WOW The incessant easterly trade winds have subsided and we are making tracks finally.
We made it to the Barefoot man Concert on Guana Cay Saturday for the cover evening show. It was not free but definitely a great concert and a lot of fun. The crowd was not overflowing but plenty of hooping and hollering. The buffet dinner was Prime Rib and very good with a Key Lime desert. I had a couple of Nippers -- their signature frozen rum drink and really enjoyed the show.
We took a mooring in the harbour. Skat and Bubbles were already there and they reserved one of the balls for us. It was tough to pickup with 20 knots of wind and a short painter. We missed twice and then Craig came over in his dink and assisted us. Thank You Craig. Buck and Vickie on Victoria Gaye came in and stoped at the MArina. They went to the concert with us but Skat and Bubbles sat this show out -- they went to the free Friday show.
Even though on a ball the harbour was not comfortable. There is a surge that bounces the boat up and down. Not bad but annoying.
Skat and Bubbles decided to leave Sunday for Green Turtle Cay (GTC) to await a weather window to return to the US. We are not going back yet but we missed GTC and went with them to enjoy GTC for a few days. The trip around the Whale Cay was uneventful but a bit rolly. We hit the entry to White Sound which is narrow and shallow near low tide. We headed in YEP here comes another sailboat out and we have to pass in the narrow channel. Then I look and there are three more coming. Now they could have waited but no they just had to come through now and wouldn't you know -- they would not yield the center of the channel and we had to hug the red -- what BOZOS! We stopped at the Green Turtle Club marina to fill up on water and diesel -- I was down to 25 gallons of water. We took on 40 gallons of diesel and 160 gallons of water. We are good for awhile.
Went swimming in the ocean the first day and it was nice. The water has warmed nicely. We played Farkle that night with Skat and Bubbles and had a great time. I only won one of the 4 games though.
The next day we went swimming in the sea of Abaco -- Bluff House side. That night we went to dinner at the Green Turtle Club and had a great dinner. Karen had her favorite coconut ice cream dessert. I had Grouper but no dessert.
The next day we all left for Manjack CAy. It was beautiful as usual but the wind direction was adverse and not as forecast. It was light so not bad but "what else is wrong with the forecast?". Karen and I took the dinghy to the ocean beach and she had a great day glass hunting. Two baggies full!.
The night was okay but bouncy because of the wind direction -- not as forecast!
The next day I Scuba dove on the boat bottom and it was still a mess. I cleaned for an hour and it was better but not great. My 3 season bottom paint was a MISTAKE -- I should have painted the bottom before this cruise!! Me BAD.
There are storms up north that are driving a large swell towards us. Today the Whale Cay passage was mild but tomorrow they expected 7 foot waves and it would be bad through Sunday. We left and got back across the Whale Cay to Treasure Cay. It was smooth as a baby butt. HArd to believe it was going to be rough the next day.
Treasure Cay was nice with just a moderate number of boats on anchor and mooring. We anchored smoothly.
We thought about leaving today but I wanted to do a little grocery shopping -- Karen wanted to hit the gift shop, and I wanted to swim on this most beautiful beach here. We did it all today and this afternoon the harbour has filled with boats. Should be big goings on tonight.
Tomorrow we might leave and head further south. Weather should be good till Sunday when we need more protection.
Tonight there is a pizza party at the MArina Tipsy seagull bar so we might hit that.
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Time to "Top Up"
Top Up is the Bahamian term for adding more minutes to your phone and/or data plan. We do this mildly but today it was time to "Top Up" our immigration period. When we arrived in the Bahamas we checked into Green Turtle Cay customs to announce our arrival and get a cruising permit to stay. Because at Green Turtle they only have customs officer we can only get 90 days. If you have an immigration officer there you can ask for more. Well our 90 days are up on the 16th and today the 12th was the earliest that we could ask for more. That's why we are here in Marsh harbour again. Here you have to go to the government office which is a $20 dollar cab ride round trip. At Treasure Cay where we were at earlier this week you have to go to the airport which was a $60 taxi ride. Thus we came back to Marsh to "Top Up" and do a little shopping.
Fortunately our friends Vickie and Buck on Virginia Gaye have friends at the ECC school who offered to take us. That was more than great. After checking into immigration which took about 30 minutes the ECC van driven by Ron from Prospector at Mangoes marina also took us to the very upscale (for the Abacos) hardware store called Abaco hardware and also the Maxwells Grocery and then delivered us directly to our dinghies at the government dock. WOW what a morning.
This weekend is the Barefoot Man concert and we wanted to go to Great Guyana Cay but the forecast is for very moderate winds tonight and tomorrow. The anchorage at Guyana is not good -- mostly sand and turtle grass and difficult to get an anchor to hold. With so many expected boats there it could be a problem. That and around noon when we returned to temptation there were a lot of clouds building for a possible thunderstorm. We stayed put for today and may go to Guyana tomorrow if the winds are not too strong or maybe Saturday. Cold front coming Sunday into Monday so it will be back to Treasure for the North Winds. Can't get back into HopeTown anymore with so much southern traffic coming through.
Let's see if me make Barefoot man tomorrow or Saturday. The concert is okay but the CROWD IS A SPECTACLE -- that is really what I want to see.
Fortunately our friends Vickie and Buck on Virginia Gaye have friends at the ECC school who offered to take us. That was more than great. After checking into immigration which took about 30 minutes the ECC van driven by Ron from Prospector at Mangoes marina also took us to the very upscale (for the Abacos) hardware store called Abaco hardware and also the Maxwells Grocery and then delivered us directly to our dinghies at the government dock. WOW what a morning.
This weekend is the Barefoot Man concert and we wanted to go to Great Guyana Cay but the forecast is for very moderate winds tonight and tomorrow. The anchorage at Guyana is not good -- mostly sand and turtle grass and difficult to get an anchor to hold. With so many expected boats there it could be a problem. That and around noon when we returned to temptation there were a lot of clouds building for a possible thunderstorm. We stayed put for today and may go to Guyana tomorrow if the winds are not too strong or maybe Saturday. Cold front coming Sunday into Monday so it will be back to Treasure for the North Winds. Can't get back into HopeTown anymore with so much southern traffic coming through.
Let's see if me make Barefoot man tomorrow or Saturday. The concert is okay but the CROWD IS A SPECTACLE -- that is really what I want to see.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
No room at the Inn and "Why is my boat so slow?"
Yesterday we tried to get back into HopeTown but no joy -- all moorings full. Karen wanted to play another game of Jack's Bingo. We anchored off instead just out of the harbour. The wind direction was fine and the Island protected us BUT the boat wakes were large and incessant. I had no idea so many boats went into and out of HopeTown.. It was rough on the hook.
Apparently scores of boats are making the migration from the Exumas to parts north. The radio is full of folks planning to cross back to the USA. It has been a tough winter here in the Bahamas and a lot of folks want to get back to civilization. I think they feel it is "owed to them" now because they are so RUDE. In HopeTown there are 54 moorings. All but about 12 are rented for the season by folks that just like it there. Unfortunately when they leave they put a reserve marker on their mooring and leave for a few days. Folks come in and can't pick those up and they are upset. What can you do? MAkes for a lot of hot tempered folks.
We went to Marsh Harbour to escape the boat wakes at Hopetown and to be ready to extend our 90 day immigration limit this Thursday here in Marsh Harbour. At 2pm today there were 54 boats on anchor here and more have arrived. It is crowded but at least minimum boat wakes. We didn't go to the dinghy dock today but I expect it is pandemonium there right now -- room for only about 12 dinghies at a time.
This morning -- early like before 9am -- I dove on the boat to scrub the bottom. WOW I couldn't believe all the growth on it. I'll try and post a picture later of the bottom condition. The stuff comes off with light brushing but there is a lot of bottom surface and I'm doing this while scuba diving. Very difficult. I got it about 980% cleaned when my tank ran out of air. I'm a heavy breather here and was at it for just over an hour. It looks pretty good and definitely ran better -- faster -- on the way to Marsh Harbour today.
Tomorrow is a large chore day with a BIG Laundry load -- probably 4 machines worth -- and some light grocery shopping. Got to get the air tank filled too. We will grab a taxi with all the laundry and go to a commercial Laundromat here in Marsh Harbour. The machines are bigger and faster than what you find at a marina, slightly cheaper but offset by the round trip $12 taxi ride.
Ohh it's warm here now. Hitting 80 degrees in the day and lows of only 75 at night. I might have to turn a fan on soon.
Apparently scores of boats are making the migration from the Exumas to parts north. The radio is full of folks planning to cross back to the USA. It has been a tough winter here in the Bahamas and a lot of folks want to get back to civilization. I think they feel it is "owed to them" now because they are so RUDE. In HopeTown there are 54 moorings. All but about 12 are rented for the season by folks that just like it there. Unfortunately when they leave they put a reserve marker on their mooring and leave for a few days. Folks come in and can't pick those up and they are upset. What can you do? MAkes for a lot of hot tempered folks.
We went to Marsh Harbour to escape the boat wakes at Hopetown and to be ready to extend our 90 day immigration limit this Thursday here in Marsh Harbour. At 2pm today there were 54 boats on anchor here and more have arrived. It is crowded but at least minimum boat wakes. We didn't go to the dinghy dock today but I expect it is pandemonium there right now -- room for only about 12 dinghies at a time.
This morning -- early like before 9am -- I dove on the boat to scrub the bottom. WOW I couldn't believe all the growth on it. I'll try and post a picture later of the bottom condition. The stuff comes off with light brushing but there is a lot of bottom surface and I'm doing this while scuba diving. Very difficult. I got it about 980% cleaned when my tank ran out of air. I'm a heavy breather here and was at it for just over an hour. It looks pretty good and definitely ran better -- faster -- on the way to Marsh Harbour today.
Tomorrow is a large chore day with a BIG Laundry load -- probably 4 machines worth -- and some light grocery shopping. Got to get the air tank filled too. We will grab a taxi with all the laundry and go to a commercial Laundromat here in Marsh Harbour. The machines are bigger and faster than what you find at a marina, slightly cheaper but offset by the round trip $12 taxi ride.
Ohh it's warm here now. Hitting 80 degrees in the day and lows of only 75 at night. I might have to turn a fan on soon.
Saturday, March 7, 2015
The Good Life in Treasure Cay
We finally cut the cord (released the mooring) in Hopetown yesterday and had a very nice sail to Treasure Cay. Even though the wind was from the wrong direction and velocity as forecast by both Chris and Weather Underground -- we had a nice ride. There were about 20 boats here but we found a spot near the main channel to anchor in. We are closest to the marina and expect a good WiFi signal from there.
Spent the afternoon wandering the village and going to the grocery store (foraging for food). Fixed burgers on the grill and had a nice evening although very warm. Not a breath of air was moving all night. The boat temp was between 79 and 76 degrees.
This morning we had a light rain as a cold front passed and then the wind picked up to the teens. It has been cloudy and windy all day. We went to the village this morning for the annual book fair at the Library and found that there was a full blown farmers market going on too. Pandemonium but lots of fun.
The book fair was great. This Library serves a very wealthy community and they have lots of great books and mostly hard backs. We bought about 15 books. One was a gilded hardback of all of Edgar Allen Poe's works. I've read most years ago but the book was just beautiful -- not one for the cruisers book exchange later.
At the MArket I found Kirk the Conch Man -- His banner says the "Da best Conch Man". He made up a big batch right in front of us. I got to watch his assistant pull the fresh conchs from the shells and clean them -- there was more to that than I thought.
They were going to serve barbecued chicken later. We decided to come back later and buy some for dinner -- well that didn't work out. We were back at 12:15pm and the chicken barbecue was sold out!! Got to remember in the Bahamas if you see something you want buy it now because later it will most likely be gone.
We bought some fresh chicken at the grocery and some of Sweet Baby Rays sauce to fix on the boat tonight but it is now too windy for the grill -- hopefully tomorrow.
It's quite blustery here today and forecast for tonight but the holding is good and the fetch is short so a good place to weather a blow -- and dream of barbecue chicken.
Spent the afternoon wandering the village and going to the grocery store (foraging for food). Fixed burgers on the grill and had a nice evening although very warm. Not a breath of air was moving all night. The boat temp was between 79 and 76 degrees.
This morning we had a light rain as a cold front passed and then the wind picked up to the teens. It has been cloudy and windy all day. We went to the village this morning for the annual book fair at the Library and found that there was a full blown farmers market going on too. Pandemonium but lots of fun.
The book fair was great. This Library serves a very wealthy community and they have lots of great books and mostly hard backs. We bought about 15 books. One was a gilded hardback of all of Edgar Allen Poe's works. I've read most years ago but the book was just beautiful -- not one for the cruisers book exchange later.
At the MArket I found Kirk the Conch Man -- His banner says the "Da best Conch Man". He made up a big batch right in front of us. I got to watch his assistant pull the fresh conchs from the shells and clean them -- there was more to that than I thought.
They were going to serve barbecued chicken later. We decided to come back later and buy some for dinner -- well that didn't work out. We were back at 12:15pm and the chicken barbecue was sold out!! Got to remember in the Bahamas if you see something you want buy it now because later it will most likely be gone.
We bought some fresh chicken at the grocery and some of Sweet Baby Rays sauce to fix on the boat tonight but it is now too windy for the grill -- hopefully tomorrow.
It's quite blustery here today and forecast for tonight but the holding is good and the fetch is short so a good place to weather a blow -- and dream of barbecue chicken.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
The Dragon Returns
We are back in Hopetown. Had a great time at Mangoes in Marsh Harbour, made a couple of Conch Horns while there and finally learned how to blow one. I gave the extra shell to Vickie on Victoria Gaye. We both had a great time blowing horns with the rest of the cruisers on the dock there in the evenings.
The weather has really improved. Still plenty of wind which makes the outside anchorages bouncy but nice and calm here in Hopetown. When we arrived Monday there was only a double blue float mooring available. We took it and waited for someone to collect -- didn't know who had the blue ones. Well today the Hopetown Inn and Marina shuttle (pontoon boat) stops by and I'm wondering why he is so close -- well the mooring belongs to the marina and he was here to collect. Mystery solved.
Yesterday was a great kite flying day so I took the 30 foot Dragon out and the Tristar and went to the beach. This time I kept the kites from sailing over the sand dunes and they were both quite behaved. The Dragon looked great up against the clear Blue sky yesterday. Today I'll take the rotating kite over there.
Tomorrow we expect to take the big boat to Tahiti Beach and anchor off. Got to fly kites there and tomorrow night we should be able to take the dinghy over to Lubbers Quarter and Cracker P's for the full moon party. Never been to one before so looking forward to that.
Should be a great day at Tahiti beach with low tide at 2:21pm tomorrow and maybe we can find some sand dollars.
The weather has really improved. Still plenty of wind which makes the outside anchorages bouncy but nice and calm here in Hopetown. When we arrived Monday there was only a double blue float mooring available. We took it and waited for someone to collect -- didn't know who had the blue ones. Well today the Hopetown Inn and Marina shuttle (pontoon boat) stops by and I'm wondering why he is so close -- well the mooring belongs to the marina and he was here to collect. Mystery solved.
Yesterday was a great kite flying day so I took the 30 foot Dragon out and the Tristar and went to the beach. This time I kept the kites from sailing over the sand dunes and they were both quite behaved. The Dragon looked great up against the clear Blue sky yesterday. Today I'll take the rotating kite over there.
Tomorrow we expect to take the big boat to Tahiti Beach and anchor off. Got to fly kites there and tomorrow night we should be able to take the dinghy over to Lubbers Quarter and Cracker P's for the full moon party. Never been to one before so looking forward to that.
Should be a great day at Tahiti beach with low tide at 2:21pm tomorrow and maybe we can find some sand dollars.
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Mangoes Marina -- the Cat's Meow!
Wow -- we haven't been into a marina since December 26 so it was with great pleasure that we tied up in Mangoes Marina in Marsh Harbour the other day. Gosh they all run together now but I think it was Tuesday this week.
Mangoes is the least expensive marina here at 90 cents a foot till the end of February and is just full of nice cruisers and Ray the manager who is the best -- friendly and accommodating.
Ohh man no worries about a dragging an anchor or a poor mooring line. Just tied up with 5 lines to pilings. On the flip side there are all kinds of shopping and restaurants available. Well we did them all. The first day was like a vacation and we did nothing,then we worked hard and cleaned the boat from stem to stern the next day, then it was provisioning time, then we went to Snappas Bar and Grill for lunch and a GREAT Cheeseburger....
Then back to reality today -- it is the Bahamas. We did laundry. Well first off you can't start early enough because some one always starts earlier than you do. We ended up waiting till noon for a washer to become available -- they have 2 washers and dryers here at Mangoes. we started the wash and it ran fine then Karen started the drying. Around 2:30pm she awakes me from a nap to says that the dryers are not drying -- no heat. I investigate and sure enough no heat. I inspect the dryers and they are gas. I tell Ray the marina manager and he checks and sure enough they have run out of propane -- no more till Monday at the earliest.
Well there is a taxi stand right next door at the Ferry dock so I get a cab to take us to the commercial laundry in town. Only 7 dollars but a long walk with wet laundry. Once there it only takes us 20 minutes in the big commercial dryers to dry everything. Then a call to the taxi to go back -- too far to walk with all that laundry. Thus the cost was an additional $14 dollars for the taxi but worth it.
The dock and tenants are great. Each night near sundown many gather on the dock to blow their conch horns at the setting sun -- should be done just as the curve of the sun drops below the horizon. I got caught up in this and bought 2 nice conch shells from Hollywood George who does the conch salad just outside the marina here -- only $5 a apiece. I had to cut the tip off and clean out the end so you could blow in it. I had to repair the hole they make to get the conch meat out with some epoxy putty then clean and test. They both sounded fine so I gave one to Vickie on Victoria Gaye. We joined the crowd and enjoyed blowing our horns with them.. We were not great but acceptable to the crowd. Practice will make us both better.
Tomorrow we hope to leave in better weather and enjoy more of the Abacos -- maybe Great Guyana Cay and Nippers tomorrow and Man O War on Monday and Tuesday and then back to Treasure Cay for the weekend -- yippee.
It's back on the anchor for us.
Mangoes is the least expensive marina here at 90 cents a foot till the end of February and is just full of nice cruisers and Ray the manager who is the best -- friendly and accommodating.
Ohh man no worries about a dragging an anchor or a poor mooring line. Just tied up with 5 lines to pilings. On the flip side there are all kinds of shopping and restaurants available. Well we did them all. The first day was like a vacation and we did nothing,then we worked hard and cleaned the boat from stem to stern the next day, then it was provisioning time, then we went to Snappas Bar and Grill for lunch and a GREAT Cheeseburger....
Then back to reality today -- it is the Bahamas. We did laundry. Well first off you can't start early enough because some one always starts earlier than you do. We ended up waiting till noon for a washer to become available -- they have 2 washers and dryers here at Mangoes. we started the wash and it ran fine then Karen started the drying. Around 2:30pm she awakes me from a nap to says that the dryers are not drying -- no heat. I investigate and sure enough no heat. I inspect the dryers and they are gas. I tell Ray the marina manager and he checks and sure enough they have run out of propane -- no more till Monday at the earliest.
Well there is a taxi stand right next door at the Ferry dock so I get a cab to take us to the commercial laundry in town. Only 7 dollars but a long walk with wet laundry. Once there it only takes us 20 minutes in the big commercial dryers to dry everything. Then a call to the taxi to go back -- too far to walk with all that laundry. Thus the cost was an additional $14 dollars for the taxi but worth it.
The dock and tenants are great. Each night near sundown many gather on the dock to blow their conch horns at the setting sun -- should be done just as the curve of the sun drops below the horizon. I got caught up in this and bought 2 nice conch shells from Hollywood George who does the conch salad just outside the marina here -- only $5 a apiece. I had to cut the tip off and clean out the end so you could blow in it. I had to repair the hole they make to get the conch meat out with some epoxy putty then clean and test. They both sounded fine so I gave one to Vickie on Victoria Gaye. We joined the crowd and enjoyed blowing our horns with them.. We were not great but acceptable to the crowd. Practice will make us both better.
Tomorrow we hope to leave in better weather and enjoy more of the Abacos -- maybe Great Guyana Cay and Nippers tomorrow and Man O War on Monday and Tuesday and then back to Treasure Cay for the weekend -- yippee.
It's back on the anchor for us.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Sorry -- interrupting cruise for a vacation
That's right -- enough of this cruising thing we went on vacation today!
We were going to the Harbour View Fuel dock for water and fuel and I was thinking the water alone was going to be $35. Our mooring lease in Hopetown expires today and I didn't really want to go back there just yet. Orchid BAy Marina has a 50 cent per foot till end of February -- through this Sunday so why not go there and pay that and get free water there and stay through Sunday. Well all they have on Great Guana Cay is the beach bar Nippers and a great beach to walk -- not much for 5 days. Victoria Gaye -- Buck and Vickie went to Mangoes Marina yesterday for a few days and they just raved about it and it was just 90 cents a foot.
So we decided to go into Mangoes till Sunday and enjoy Marsh Harbour and work like dogs to clean the boat.
Well after getting in and tied up this morning around 10:30am we checked in at the office back then back on the boat tried to decide where to begin the long overdue chores -- we haven't been tied to a marina since December 26!!
Sitting there I couldn't decide where to start and it felt so good to just sit and not worry about battery management with Solar, and wind, and the gen set.. no worry about anchor dragging, no worry about too close boats picking up moorings it felt like it did when we would go on a weeks summer vacation back home. Thus we decided today we are on VACATION -- and did absolutely nothing but enjoy a beautiful sunny 79 degree day in the Abacos. I hope to keep this up for few days..
My Rocna anchor got put to a test yesterday. It bit in as usual and w set it normally. Today when I picked it up it came right up! Usually we need the engine to force it out. After bringing it up I found a large rag wrapped around the tip of the anchor. WOW that could have been bad but the ol Rocna handled it well.
Well to continue the vacation theme tonight it is a lobster dinner prepared on the boat of course -- what you think I'm made of money!
We were going to the Harbour View Fuel dock for water and fuel and I was thinking the water alone was going to be $35. Our mooring lease in Hopetown expires today and I didn't really want to go back there just yet. Orchid BAy Marina has a 50 cent per foot till end of February -- through this Sunday so why not go there and pay that and get free water there and stay through Sunday. Well all they have on Great Guana Cay is the beach bar Nippers and a great beach to walk -- not much for 5 days. Victoria Gaye -- Buck and Vickie went to Mangoes Marina yesterday for a few days and they just raved about it and it was just 90 cents a foot.
So we decided to go into Mangoes till Sunday and enjoy Marsh Harbour and work like dogs to clean the boat.
Well after getting in and tied up this morning around 10:30am we checked in at the office back then back on the boat tried to decide where to begin the long overdue chores -- we haven't been tied to a marina since December 26!!
Sitting there I couldn't decide where to start and it felt so good to just sit and not worry about battery management with Solar, and wind, and the gen set.. no worry about anchor dragging, no worry about too close boats picking up moorings it felt like it did when we would go on a weeks summer vacation back home. Thus we decided today we are on VACATION -- and did absolutely nothing but enjoy a beautiful sunny 79 degree day in the Abacos. I hope to keep this up for few days..
My Rocna anchor got put to a test yesterday. It bit in as usual and w set it normally. Today when I picked it up it came right up! Usually we need the engine to force it out. After bringing it up I found a large rag wrapped around the tip of the anchor. WOW that could have been bad but the ol Rocna handled it well.
Well to continue the vacation theme tonight it is a lobster dinner prepared on the boat of course -- what you think I'm made of money!
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