that we stopped at the Point Marina for fuel. Then we had to wait while a large cruise ship came in and turned in the turning basin to dock -- quite impressive. We had lunch aboard and left around 12:30pm and headed to sea. Conditions looked good. Wind under 10 knots with 2 feet seas mainly on the nose. We had to go 7 miles before we made the turn to head north. Now the seas were 2 - 4 feet with wind between 11-15. So much for the forecast 5 - 10 kts. . Once we turned the seas were mostly on the beam and rolling us miserably. We had 15 miles to go before we altered course again and the forecast was for more wind tonight. The stuff down below started making a lot of noises. We lasted 10 minutes then unanimously decided to go back in and head up inside to St Augustine and try this again. Remember pleasure boaters!
The ride back with the wind and waves just quartering on us gave a very smooth ride. Boy we could go like this for days but we had to get in. There was an adventure too with a large tanker coming in behind us. He was way out there then right on top of since he could go 16 kts to our 6 kts. The Pilot negotiated a passing scenario with me and all went well.
We got to the first bascule bridge and it was on a schedule now. We had to wait 40 minutes for it to open, then we did the lock and it was on demand but it is SLOW to operate. Then the last Bascule bridge was still on a schedule and we had to wait 25 minutes there. Now we were back in the ICW and it was 7pm. We ran for another hour up to Addison point bridge and anchored behind the causeway just as it was getting dark -- 8:15pm.
Wow a 13+ hour day and we had gone nearly 62 miles but in actuality only went 22 miles on the ICW.
The plan now is to go to Daytona today and anchor, then Palm coast marina tomorrow arriving at noon so we can do laundry and a grocery run, then onto St Augustine Thursday and either try the inlet and go offshore or maybe continue up the ICW.
Ohhh I like running the AC on anchor except for using 5 gals of diesel but it's worth it to pleasure boaters. We are sleeping like babies. I know sound like it too -- waaa waaa.
Just as I was feeling a little sorry about the new change of plans this morning I was sitting in the cockpit sipping my coffee and looking at all the cars on the NASA parkway heading to work. I felt better after that.
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Happy 4th of July!
WOW -- they really know how to do up the 4th of July here in Ft Pierce. Fortunately for me the marina park is the center of the celebration. I can just walk there.
They set up a stage with a big band doing all kinds of music -- Jimmy Dorsett to Amy Winehouse.
The local power company came and set up a HUGE snorkle truck and flew one of the largest American Flags I have ever seen. You couldn't feel more proud being an American with that waving in the Palm trees.
I celebrated by putting up my festival flags to dress ship. Surprisingly I was the only boat decorated in the marina. It looked GREAT
They had all the street food vendors from the Farmer's market here too. The crowds just built all day with probably more than thousand here at night for the Fireworks.
The fireworks were very good but not GREAT. There was a distraction... a drone was flying above the fire works with flashing red and green lights. I'm sure he got some great video but we all waited to see if one of the fireworks would knock it down -- I know morbid. He did fine took a lot of video then came down to change batteries for the grand finale.
Sitting on the boat I had a great seat and very comfortable.
The plan is to leave here probably on Sunday to head North to New Bern. Jill and Wayne from Born to Cruise should arrive here on Saturday then it's off to the races. And it is a race a !#$%& tropical something may be threatening us by the mid to late next week. Hopefully we can run 2 days offshore to make Charleston ahead of that event which may not occur at all. Let's hope.
There are hundreds of pigeons here and they are well feed an smart. Look at these that are sitting on a dolphin fountain patiently waiting their turn for a drink.
Enjoy my pics today from the celebration.
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Still Here!!
Yep - still at the Fort Pierce City Marina. Sorry for the long delay since last blog.
I needed time to sort out our new direction since our plan to leave the boat at Brunswick Landing fell through and my desire to not move the boat north along the ICW through Georgia and Southern South Carolina.
I had to investigate several options which all take time because requests for information in the marine industry is a slow slow process. Phone calls not returned for days, emails not responded to for days if at all, etc.
I investigated getting the boat hauled out till the fall here but all the yards are already full. I wanted to see what that would do to my insurance but still no response. I could leave the boat here at the marina till October 1st but I am uncomfortable leaving the boat here during hurricane season. This marina did fine last year with hurricane Matthew and no boats here suffered damage. This marina is very well built (rebuilt in 2014 to FEMA standards).
We decided to take the boat back to North Carolina. Karen is not aboard right now because of the grueling heat and humidity. I don't really want to travel alone in this big ol boat but could if need be. I investigated hiring a delivery captain and of those that responded all were busy till mid July. The prices ranged from $200 a day to $550 a day with an extra crew at 100 - 150 a day plus food and provision and all travel expenses. On a trip that could take between 4 days and 14 days that could get very expensive.
Fortunately I reached out to old cruising friends Jill and Wayne from the Born to Cruise sailboat and they said they could help out. Thank You! It will be fun running up the east coast with friends. They too are not available until the second week of July so here I stay entertaining myself by doing all kinds of odd jobs on the sailboat.
Changed the main engine oil and filter, washed entire boat (free water here)and then waxed both top sides and hull. That took a few days because the sun is just too intense from 11am till 4pm. Lots of other miscellaneous stuff done too. Started cleaning and greasing the winches yesterday. No end to little jobs in site so I'm not bored.
There is also a good book exchange here so if I do run out of work then I have a lot to read.
I needed time to sort out our new direction since our plan to leave the boat at Brunswick Landing fell through and my desire to not move the boat north along the ICW through Georgia and Southern South Carolina.
I had to investigate several options which all take time because requests for information in the marine industry is a slow slow process. Phone calls not returned for days, emails not responded to for days if at all, etc.
I investigated getting the boat hauled out till the fall here but all the yards are already full. I wanted to see what that would do to my insurance but still no response. I could leave the boat here at the marina till October 1st but I am uncomfortable leaving the boat here during hurricane season. This marina did fine last year with hurricane Matthew and no boats here suffered damage. This marina is very well built (rebuilt in 2014 to FEMA standards).
We decided to take the boat back to North Carolina. Karen is not aboard right now because of the grueling heat and humidity. I don't really want to travel alone in this big ol boat but could if need be. I investigated hiring a delivery captain and of those that responded all were busy till mid July. The prices ranged from $200 a day to $550 a day with an extra crew at 100 - 150 a day plus food and provision and all travel expenses. On a trip that could take between 4 days and 14 days that could get very expensive.
Fortunately I reached out to old cruising friends Jill and Wayne from the Born to Cruise sailboat and they said they could help out. Thank You! It will be fun running up the east coast with friends. They too are not available until the second week of July so here I stay entertaining myself by doing all kinds of odd jobs on the sailboat.
Changed the main engine oil and filter, washed entire boat (free water here)and then waxed both top sides and hull. That took a few days because the sun is just too intense from 11am till 4pm. Lots of other miscellaneous stuff done too. Started cleaning and greasing the winches yesterday. No end to little jobs in site so I'm not bored.
There is also a good book exchange here so if I do run out of work then I have a lot to read.
Friday, June 16, 2017
Brain is squirming like a toad!
Aaaack my plans to leave the boat at Brunswick Landing Georgia have been dashed. No room now. They had space in early May but it is all gone now. Now I need a new plan.
I decided to go into the Marina at Vero Beach City and leave the boat for a month to look at options. I do NOT want to go up the ICW entirely. It is a mess in several places now. So what to do, what to do. They said I could stay til September 1. They put me on a face dock with weak, missing, loose cleats. I do not like leaving the boat only tied to a face dock with daily thunderstorms or worse expected. What to do, what to do. Hmmm go to the Publixs and grocery shop that's what. Got to eat. I've only been away from USA grocery store for a week and half but I acted like a kid in the candy store. Man I bought too much.
Thursday was a surprisingly rainy day -- all day. I did some boat projects - replaced the pump seals in forward head, cleaned aft head, and worked on diverter valve, read, and chatted but still no resolution on what to do. I kind of want to go back to NC but not up the ICW. A couple of days offshore is really too much for just 2 intrepid sailors and the weather is not good for the next week offshore. I could have the boat hauled out here but I don't like leaving a boat out of the water for an extended time. Maybe put together a team of three to return the boat to NC. What to do what to do.
Time to eat some crow and take Marks suggestion to go to the Fort Pierce City marina. He wanted to do that when we crossed into the Inlet Tuesday but I wanted Vero Beach. Fort Pierce City marina had great reviews on the docks there but there is a mean cross current in there. So I decided to go there and leave the boat for a month. I'll either have the boat hauled, stay at marina, or take it back to NC --- brain is squirming like a toad!
Today we left early to get to Fort Pierce at slack tide. Ohh boy now I have a favorable current all the way and even slowing the engine down 200 rpms and we still arrived about 45 minutes early. Still a current running but not bad then again it is nearly low tide. Ohhh man I can't win.
We worked our way through some confusing marks and the lowest water we saw was 6.7' -- I draw 5.5' so close. We made the marina which is much larger than I expected and the dock master guided us into a great slip. Only one slip away from all the amenities -- showers, office, laundry and the famous Tiki Hut. Wow the facilities are GREAT. Floating docks on massive pilings, thick concrete walkways, massive firmly attached cleats, and everything is super nice. All commercial washers and dryers. However in the check-in process every thing is printed on a dot matrix printer -- ever heard of one? 1970s technology. After lunch it was laundry time and the machines I used were just FINE. Unusual for a marina.
Temptation had one surprise for me. The fresh water pressure switch failed. It would not turn on the pump until all pressure ran out. Fortunately I had an extra and replaced it -- working fine now.
WOW this place is nice -- it is right downtown in Fort Pierce and all has been revitalized. We are going to have some fun exploring this place.
I decided to go into the Marina at Vero Beach City and leave the boat for a month to look at options. I do NOT want to go up the ICW entirely. It is a mess in several places now. So what to do, what to do. They said I could stay til September 1. They put me on a face dock with weak, missing, loose cleats. I do not like leaving the boat only tied to a face dock with daily thunderstorms or worse expected. What to do, what to do. Hmmm go to the Publixs and grocery shop that's what. Got to eat. I've only been away from USA grocery store for a week and half but I acted like a kid in the candy store. Man I bought too much.
Thursday was a surprisingly rainy day -- all day. I did some boat projects - replaced the pump seals in forward head, cleaned aft head, and worked on diverter valve, read, and chatted but still no resolution on what to do. I kind of want to go back to NC but not up the ICW. A couple of days offshore is really too much for just 2 intrepid sailors and the weather is not good for the next week offshore. I could have the boat hauled out here but I don't like leaving a boat out of the water for an extended time. Maybe put together a team of three to return the boat to NC. What to do what to do.
Time to eat some crow and take Marks suggestion to go to the Fort Pierce City marina. He wanted to do that when we crossed into the Inlet Tuesday but I wanted Vero Beach. Fort Pierce City marina had great reviews on the docks there but there is a mean cross current in there. So I decided to go there and leave the boat for a month. I'll either have the boat hauled, stay at marina, or take it back to NC --- brain is squirming like a toad!
Today we left early to get to Fort Pierce at slack tide. Ohh boy now I have a favorable current all the way and even slowing the engine down 200 rpms and we still arrived about 45 minutes early. Still a current running but not bad then again it is nearly low tide. Ohhh man I can't win.
We worked our way through some confusing marks and the lowest water we saw was 6.7' -- I draw 5.5' so close. We made the marina which is much larger than I expected and the dock master guided us into a great slip. Only one slip away from all the amenities -- showers, office, laundry and the famous Tiki Hut. Wow the facilities are GREAT. Floating docks on massive pilings, thick concrete walkways, massive firmly attached cleats, and everything is super nice. All commercial washers and dryers. However in the check-in process every thing is printed on a dot matrix printer -- ever heard of one? 1970s technology. After lunch it was laundry time and the machines I used were just FINE. Unusual for a marina.
Temptation had one surprise for me. The fresh water pressure switch failed. It would not turn on the pump until all pressure ran out. Fortunately I had an extra and replaced it -- working fine now.
WOW this place is nice -- it is right downtown in Fort Pierce and all has been revitalized. We are going to have some fun exploring this place.
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Back in the USA!!
I'm Back...
Wow what a couple of days. We left Green Turtle Cay on Sunday and made the 60+ mile trip to Great Sale Cay and anchored for the night -- a 10 hour trip. Then Monday morning we waited until nearly 11am to head for Fort Pierce, FL - a 19 hour run with all of it over the Gulf Stream at night. I timed it so we would hit the inlet at daylight. I've never been in this inlet. With the delay and the run up to Vero it was actually a 23 hour run.
We had a great run across the banks and once we hit the Gulf stream I had to slow down -- yes slow down in a sail boat. We were going to get there at 4am or the dark. The sailing directions said this was a very rough inlet on an ebb tide and SE winds. Unfortunately that is what we found.
I had both hands on the steering since this is a narrow inlet and LOTS of current. I got scared at one point because without the engine we would end up on the jetty in a heart beat. I told Mark to get my very sharp serrated knife in case I had to drop an anchor quickly. Both anchors were tied down for the crossing. It was slow and we made it in. I then decided to go onto Vero Beach City Marina rather than go to the Fort Pierce City marina because we would have to stop in Vero for provisioning anyway.
The run across the Gulf Stream was as forecast with 2 -3 foot waves but they were directly astern and we could not sail without beating the Genoa to death. It was a very rolly ride. How rolly? While at the restaurant for lunch both Mark and I felt like we were rolling in our chairs -- uncomfortable. Nice to be bouncing on the boat on a mooring tonight.
Boy the Vero Beach marina is nearly empty with only about a dozen boats here. We had our pick of moorings. Away from most since I planned to run the genset tonight and the AC.
We both immediately took an hour nap since neither had any sleep last night. Then a quick shower and lunch at the riverside cafe then onto the Fort Pierce airport to check in with Customs via Uber. It was 30 minute ride for $24 each way but cheaper than the $2.25 a foot at the Fort Pierce marina and still an Uber ride to the airport.
Oh man it took all of 2 minutes to check in but we are legal entries now. Oh you will get a kick out of this. When you enter their office there is no one around just a chair in the middle of the room with a bell like in an old motel and a note that says "ring for service but only once"!
Wow what a couple of days. We left Green Turtle Cay on Sunday and made the 60+ mile trip to Great Sale Cay and anchored for the night -- a 10 hour trip. Then Monday morning we waited until nearly 11am to head for Fort Pierce, FL - a 19 hour run with all of it over the Gulf Stream at night. I timed it so we would hit the inlet at daylight. I've never been in this inlet. With the delay and the run up to Vero it was actually a 23 hour run.
We had a great run across the banks and once we hit the Gulf stream I had to slow down -- yes slow down in a sail boat. We were going to get there at 4am or the dark. The sailing directions said this was a very rough inlet on an ebb tide and SE winds. Unfortunately that is what we found.
I had both hands on the steering since this is a narrow inlet and LOTS of current. I got scared at one point because without the engine we would end up on the jetty in a heart beat. I told Mark to get my very sharp serrated knife in case I had to drop an anchor quickly. Both anchors were tied down for the crossing. It was slow and we made it in. I then decided to go onto Vero Beach City Marina rather than go to the Fort Pierce City marina because we would have to stop in Vero for provisioning anyway.
The run across the Gulf Stream was as forecast with 2 -3 foot waves but they were directly astern and we could not sail without beating the Genoa to death. It was a very rolly ride. How rolly? While at the restaurant for lunch both Mark and I felt like we were rolling in our chairs -- uncomfortable. Nice to be bouncing on the boat on a mooring tonight.
Boy the Vero Beach marina is nearly empty with only about a dozen boats here. We had our pick of moorings. Away from most since I planned to run the genset tonight and the AC.
We both immediately took an hour nap since neither had any sleep last night. Then a quick shower and lunch at the riverside cafe then onto the Fort Pierce airport to check in with Customs via Uber. It was 30 minute ride for $24 each way but cheaper than the $2.25 a foot at the Fort Pierce marina and still an Uber ride to the airport.
Oh man it took all of 2 minutes to check in but we are legal entries now. Oh you will get a kick out of this. When you enter their office there is no one around just a chair in the middle of the room with a bell like in an old motel and a note that says "ring for service but only once"!
Saturday, June 10, 2017
Still at GreenTurtle Cay
The weather forecast this morning was not good -- lots of showers and thunderstorms crossing the little Bahama Bank which is where we would be today. We elected to wait another day. The weather window is remaining open.
In the mean time we went for dinghy ride into Black Sound and the lagoon across from the Bluff House. Lots of wrecked boats on the shore line -- this hurricane hole is NOT living up to its namesake.
Changed the spark plugs in the dinghy outboard motor. I thought it wouldn't get us back but it did.
We will try to leave again tomorrow morning.
Enough fancy eating -- tonight is spaghetti and meat -- the meat is a "surprise" meat. They said it was hamburger and we will find out.
In the mean time we went for dinghy ride into Black Sound and the lagoon across from the Bluff House. Lots of wrecked boats on the shore line -- this hurricane hole is NOT living up to its namesake.
Changed the spark plugs in the dinghy outboard motor. I thought it wouldn't get us back but it did.
We will try to leave again tomorrow morning.
Enough fancy eating -- tonight is spaghetti and meat -- the meat is a "surprise" meat. They said it was hamburger and we will find out.
Friday, June 9, 2017
Ready set GO!
Ohhh boy. Looks like our weather window has arrived.
We are heading to Great Sale Cay tomorrow and spending the night. Sunday we will head to the northern banks near White Sand Ridge and head out. Depending on how it goes we might make Fort Pearce, Cape Canaveral, or even Brunswick Georgia. Depends on weather and how we feel in the gulf stream.
Today we made final preparations. I dove on the boat bottom and cleaned it with the last 1000psi in my scuba tank, we went to towns and provisioned for a few more days -- mainly Oj and Gin and Coconut Bread.
It was off and on showers this morning so we had to work around that. I dove on the boat bottom and when I came up it started to rain so I took my shower stuff to the showers here and took a nice long hot one. When I came out it was pouring rain so I didn't even dry off and put my wet swim trunks on and put my back pack in a garbage bag and walked in the driving rain to the boat where I dried off and put dry clothes on. Actually great fun. The pool here was full of young kids swimming in the rain. Great fun.
The trip to town was a bit rough in the dinghy but we had a great time once we got there. We went to Shorty's Take out and had lunch. It was good and relatively cheap. We both had lunch dinners and drinks for $24. That is what one lunch is any other place. Then off to grocery store, liqueur store, and bakery. Have got to get one more Coconut bread for the road.
The McIntosh bakery was at its best today. They had coconut cream pies, key lime pies, with huge domes of merangue, cherry pies and all other assortments. Ummmm good but we left with only the coconut bread and Mark had a coconut ice cream for the road. A great afternoon in GTC.
Cleaned up on the boat this afternoon and made more preparations to depart tomorrow. Topped off the diesel full and water tanks and put the dinghy and motor away. If it is not raining in the morning we will be off -- I never leave in the rain!
Wish us luck and check the position reports on this web page to track us. We will be out of cell phone and internet until Monday or Tuesday.
See were we ended up.
We are heading to Great Sale Cay tomorrow and spending the night. Sunday we will head to the northern banks near White Sand Ridge and head out. Depending on how it goes we might make Fort Pearce, Cape Canaveral, or even Brunswick Georgia. Depends on weather and how we feel in the gulf stream.
Today we made final preparations. I dove on the boat bottom and cleaned it with the last 1000psi in my scuba tank, we went to towns and provisioned for a few more days -- mainly Oj and Gin and Coconut Bread.
It was off and on showers this morning so we had to work around that. I dove on the boat bottom and when I came up it started to rain so I took my shower stuff to the showers here and took a nice long hot one. When I came out it was pouring rain so I didn't even dry off and put my wet swim trunks on and put my back pack in a garbage bag and walked in the driving rain to the boat where I dried off and put dry clothes on. Actually great fun. The pool here was full of young kids swimming in the rain. Great fun.
The trip to town was a bit rough in the dinghy but we had a great time once we got there. We went to Shorty's Take out and had lunch. It was good and relatively cheap. We both had lunch dinners and drinks for $24. That is what one lunch is any other place. Then off to grocery store, liqueur store, and bakery. Have got to get one more Coconut bread for the road.
The McIntosh bakery was at its best today. They had coconut cream pies, key lime pies, with huge domes of merangue, cherry pies and all other assortments. Ummmm good but we left with only the coconut bread and Mark had a coconut ice cream for the road. A great afternoon in GTC.
Cleaned up on the boat this afternoon and made more preparations to depart tomorrow. Topped off the diesel full and water tanks and put the dinghy and motor away. If it is not raining in the morning we will be off -- I never leave in the rain!
Wish us luck and check the position reports on this web page to track us. We will be out of cell phone and internet until Monday or Tuesday.
See were we ended up.
Thursday, June 8, 2017
Doing the Turtle Shuffle
Well I was told I still have to leave the Green Turtle Club marina on Saturday the 8th because of reservations.
This caused a lot of consternation. The weather forecast was for frequent severe thunderstorms Wednesday through Friday and a lesser degree on Saturday. The wind on Thursday was supposed to be low 20s gusting to 30s and I did not want to move my boat out of that slip and around all the mega yachts that have already arrived in the Marina -- it is tight.
We decided to move out Wednesday in only moderate wind and try and get a mooring ball in White Sound. I first dove on the propeller to check its condition. It had a lot of very fine grass like structures growing on it as well as the rest of the bottom but they brushed right off -- no barnacles. We then checked out and left the marina -- it was blowing moderately but we made it out with out any white knuckles or yelling -- a good thing. We saw a nice orange mooring and went for it. Well it took 4 attempts to finally get the bridle attached and then we could read the little float that said "RESERVED" -- aaaack. The wind was the factor. It would blow us away before we could attach the bridle.
What to do.. There was no other viable mooring available so I called the Bluff House Marina and they said I could stay tonight but they had reservation and I may have to move tomorrow. Ohh well, Chris Parker was calling for the worst storms tonight into tomorrow so we took a slip. That went pretty well and we were all tied up. Good thing because during the night we had numerous storms roll over and one had lightning so packed together that it looked like a continuous light!
It was a nice day. We met the folks on the 2 other sailboats here and they are all holding to cross back to the US too. Sounds like we might have a buddy boat or two which would be grand. The rest of the afternoon was on again off again showers.
For you cruisers here in the winter where most boats here are either sail or trawler, both marinas are full of large powered mega yachts now. No wonder they wanted me to be gone. These folks spread BIG money around although most are quite rude -- could be that "Kalik drip" they have all day long.
After a stormy night it has been a quiet windy day with just a couple of showers. I cleaned the knot log transducer and launched the dinghy. Installed new cam cleats on the dinghy davits. The old ones were slipping occasionally. We met the locals on a Catamaran on that orange mooring so it was good we didn't stay until kicked off. My old slip at the Green Turtle Club had a small mega yacht in there this afternoon.
So far they have not asked us to move. I hate when I can't have a definite plan!
Mark and I went to lunch at the Tranquil Turtle Beach bar here today. There were only a couple of folks there and we got waited on quickly. We ordered a couple of Kaliks and then tried to order lunch but she wouldn't take the order. "We are out of gas but more is coming". Grrrr this is the same place where my Christmas Dinner -- Special Sweet and Sour Chicken dinner -- consisted of 3 wings and a broken drum stick.
Well the threat of rain was high so we just enjoyed the bar and finally ordered about 45 minutes later. I had the Cracked Conch and it was good. Long lunch -- we didn't get back on the boat till 2:30pm
We have just been puttering around the boat and trying to look scarce so they don't ask me to leave -- wishful thinking I guess.
So we will probably be here tonight. I sure don't want to anchor out here because the holding is poor.
Now what's for dinner?
This caused a lot of consternation. The weather forecast was for frequent severe thunderstorms Wednesday through Friday and a lesser degree on Saturday. The wind on Thursday was supposed to be low 20s gusting to 30s and I did not want to move my boat out of that slip and around all the mega yachts that have already arrived in the Marina -- it is tight.
We decided to move out Wednesday in only moderate wind and try and get a mooring ball in White Sound. I first dove on the propeller to check its condition. It had a lot of very fine grass like structures growing on it as well as the rest of the bottom but they brushed right off -- no barnacles. We then checked out and left the marina -- it was blowing moderately but we made it out with out any white knuckles or yelling -- a good thing. We saw a nice orange mooring and went for it. Well it took 4 attempts to finally get the bridle attached and then we could read the little float that said "RESERVED" -- aaaack. The wind was the factor. It would blow us away before we could attach the bridle.
What to do.. There was no other viable mooring available so I called the Bluff House Marina and they said I could stay tonight but they had reservation and I may have to move tomorrow. Ohh well, Chris Parker was calling for the worst storms tonight into tomorrow so we took a slip. That went pretty well and we were all tied up. Good thing because during the night we had numerous storms roll over and one had lightning so packed together that it looked like a continuous light!
It was a nice day. We met the folks on the 2 other sailboats here and they are all holding to cross back to the US too. Sounds like we might have a buddy boat or two which would be grand. The rest of the afternoon was on again off again showers.
For you cruisers here in the winter where most boats here are either sail or trawler, both marinas are full of large powered mega yachts now. No wonder they wanted me to be gone. These folks spread BIG money around although most are quite rude -- could be that "Kalik drip" they have all day long.
After a stormy night it has been a quiet windy day with just a couple of showers. I cleaned the knot log transducer and launched the dinghy. Installed new cam cleats on the dinghy davits. The old ones were slipping occasionally. We met the locals on a Catamaran on that orange mooring so it was good we didn't stay until kicked off. My old slip at the Green Turtle Club had a small mega yacht in there this afternoon.
So far they have not asked us to move. I hate when I can't have a definite plan!
Mark and I went to lunch at the Tranquil Turtle Beach bar here today. There were only a couple of folks there and we got waited on quickly. We ordered a couple of Kaliks and then tried to order lunch but she wouldn't take the order. "We are out of gas but more is coming". Grrrr this is the same place where my Christmas Dinner -- Special Sweet and Sour Chicken dinner -- consisted of 3 wings and a broken drum stick.
Well the threat of rain was high so we just enjoyed the bar and finally ordered about 45 minutes later. I had the Cracked Conch and it was good. Long lunch -- we didn't get back on the boat till 2:30pm
We have just been puttering around the boat and trying to look scarce so they don't ask me to leave -- wishful thinking I guess.
So we will probably be here tonight. I sure don't want to anchor out here because the holding is poor.
Now what's for dinner?
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Another Fun Day
Aaaack it poured rain till about 11am. then we took a golf cart into town to hit the grocery stores we didn't hit yesterday. Finally got a little lunch meat -- ouch -- $7.10 for a 10oz package of ham.
Then on the way back the golf cart quit running -- had plenty of gas but was not pumping it. Fortunately I had my Bahamas phone and I called Brendell and he sent another cart out. After 30 minutes and being a feast for mosquitoes we headed back and got caught in a blinding rain. Oh yeah we got wet.
We had a nice lunch of leftovers and lunch meat.
I then changed the primary diesel filter on the main engine. The old one did not look bad but now I know we are starting with a good one.
I then checked with the office to see if I could stay another 2 days -- Thursday and Friday -- forecast bad weather those days. They said they had to check with management -- later they said NO -- they were full up.
After a little hiatus I filled the water tanks. Looks like we have to leave here tomorrow instead of Thursday. They have a reservation for this slip. I don't know how they are going to get here because the weather is forecast real bad Thursday and Friday. Thus I need to leave tomorrow while conditions are still mild and go to either a mooring ball, Bluff House, or anchor.
Weather looks good for Saturday on so that is when we will probably start back.
Ohh well.
Just as I was heading out for a late shower tonight I noticed the kitchen sink faucet leaking around the handle -- even when it was off. I had put a repair kit in it 2 months ago but now it leaks again. After studying it awhile Mark notice th water coming from the base rather than the top. I tore it down again and pulled the whole faucet off. Ahhh there are O-rings in the base. I remembered the repair kit had some but I thought they we for a different faucet. Fortunately I hadn't thrown them away and they fit fine. Faucet no leak now --- ahhh feels good. Nice way to end the day -- looks like a shower in the morning though
Then on the way back the golf cart quit running -- had plenty of gas but was not pumping it. Fortunately I had my Bahamas phone and I called Brendell and he sent another cart out. After 30 minutes and being a feast for mosquitoes we headed back and got caught in a blinding rain. Oh yeah we got wet.
We had a nice lunch of leftovers and lunch meat.
I then changed the primary diesel filter on the main engine. The old one did not look bad but now I know we are starting with a good one.
I then checked with the office to see if I could stay another 2 days -- Thursday and Friday -- forecast bad weather those days. They said they had to check with management -- later they said NO -- they were full up.
After a little hiatus I filled the water tanks. Looks like we have to leave here tomorrow instead of Thursday. They have a reservation for this slip. I don't know how they are going to get here because the weather is forecast real bad Thursday and Friday. Thus I need to leave tomorrow while conditions are still mild and go to either a mooring ball, Bluff House, or anchor.
Weather looks good for Saturday on so that is when we will probably start back.
Ohh well.
Just as I was heading out for a late shower tonight I noticed the kitchen sink faucet leaking around the handle -- even when it was off. I had put a repair kit in it 2 months ago but now it leaks again. After studying it awhile Mark notice th water coming from the base rather than the top. I tore it down again and pulled the whole faucet off. Ahhh there are O-rings in the base. I remembered the repair kit had some but I thought they we for a different faucet. Fortunately I hadn't thrown them away and they fit fine. Faucet no leak now --- ahhh feels good. Nice way to end the day -- looks like a shower in the morning though
Back in the Bahamas
Arrived back at Green Turtle Cay yesterday afternoon. Great Trip.
Wow everything came off like clock work yesterday. It was an early start with me getting up at 3:45am but it was worth it. We had a 7:15am flight out of RDU to Miami. The airport was not crowded, made it through boarding pass assignment with minimal hassle (You can't use a Kiosk when doing a one way ticket to the Bahamas). Breezed through TSA and the plane left on time. The only issue was that I left my Iphone in the car. I didn't want to put Karen through the hassle of coming back to the airport or delay my processing so I let it go -- may regret that later.
Arrived in Miami on time and found our departure gate was on the same concourse but at the extreme other end. We came in on gate 7 and would leave on gate 55!! We tried the Sky Train and it was a breeze from there.
The flight from Miami to Marsh Harbour was on a Brazilian built Jet and it was fast -- 29 minutes. Wow it took us 26 hours by boat!!
Arrived in Marsh Harbour and worked through customs and immigration and then grabbed a cab to Treasure Cay. I wanted to go to the marina for lunch and the grocery store there and the cab driver told me "good Luck". This was a holiday weekend here and today Monday was a religious holiday the stores would be very low on supplies and most would be closed. We went to the Ferry dock and had lunch there. Took the 1:30pm Ferry and were in Green turtle about 2pm.
WOW....
The boat looked good. No visible damages, no odor below, and fired up the AC units. It was very warm and sticky.
I was hot and sticky since I lost my acclimation to this heat. We rented a golf cart and went to town for groceries. Only lowes food was open and they had a lot of empty space on the shelves and the really good meats were gone as well as lunch meats. We wanted to go to Sids early this morning but it is poring rain right now... Soon we can go I hope.
Last night we went to the Green Turtle Club for dinner. We had to get a table inside because the mosquitoes are Voracious!! Even the screened in area had them. Then it was back on the boat to do more unpacking and system startups and in bed just after 9pm. It had been a long day but a GREAT travel day.
Time to go forage for some more food now.
Wow everything came off like clock work yesterday. It was an early start with me getting up at 3:45am but it was worth it. We had a 7:15am flight out of RDU to Miami. The airport was not crowded, made it through boarding pass assignment with minimal hassle (You can't use a Kiosk when doing a one way ticket to the Bahamas). Breezed through TSA and the plane left on time. The only issue was that I left my Iphone in the car. I didn't want to put Karen through the hassle of coming back to the airport or delay my processing so I let it go -- may regret that later.
Arrived in Miami on time and found our departure gate was on the same concourse but at the extreme other end. We came in on gate 7 and would leave on gate 55!! We tried the Sky Train and it was a breeze from there.
The flight from Miami to Marsh Harbour was on a Brazilian built Jet and it was fast -- 29 minutes. Wow it took us 26 hours by boat!!
Arrived in Marsh Harbour and worked through customs and immigration and then grabbed a cab to Treasure Cay. I wanted to go to the marina for lunch and the grocery store there and the cab driver told me "good Luck". This was a holiday weekend here and today Monday was a religious holiday the stores would be very low on supplies and most would be closed. We went to the Ferry dock and had lunch there. Took the 1:30pm Ferry and were in Green turtle about 2pm.
WOW....
The boat looked good. No visible damages, no odor below, and fired up the AC units. It was very warm and sticky.
I was hot and sticky since I lost my acclimation to this heat. We rented a golf cart and went to town for groceries. Only lowes food was open and they had a lot of empty space on the shelves and the really good meats were gone as well as lunch meats. We wanted to go to Sids early this morning but it is poring rain right now... Soon we can go I hope.
Last night we went to the Green Turtle Club for dinner. We had to get a table inside because the mosquitoes are Voracious!! Even the screened in area had them. Then it was back on the boat to do more unpacking and system startups and in bed just after 9pm. It had been a long day but a GREAT travel day.
Time to go forage for some more food now.
Monday, April 24, 2017
Crying Uncle and another INTERMISSION!
Ohhh man I come to you all with a heavy heart tonight. Our weather window has not appeared yet and it will be at least another 2 weeks before one might appear. Several folks we know took the marginal weather windows recently that we passed on and they had an uncomfortable time. All made it but it was no fun for them. Unfortunately our patience and needs are not limitless so we are going to have to put the boat up again (this time at the Green Turtle Club) and travel back to the homestead via American Airlines. Fortunately we are not traveling with a stroller so should be okay. Hey I wonder what all those "Sky Marshalls" are doing on these planes that we as tax payers are paying for. Couldn't they intervene if an air rage instance goes to fista cuffs??
The forecast weather for Saturday and yesterday was bad. It turned out WORSE. Last evening we had a wind average in the 30s with gusts in the low 40s. This morning we saw 2 anchored boats up against some docks and 2 others all twisted together and trying to untangle their anchor lines. I wonder if others broke loose last night and were able to reset themselves. It was comfortable here at the dock and we even turned on the AC so we didn't have to listen to the wind whistling.
Well back to the unpleasant intermission. Tomorrow we are taking a ferry to Treasure Cay then a LONG Cab ride to Marsh harbour to catch a plane. We will go through Miami this time then onto RDU. Airport/plane time is 5 hours but 3 hours of ferry, taxi, and check in. What else would be doing tomorrow eh?
I'm not happy about this but I am looking forward to coming back in early June and taking the boat back across to the USA. We have never been here that late and it will be an adventure to enjoy really mild conditions and lots of heat. Hey cooling off is just a dip over the railing! Hey maybe when I return Karen can stay home and one of my old sailing buddies can come over and we can take one of those marginal weather windows and make BIG tracks home. Otherwise it will be the comfortable baby steps back.
Over the rail cooling - well yes and no. Saturday a sport fishing boat came in and they cleaned their fish at the head of the dock. Ohhh Man we had 3 Nurse sharks come in and one was at least 5 feet long and there was a 5 foot manta ray swimming with them and a couple of barracudas. Ohhh man it was just 3 weeks ago I dove here on the bottom of my boat and cleaned it. I looked for fish but saw none. I would have been quite uptight if one of these babies had showed up.
Well the weather looks good for flying tomorrow so hopefully it will be a good trip.
Right now it looks like intermission will be over around June 5th and then we will bring Temptation home.
The forecast weather for Saturday and yesterday was bad. It turned out WORSE. Last evening we had a wind average in the 30s with gusts in the low 40s. This morning we saw 2 anchored boats up against some docks and 2 others all twisted together and trying to untangle their anchor lines. I wonder if others broke loose last night and were able to reset themselves. It was comfortable here at the dock and we even turned on the AC so we didn't have to listen to the wind whistling.
Well back to the unpleasant intermission. Tomorrow we are taking a ferry to Treasure Cay then a LONG Cab ride to Marsh harbour to catch a plane. We will go through Miami this time then onto RDU. Airport/plane time is 5 hours but 3 hours of ferry, taxi, and check in. What else would be doing tomorrow eh?
I'm not happy about this but I am looking forward to coming back in early June and taking the boat back across to the USA. We have never been here that late and it will be an adventure to enjoy really mild conditions and lots of heat. Hey cooling off is just a dip over the railing! Hey maybe when I return Karen can stay home and one of my old sailing buddies can come over and we can take one of those marginal weather windows and make BIG tracks home. Otherwise it will be the comfortable baby steps back.
Over the rail cooling - well yes and no. Saturday a sport fishing boat came in and they cleaned their fish at the head of the dock. Ohhh Man we had 3 Nurse sharks come in and one was at least 5 feet long and there was a 5 foot manta ray swimming with them and a couple of barracudas. Ohhh man it was just 3 weeks ago I dove here on the bottom of my boat and cleaned it. I looked for fish but saw none. I would have been quite uptight if one of these babies had showed up.
Well the weather looks good for flying tomorrow so hopefully it will be a good trip.
Right now it looks like intermission will be over around June 5th and then we will bring Temptation home.
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Like Moses and the promised land
Aaaaaack still in GTC area. We can see the promised land (Florida) but just can't get there ---yet.
We had no weather window this week then one suddenly appeared and everyone is chomping at the bit to use it. Unfortunately it is constantly shrinking and is now down to 12 hours on Friday and still with 3 - 4 foot seas in the Gulf Stream. That is doable by many folks but not us. Then again maybe.
Gosh we have been patient but 3 weeks and stil not a go for us. We will wait some more.
In the mean time we are anchored at Manjack Cay and enjoying this pleasant undeveloped area. There is great sea glass hunting nearby but with the winds 15 - 20 it's is too rough for the dinghy ride of 2 miles. I guess we are just whoosies.
We thought we would take this window anyway but the fates had other ideas. We pulled anchor this morning and motored the 6 miles back to the GTC settlement in what should've been 10 - 15 kts but found 20 plus. We anchored and launched the dinghy in rough conditions. I went to 2 stores and got what we needed. Then back on the boat and loaded the dinghy to leave. It was tough in the bouncing waves. Then we discovered that our fresh water pump was running all the time --not really pumping. So I had to troubleshoot that and fix it. Once loaded and recovered we took off towards Powell Cay where our contingent was supposed to be hanging out but then learned they went further towards Foxtown and anchored behind Crab Cay.. the wind was behind us and I still doubted we would take this window. If we decided to not take it we would have to motorback in stronger winds tomorrow sooo we diverted to Manjack and anchored out of this wind.
Tomorrow we will either go on for the crossing on Friday or head back to GTC to find safe Harbour for the expected very nasty weather this weekend into Monday Tuesday. What can I say?.
We had no weather window this week then one suddenly appeared and everyone is chomping at the bit to use it. Unfortunately it is constantly shrinking and is now down to 12 hours on Friday and still with 3 - 4 foot seas in the Gulf Stream. That is doable by many folks but not us. Then again maybe.
Gosh we have been patient but 3 weeks and stil not a go for us. We will wait some more.
In the mean time we are anchored at Manjack Cay and enjoying this pleasant undeveloped area. There is great sea glass hunting nearby but with the winds 15 - 20 it's is too rough for the dinghy ride of 2 miles. I guess we are just whoosies.
We thought we would take this window anyway but the fates had other ideas. We pulled anchor this morning and motored the 6 miles back to the GTC settlement in what should've been 10 - 15 kts but found 20 plus. We anchored and launched the dinghy in rough conditions. I went to 2 stores and got what we needed. Then back on the boat and loaded the dinghy to leave. It was tough in the bouncing waves. Then we discovered that our fresh water pump was running all the time --not really pumping. So I had to troubleshoot that and fix it. Once loaded and recovered we took off towards Powell Cay where our contingent was supposed to be hanging out but then learned they went further towards Foxtown and anchored behind Crab Cay.. the wind was behind us and I still doubted we would take this window. If we decided to not take it we would have to motorback in stronger winds tomorrow sooo we diverted to Manjack and anchored out of this wind.
Tomorrow we will either go on for the crossing on Friday or head back to GTC to find safe Harbour for the expected very nasty weather this weekend into Monday Tuesday. What can I say?.
Friday, April 14, 2017
Time to climb back on that horse -- anchoring horse
I have to admit that I was really spooked 2 weeks ago when My "fantastic never fail Rocna" anchor dragged big time here in White Sound. It's not unusual to drag anchor here because of the proclivity of turtle grass but I thought I was immune -- I wasn't.
We have been in the high dollar marina for 2 weeks now and it is time to go. Unfortunately we don't have a great weather window showing in the next week but it is time to go. I think I'll stay out of White Sound for awhile though.
There are the northern cays here to explore so that is what we will do or if worse comes to worse we will go to the Leeward Yacht Club in Black Sound and tie up for nearly half the price of the Green turtle club.
Now don't get me wrong the facilities here at the Green Turtle Club are definitely A1 and we have enjoyed them. Unlimited daily showers -- some times twice in a day -- a great pool and sturdy docks to tie to and a marina staff that is next to none -- very friendly and accommodating.
They have a great restaurant here but pricey and we do not want to add that expense to our stay here. We are eating well but it is all prepared by Chef Karen.
For a diversion and some fun we rented a golf cart yesterday for a day and went to town to pickup some bulky soda and beer as well as general provisions. We will be gone but not far for awhile. Time to load up. We used the golf cart to explore the Ocean Beach road -- rough as hell -- As well as the road to the Bluff House -- rougher than hell in fact my windshield popped out of the supports at one point!!
We made another trip this morning before turning the cart back in just to visit town one more time in case we do leave the GTC area next week to head back to the USA. It was very quiet for Good Friday. They are quite religious here in a Christian way and thus Easter is a big deal here.
Right now it looks like we will be in the area for at least another week. We are going to pass on the one day weather window on Monday because it will not be a truly pleasure boater dream -- seas 3 - 5 feet! However several cruisers said that is fine with them and they will be going --- we are pleasure boaters.... Stay tuned.
Ohhh when we came back from the USA last month we only asked for 60 days in the Bahamas -- man we have used almost 30 of those now!! Gosh hope to be back within 2 weeks now...
We have been in the high dollar marina for 2 weeks now and it is time to go. Unfortunately we don't have a great weather window showing in the next week but it is time to go. I think I'll stay out of White Sound for awhile though.
There are the northern cays here to explore so that is what we will do or if worse comes to worse we will go to the Leeward Yacht Club in Black Sound and tie up for nearly half the price of the Green turtle club.
Now don't get me wrong the facilities here at the Green Turtle Club are definitely A1 and we have enjoyed them. Unlimited daily showers -- some times twice in a day -- a great pool and sturdy docks to tie to and a marina staff that is next to none -- very friendly and accommodating.
They have a great restaurant here but pricey and we do not want to add that expense to our stay here. We are eating well but it is all prepared by Chef Karen.
For a diversion and some fun we rented a golf cart yesterday for a day and went to town to pickup some bulky soda and beer as well as general provisions. We will be gone but not far for awhile. Time to load up. We used the golf cart to explore the Ocean Beach road -- rough as hell -- As well as the road to the Bluff House -- rougher than hell in fact my windshield popped out of the supports at one point!!
We made another trip this morning before turning the cart back in just to visit town one more time in case we do leave the GTC area next week to head back to the USA. It was very quiet for Good Friday. They are quite religious here in a Christian way and thus Easter is a big deal here.
Right now it looks like we will be in the area for at least another week. We are going to pass on the one day weather window on Monday because it will not be a truly pleasure boater dream -- seas 3 - 5 feet! However several cruisers said that is fine with them and they will be going --- we are pleasure boaters.... Stay tuned.
Ohhh when we came back from the USA last month we only asked for 60 days in the Bahamas -- man we have used almost 30 of those now!! Gosh hope to be back within 2 weeks now...
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Home Sick
It's official now. We are home sick.
We expected to be back in the USA by now but these incessant East to North-east winds are keeping us in the Bahamas.
Once you decide to go home then that is all you can think about but these winds are relentless and keeping us put. Heck anyone to tough it out with these winds but we are "pleasure Boaters" and prefer milder conditions and are willing to wait until we get them but we will still complain.
Thus we need to accept the obvious and make the best of it. How about high temps in the low 80s and lows in the high 60s with no rain and plenty of sunshine? Not bad. Water temp is about 74 degrees and just a little invigorating but we are enjoying it. There are a lot of cruisers here in the GTC area and we are all socializing. We have the concert from the Gully Roosters tomorrow night "best band in the nation!". We have 3 grocery stores, a bakery, and 2 liquor stores in the settlement and several beach bars. We are not suffering except in our own minds.
Next crossing window is nearly a week away and it is questionable. Ohh well we will endure it somehow.
Don't feel sorry for us.
The beauty of so many cruisers around you is that you can't feel sorry for yourself. Our main battery charger died yesterday. It went out with a loud Phsssssssst and electrical smell. No smoke or fire but it is TOAST! Fortunately we have 2 battery chargers aboard and the other has picked up the load after isolating the first charger maybe a 2 hour task. I complained to one cruiser and he showed me his bent hydraulic ram on his Autopilot -- they will be hand steering back to the USA. Another cruiser said his genset failed and everything on board needs AC like his water maker and the cold plates for his refrigeration. It will be marina stops for him till he gets back to the USA. My issue is pretty petty with respect to theirs.
Oh well we will persevere.
We expected to be back in the USA by now but these incessant East to North-east winds are keeping us in the Bahamas.
Once you decide to go home then that is all you can think about but these winds are relentless and keeping us put. Heck anyone to tough it out with these winds but we are "pleasure Boaters" and prefer milder conditions and are willing to wait until we get them but we will still complain.
Thus we need to accept the obvious and make the best of it. How about high temps in the low 80s and lows in the high 60s with no rain and plenty of sunshine? Not bad. Water temp is about 74 degrees and just a little invigorating but we are enjoying it. There are a lot of cruisers here in the GTC area and we are all socializing. We have the concert from the Gully Roosters tomorrow night "best band in the nation!". We have 3 grocery stores, a bakery, and 2 liquor stores in the settlement and several beach bars. We are not suffering except in our own minds.
Next crossing window is nearly a week away and it is questionable. Ohh well we will endure it somehow.
Don't feel sorry for us.
The beauty of so many cruisers around you is that you can't feel sorry for yourself. Our main battery charger died yesterday. It went out with a loud Phsssssssst and electrical smell. No smoke or fire but it is TOAST! Fortunately we have 2 battery chargers aboard and the other has picked up the load after isolating the first charger maybe a 2 hour task. I complained to one cruiser and he showed me his bent hydraulic ram on his Autopilot -- they will be hand steering back to the USA. Another cruiser said his genset failed and everything on board needs AC like his water maker and the cold plates for his refrigeration. It will be marina stops for him till he gets back to the USA. My issue is pretty petty with respect to theirs.
Oh well we will persevere.
Saturday, April 8, 2017
All dressed up and no place to go
Wow it has been a fast week. I can't believe its been 6 days since last post.
The week has been spent swimming at the beach, a golf cart outing, visits into the settlement of New Plymouth, and swimming in the pool here. We have kept pretty busy. We had a great cruisers get together last night for all the sailboats here.
This has been a windy week and glad to be in a marina. The marina really filled up on Wednesday/ Thursday for the forecast big winds on Thursday and Friday. The anchorage was packed. The winds really piped up on Thursday and at least 4 boats in the anchorage dragged. More did over night but no count available. It was ugly but we were safely tucked in. I don't trust this anchorage after my "never fail" Rocna dragged the other day here.
Watching the weather window this week my brain has been squirming like a toad! First we had no window then we had a great window beginning today through Wednesday. Great, we started prepping for that. Then that window began shrinking from 4 to 3 and now maybe 2 days. This window had Sunday into Monday with 2 - 3 foot seas in the gulf stream and occasional 5 or 6 foot. Then it was just 2 -3 as of this morning. To use this window we would have to nonstop from here to Lake Worth in 26 hours and we would be crossing the gulf stream in the dark. If the 2 -3 foot was wrong then it would be rough. There wouldn't be any smaller seas.
So what do we do? The rest of the week is all 10 - 20 knots with a few days at 15 - 25 and higher gusts. We could go to Manjack Cay and anchor for this forecast NE wind but it would be uncomfortable and worrisome. We could have gone today to Great Sale Cay and on to West End tomorrow but then we would stay there for at least a week.
I decided it is just better to stay put and be comfortable and worry free. Hell a week here is only as much as a third of a weeks cost in a nursing home. Why not spend it here.
Today the marina cleared out and we are the only sailboat here. There are 3 megayachts here but they don't count. Today is a very light day with winds beginning to build tomorrow afternoon and then strong winds Monday through Friday. I went to the office to see if we could stay till next Saturday and they said they had a lot of reservations but they could still fit us in. Seems unusal with all the empty slips but that is the nature of reservations. Ugly weather coming this week and other cruisers know it.
The boats that left are split in their decisions. Some will try this window to cross to the USA Sunday
and the others will go to Manjack and weather the blow there. I suspect many of those will be back in here before Tuesday.
In the mean time we are the welcoming commitee here.
The week has been spent swimming at the beach, a golf cart outing, visits into the settlement of New Plymouth, and swimming in the pool here. We have kept pretty busy. We had a great cruisers get together last night for all the sailboats here.
This has been a windy week and glad to be in a marina. The marina really filled up on Wednesday/ Thursday for the forecast big winds on Thursday and Friday. The anchorage was packed. The winds really piped up on Thursday and at least 4 boats in the anchorage dragged. More did over night but no count available. It was ugly but we were safely tucked in. I don't trust this anchorage after my "never fail" Rocna dragged the other day here.
Watching the weather window this week my brain has been squirming like a toad! First we had no window then we had a great window beginning today through Wednesday. Great, we started prepping for that. Then that window began shrinking from 4 to 3 and now maybe 2 days. This window had Sunday into Monday with 2 - 3 foot seas in the gulf stream and occasional 5 or 6 foot. Then it was just 2 -3 as of this morning. To use this window we would have to nonstop from here to Lake Worth in 26 hours and we would be crossing the gulf stream in the dark. If the 2 -3 foot was wrong then it would be rough. There wouldn't be any smaller seas.
So what do we do? The rest of the week is all 10 - 20 knots with a few days at 15 - 25 and higher gusts. We could go to Manjack Cay and anchor for this forecast NE wind but it would be uncomfortable and worrisome. We could have gone today to Great Sale Cay and on to West End tomorrow but then we would stay there for at least a week.
I decided it is just better to stay put and be comfortable and worry free. Hell a week here is only as much as a third of a weeks cost in a nursing home. Why not spend it here.
Today the marina cleared out and we are the only sailboat here. There are 3 megayachts here but they don't count. Today is a very light day with winds beginning to build tomorrow afternoon and then strong winds Monday through Friday. I went to the office to see if we could stay till next Saturday and they said they had a lot of reservations but they could still fit us in. Seems unusal with all the empty slips but that is the nature of reservations. Ugly weather coming this week and other cruisers know it.
The boats that left are split in their decisions. Some will try this window to cross to the USA Sunday
In the mean time we are the welcoming commitee here.
Sunday, April 2, 2017
A plumber Mowing the grass
When you go cruising you have to have multiple skills. Our kitchen faucet has been leaking at the stem. I brought a repair kit for it while back home and that is probably the item that triggered a hand inspection of my carry on while in the security line at the airport.
The fix went smoothly and no leak now.
I wanted to finish cleaning the boat bottom now that I had my scuba tank refilled. The water here at the marina is not too bad. The task went well although I did find more barnacles then expected and the growth on the keel was long filaments much like grass. Fortunately they brushed off easily.
I used 3/4 tank with air to spare. Once done the hard work begins. Flushing all the dive gear with fresh water and drying everything.
After relaxing a bit I walked up to the heavily chlorinated pool and went for a refreshing cleansing swim. I feel really clean now although they probably need to add more chlorine in the pool.
It' s a beautiful calm evening tonight. -- perfect for relaxing after a grueling day in the water.
The fix went smoothly and no leak now.
I wanted to finish cleaning the boat bottom now that I had my scuba tank refilled. The water here at the marina is not too bad. The task went well although I did find more barnacles then expected and the growth on the keel was long filaments much like grass. Fortunately they brushed off easily.
I used 3/4 tank with air to spare. Once done the hard work begins. Flushing all the dive gear with fresh water and drying everything.
After relaxing a bit I walked up to the heavily chlorinated pool and went for a refreshing cleansing swim. I feel really clean now although they probably need to add more chlorine in the pool.
It' s a beautiful calm evening tonight. -- perfect for relaxing after a grueling day in the water.
Friday, March 31, 2017
A scary day in paradise
The morning dawned with mild wind but that changed by 10 o'clock. It started blowing in the low 20s. The anchor looked good but one never knows. Several boats came in and tried to anchor. The thick turtle grass makes it difficult. Most had to reset and clear large mounds of sand and grass from their anchors before resetting them. We made no comments but we worried what ours was doing.
Then around 11am a boat called Mayday! They had a person on board that was unconscious after snorkeling near Fowl Cay. There was a dive boat nearby that attended and transported to Marsh Harbour. Don't know the outcome but it is scary. For the most part you have to depend on family and friends and strangers for first responders.
Then around 2:30 pm we drug anchor. It happened quickly. I just realized I was getting close to the marina dock and we were closing quickly. I told Karen we were dragging and start the engine. I turned on the breakers for windlass, wash down, etc. she started to slowly hold us off the dock while I retrieved the anchor chain and anchor. The anchor was a mass of grass and sand and difficult to clear. We moved to a nearby sandy spot and dropped the anchor. It grabbed quickly. I put out an extra 20 feet for a total of 90 feet in 10 feet water. It feels good and looks good in the wind gusts. The wind is supposed to relax tonight so shouldn't be too difficult to sleep tonight. The next few days are calling for light winds.
How windy is It? Well my windgenerator overheated and went into free run mode --- very loud and scary. I have to manual turn it away from the wind until the prop feathers then put a restraining line on it.
We thought about going to town for a walk but not after dragging. It will take a few hours to rebuild confidence in this anchor set.
Then around 11am a boat called Mayday! They had a person on board that was unconscious after snorkeling near Fowl Cay. There was a dive boat nearby that attended and transported to Marsh Harbour. Don't know the outcome but it is scary. For the most part you have to depend on family and friends and strangers for first responders.
Then around 2:30 pm we drug anchor. It happened quickly. I just realized I was getting close to the marina dock and we were closing quickly. I told Karen we were dragging and start the engine. I turned on the breakers for windlass, wash down, etc. she started to slowly hold us off the dock while I retrieved the anchor chain and anchor. The anchor was a mass of grass and sand and difficult to clear. We moved to a nearby sandy spot and dropped the anchor. It grabbed quickly. I put out an extra 20 feet for a total of 90 feet in 10 feet water. It feels good and looks good in the wind gusts. The wind is supposed to relax tonight so shouldn't be too difficult to sleep tonight. The next few days are calling for light winds.
How windy is It? Well my windgenerator overheated and went into free run mode --- very loud and scary. I have to manual turn it away from the wind until the prop feathers then put a restraining line on it.
We thought about going to town for a walk but not after dragging. It will take a few hours to rebuild confidence in this anchor set.
Thursday, March 30, 2017
GTC - Feels like home
Ahhhh back in GreenTurtle Cay and anchored in White Sound.
The anchorage last night in Manjack/Crab Cay was beautiful last night. Sky was clear and stars where magnificent with no light pollution. Just a Lille sliver of moon was out.
With all the cruisers in the area we decided to go to White Sound to anchor. I expected it to be crowded and it wasn't. Heck only 5 boats at the Green Turtle Club Marina and 4 over at the Bluff House. Only 8 boats on anchor and moorings. However several motor yachts and trawlers came in this afternoon and all went to marinas. One poor cruiser came in 2 hours before low tide and ran aground. He will be there at least 5 hours before the tide takes him off. No Boat US towing over here.
We went to town in the dinghy and just browsed a bit and bought some fresh veggies. The settlement just has a homey feel to it. I'm very relaxed here. We then cruised Black Sound thinking we would move over there in a couple of days but it just feels dark over there -- not like White Sound. The big attraction over there is the public dock that is very close to town but seeing the large boats tied there I wouldnt want to put my dingy there.
Once back I took my scuba tank over to Brendels Dive Shop for a fill. I want to finish cleaning the bottom of my boat.
Now time to relax.
The anchorage last night in Manjack/Crab Cay was beautiful last night. Sky was clear and stars where magnificent with no light pollution. Just a Lille sliver of moon was out.
With all the cruisers in the area we decided to go to White Sound to anchor. I expected it to be crowded and it wasn't. Heck only 5 boats at the Green Turtle Club Marina and 4 over at the Bluff House. Only 8 boats on anchor and moorings. However several motor yachts and trawlers came in this afternoon and all went to marinas. One poor cruiser came in 2 hours before low tide and ran aground. He will be there at least 5 hours before the tide takes him off. No Boat US towing over here.
We went to town in the dinghy and just browsed a bit and bought some fresh veggies. The settlement just has a homey feel to it. I'm very relaxed here. We then cruised Black Sound thinking we would move over there in a couple of days but it just feels dark over there -- not like White Sound. The big attraction over there is the public dock that is very close to town but seeing the large boats tied there I wouldnt want to put my dingy there.
Once back I took my scuba tank over to Brendels Dive Shop for a fill. I want to finish cleaning the bottom of my boat.
Now time to relax.
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Rock and roll and roll and roll
We made it around the Whale Cay today. Good thing we turned back yesterday because today was still a Handful with 4 foot seas - yesterday they were 6 - 7. We rolled up and down swells on the approach and exit but across it was rolly. Cushions all came adrift.
It was calm in the sea of Abaco and a nice ride to Manjack Cay where we anchored for the day. Next front comes in tomorrow night so we will seek safe Harbour in either White Sound or Black Sound on Green Turtle Cay tomorrow morning.
Manjack is crowded this afternoon. - 28 boats.
We got in around 11:30 this morning. After lunch we took the dinghy to Crab Cay to do some sea glass hunting. We were on a falling tide. Karen did great and found about 3 lbs in 40minutes. It took awhile to find the path over to the ocean and we relaxed awhile so we were there for probably 1.5 hours. When we got back to the dinghy it was high and nearly dry and the water was still going down. I had to drag that big ol dinghy nearly 70 yds before it floated. It was tuff!
It's beautiful here in Manjack this evening. It's about 80 degrees with a low of 67 tonight.
It was calm in the sea of Abaco and a nice ride to Manjack Cay where we anchored for the day. Next front comes in tomorrow night so we will seek safe Harbour in either White Sound or Black Sound on Green Turtle Cay tomorrow morning.
Manjack is crowded this afternoon. - 28 boats.
We got in around 11:30 this morning. After lunch we took the dinghy to Crab Cay to do some sea glass hunting. We were on a falling tide. Karen did great and found about 3 lbs in 40minutes. It took awhile to find the path over to the ocean and we relaxed awhile so we were there for probably 1.5 hours. When we got back to the dinghy it was high and nearly dry and the water was still going down. I had to drag that big ol dinghy nearly 70 yds before it floated. It was tuff!
It's beautiful here in Manjack this evening. It's about 80 degrees with a low of 67 tonight.
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Don't drown turn around!
Well it wasn't quite that bad today. We are back in Treasure Cay.
We tried the Whale Cay passage this morning. The wind had died overnight and none in the morning. Certainly it had to be calm out in the ocean this morning. We left at 8:30 on the rising tide and wind and seas would be in the same direction. Nice flat calm at the start. We had to go 5 miles to the start of Whale Cay. After about 2 miles we felt the swell building. By the time we were 3/4mile from the cut the swells were 4 - 7 feet and we could feel the acceleration on the back sides. It wasn't dangerous but uncomfortable. We were taking the seas on the nose so it was just and down however when we made the turn we would run 2 miles with the seas on the beam and then have a very rolly ride. I was game but Karen wasn't. So we turned around and had a pleasant trip back to Treasure Cay.
Tomorrow the swell is forecast to be 4 foot. Not smooth but should be better.
Today we went to the beach here - one of the 10 best in the world. It's beautiful but toooooo commercialized. You have to pay to use chairs and umbrellas and you cannot bring your own and NO COOLERS ALLOWED! That's okay --- got wasted before I went and sat on a towel. Big deal -- I went for the swim and it was FINE.
We tried the Whale Cay passage this morning. The wind had died overnight and none in the morning. Certainly it had to be calm out in the ocean this morning. We left at 8:30 on the rising tide and wind and seas would be in the same direction. Nice flat calm at the start. We had to go 5 miles to the start of Whale Cay. After about 2 miles we felt the swell building. By the time we were 3/4mile from the cut the swells were 4 - 7 feet and we could feel the acceleration on the back sides. It wasn't dangerous but uncomfortable. We were taking the seas on the nose so it was just and down however when we made the turn we would run 2 miles with the seas on the beam and then have a very rolly ride. I was game but Karen wasn't. So we turned around and had a pleasant trip back to Treasure Cay.
Tomorrow the swell is forecast to be 4 foot. Not smooth but should be better.
Today we went to the beach here - one of the 10 best in the world. It's beautiful but toooooo commercialized. You have to pay to use chairs and umbrellas and you cannot bring your own and NO COOLERS ALLOWED! That's okay --- got wasted before I went and sat on a towel. Big deal -- I went for the swim and it was FINE.
Monday, March 27, 2017
Treasure lost
We finally untied the dock lines and left MOW this morning. We had a great motor sail to Treasure Cay and arrived around 11am. It was 2.5 hours after high tide but got in okay. Much to our disappointment the anchorage area is now full of mooring balls - 22 to be exact. Hell I can remember 22 boats anchored here when there were only 4 mooring balls back in 2014. Grrr I really enjoyed anchoring for free in years past. These moorings are expensive at $30 and 2.90 for taxes and a marina fee now. There are only 13 boats here tonight.
Well it's okay but we will spend only one night here instead of 2. The whale cay passage was very rough today because of the strong winds over the weekend. Should be just rolly tomorrow. If doable for a pleasure boater then we will go to Manjack Cay for a few days of hiking and sea glass hunting at Crab Cay next door. Then it will be in at green Turtle Cay for the blow coming Friday and Saturday. After that we will look for a weather window to cross back to the good ol USA.
Now on the plus side the free wifi you get with you mooring fee is really great. We are midway into the mooring field and the connection is very good and fast -- a real surprise. The grocery store and liquor store are both well stocked and an easy walk from the marina. The library was open from 3-5 today and we were able to buy some more reading material from the withdrawn books. A great deal - $5 for 2 hard back and a dollar for paperbacks.
Tonight is BINGO TACO night. Karen's favorites. I asked about the bingo and it is a dollar a card but no cash pot. Only bottles of wine for prizes. Looks to be a night on the boat and a little Farley action after I eat my rib eye from the store this afternoon. Ooh I even found Russian dressing here. Don't you love to forage for your food?
Well it's okay but we will spend only one night here instead of 2. The whale cay passage was very rough today because of the strong winds over the weekend. Should be just rolly tomorrow. If doable for a pleasure boater then we will go to Manjack Cay for a few days of hiking and sea glass hunting at Crab Cay next door. Then it will be in at green Turtle Cay for the blow coming Friday and Saturday. After that we will look for a weather window to cross back to the good ol USA.
Now on the plus side the free wifi you get with you mooring fee is really great. We are midway into the mooring field and the connection is very good and fast -- a real surprise. The grocery store and liquor store are both well stocked and an easy walk from the marina. The library was open from 3-5 today and we were able to buy some more reading material from the withdrawn books. A great deal - $5 for 2 hard back and a dollar for paperbacks.
Tonight is BINGO TACO night. Karen's favorites. I asked about the bingo and it is a dollar a card but no cash pot. Only bottles of wine for prizes. Looks to be a night on the boat and a little Farley action after I eat my rib eye from the store this afternoon. Ooh I even found Russian dressing here. Don't you love to forage for your food?
Sunday, March 26, 2017
Getting to know Man O War
We have been enjoying our easy days here on Man O War Cay. Wandering around the settlement you see very nicely maintained houses and buildings. There might be a handful of what could be considered run down.
The other thing that strikes you is how fully developed it is here. Very little wild growth areas. Housing everywhere but it doesn't feel crowded. The only real annoyance here is that ALL the natives ride in golf carts so there is a lot of traffic on the narrow lanes. They don't do much walking here and it shows... About the only walkers are the visitors and cruisers.
I think all this development aids in the absence of annoying insect life. HAven't seen a mosquito or no see ums since we have been here. However order a Conch dish from a restaurant and look out for the flies -- they are really attracted to the conch.
Yesterday they had their annual LUAU festival. The natives love there festivals and all came out. It was held here on the MArina grounds and a good time and food was had by all. Many dressed in Hawaiian shirts and the little girls (mostly under 10) wore grass skirts -- very cute. They had a limbo contest and an auction. All funds were supposed to go to support the junior athletic programs on the island.
The wind has laid down today but we are cleaning and getting the boat ready to travel again. Probably leave tomorrow morning with the high tide. You definitely need to work the tide to get in and out of MOW MAn O War.
The other thing that strikes you is how fully developed it is here. Very little wild growth areas. Housing everywhere but it doesn't feel crowded. The only real annoyance here is that ALL the natives ride in golf carts so there is a lot of traffic on the narrow lanes. They don't do much walking here and it shows... About the only walkers are the visitors and cruisers.
I think all this development aids in the absence of annoying insect life. HAven't seen a mosquito or no see ums since we have been here. However order a Conch dish from a restaurant and look out for the flies -- they are really attracted to the conch.
Yesterday they had their annual LUAU festival. The natives love there festivals and all came out. It was held here on the MArina grounds and a good time and food was had by all. Many dressed in Hawaiian shirts and the little girls (mostly under 10) wore grass skirts -- very cute. They had a limbo contest and an auction. All funds were supposed to go to support the junior athletic programs on the island.
The wind has laid down today but we are cleaning and getting the boat ready to travel again. Probably leave tomorrow morning with the high tide. You definitely need to work the tide to get in and out of MOW MAn O War.
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Ahhhhh back on Island Time
We returned to the boat at Man O War Cay (that's an island). Pretty good trip except for TSA.
We arrived at RDU 2 hours before departure and went right to Security checkpoint with my home grown boarding passes. TSA would not accept them since they were missing a bar code. So much for Delta online boarding process.
Back to the main gate and then they had trouble processing since we had one way tickets with no return flight. Showed them my cruising permit and explained we would return by boat. Twenty minutes later and 3 agents consulting and we were on our way.
Back at TSA they pulled my back pack and said they had to look inside. I guess maybe the faucet repair kit or the spark plugs triggered the inspection after being x-rayed. Once through security things ran smooth. Well till we hit Atlanta and came in on Concourse C near the end and had to go to Concourse E near the end. We had about 35 minutes and we used 30 of them. Got to the gate and it was empty. I though this is a lightly used flight!! After being chastened by the gate agents we loaded into a nearly full (72 passenger) flight. They saved the last 2 seats in the back for us.
We had a smooth hour and 20 minute flight to Marsh Harbour. Minimum hassle through customs then a taxi ride to the ferry dock. Got there about 2pm and the ferry was leaving at 4pm. Two hours to kill so we went next door to a take out stand and bought 2 cheeseburgers, fries, a Kalik beer(out of iced tea) and a diet coke -- only $29.!
It was delightful though. The water was a brilliant green and blue and clear as gin. The temp was 75 degrees and a slight breeze. Ahhh it felt good to be warm again with out wearing arctic clothing. We even had a flock of sandpipers watching us eat and waiting on crumbs -- apparently liking french fries more that sand fleas -- go figure.
After lunch we walked next door to the Ferry terminal and said we were there for the 4 o'clock ferry to man O War. They said we were in luck because they had an unscheduled one leaving at 3pm -- just 15 minutes!!
Great because we needed to get groceries as soon as we arrived and the store closed around 5 or 6pm -- there is only one grocery in Man O War.
A smooth ride to Man O War. We found Temptation in fine shape. Opened her up and headed to the grocery.
After being home for 2 weeks it was sticker shock all over but we got by that pretty fast.
Boy it felt so good walking the narrow lanes of Man O War with no crowds, no cars, just an occasional golf cart, friendly people all acknowledging you, and all rolled up in a very WARM package.
It felt great sleeping with the windows (actually hatches) open in just PJs and not even a covering sheet needed.
The weather turns rough with high winds tomorrow through Saturday so we will stay here till Sunday -- maybe Saturday -- we will see. Then on to Treasure Cay for a few days waiting for a good crossing across the whale Cay -- it will be rough for a day or so after this weather passes.
We arrived at RDU 2 hours before departure and went right to Security checkpoint with my home grown boarding passes. TSA would not accept them since they were missing a bar code. So much for Delta online boarding process.
Back to the main gate and then they had trouble processing since we had one way tickets with no return flight. Showed them my cruising permit and explained we would return by boat. Twenty minutes later and 3 agents consulting and we were on our way.
Back at TSA they pulled my back pack and said they had to look inside. I guess maybe the faucet repair kit or the spark plugs triggered the inspection after being x-rayed. Once through security things ran smooth. Well till we hit Atlanta and came in on Concourse C near the end and had to go to Concourse E near the end. We had about 35 minutes and we used 30 of them. Got to the gate and it was empty. I though this is a lightly used flight!! After being chastened by the gate agents we loaded into a nearly full (72 passenger) flight. They saved the last 2 seats in the back for us.
We had a smooth hour and 20 minute flight to Marsh Harbour. Minimum hassle through customs then a taxi ride to the ferry dock. Got there about 2pm and the ferry was leaving at 4pm. Two hours to kill so we went next door to a take out stand and bought 2 cheeseburgers, fries, a Kalik beer(out of iced tea) and a diet coke -- only $29.!
It was delightful though. The water was a brilliant green and blue and clear as gin. The temp was 75 degrees and a slight breeze. Ahhh it felt good to be warm again with out wearing arctic clothing. We even had a flock of sandpipers watching us eat and waiting on crumbs -- apparently liking french fries more that sand fleas -- go figure.
After lunch we walked next door to the Ferry terminal and said we were there for the 4 o'clock ferry to man O War. They said we were in luck because they had an unscheduled one leaving at 3pm -- just 15 minutes!!
Great because we needed to get groceries as soon as we arrived and the store closed around 5 or 6pm -- there is only one grocery in Man O War.
A smooth ride to Man O War. We found Temptation in fine shape. Opened her up and headed to the grocery.
After being home for 2 weeks it was sticker shock all over but we got by that pretty fast.
Boy it felt so good walking the narrow lanes of Man O War with no crowds, no cars, just an occasional golf cart, friendly people all acknowledging you, and all rolled up in a very WARM package.
It felt great sleeping with the windows (actually hatches) open in just PJs and not even a covering sheet needed.
The weather turns rough with high winds tomorrow through Saturday so we will stay here till Sunday -- maybe Saturday -- we will see. Then on to Treasure Cay for a few days waiting for a good crossing across the whale Cay -- it will be rough for a day or so after this weather passes.
Saturday, March 11, 2017
INTERMISSION
Yep we are taking an intermission from our trip. We are currently at home in Bahama, NC and the boat is still in the Man O War Marina.
We decided after knowing and cruising with Jim and Barb Thompson for 25 years we needed to be at the memorial service for Barb.
We left Saturday morning to head home. What a trip!
First we took the Aubury Ferry to Marsh Harbour. It was blowing to 30 kts and it was rough on the Sea of Abaco. The driver worked very hard trying to steer around the roughest waves but it was a rough ride for about 20 minutes -- I actually got a little queasy.
We then took a taxi to the airport and checked in. We traveled light with no check baggage but still it took 20 minutes to get our boarding passes. We then went through security which is always a trial. Karen got selected for extensive pat down. It was just the unluck of the draw. We then left on a Silver Airways twin engine prop Saab plane. The wind was still very gusty so it was a rough ride to cruising altitude. It only took an hour to get to Fort Lauderdale. This plane stops on the tarmac and we have to take a bus to the terminal to go through customs. Man this is a BIG airport. There must have been 70 folks ahead of us in line to pass through customs. First we have to go to a machine that takes your picture and compares it to the passport after asking a few questions. Then its on to the interview again with a line of 70 in front of us. Then they turn us out to the entrance so we have to go back through security before getting to our gate.
I failed inspection because I left my wallet in my pocket. They took the wallet to pass through the xray machine and I had to undergo the extensive pat down. They asked if I wanted to do that in privacy and I said NO -- I would not be embarrassed. Then onto the gate for a 4 hour layover till our flight back to RDU on a Jet Blue plane. That went well. It was crowded in the terminal and I mean everyone is on a smart phone looking intently at who knows what. They had good WiFi there and there were charging stations everywhere to plug your phone in.. Unbelievable.
The flight home was uneventful and we arrived around 7:40pm. Wow the travel time through the airports was 7 and half hours with a 4 hour layover. We did our trip in reverse in less than 4 hours travel vs the 6 weeks it took for us to get to Green Turtle Cay in December.
Fortunately we made it back in time for Barb's memorial service on Sunday. It was a fine event and we met many folks that knew her over the years.
We are going to take a couple of weeks here at home to undertake some personal business then return to the Bahamas to explore a little the northern Islands above GTC then return to the USA.
So no more posts till we return to the Bahamas.
We decided after knowing and cruising with Jim and Barb Thompson for 25 years we needed to be at the memorial service for Barb.
We left Saturday morning to head home. What a trip!
First we took the Aubury Ferry to Marsh Harbour. It was blowing to 30 kts and it was rough on the Sea of Abaco. The driver worked very hard trying to steer around the roughest waves but it was a rough ride for about 20 minutes -- I actually got a little queasy.
We then took a taxi to the airport and checked in. We traveled light with no check baggage but still it took 20 minutes to get our boarding passes. We then went through security which is always a trial. Karen got selected for extensive pat down. It was just the unluck of the draw. We then left on a Silver Airways twin engine prop Saab plane. The wind was still very gusty so it was a rough ride to cruising altitude. It only took an hour to get to Fort Lauderdale. This plane stops on the tarmac and we have to take a bus to the terminal to go through customs. Man this is a BIG airport. There must have been 70 folks ahead of us in line to pass through customs. First we have to go to a machine that takes your picture and compares it to the passport after asking a few questions. Then its on to the interview again with a line of 70 in front of us. Then they turn us out to the entrance so we have to go back through security before getting to our gate.
I failed inspection because I left my wallet in my pocket. They took the wallet to pass through the xray machine and I had to undergo the extensive pat down. They asked if I wanted to do that in privacy and I said NO -- I would not be embarrassed. Then onto the gate for a 4 hour layover till our flight back to RDU on a Jet Blue plane. That went well. It was crowded in the terminal and I mean everyone is on a smart phone looking intently at who knows what. They had good WiFi there and there were charging stations everywhere to plug your phone in.. Unbelievable.
The flight home was uneventful and we arrived around 7:40pm. Wow the travel time through the airports was 7 and half hours with a 4 hour layover. We did our trip in reverse in less than 4 hours travel vs the 6 weeks it took for us to get to Green Turtle Cay in December.
Fortunately we made it back in time for Barb's memorial service on Sunday. It was a fine event and we met many folks that knew her over the years.
We are going to take a couple of weeks here at home to undertake some personal business then return to the Bahamas to explore a little the northern Islands above GTC then return to the USA.
So no more posts till we return to the Bahamas.
Friday, March 3, 2017
Lost a dear friend
Well I like to keep these blogs light and upbeat but sometimes that is not possible.
This week we lost a very dear cruising friend (best friend) to a sudden illness which took Barbara Thompson in virtually a blink of an eye. It was a shocker to us and all our friends who knew her.
We first met Barbara and her husband Jim at Matthews Point marina in 1992. We had a Catalina 22 and they had a Compact 23 and were berthed in the slip next to us. It wasn't long before we started to cruise along the same gunk holes together. They took to Andy and Kourtney like an aunt and uncle. Andy was 12 and Kourtney was 10. We shared some adventures over those short weekends at Matthews Point.
Over the years we all moved on to other boats -- always bigger but still hung out in the same places. Several times we vacationed together taking a week or more to go to Wrightsville Beach or Ocracoke and back doing both inside routes and outside routes.
There was many a night when would gather together on one boat or the other to chat, play games like Barb's favorite FARKLE, and Mexican train. It was all fun.
We would go out to eat together and just hang out -- true friends.
Barb was very opinionated and she had a knack for addressing my bravado and succinctly putting me in my place. I didn't really mind, it was appropriate. One anecdote I rmember was a time when I actually shocked her. We were in the marina in adjoining slips and I was eating a fine Salami Sandwich. Barb would never eat a cured meat. Well her dog Missy was nosing around me so I gave her a piece of Salami -- Barb was just aghast and pretty much speech less. I couldn't believe it -- a dog no less! It was like I poisoned her dog.
After 25 years it is hard to think of all the great things she did with us. It all felt so natural. She will be greatly missed.
This week we lost a very dear cruising friend (best friend) to a sudden illness which took Barbara Thompson in virtually a blink of an eye. It was a shocker to us and all our friends who knew her.
We first met Barbara and her husband Jim at Matthews Point marina in 1992. We had a Catalina 22 and they had a Compact 23 and were berthed in the slip next to us. It wasn't long before we started to cruise along the same gunk holes together. They took to Andy and Kourtney like an aunt and uncle. Andy was 12 and Kourtney was 10. We shared some adventures over those short weekends at Matthews Point.
Over the years we all moved on to other boats -- always bigger but still hung out in the same places. Several times we vacationed together taking a week or more to go to Wrightsville Beach or Ocracoke and back doing both inside routes and outside routes.
There was many a night when would gather together on one boat or the other to chat, play games like Barb's favorite FARKLE, and Mexican train. It was all fun.
We would go out to eat together and just hang out -- true friends.
Barb was very opinionated and she had a knack for addressing my bravado and succinctly putting me in my place. I didn't really mind, it was appropriate. One anecdote I rmember was a time when I actually shocked her. We were in the marina in adjoining slips and I was eating a fine Salami Sandwich. Barb would never eat a cured meat. Well her dog Missy was nosing around me so I gave her a piece of Salami -- Barb was just aghast and pretty much speech less. I couldn't believe it -- a dog no less! It was like I poisoned her dog.
After 25 years it is hard to think of all the great things she did with us. It all felt so natural. She will be greatly missed.
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Black cloud -- she chase me!
Ohhh what a day. We planned to leave HopeTown today to go to Marsh Harbour for a few days and check in with customs to up our time here. Our 90 days are just about up. We do not plan to go back to Hopetown again this season.
The weather forecast was for 5 - 10 kts out of the south going Light and variable -- perfect for going into a slip at a marina. Last Sunday I had called Mangoes Marina to make a reservation. No response so I left another Voice main. Again no response. On Tuesday I left another VM - no response.
Wow out on the sea of Abaco the wind was blowing 12 -17! what about 5 - 10? I didn't like this because I want real light wind when entering a marina slip.
As we approached Marsh Harbour this morning the wind really piped up from 12 to 20 kts!! What happened to 5-10? Then I noticed dark clouds over Marsh -- hmmm a squall line forming. I called mangoes and they had no recollection of my reservation -- grrrrr. They told me to anchor and wait to see if there was anything they could do later today. He said he had 4 slips and 6 boats with reservations coming.
Well there is a MONSTER cold front coming across early tomorrow morning so we need protection before that. I called the other marinas on the phone (to not piss anyone off) and they were all full!!! What the heck!! We were at high tide and I had to move if I was going today. I then checked with Man O War marina and they had a slip for us but more expensive. Ohh well we would try that because I could not wait all day to just be disappointed later and that slip gone. We pulled anchor and headed for Man O War. The wind was still pushing 20+ kts. Ohhhh man and Man o War is a small tight marina and this is more wind than I want. Then it got worse.. The sky got darker and rain came behind us. The wind constantly pushing us to Man O War. Once in their tiny channel at just 1 hour past high tide we made the marina. Wind wasn't bad. They had an easy entry slip for me with the wind behind -- just as we entered the wind peaked again and was pushing us in. The dock hand did not know how to set up a spring line!! Told me he couldn't hold me.. I said to tie it off!! ohhh it was not pretty. We scrambled and fortunately other cruisers came to our aid and grab the lines the dock hand should have handled and we got in. Black cloud still over us!
Fortunately no damage was done other than my pride and we had arrived.
Man O war has never impressed us in the past although we always anchored out and dinghy'd in for a few hours. Well hanging around this afternoon we have met some of the friendliest folks. I think we are going to like it here for awhile.
Oh yeah -- the marina and all the mooring balls are full tonight in lieu of the big winds expected tomorrow through Sunday.
Even though the slips are expensive here the laundry is the cheapest we found yet at only $3.75 a load and the machines work great. I'd have to recommend this place but beware the dock hand.
NOTE to cruisers --- only enter near high tide... Another sailboat came in about an hour behind us just as we were checking in at the office. They called the marina and said they had run aground and asked to be towed off. The marina said they did not have a boat that could and suggested they call Edwin's Boat Yard. Well they were at lunch and when they got back that boat was hard around and leaning over. We were still 4 hours from low tide -- it was not pretty. They will have to wait till 9:30pm before they can get off with the tide tonight. Ouch!!
I wasn't the only one with a black cloud chasing me today.
The weather forecast was for 5 - 10 kts out of the south going Light and variable -- perfect for going into a slip at a marina. Last Sunday I had called Mangoes Marina to make a reservation. No response so I left another Voice main. Again no response. On Tuesday I left another VM - no response.
Wow out on the sea of Abaco the wind was blowing 12 -17! what about 5 - 10? I didn't like this because I want real light wind when entering a marina slip.
As we approached Marsh Harbour this morning the wind really piped up from 12 to 20 kts!! What happened to 5-10? Then I noticed dark clouds over Marsh -- hmmm a squall line forming. I called mangoes and they had no recollection of my reservation -- grrrrr. They told me to anchor and wait to see if there was anything they could do later today. He said he had 4 slips and 6 boats with reservations coming.
Well there is a MONSTER cold front coming across early tomorrow morning so we need protection before that. I called the other marinas on the phone (to not piss anyone off) and they were all full!!! What the heck!! We were at high tide and I had to move if I was going today. I then checked with Man O War marina and they had a slip for us but more expensive. Ohh well we would try that because I could not wait all day to just be disappointed later and that slip gone. We pulled anchor and headed for Man O War. The wind was still pushing 20+ kts. Ohhhh man and Man o War is a small tight marina and this is more wind than I want. Then it got worse.. The sky got darker and rain came behind us. The wind constantly pushing us to Man O War. Once in their tiny channel at just 1 hour past high tide we made the marina. Wind wasn't bad. They had an easy entry slip for me with the wind behind -- just as we entered the wind peaked again and was pushing us in. The dock hand did not know how to set up a spring line!! Told me he couldn't hold me.. I said to tie it off!! ohhh it was not pretty. We scrambled and fortunately other cruisers came to our aid and grab the lines the dock hand should have handled and we got in. Black cloud still over us!
Fortunately no damage was done other than my pride and we had arrived.
Man O war has never impressed us in the past although we always anchored out and dinghy'd in for a few hours. Well hanging around this afternoon we have met some of the friendliest folks. I think we are going to like it here for awhile.
Oh yeah -- the marina and all the mooring balls are full tonight in lieu of the big winds expected tomorrow through Sunday.
Even though the slips are expensive here the laundry is the cheapest we found yet at only $3.75 a load and the machines work great. I'd have to recommend this place but beware the dock hand.
NOTE to cruisers --- only enter near high tide... Another sailboat came in about an hour behind us just as we were checking in at the office. They called the marina and said they had run aground and asked to be towed off. The marina said they did not have a boat that could and suggested they call Edwin's Boat Yard. Well they were at lunch and when they got back that boat was hard around and leaning over. We were still 4 hours from low tide -- it was not pretty. They will have to wait till 9:30pm before they can get off with the tide tonight. Ouch!!
I wasn't the only one with a black cloud chasing me today.
Sunday, February 26, 2017
BeAliv Nippers
We had to make an unplanned trip to Marsh Harbour to get my BeAliv phone squared away. The problem was not with BeAliv but with Alcatel Tech Support. They pushed an upgrade on my phone that broke the HotSpot, WiFi, and Bluetooth. They spent a week ignoring our complaints then just sat on their duffs for the next week. Finally they came out with another "upgrade" but it had to be applied by BeAliv and their closest full service office is in Marsh Harbour. If it wasn't for this hassle I would love the phone and service. It is by far a better value than what BTC is offering.
Well I arrived at their office Friday morning but they said it would take an hour to do the upgrade. I had to come back in the afternoon which as I indicated in other posts is just Pandemonium in the streets on Friday Afternoon. Everyone has to honk their horns and burn rubber for a short distance. Pedestrians are definitely endangered on Friday afternoons.
We took the time to buy more groceries and goodies and my favorite Conch Salad from Hollywood George. It's the best.
Got the phone later and everything is working now. We spent the night on the hook in MArsh then Saturday we went to Great Guana CAy to have lunch at Nippers Beach Bar.
I thought I would splurge and grab a mooring in the settlement. They are owned and serviced by Dive Guana. We thought we were in great luck because only one was in use and that left 7 others. We tried to pick one up but their attachment is POOR. They have a float and under the float is the bridle and the attachment to the mooring block. I tried 3 times but kept catching the mooring line and not the bridle. I can't hang on very long and can't pull the boat over with the boat hook so after 3 attempts we gave up and ran over the Fishers Bay next door and anchored. Only one boat was already there. The wind was light but from the west which made it kind of lumpy there and the boat wakes to Bakers Bay were annoying.
We went to Nippers around 12:30 pm and there were only a handful of old folks there. Later a large group of very old folks showed up and they were quite animated and noisy.
Lunch was so so. Karen had a blue cheese cheeseburger with bacon and fries and 2 tablespoons of cole slaw for $20. I had the conch finger, fries, and 2 tablespoonfuls of cole slaw for $19. Then add 2 beers and a radler for a total of $60 before tip!! Ouch but it was Nippers. After lunch we headed back to the dinghy which was anchored in front of Grabbers BEach Bar but we decide not to stop. Back on the boat to relax and watch a few more boats come in. It was bouncy on the hook there and high tide was late in the day so we packed it in and headed back to HopeTown and our comfortable mooring.
Man we are some old fuddy duds now!
The weather today has been perfect with lots of sun and light winds. The temps hit 80 degrees. I went swimming in the ocean then later took my revitalized phone over to the Hopetown Inn and Marina to use their WiFi to update the phone and install AVG virus protection.
Not a bad day today. A cold front is supposed to come across tonight and make things very windy here for a few days. Time for some chores.
Well I arrived at their office Friday morning but they said it would take an hour to do the upgrade. I had to come back in the afternoon which as I indicated in other posts is just Pandemonium in the streets on Friday Afternoon. Everyone has to honk their horns and burn rubber for a short distance. Pedestrians are definitely endangered on Friday afternoons.
We took the time to buy more groceries and goodies and my favorite Conch Salad from Hollywood George. It's the best.
Got the phone later and everything is working now. We spent the night on the hook in MArsh then Saturday we went to Great Guana CAy to have lunch at Nippers Beach Bar.
I thought I would splurge and grab a mooring in the settlement. They are owned and serviced by Dive Guana. We thought we were in great luck because only one was in use and that left 7 others. We tried to pick one up but their attachment is POOR. They have a float and under the float is the bridle and the attachment to the mooring block. I tried 3 times but kept catching the mooring line and not the bridle. I can't hang on very long and can't pull the boat over with the boat hook so after 3 attempts we gave up and ran over the Fishers Bay next door and anchored. Only one boat was already there. The wind was light but from the west which made it kind of lumpy there and the boat wakes to Bakers Bay were annoying.
We went to Nippers around 12:30 pm and there were only a handful of old folks there. Later a large group of very old folks showed up and they were quite animated and noisy.
Lunch was so so. Karen had a blue cheese cheeseburger with bacon and fries and 2 tablespoons of cole slaw for $20. I had the conch finger, fries, and 2 tablespoonfuls of cole slaw for $19. Then add 2 beers and a radler for a total of $60 before tip!! Ouch but it was Nippers. After lunch we headed back to the dinghy which was anchored in front of Grabbers BEach Bar but we decide not to stop. Back on the boat to relax and watch a few more boats come in. It was bouncy on the hook there and high tide was late in the day so we packed it in and headed back to HopeTown and our comfortable mooring.
Man we are some old fuddy duds now!
The weather today has been perfect with lots of sun and light winds. The temps hit 80 degrees. I went swimming in the ocean then later took my revitalized phone over to the Hopetown Inn and Marina to use their WiFi to update the phone and install AVG virus protection.
Not a bad day today. A cold front is supposed to come across tonight and make things very windy here for a few days. Time for some chores.
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Rough Rough
No I'm not doing my imitation of a dog. That describes last night here in HopeTown.
This cold front we had come across yesterday was supposed to be of only moderate conditions but it turned out to be the most vigorous one of the season. The forecast was for winds 15 - 25 kts with gusts to 30. It actually ran 30 - 35 with gusts near 50.
That much wind really makes the boat motion uncomfortable. The boat will yawl sideways one way then the other and then sometimes rocks side to side. You have to have one hand on the boat at all times to stay steady when moving about.
You might think that the conditions would make sleeping difficult but no, you can sleep okay, it is the anxiety of thinking your boat might break loose from a mooring and crash about other boats or another boat might come loose that makes sleeping difficult.
Fortunately no boats came loose -- oh did I say this started around 5pm and lasted till 3am. Naturally during the dark of the night.
After so many hours you really get tired of the wind noise and motion. We got lucky in that sometime between 2:30am (I was up checking radar and the average wind speed was 33 kts) and 3:30am the wind just died. It became flat calm! Still is at 9am this morning.
Won't last though. It's supposed to run 15 to 20 most of today which really is not bad. It's when it gets above 20 that it becomes rough rough.
This cold front we had come across yesterday was supposed to be of only moderate conditions but it turned out to be the most vigorous one of the season. The forecast was for winds 15 - 25 kts with gusts to 30. It actually ran 30 - 35 with gusts near 50.
That much wind really makes the boat motion uncomfortable. The boat will yawl sideways one way then the other and then sometimes rocks side to side. You have to have one hand on the boat at all times to stay steady when moving about.
You might think that the conditions would make sleeping difficult but no, you can sleep okay, it is the anxiety of thinking your boat might break loose from a mooring and crash about other boats or another boat might come loose that makes sleeping difficult.
Fortunately no boats came loose -- oh did I say this started around 5pm and lasted till 3am. Naturally during the dark of the night.
After so many hours you really get tired of the wind noise and motion. We got lucky in that sometime between 2:30am (I was up checking radar and the average wind speed was 33 kts) and 3:30am the wind just died. It became flat calm! Still is at 9am this morning.
Won't last though. It's supposed to run 15 to 20 most of today which really is not bad. It's when it gets above 20 that it becomes rough rough.
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
HEAVEN
Yep I'm in Heaven this afternoon.
The winds were perfect for kite flying this morning so I took a couple of favorites over to the beach (actually all my kites are favorites) and flew them. Ahhh they flew nicely especially my spinner kite.
After a lunch of a Chicken Hot Dog (bought the wrong thing but I tried it) it was okay. Karen won't even try them and she misread the package! I set up for a swim in the ocean. It's a nice day but cloudy so it feels cool. I went to the Hopetown lodge beach and the water felt quite cold. Hmmm I thought -- today I'm going to try the heated pool over at the Hopetown Inn and marina. So I packed up and went to he inn and marina. I don't feel bad using their facility since we spent $22 dollars yesterday there doing 2 loads of laundry.
Because it was overcast only one couple was there and they were bundled in towels on loungers. They gasped when I jumped into the water -- must have thought it would be cold. It wasn't!! It was great like just warm bath water. Ohhhh it felt good. Above it there was a smaller pool that was dribbling water into the main pool like a small waterfall. Ohhh now that water was VERY warm. I lounged in that for awhile.
I hate to say it but I'm HOOKED on a heated pool now. The ocean be damned!! Just kidding there.
We had a GREAT night at Captn Jack's bingo lst night. Karen worked here magic and won the pot for the "large Picture frame" -- that's were you hit all the numbers around the edge of the card. Remember these cards are called JACKS instead of Bingo so its all the numbers across the top, down the Js, across the bottom, and up your S's. People who played know what I'm talking about.
we have a major cold front or fronts coming across tomorrow through Friday morning so this is a good place to be. Chris Parker Weather is telling all cruisers to be in a SAFE harbour by tomorrow night. Could be severe thunderstorms in this passage.
We are hunkered down here so hopefully no issues here in Hopetown and no heated pool for a couple of days.
The winds were perfect for kite flying this morning so I took a couple of favorites over to the beach (actually all my kites are favorites) and flew them. Ahhh they flew nicely especially my spinner kite.
After a lunch of a Chicken Hot Dog (bought the wrong thing but I tried it) it was okay. Karen won't even try them and she misread the package! I set up for a swim in the ocean. It's a nice day but cloudy so it feels cool. I went to the Hopetown lodge beach and the water felt quite cold. Hmmm I thought -- today I'm going to try the heated pool over at the Hopetown Inn and marina. So I packed up and went to he inn and marina. I don't feel bad using their facility since we spent $22 dollars yesterday there doing 2 loads of laundry.
Because it was overcast only one couple was there and they were bundled in towels on loungers. They gasped when I jumped into the water -- must have thought it would be cold. It wasn't!! It was great like just warm bath water. Ohhhh it felt good. Above it there was a smaller pool that was dribbling water into the main pool like a small waterfall. Ohhh now that water was VERY warm. I lounged in that for awhile.
I hate to say it but I'm HOOKED on a heated pool now. The ocean be damned!! Just kidding there.
We had a GREAT night at Captn Jack's bingo lst night. Karen worked here magic and won the pot for the "large Picture frame" -- that's were you hit all the numbers around the edge of the card. Remember these cards are called JACKS instead of Bingo so its all the numbers across the top, down the Js, across the bottom, and up your S's. People who played know what I'm talking about.
we have a major cold front or fronts coming across tomorrow through Friday morning so this is a good place to be. Chris Parker Weather is telling all cruisers to be in a SAFE harbour by tomorrow night. Could be severe thunderstorms in this passage.
We are hunkered down here so hopefully no issues here in Hopetown and no heated pool for a couple of days.
Saturday, February 18, 2017
Friday Frenzy
We went into Marsh Harbour yesterday - Friday - to do some more provisioning and straighten out the issue with new BEAliv phone. After upgrading the phone software it no longer sees WiFi sites or acts like a Hot Spot. Otherwise it works fine.
We had a late start because we needed to wait on high tide to leave HopeTown -- very shallow at the entrance near low tide. We arrived around 11:15am and dropped the hook and I made a dash to Hollywood Georges Conch Salad stand near Harbourview marina -- he was there and made the salad while I waited. Gets no fresher than that.
After lunch it was onto the Maxwell's supermarket and beAlive office. We split up and I went to BeAlive to meet with Karen later. When I arrived I explained that my phone no longer would see WiFi spots and the Hot Spot didn't work anymore -- after a requested update was applied. They offered to replace my phone until they saw the receipt and saw I had bought it from one of their street vendors. They said they would have to get the unit from the vendor and not their stock -- one company? I guess not.
Well they contacted me later and explained that the fault was with Alcatel the phone manufacturer and I had to wait on a new update. I explained that this was bogus and poor customer service and now I had no incentive to buy more minutes or data. They didn't care. So much for my great new phone --- Beware. However real fault is with Alcatel in that they can not offer a solution in over a week and they could have at a minimum offered the old software load till the corrected the new. Welcome to a third world company which is where the USA is headed now. Sorry for the soapbox but I miss my easy internet access.
Getting around the main drag in MArsh Harbour was quite intimidating on a Friday afternoon. People where racing around the roads, double parking where ever, and just acting like they were in a frenzy for the weekend. Walkers beware. Pedestrians are not protected here. You must be ever vigilant and look for your own safety.
Well we had a good experience at the store and bought enough to refill r freezer and snack jar. We are set for awhile.
Had a nice sail back to HopeTown and picked up our reserved mooring. That works nice.
The water tanks were near empty so I filled those via the dinghy and Jerry cans. It took awhile because everyone wanted water from the marina today.
It's a beautiful evening here tonight and the calm before the storm. Inclement weather is on its way and should be here by mid week. We need to enjoy while we can before the wind and unseasonable rains get here.
Tomorrow is laundry day over at the Hopetown Inn and Marina and while Karen attends that I'm going for a dip on their heated pool. I haven't tried that yet but looking forward to it.
If you want to get a flavor for Hopetown and the Hopetown Inn and Marina facilities check out their video of this place -- you will see why we like this so much.
Note -- we are on a mooring in the harbour not the dock.
http://www.hopetownmarina.com/
We had a late start because we needed to wait on high tide to leave HopeTown -- very shallow at the entrance near low tide. We arrived around 11:15am and dropped the hook and I made a dash to Hollywood Georges Conch Salad stand near Harbourview marina -- he was there and made the salad while I waited. Gets no fresher than that.
After lunch it was onto the Maxwell's supermarket and beAlive office. We split up and I went to BeAlive to meet with Karen later. When I arrived I explained that my phone no longer would see WiFi spots and the Hot Spot didn't work anymore -- after a requested update was applied. They offered to replace my phone until they saw the receipt and saw I had bought it from one of their street vendors. They said they would have to get the unit from the vendor and not their stock -- one company? I guess not.
Well they contacted me later and explained that the fault was with Alcatel the phone manufacturer and I had to wait on a new update. I explained that this was bogus and poor customer service and now I had no incentive to buy more minutes or data. They didn't care. So much for my great new phone --- Beware. However real fault is with Alcatel in that they can not offer a solution in over a week and they could have at a minimum offered the old software load till the corrected the new. Welcome to a third world company which is where the USA is headed now. Sorry for the soapbox but I miss my easy internet access.
Getting around the main drag in MArsh Harbour was quite intimidating on a Friday afternoon. People where racing around the roads, double parking where ever, and just acting like they were in a frenzy for the weekend. Walkers beware. Pedestrians are not protected here. You must be ever vigilant and look for your own safety.
Well we had a good experience at the store and bought enough to refill r freezer and snack jar. We are set for awhile.
Had a nice sail back to HopeTown and picked up our reserved mooring. That works nice.
The water tanks were near empty so I filled those via the dinghy and Jerry cans. It took awhile because everyone wanted water from the marina today.
It's a beautiful evening here tonight and the calm before the storm. Inclement weather is on its way and should be here by mid week. We need to enjoy while we can before the wind and unseasonable rains get here.
Tomorrow is laundry day over at the Hopetown Inn and Marina and while Karen attends that I'm going for a dip on their heated pool. I haven't tried that yet but looking forward to it.
If you want to get a flavor for Hopetown and the Hopetown Inn and Marina facilities check out their video of this place -- you will see why we like this so much.
Note -- we are on a mooring in the harbour not the dock.
http://www.hopetownmarina.com/
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
The Dragon is flying --- again
Today was a beautiful breezy day. The direction was in from the ocean so a good direction for kite flying. I finally broke the Dragon out. This is my kite with the 20+' tail. I don't fly it often because I'm always fearful of losing it.
Last night at Captn Jacks for Jacks Bingo I met a young couple cruising on a 30 foot Pearson sailboat and listened to their adventure of sailing from Fernandina Beach to the Abacos a few days ago. Now that was an adventure but not recommended. Then they told me they were anchored off FireFly resort tonight and took their dinghy to Jacks and would go back in the dark. Eeeeck that is 2.5 miles in real dark sea of abaco water -- definitely not recommended. I cringed, Sunday just going 3 miles to Tahiti Beach at HIGH NOON made me anxious.
It got me thinking how in a rut and playing it safe I've become this year. I'm just fearful of taking adventure anymore. Say it is old age and I'm just a fuddy duddy but hey I can change. Time to breakout to my old adventuresome self and thus the Dragon came out today.
Ohhh it is a great flyer but I have to be careful to not let it fly above the sand dunes around the beach. When it does the wind is unpredictable and it has dived more than 100' at times -- that's towards the ground and trees mind you. Well it was well behaved today and lots of fun to fly.
As I mentioned we did cut the "Safe ties" here in Hopetown Saturday and went to Man O War and anchored off. We shopped in town a bit but it was very subdued -- there was a memorial service for a longtime residence and every thing was closed till noon. We went back but it was low tide and tough to get in there even in the dinghy!
Karen found some scarce Androsian fabric and I found some fresh meat and apples at the only grocery store there now. It was worth the trip and we had a nice evening on the hook there.
Sunday was going to problematic to anchor off Tahiti Beach. Wind was supposed to come up from the west over night which would have made it uncomfortable on the anchor so we took the big boat back to Hopetown and then after lunch took the dinghy on a LONG ride to Tahiti Beach. Surprisingly there were several boats there. We arrived near low tide and the beach looked GREAT. Karen found a little sea glass but I just enjoyed the view and a couple of beers.
Ahhh life is good in the Abacos.
Well a series of weather fronts are coming this week so we will stay put probably until Friday and then venture out again for awhile.
Hmmm where to go?
Last night at Captn Jacks for Jacks Bingo I met a young couple cruising on a 30 foot Pearson sailboat and listened to their adventure of sailing from Fernandina Beach to the Abacos a few days ago. Now that was an adventure but not recommended. Then they told me they were anchored off FireFly resort tonight and took their dinghy to Jacks and would go back in the dark. Eeeeck that is 2.5 miles in real dark sea of abaco water -- definitely not recommended. I cringed, Sunday just going 3 miles to Tahiti Beach at HIGH NOON made me anxious.
It got me thinking how in a rut and playing it safe I've become this year. I'm just fearful of taking adventure anymore. Say it is old age and I'm just a fuddy duddy but hey I can change. Time to breakout to my old adventuresome self and thus the Dragon came out today.
Ohhh it is a great flyer but I have to be careful to not let it fly above the sand dunes around the beach. When it does the wind is unpredictable and it has dived more than 100' at times -- that's towards the ground and trees mind you. Well it was well behaved today and lots of fun to fly.
As I mentioned we did cut the "Safe ties" here in Hopetown Saturday and went to Man O War and anchored off. We shopped in town a bit but it was very subdued -- there was a memorial service for a longtime residence and every thing was closed till noon. We went back but it was low tide and tough to get in there even in the dinghy!
Karen found some scarce Androsian fabric and I found some fresh meat and apples at the only grocery store there now. It was worth the trip and we had a nice evening on the hook there.
Sunday was going to problematic to anchor off Tahiti Beach. Wind was supposed to come up from the west over night which would have made it uncomfortable on the anchor so we took the big boat back to Hopetown and then after lunch took the dinghy on a LONG ride to Tahiti Beach. Surprisingly there were several boats there. We arrived near low tide and the beach looked GREAT. Karen found a little sea glass but I just enjoyed the view and a couple of beers.
Ahhh life is good in the Abacos.
Well a series of weather fronts are coming this week so we will stay put probably until Friday and then venture out again for awhile.
Hmmm where to go?
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Eeeeek more than a week
Sorry my readers but the living is easy here in HopeTown and the time just gets away from you.
Our trip to Lynyard Cay was a washout. The next day it started with rain and then rained off and on all morning. Around 11am we decided to to go to Marsh Harbour for more provisions -- not like we were out but just wanted some more comfort food. That and the tide would be too low to enter HopeTown till tomorrow.
We got what we wanted and what we didn't want while in Marsh Harbour. We went to the Skaggs Wholesale market for some stuff and bought two packages of hot dogs -- didn't notice till back on the boat that they were CHICKEN hot dogs. Neither of has tried them yet. Sorry in Bahamas there is a no return policy on all foods!
Once ba at ck into Hopetown it was just up in the morning -- a fine breakfeast, maybe some chores, lunch,then beach, then happy hour, and dinner and read till bed time. Sounds boring but then the temps are ranging from a high of 76 to a low of 69 -- it is near paradise.
Monday we went to Captn Jacks for Bingo and dinner. Didn't win anything but had a good time and I had the Escargot much to Karen's chagrin.
Finished off my third Key Lime Pie and vowed NO MORE -- see if that holds. It's been 4 days now and I'm shaking a bit.
Got to fly the newest kite I bought two years ago -- a TriStar and it was great. Off the beach you just let go and they fly up up and way with no running necessary. I've flown all but my big 20 foot dragon kite. Maybe this coming week.
We are hunkered down tonight for another cold front to come across but so far no big wind. This should just be a 24 - 30 hour passage so all will be fine for Saturday.
I've upped for another month here in Hopetown but we will still leave off and on for some other experience. Right now we plan to leave Saturday for Man O War cay for the day-night, then on to Great Guana Cay for a day-night and attend the Big Sunday pig Roast there at Nippers, then back to HopeTown for the next cold front passage.
Glass hunting will be done at both beaches.
Our trip to Lynyard Cay was a washout. The next day it started with rain and then rained off and on all morning. Around 11am we decided to to go to Marsh Harbour for more provisions -- not like we were out but just wanted some more comfort food. That and the tide would be too low to enter HopeTown till tomorrow.
We got what we wanted and what we didn't want while in Marsh Harbour. We went to the Skaggs Wholesale market for some stuff and bought two packages of hot dogs -- didn't notice till back on the boat that they were CHICKEN hot dogs. Neither of has tried them yet. Sorry in Bahamas there is a no return policy on all foods!
Once ba at ck into Hopetown it was just up in the morning -- a fine breakfeast, maybe some chores, lunch,then beach, then happy hour, and dinner and read till bed time. Sounds boring but then the temps are ranging from a high of 76 to a low of 69 -- it is near paradise.
Monday we went to Captn Jacks for Bingo and dinner. Didn't win anything but had a good time and I had the Escargot much to Karen's chagrin.
Finished off my third Key Lime Pie and vowed NO MORE -- see if that holds. It's been 4 days now and I'm shaking a bit.
Got to fly the newest kite I bought two years ago -- a TriStar and it was great. Off the beach you just let go and they fly up up and way with no running necessary. I've flown all but my big 20 foot dragon kite. Maybe this coming week.
We are hunkered down tonight for another cold front to come across but so far no big wind. This should just be a 24 - 30 hour passage so all will be fine for Saturday.
I've upped for another month here in Hopetown but we will still leave off and on for some other experience. Right now we plan to leave Saturday for Man O War cay for the day-night, then on to Great Guana Cay for a day-night and attend the Big Sunday pig Roast there at Nippers, then back to HopeTown for the next cold front passage.
Glass hunting will be done at both beaches.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
BeAliv
BeAliv is the new competing phone company in the Bahamas. They are going head to head with the entrenched BTC - Bahamas Tel.
They are trying hard with some great deals for the Bahamas. BTC charges $1.37 a minute for calls to or from the states. That really adds up fast. I had a problem with TWC Road Runner not delivering emails from my credit card companies and I had a 12 minute call with Capital One on their international toll free number and it cost me $15 from BTC.
BeAliv has packages of minutes and Data e.g. Liberty 50 plan is 500 minutes talk, unlimited text, and 5GB of data for $50 a month -- no contract. The 500 minutes can be used to call USA and Canada at no premium. I went to their main hub in Marsh Harbour last week and tried to get my Iphone 5S converted to their network but it didn't work -- boo whoo. Well today I'm walking in Hopetown singing Happy Doo Dah Day and thinking I've been such a good boy I deserve another Vernon's Key lime Pie. So I'm walking there and I come across 3 young ladies looking very nice and friendly and one says "Good Morning Sir -- want to buy a phone?" I said what? They said they were with BeAliv and were selling phone packages. I told them about my experience in Marsh and one says well I can sell you the least expensive phone for $65 and it has the Liberty 50 package for free! WOW that is like getting the phone for $15. When I tried to convert my Iphone the SIM card alone was $16. I asked a lot of questions and then decided to try it. They signed me up writing the deal on a fence post and another assembling the new phone in her lap and it worked. I asked to pay with a credit card but they said cash only -- I told her just leave me enough for a Key Lime Pie. They thought that was funny but I did get my Key Lime Pie.
Well the phone works GREAT. I made my first call to the states to talk to Jim Thompson and it only cost me 15 minutes which was the duration of the call. Still got 485 minutes left but if Karen calls one of here sisters that will be gone.
We went to Lynyard Cay today -- sea glass capitol of the Abacos. We had a late start since Karen takes her librarian duties seriously at the Hopetown Library -- she works (for free) 10am - noon on Wednesdays. I figured we would have Lynyard Cay to ourselves tonight but there are 14 boats here tonight. I suspect several will leave for Eluthera tomorrow but we are just here hunting glass then back to Hopetown in a couple of days. This place is beautiful. Very rugged and remote and good protection from NE-E winds. My BeAliv phone data works very well here..
We hunted some glass late this afternoon and Karen found some but nothing Primo yet. The beach had been walked thoroughly earlier so maybe early tomorrow morning she can find the mother lode.
They are trying hard with some great deals for the Bahamas. BTC charges $1.37 a minute for calls to or from the states. That really adds up fast. I had a problem with TWC Road Runner not delivering emails from my credit card companies and I had a 12 minute call with Capital One on their international toll free number and it cost me $15 from BTC.
BeAliv has packages of minutes and Data e.g. Liberty 50 plan is 500 minutes talk, unlimited text, and 5GB of data for $50 a month -- no contract. The 500 minutes can be used to call USA and Canada at no premium. I went to their main hub in Marsh Harbour last week and tried to get my Iphone 5S converted to their network but it didn't work -- boo whoo. Well today I'm walking in Hopetown singing Happy Doo Dah Day and thinking I've been such a good boy I deserve another Vernon's Key lime Pie. So I'm walking there and I come across 3 young ladies looking very nice and friendly and one says "Good Morning Sir -- want to buy a phone?" I said what? They said they were with BeAliv and were selling phone packages. I told them about my experience in Marsh and one says well I can sell you the least expensive phone for $65 and it has the Liberty 50 package for free! WOW that is like getting the phone for $15. When I tried to convert my Iphone the SIM card alone was $16. I asked a lot of questions and then decided to try it. They signed me up writing the deal on a fence post and another assembling the new phone in her lap and it worked. I asked to pay with a credit card but they said cash only -- I told her just leave me enough for a Key Lime Pie. They thought that was funny but I did get my Key Lime Pie.
Well the phone works GREAT. I made my first call to the states to talk to Jim Thompson and it only cost me 15 minutes which was the duration of the call. Still got 485 minutes left but if Karen calls one of here sisters that will be gone.
We went to Lynyard Cay today -- sea glass capitol of the Abacos. We had a late start since Karen takes her librarian duties seriously at the Hopetown Library -- she works (for free) 10am - noon on Wednesdays. I figured we would have Lynyard Cay to ourselves tonight but there are 14 boats here tonight. I suspect several will leave for Eluthera tomorrow but we are just here hunting glass then back to Hopetown in a couple of days. This place is beautiful. Very rugged and remote and good protection from NE-E winds. My BeAliv phone data works very well here..
We hunted some glass late this afternoon and Karen found some but nothing Primo yet. The beach had been walked thoroughly earlier so maybe early tomorrow morning she can find the mother lode.
Saturday, January 28, 2017
A Forest fire
Once the weather moderated we decided to run over to marsh harbour for some provisioning and to treat the house batteries to an Equalization cycle. The batteries have been charging but not deeply.
We went to mangoes marina for a couple of days. It is probably the friendliest with the dock master Reye and the most inexpensive. We arrived early morning and then went about the immediate chores of getting to a bank for some cash and to see if we could convert one of our Iphone 5S's to the new carrier in town -- Bealiv. They have great call and data packages. We went to their main hub and unfortunately they will not work with the 5S. They need a 6 or later.
Then on to the bank a RBC bank auto teller. Man they wanted to charge a $32 money conversion -- the US dollar is less than the Bahamain? Oh well we bit but then found out from other cruisers that the Scotia bank did not have that fee. Grrrr.
We shopped a bit then back to the marina. After lunch I found "Hollywood George" making conch salad on the sidewalk out front -- his is the BEST. Had to have some.
The next day we went to the Supermarket early and dropped a couple of hundred on provisions -- all good stuff. Back on the boat via Taxi for just $6. We went to SNAPPAS sports bar for lunch. Karen had their famous cheeseburger and I had the fish and chips -- fish was GROUPER! More GOOD stuff.
BAck on the boat to finish laundry. Karen did 2 loads yesterday and 2 loads today. Mangoes is the place to do it since it is only $3.50 a load to wash and $3.50 to dry. Most other places are $5.50 -- it adds up.
Water is only $5 a day at Mangoes where everywhere else it is .38 cents a gallon.
In the evening we could smell smoke. With little wind to disperse it got WORSE. We had to close the boat up. As we looked around town we could see a think haze around all the lights. There was a major forest fire near by an it was bad. In the Bahamas they just let them burn themselves out or pray for rain. Tomorrow is supposed to be a very rainy day which is unusual here in the winter time.
With bad weather forecast for tomorrow and Monday Hopetown is filling up again. It should not be bad like last weekend just rain and cold air ohhh the forecast low on Monday is 62 degrees which is frigid here.
We went to mangoes marina for a couple of days. It is probably the friendliest with the dock master Reye and the most inexpensive. We arrived early morning and then went about the immediate chores of getting to a bank for some cash and to see if we could convert one of our Iphone 5S's to the new carrier in town -- Bealiv. They have great call and data packages. We went to their main hub and unfortunately they will not work with the 5S. They need a 6 or later.
Then on to the bank a RBC bank auto teller. Man they wanted to charge a $32 money conversion -- the US dollar is less than the Bahamain? Oh well we bit but then found out from other cruisers that the Scotia bank did not have that fee. Grrrr.
We shopped a bit then back to the marina. After lunch I found "Hollywood George" making conch salad on the sidewalk out front -- his is the BEST. Had to have some.
The next day we went to the Supermarket early and dropped a couple of hundred on provisions -- all good stuff. Back on the boat via Taxi for just $6. We went to SNAPPAS sports bar for lunch. Karen had their famous cheeseburger and I had the fish and chips -- fish was GROUPER! More GOOD stuff.
BAck on the boat to finish laundry. Karen did 2 loads yesterday and 2 loads today. Mangoes is the place to do it since it is only $3.50 a load to wash and $3.50 to dry. Most other places are $5.50 -- it adds up.
Water is only $5 a day at Mangoes where everywhere else it is .38 cents a gallon.
In the evening we could smell smoke. With little wind to disperse it got WORSE. We had to close the boat up. As we looked around town we could see a think haze around all the lights. There was a major forest fire near by an it was bad. In the Bahamas they just let them burn themselves out or pray for rain. Tomorrow is supposed to be a very rainy day which is unusual here in the winter time.
With bad weather forecast for tomorrow and Monday Hopetown is filling up again. It should not be bad like last weekend just rain and cold air ohhh the forecast low on Monday is 62 degrees which is frigid here.
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Big One -- not so big and I'm a WINNER!
Well this monster cold front came through on Sunday as predicted but fortunately the very strong winds were not that bad. It actually started blowing in the 20's Saturday afternoon and evening (not as forecast) then the front came across at 7:30am and rained and blew strong till 8:30am and then like a switch the wind died to 5 - 8kts for about 2 hours. Apparently there was a trough following the front that gave us the mild wind then it blew strong all day. Monday was still blowing strong but let up enough that we could re-launch the dinghy and go to Captain Jacks for BINGO night.
Monday night was uncomfortable because we were still swinging on the mooring and rocking a bit. Today is still windy but laying down to just under 20kts late this afternoon. Supposed to be light and variable by morning.
Tomorrow we are heading to Marsh Harbour and Mangoes Marina. I need to plug in and run a battery equalization on my batteries. They are charging but not deeply. We will do a major provisioning run and laundry while there for at least 2 days. Then back here to HopeTown for the next cold front passage.
Steve and Molly from YOLO joined us at Capn Jacks to play JACKS -- a modified BINGO game-- and played for the first time. Darn if Molly didn't win the first game. That was a surprise. Then I won the fourth game which was a surprise for me. Boy it feels good to win and get that pot of money. YOW!
Another lesson re-learned. The other morning some Cruiser got on the Cruiser's Net and complained about all the boats here in Hopetown running generators. He thought we should all have enough Solar Panels to avoid that. I thought what a wuss can't stand a little generator noise and exhaust. Well I've got my just desserts now. There is a large sailing vessel Cheng Tu in front of me -- about 30 yards away -- and with the wind direction I am directly behind him. Well for that last 2 days -- maybe longer -- he is running a built in generator 24 hours a day!! Ohh and that exhaust just frequently comes to our boat and on top of that the captain has a cigar in his mouth nearly all the time. So it is both diesel exhaust and cigar smoke. Sorry but I have to complain. The wind should change direction tonight and put him beside me and another boat will be astern him -- sorry for that boat.
Monday night was uncomfortable because we were still swinging on the mooring and rocking a bit. Today is still windy but laying down to just under 20kts late this afternoon. Supposed to be light and variable by morning.
Tomorrow we are heading to Marsh Harbour and Mangoes Marina. I need to plug in and run a battery equalization on my batteries. They are charging but not deeply. We will do a major provisioning run and laundry while there for at least 2 days. Then back here to HopeTown for the next cold front passage.
Steve and Molly from YOLO joined us at Capn Jacks to play JACKS -- a modified BINGO game-- and played for the first time. Darn if Molly didn't win the first game. That was a surprise. Then I won the fourth game which was a surprise for me. Boy it feels good to win and get that pot of money. YOW!
Another lesson re-learned. The other morning some Cruiser got on the Cruiser's Net and complained about all the boats here in Hopetown running generators. He thought we should all have enough Solar Panels to avoid that. I thought what a wuss can't stand a little generator noise and exhaust. Well I've got my just desserts now. There is a large sailing vessel Cheng Tu in front of me -- about 30 yards away -- and with the wind direction I am directly behind him. Well for that last 2 days -- maybe longer -- he is running a built in generator 24 hours a day!! Ohh and that exhaust just frequently comes to our boat and on top of that the captain has a cigar in his mouth nearly all the time. So it is both diesel exhaust and cigar smoke. Sorry but I have to complain. The wind should change direction tonight and put him beside me and another boat will be astern him -- sorry for that boat.
Saturday, January 21, 2017
Getting ready for a BIG ONE
WOW it is hard to believe that a whole week has passed already. The living is easy in HopeTown and one day just melts into another. The weather has been great this week once the wind laid down on Wednesday. That seven days of strong easterlies was really unusual for here. Now it has been light wind with the highs in the mid to upper 70s and lows in the upper 60s. I just sleep on a sheet at night -- no cover not even a sheet necessary.
We just wander the town, Karen hunts sea glass, and I fly my kites and try an ocean swim each day. It's nice but nothing much to report.
Monday night we went to Capn Jacks to play Bingo -- called Jacks there but didn't win. Karen won 4 times on our last trip here so we are hopeful.
I bought another Vernon Key Lime Pie the other day. Really have to stop making a habit of that.
We picked up our official SOT cards on Monday and I tried to use mine at the liqueur store for 10% off a case of beer but they said the discount did not apply to beer, just liqueur and wine. Ohhh Well.
Today I had to fetch water for the boat. Six trips carrying 18 gallons each trip. We are good for another week now. Mid week next week we hope to get to Marsh Harbour for more provisioning and cheaper water -- it's .38 cents a gallon here.
The big event this week starts tomorrow with a HUGE cold Front coming across tomorrow night. The forecast is for a a line of severe thunderstorms with winds to 60 kts then blow 30+ for more than 24 hours. It is not supposed to settle down till Tuesday night.
The folks are taking it seriously. All the moorings are occupied tonight and the marina is full. That forecast is not good for anyone on anchor.
So here we stay for the "blow". Fortunately I had Lucky Strike who rents the mooring to me find the other line to the mooring for me o I have two attachments to it. Normally the second line is available but someone ran over that float and it sunk. I feel better having two attachments to the mooring.
Hopefully I won't have any stories from this "BIG ONE" but we will see.
We just wander the town, Karen hunts sea glass, and I fly my kites and try an ocean swim each day. It's nice but nothing much to report.
Monday night we went to Capn Jacks to play Bingo -- called Jacks there but didn't win. Karen won 4 times on our last trip here so we are hopeful.
I bought another Vernon Key Lime Pie the other day. Really have to stop making a habit of that.
We picked up our official SOT cards on Monday and I tried to use mine at the liqueur store for 10% off a case of beer but they said the discount did not apply to beer, just liqueur and wine. Ohhh Well.
Today I had to fetch water for the boat. Six trips carrying 18 gallons each trip. We are good for another week now. Mid week next week we hope to get to Marsh Harbour for more provisioning and cheaper water -- it's .38 cents a gallon here.
The big event this week starts tomorrow with a HUGE cold Front coming across tomorrow night. The forecast is for a a line of severe thunderstorms with winds to 60 kts then blow 30+ for more than 24 hours. It is not supposed to settle down till Tuesday night.
The folks are taking it seriously. All the moorings are occupied tonight and the marina is full. That forecast is not good for anyone on anchor.
So here we stay for the "blow". Fortunately I had Lucky Strike who rents the mooring to me find the other line to the mooring for me o I have two attachments to it. Normally the second line is available but someone ran over that float and it sunk. I feel better having two attachments to the mooring.
Hopefully I won't have any stories from this "BIG ONE" but we will see.
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