Which was it yesterday? We went to Marsh Harbour on Thursday to do some provisioning and get water. I took on 130 gallons! AT 25 cents a gallon it was worth the trip vs 38 cents a gallon in Hopetown. After taking on the water we anchored, had lunch, then went to Maxwells for a big purchase. When we headed over there I stopped at the Corner Value store to inquire about propane -- one of our tanks ran out last week. They said it works just like clock work -- their words. You have the tank there by 9am and it is returned at noon. If you have it there between 9am and 1pm it will be back by 4pm and it was only $25 vs $37 in Hopetown. In Hopetown you have to leave it for several days on a dock before someone comes -- no schedule. I didn't want to leave a $300 aluminum tank laying around for a few days.
Well Friday morning I had a QSO with Bubbles and Skat and Victoria Gaye and I was bragging what a good deal the propane process was in Marsh HArbour. Wow cheaper and no worries about your t ank being stolen.
Friday morning (that's Friday the 13th) I had the tank there by 8:30am. I came back at just before 12pm and it was no where to be seen. I asked.. Ohhh there was a problem with the pump it might be back at 4pm today or tomorrow sometime. Ohh Pooh we wanted to leave that afternoon!!
Ohh well had a nice lunch and then while killing time I took my dinghy motor prop that had spun some weeks ago over to Abaco Props. They said they could re-hub it and they did it while I waited and even let me watch the process. Coool, well at least something was accomplished today.
Back on the boat I cleaned the knot log sender, the seawater strainer on the main engine and tightened the packing log -- it was leaking pretty profusely yesterday.
Well at 3:40pm I went to get my tank. It wasn't ready but they said it would be here shortly. I killed 30 minutes and then it showed up. GREAT..
We were too tired to head out this afternoon so we stayed in Marsh another night planning to go to Man O War for the fair tomorrow.
Good thing we stayed. The wind piped up over night from the West and it would have made anchoring off Man O War real uncomfortable where it was not an issue in Marsh Harbour.
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Got Fleas
Today we sailed over to Man O War this morning for the annual Fair and Flea Market there.
Beautiful weather although the wind was building as we got there. It was blowing 12 - 15 kts out of the West which put us on a lee shore but the Ol Rocna really bit in so I didn't worry about it.
The wave action was quite rambunctious and made it difficult to mount the engine. Once that was done and we ran 75 yards to the protected South harbour the ride was easy.
The harbour was packed. Lots of small motor boats running around and many had no idea how to handle the crowded conditions. Just eyes straight ahead and the hell with everyone else and -- hey -- why not make a substantial wake!
I tried to find the public dock but it was difficult to discern. We went to the marina but the dinghy dock there was overflowing. Back to the public dock and we tied up but couldn't get off the dock. Someone had set up a flea market booth on the dock and we would have had to climb under a wind break and a table to get off!! HOW RUDE!!
We went next dock over to the Aubrey's Grocery dock and tied up there. We planned to buy something when we left.
The fair was crowded but did not have a large number of vendors. The biggest thing going was the food tent, but at $18 a dinner we passed. We watched the hermit crab races which were a lot of fun and checked out the used book vendors. Karen found 4 books she wanted.
BAck on Temptation for lunch and kill some time before heading to Hopetown. Got to work that tide and can't come in till half tide on the rising tide.
We are back on our mooring just as the wind has really picked up -- it wasn't supposed to do that till late tonight. Anyway this is a good spot as we wait the next weather event tonight and tomorrow, then a nice mild day Monday, then back into really foul weather Tuesday and Wednesday. Ohh well the pattern will change soon.
Hopefully Monday will be mild so I can take the boat out to a real nice sandy patch and dive on it. It has quite a bit of growth on the bottom that needs to be scrubbed off.
Ahh the joys of boat ownership.
But before you feel sorry for us -- the low today was 65 degrees and the high was 74...
Beautiful weather although the wind was building as we got there. It was blowing 12 - 15 kts out of the West which put us on a lee shore but the Ol Rocna really bit in so I didn't worry about it.
The wave action was quite rambunctious and made it difficult to mount the engine. Once that was done and we ran 75 yards to the protected South harbour the ride was easy.
The harbour was packed. Lots of small motor boats running around and many had no idea how to handle the crowded conditions. Just eyes straight ahead and the hell with everyone else and -- hey -- why not make a substantial wake!
I tried to find the public dock but it was difficult to discern. We went to the marina but the dinghy dock there was overflowing. Back to the public dock and we tied up but couldn't get off the dock. Someone had set up a flea market booth on the dock and we would have had to climb under a wind break and a table to get off!! HOW RUDE!!
We went next dock over to the Aubrey's Grocery dock and tied up there. We planned to buy something when we left.
The fair was crowded but did not have a large number of vendors. The biggest thing going was the food tent, but at $18 a dinner we passed. We watched the hermit crab races which were a lot of fun and checked out the used book vendors. Karen found 4 books she wanted.
BAck on Temptation for lunch and kill some time before heading to Hopetown. Got to work that tide and can't come in till half tide on the rising tide.
We are back on our mooring just as the wind has really picked up -- it wasn't supposed to do that till late tonight. Anyway this is a good spot as we wait the next weather event tonight and tomorrow, then a nice mild day Monday, then back into really foul weather Tuesday and Wednesday. Ohh well the pattern will change soon.
Hopefully Monday will be mild so I can take the boat out to a real nice sandy patch and dive on it. It has quite a bit of growth on the bottom that needs to be scrubbed off.
Ahh the joys of boat ownership.
But before you feel sorry for us -- the low today was 65 degrees and the high was 74...
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Go fly a kite!
The weather has been poor for the Abacos these last few weeks. Cold fronts are coming through like clockwork -- every 48 hours. This gives us only one nice day every 2 days. The weather is not terrible but it keeps us from traveling to the many cool Islands we would like to visit. It should change in another week or so. Assessment from Chris Parker.
The temps are fine with the lows in the mid 60s and the highs in low 70s and mostly partly cloudy. Just too much wind to comfortably travel and anchor out. Hopetown is great for these cold front passages. No matter how strong the winds are we can still leave the boats and walk around town and site see or buy provisions or walk the beaches -- and of course -- climb the Lighthouse and go out in the balcony and really feel the strong winds. The view of both Ocean and Sea of Abaco is just spectacular.
Now the weather has been great for kite flying. I have 4 very nice cellular kits and one 30 foot dragon kite. I've been going to the beach to launch and it has been interesting. They fly very stable until they pass over the tree lined dune tops and then it gets scary. I had my Dragon kite up about 150 feet and it was flying fine then suddenly it plunged straight down past the tree tops before it reversed and climbed back. I'm sure it gave some a scare who might have been walking below those trees. I brought it in after that.
The TriStar was the most stable. It just went up and stayed up -- little pull on the line. The rotating Spinbox -- the FLASH is always a great fly and spectacle. It did well but took a few dives toward the ground to scare me. Apparently the wind coming from the sea rides up over the dunes then as I pass the apex there is an occasional strong downdraft
I flew these kites over a three day period and had Jim and Barb from Skat fly with me. It was great fun and a away to turn some lemons into lemonade -- the too strong winds for pleasure boating.
I've been bike riding too. Took a LONG ride Sunday to Sea Spray Marina in Whitesound and passed the Abaco Inn and resort. Wow that is a beautiful place and seemed to be hosting an artist retreat. Seemed like everyone was under a shade tree with easel and brushes and mostly white canvas -- hmm I wonder if it was mostly for show.
The temps are fine with the lows in the mid 60s and the highs in low 70s and mostly partly cloudy. Just too much wind to comfortably travel and anchor out. Hopetown is great for these cold front passages. No matter how strong the winds are we can still leave the boats and walk around town and site see or buy provisions or walk the beaches -- and of course -- climb the Lighthouse and go out in the balcony and really feel the strong winds. The view of both Ocean and Sea of Abaco is just spectacular.
Now the weather has been great for kite flying. I have 4 very nice cellular kits and one 30 foot dragon kite. I've been going to the beach to launch and it has been interesting. They fly very stable until they pass over the tree lined dune tops and then it gets scary. I had my Dragon kite up about 150 feet and it was flying fine then suddenly it plunged straight down past the tree tops before it reversed and climbed back. I'm sure it gave some a scare who might have been walking below those trees. I brought it in after that.
The TriStar was the most stable. It just went up and stayed up -- little pull on the line. The rotating Spinbox -- the FLASH is always a great fly and spectacle. It did well but took a few dives toward the ground to scare me. Apparently the wind coming from the sea rides up over the dunes then as I pass the apex there is an occasional strong downdraft
I flew these kites over a three day period and had Jim and Barb from Skat fly with me. It was great fun and a away to turn some lemons into lemonade -- the too strong winds for pleasure boating.
I've been bike riding too. Took a LONG ride Sunday to Sea Spray Marina in Whitesound and passed the Abaco Inn and resort. Wow that is a beautiful place and seemed to be hosting an artist retreat. Seemed like everyone was under a shade tree with easel and brushes and mostly white canvas -- hmm I wonder if it was mostly for show.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
HopeTown Ruminations
The living in Hopetown is easy on a mooring ball. We are not doing much. Just reading books from the library, cleaning the boat as needed, playing with the electronics -- but not much since we are on a tight energy budget, and just roaming the town and Elbow Cay by bicycle. I don't write more or post more pictures because of the limited energy available on a boat on the mooring. We are not plugged in and all our power comes from a 500 AMP Hour battery bank which is charged by solar panels and a wind generator and if they can't keep up -- then an 8KW genset but it burns a 1/2 gallon of diesel an hour. Gosh it has been a month since we were tied up at a marina and plugged in.
Living is simple here and that was emphasized the other night when we watched part of the Super Bowl. WOW the excesses we saw on the Super Bowl and commercials really hit home after living 6 weeks here in the Bahamas with the limited shopping choices available too us and what we did buy was 3 times what we pay at home.
We watched part of the game at the Hopetown Inn and lodge at their beach bar. It was a bright moon and quite windy which made it COLD for us but the temp was really only 66 degrees. Cold after what we have been experiencing here. What a contrast to the my most memorable Super Bowl -- Super Bowl 3 back in 1967 and watched in Akron Ohio at a friends house -- Bob Hunt -- it was 17 degrees that day and lots of snow and ice on the ground.
Back to Hopetown ruminations. I was just thinking what is was like here say just 50 years ago. No doctor, no hospital -- still no hospital or doctor here but a clinic one day a week. Think of all the babies that born without access to doctor or hospital?! Hell 100 years ago that is the way most babies were born except in the largest of cities. WOW -- hard to imagine today.
Well the whole Carolina contingent is here in Hopetown tonight. Victoria Gaye is here, Bubbles, and Skat came in today and we are all moored on adjacent moorings. I invited all over tonight so we can share stories and commiserate over the weather. These multiple cold fronts a week are now keeping all of us here in the Abacos. Not conducive to heading further south but from our perspective that is okay since we do enjoy the Abacos and there is lot to look forward to over the next several weeks.
Got to o to prepare for visitors tonight and I've got some Goombay Smash to prepare.
Living is simple here and that was emphasized the other night when we watched part of the Super Bowl. WOW the excesses we saw on the Super Bowl and commercials really hit home after living 6 weeks here in the Bahamas with the limited shopping choices available too us and what we did buy was 3 times what we pay at home.
We watched part of the game at the Hopetown Inn and lodge at their beach bar. It was a bright moon and quite windy which made it COLD for us but the temp was really only 66 degrees. Cold after what we have been experiencing here. What a contrast to the my most memorable Super Bowl -- Super Bowl 3 back in 1967 and watched in Akron Ohio at a friends house -- Bob Hunt -- it was 17 degrees that day and lots of snow and ice on the ground.
Back to Hopetown ruminations. I was just thinking what is was like here say just 50 years ago. No doctor, no hospital -- still no hospital or doctor here but a clinic one day a week. Think of all the babies that born without access to doctor or hospital?! Hell 100 years ago that is the way most babies were born except in the largest of cities. WOW -- hard to imagine today.
Well the whole Carolina contingent is here in Hopetown tonight. Victoria Gaye is here, Bubbles, and Skat came in today and we are all moored on adjacent moorings. I invited all over tonight so we can share stories and commiserate over the weather. These multiple cold fronts a week are now keeping all of us here in the Abacos. Not conducive to heading further south but from our perspective that is okay since we do enjoy the Abacos and there is lot to look forward to over the next several weeks.
Got to o to prepare for visitors tonight and I've got some Goombay Smash to prepare.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Garbage Detail
This is scary now. Last night while enjoying the re lighting of the Hopetown Lighthouse (which is currently under a weeks worth of repairs) I felt as if I was home now!! I guess it's because it is familiar and we feel safe on the moorings here.
Chris Parker forecast is forecasting higher winds than we are experiencing here. The timing is right but the wind speeds are really higher than we experience. Kind of disappointing when you use these forecasts to plan our outings. We stay put when we could have rather gone somewhere.
That's important right now because the weather cycle we are in is keeping us close to safe harbor when we would rather be out and about. However I know if I second guess him -- we will get hammered someplace.
Today was an easy day here in the harbour. Karen went glass hunting on the beach at low tide and found a couple of pieces. I walked about town and tried to buy some coconut bread from Vernon's store but it wasn't ready yet. Said around 2 - 2:30pm. I was back at 3pm and it still wasn't ready. I killed another 20 minutes looking about town and over the beach then the bread was ready. Ummm it is good -- for everything. Especially French toast but I use it for toast and hamburgers and ham sandwiches, etc. It's not cheap at $4.84 a loaf.
While hanging out with Vernon I asked how they disposed of the garbage here in Hopetown. They used to burn it but all the non-Bahamians that now live and rent here were against that and made them stop. Now they put it all on a barge and send it to MArsh Harbour for disposal there. It's very expensive now. Vernon says its $2000 a year to throw all the cardboard boxes away that his groceries come in.
With the cold fronts forecast to come in last night and Monday and Wednesday there are a surprising number of moorings available here right now. Gosh in times past this place was always full and difficult to find an available mooring.
Things must be quiet here this year. I heard Orchid Bay marina on Great Guana Cay announce a docking special for February of only .50 cents a foot!! That is low!! Then again the last time we were there we only saw 3 boats in the Marina.
Tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday. We will go somewhere but not sure where yet. I don't care for the game as much as the party and all the cool commercials.
Chris Parker forecast is forecasting higher winds than we are experiencing here. The timing is right but the wind speeds are really higher than we experience. Kind of disappointing when you use these forecasts to plan our outings. We stay put when we could have rather gone somewhere.
That's important right now because the weather cycle we are in is keeping us close to safe harbor when we would rather be out and about. However I know if I second guess him -- we will get hammered someplace.
Today was an easy day here in the harbour. Karen went glass hunting on the beach at low tide and found a couple of pieces. I walked about town and tried to buy some coconut bread from Vernon's store but it wasn't ready yet. Said around 2 - 2:30pm. I was back at 3pm and it still wasn't ready. I killed another 20 minutes looking about town and over the beach then the bread was ready. Ummm it is good -- for everything. Especially French toast but I use it for toast and hamburgers and ham sandwiches, etc. It's not cheap at $4.84 a loaf.
While hanging out with Vernon I asked how they disposed of the garbage here in Hopetown. They used to burn it but all the non-Bahamians that now live and rent here were against that and made them stop. Now they put it all on a barge and send it to MArsh Harbour for disposal there. It's very expensive now. Vernon says its $2000 a year to throw all the cardboard boxes away that his groceries come in.
With the cold fronts forecast to come in last night and Monday and Wednesday there are a surprising number of moorings available here right now. Gosh in times past this place was always full and difficult to find an available mooring.
Things must be quiet here this year. I heard Orchid Bay marina on Great Guana Cay announce a docking special for February of only .50 cents a foot!! That is low!! Then again the last time we were there we only saw 3 boats in the Marina.
Tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday. We will go somewhere but not sure where yet. I don't care for the game as much as the party and all the cool commercials.
Friday, January 30, 2015
Provisioning and a BIG WHOOPS
We had been in Hopetown for more than a week and the groceries were getting a bit thin. There are groceries available here in Hopetown but they are about 1/3 higher then they are in Marsh Harbour. Water in Hopetown is 38 cents a gallon and only 20 cents in Marsh Harbour. We needed 150 gallons.
The weather had finally abated so we went to Marsh on Wednesday afternoon late and anchored. The forecast had medium winds forecast but they were much higher than forecast overnight -- so what else is new! Fortunately the ol ROCNA anchor did us proud on short scope. There were 40 boats Wednesday night and 50 Thursday night -- getting a bit crowded.
Thursday we hit the MAx wells grocery around 10 am. Surprisingly there were empty areas on the shelves -- mostly dairy, bread , and produce. They were stocking so we worked around that. We spent $182.00 and still were able to carry it all with us back to the dinghy dock.
We did some other shopping but didn't buy much. Now Thursday night we had a dead calm so it was a comfortable anchorage then.. Big wind is expected tomorrow night or Friday so we wanted to get back to our mooring before the wind built. Unfortunately High tide wouldn't be till 5:01pm so we had to kill time. We called HArbour View MArina a little after 9am to come in for fuel and water - the water tanks were near empty. They had space at the fuel dock but a large trawler came in immediately and occupied the space so again we had to kill time before we could go in. Once in we took on 130 gallons of water and 15 gallons of diesel. It took more than 30 minutes to load the water -- pressure was LOW.
Now we had time to kill so we went to Man O War Cay to walk the ocean beach at low tide. As we approached the beach the chart showed plenty of water but there was a light green patch -- usually shallow water. I approached slowly and the depth went from 12.0 to 11.0 to 9.0 to 6.7 and 6.2ft. I could see the rocky bottom plainly. I hit reverse then backed and headed for deeper water. We didn't bump but we were close to running aground on a falling tide with wave action --- not good.
We decided to skip the beach and cruised slowly by the 2.5 miles of Man O War. We then ducked behind Sandy Cay and anchored for lunch and kill time to 1pm before going in to Hope Town. I needed the mid tide to get in.
We were near Point Set rock and had lots of cruising boats go by. At 1 pm we pulled the anchor and headed to . It was dicey but we got in and just as we approached the Hopetown Light Marina the freight boat Carib III left the dock immediately in front of us. Now I had the right of way but he is a 70 foot steel hauled boats so I backed down and stopped and station kept till he went on.
We found our reserved mooring okay and picked it up but another boat was on Victoria Gaye's reserved mooring. I shouted at a passing dinghy that I didn't recognize and sure enough they were on that boat. They apologized and moved on just before Victoria Gaye arrived. Ohh boy that was close.
The Lighthouse which has been under repair for several days and has been dark is running tonight. Even though we have only been here about 2 weeks now this places feels like home. We will be here longer now. The forecast is for high winds -- 20 - 30 kts with higher gusts for the next 3 days. That's a lot but here we can still get off and walk the town and beaches.
Ohh will we ever leave again?? Sure when we need cheaper groceries and beer.
The weather had finally abated so we went to Marsh on Wednesday afternoon late and anchored. The forecast had medium winds forecast but they were much higher than forecast overnight -- so what else is new! Fortunately the ol ROCNA anchor did us proud on short scope. There were 40 boats Wednesday night and 50 Thursday night -- getting a bit crowded.
Thursday we hit the MAx wells grocery around 10 am. Surprisingly there were empty areas on the shelves -- mostly dairy, bread , and produce. They were stocking so we worked around that. We spent $182.00 and still were able to carry it all with us back to the dinghy dock.
We did some other shopping but didn't buy much. Now Thursday night we had a dead calm so it was a comfortable anchorage then.. Big wind is expected tomorrow night or Friday so we wanted to get back to our mooring before the wind built. Unfortunately High tide wouldn't be till 5:01pm so we had to kill time. We called HArbour View MArina a little after 9am to come in for fuel and water - the water tanks were near empty. They had space at the fuel dock but a large trawler came in immediately and occupied the space so again we had to kill time before we could go in. Once in we took on 130 gallons of water and 15 gallons of diesel. It took more than 30 minutes to load the water -- pressure was LOW.
Now we had time to kill so we went to Man O War Cay to walk the ocean beach at low tide. As we approached the beach the chart showed plenty of water but there was a light green patch -- usually shallow water. I approached slowly and the depth went from 12.0 to 11.0 to 9.0 to 6.7 and 6.2ft. I could see the rocky bottom plainly. I hit reverse then backed and headed for deeper water. We didn't bump but we were close to running aground on a falling tide with wave action --- not good.
We decided to skip the beach and cruised slowly by the 2.5 miles of Man O War. We then ducked behind Sandy Cay and anchored for lunch and kill time to 1pm before going in to Hope Town. I needed the mid tide to get in.
We were near Point Set rock and had lots of cruising boats go by. At 1 pm we pulled the anchor and headed to . It was dicey but we got in and just as we approached the Hopetown Light Marina the freight boat Carib III left the dock immediately in front of us. Now I had the right of way but he is a 70 foot steel hauled boats so I backed down and stopped and station kept till he went on.
We found our reserved mooring okay and picked it up but another boat was on Victoria Gaye's reserved mooring. I shouted at a passing dinghy that I didn't recognize and sure enough they were on that boat. They apologized and moved on just before Victoria Gaye arrived. Ohh boy that was close.
The Lighthouse which has been under repair for several days and has been dark is running tonight. Even though we have only been here about 2 weeks now this places feels like home. We will be here longer now. The forecast is for high winds -- 20 - 30 kts with higher gusts for the next 3 days. That's a lot but here we can still get off and walk the town and beaches.
Ohh will we ever leave again?? Sure when we need cheaper groceries and beer.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Winter has found us in the Bahamas!
Brrr that blizzard that is hitting the NorthEast today has sent a vicious cold front to us here in the Bahamas.
The wind howled all night long in the 20kt range with higher gusts. Today it has been 15 - 20 kts all day. Folks are moving around in ski clothing. Wearing jackets, long pants. knit caps, gloves, scarves, etc. I never knew there were so much cold weather clothing here. Ohh it is a cold winters morn here today. Ohh the low was 62 degrees and the high was only 66. I suspect with all that wind the wind chill MUST be in the low 60s. Ohh man it's tough here today. Please think of us in your prayers tonight -- and for some of you -- your condemnation.
We fought the high winds last night and went to Jack's for dinner and some Jack's bingo. It's only a 50 yard long dinghy ride from our mooring here. I had the Wahoo and Karen a Taco salad. The bingo was nice. Karen won the second game and unfortunately with another person and had to split the nearly $300 pot. Ohh it's great fun when you win. I unfortunately did not experience that but still had a good time.
We decided with the long range forecast to take a month here in Hopetown on a mooring and use this as a base of operation. When the weather is fine we go out and play and when it's bad we have our mooring here. Not as nice as a marina but only $350 for the month.
Unfortunately we still need to head to Marsh Harbour for provisions and water because it is twice as expensive here in Hopetown. Water is .38 cents a gallon here vs .20 cents in Marsh HArbour. Eggs are $5 a dozen here and $2.50 in Marsh Harbour. Boy food is expensive here.
The wind howled all night long in the 20kt range with higher gusts. Today it has been 15 - 20 kts all day. Folks are moving around in ski clothing. Wearing jackets, long pants. knit caps, gloves, scarves, etc. I never knew there were so much cold weather clothing here. Ohh it is a cold winters morn here today. Ohh the low was 62 degrees and the high was only 66. I suspect with all that wind the wind chill MUST be in the low 60s. Ohh man it's tough here today. Please think of us in your prayers tonight -- and for some of you -- your condemnation.
We fought the high winds last night and went to Jack's for dinner and some Jack's bingo. It's only a 50 yard long dinghy ride from our mooring here. I had the Wahoo and Karen a Taco salad. The bingo was nice. Karen won the second game and unfortunately with another person and had to split the nearly $300 pot. Ohh it's great fun when you win. I unfortunately did not experience that but still had a good time.
We decided with the long range forecast to take a month here in Hopetown on a mooring and use this as a base of operation. When the weather is fine we go out and play and when it's bad we have our mooring here. Not as nice as a marina but only $350 for the month.
Unfortunately we still need to head to Marsh Harbour for provisions and water because it is twice as expensive here in Hopetown. Water is .38 cents a gallon here vs .20 cents in Marsh HArbour. Eggs are $5 a dozen here and $2.50 in Marsh Harbour. Boy food is expensive here.
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