THE LOVELY MARINA AT EMERALD BAY

12/28/2011 LEE STOCKING CAY TO THE MARINA AT EMERALD BAY ON GREAT EXUMA


WEDNESDAY

18 NM

DOCKED AT THE MARINA AT EMERALD BAY 242 336-6100 NON SERVICE SLIPS $1.00/FT FREE LAUNDRY, WI-FI, LUXURY SHOWERS AND CLUB HOUSE FULL SERVICE SLIPS $2.25/FT POWER .85/KWH WATER .40/GAL

SUNRISE AT EMERALD BAY: 6: 44 AM

SUNSET AT EMERALD BAY: 5:25 PM

HIGHS IN THE 80S AND LOWS IN THE 70S

For the boys’ last day we took the cut to the sound side and fished as we made our way to the marina. Remember it is called “fishing” not “catching” but we did manage to reel in some seaweed.

We rode the swells into the marina and were welcomed back with smiles and helping hands. Any of you boaters that haven’t made this stop, be sure to add it to your “must stop” list. While the approach can be tricky at times, it is well worth the pay off. The club house has no rivals, the Wi-Fi is part of the deal, the free laundry facilities are equipped with the big machines and the showers are stocked with the Sandals signature amenities. Besides that, there is a nearby market with shuttle service. Like I said, a must stop.

ENJOYING THE AIR-CONDITIONED CLUB HOUSE

We strolled along the expansive beach below the Grand Isle Resort and the huge Sandals complexes, stopping to collect shells and take an occasional dip before heading back to the marina to luxuriate in their well appointed showers.

While the Sandals Resort is closed to boaters unless you purchase an expensive pass, the bar and restaurant at the lovely Grand Isle Resort is open to the marina guests. We made a reservation for dinner there and enjoyed their yummy Spinach and Artichoke Dip as a little teaser. The staff here is cheerful and the food is tasty so be sure to give them a little of your business when you stop. It was the perfect end to the boys’ escape from the cold.

WANT TO RENT AN ISLAND??

12/27/2011 GREAT GUANA AND FARMERS CAY ANCHORAGE TO LEE STOCKING CAY AND THE PERRY INSTITUTE


TUESDAY

23 NM

MOORED AT THE PERRY INSTITUTE ON LEE STOCKING CAY

SUNRISE IN THE EXUMAS: 6: 47 AM

SUNSET IN THE EXUMAS: 5:26 PM

As we sailed past Little Farmers Cay we noted the total lack of boating activity. We were the only vessel around, not a boat was anchored, moored or docked at Farmers Cay Yacht Club or anywhere else. This holiday week finds many of the locals from the Family Islands visiting friends and relations in Nassau and most of the boaters in the more densely populated ports. Just fine with us!

We wove our way through the shallow channel on the bank side, passing David Copperfielsd’s lovely Musha Cay that you might rent for around $325,000.00 a week. But don’t worry; it comes with five villas and a beautiful beach with lots of tows.

We made the mooring field on Lee Stocking Island our home for the night. This is the base of the Perry Institute Caribbean Marine Research Center, a division of NOAA’s National Undersea Research agencies. We couldn’t find a sole around but it did look like someone must have been around somewhere and we are hoping the rest were off island for the holidays.

THE RESEARCH CENTER ON LEE STOCKING ISLAND

We took the tender to Normans Pond Cay to feed the Pink Iguanas and were not disappointed with their comical antics. They did love the old broccoli we took to tempt them near but the egg shells went untouched.

Back on Lee Stocking we hiked to Perry’s Peak, the highest spot in the Exumas at 123 feet. Maybe not so much??!

SUNSET AND CONCH TRUMPETING

12/26/2011 BOXING DAY

12/26/2011 BIG MAJORS ANCHORAGE TO BLACK POINT TO ANCHORAGE OFF GREAT GUANA AND FARMERS CAY


MONDAY

19 NM

ANCHORED JUST OFF THE SOUTHERN GREAT GUANA CAY NEAR LITTLE FARMERS CAY

SUNRISE IN THE EXUMAS: 6:46 AM

SUNSET IN THE EXUMAS: 5:25 PM

While the Quest didn’t log on too many miles today, the tender made up for it. Steven and Andrew zipped over to Staniel to pick up our day’s passengers and deliver them back to Quest. Our new acquaintances, retired Daytona residences here for holiday, would join us for the short trip to Black Point. Ellie, Beverly and Loraine were ecstatic to spend their last day lounging with us for a couple of hours and charmed us with witty stories.

After dropping anchor at Black Point the boys shuttled the girls back to Staniel Cay while Dan and I lowered the dink and scooted over to the island. The poor dingy hasn’t been used since bringing on the tender and it was happy to be in the blue Bahamian waters.

At the settlement at Black Point we were lucky enough to snag some piping hot coconut bread from Lorraine’s mother. It is sooooo good! Dan and Andrew both got haircuts at the Rockside Laundromat. Yep, you heard right. The proprietress just pulls a plastic chair outside, gathers her barbering utensils and clips your hair while you gaze at the boats bobbing in the bay. Not a bad setting for a clip-joint!

After our Black Point errands we moved on to the southern part of Great Guana Cay just off of Little Farmers Cay and dropped anchor for the night. From here we went ashore and hiked up hill to the hidden cave with its little pond. While shelling on the shore the Osprey family nesting atop the rocky point kept an eye on us and their plaintive cry would echo out whenever they felt our presence was too close.

Image via Wikipedia

Watching the sunset while tendering back to Quest, we were sure that the clear skies would bring the “Green Flash”. Again, not the case but the skies were kept a mango red for ages. Just another shitty day in paradise!

12/25/2011 CHRISTMAS DAY AT BIG MAJORS ANCHORAGE


SUNDAY

0 NM

ANCHORED AT BIG MAJORS ANCHORAGE NEAR STANIEL CAY

SUNRISE IN THE EXUMAS: 6:47 AM

SUNSET IN THE EXUMAS: 5:25 PM

Somehow Santa managed to find Quest nestled among the other vessels and left us bulging Christmas Stockings that occupied most of our morning.

SANTA WAS HERE!!!!

Snorkeling on Christmas Day is not such a bad way to while away the hours. We took some of our newly acquired toys to the beach to play, spent a good bit of time in the water and the boys even took a short hike. Chris and Courtney on S/V Dharma (we met them in Bimini) happened to dink to the same little beach with their boys, Ben and Cole, and we all put Dan’s new water-balloon launcher into attack mode. I don’t think we ever hit anything but we sure aimed at every available target. All the anchored boats breathed a sigh of relief when we all finally left the beach for better snorkeling grounds. Thunderball Grotto (where the movie was filmed) is rife with inquisitive fish just waiting for your visit at low tide.

Dinner at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club was a delightful affair. There were probably 100 people gathered for the surf and turf meal that was served at 7:00. There were children, young adults as well as old farts like us all mingling around together. Many thanks to the Staniel Cay Yacht Club owners and staff for their wonderful party! The gracious wait staff graciously gave of their holiday to make our evening magical.

SUNRISE, SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS AND FEEDING THE SWIMMING PIGS!

12/24/2011 COMPASS CAY MARINA TO BIG MAJORS ANCHORAGE


SATURDAY

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 13 NM

MOORED AT BIG MAJORS ANCHORAGE NEAR STANIEL CAY

SUNRISE IN THE EXUMAS: 6: 46 AM

SUNSET IN THE EXUMAS: 5:25 PM

Sunrise was spectacular and we all rolled out of bed to make the short hike over to the beach in time to see the Christmas Eve sun peaking up over the horizon. The boys collected flotsam and jetsam from the beach to create their own Compass Cay boater’s plaque. And a fine job they did in creating a masterpiece to announce their presence at the marina.



A MASTERPIECE!





UP FOR THE SUNRISE







Swimming with the sharks was on tap for today also. Now any of you that know Steven well also know that he has an unreasonable fear of these creatures but today he pushed that aside and nuzzled right up to them. OK, so maybe these are only Nurse Sharks but still……..in Steven’s eyes a shark is a shark.

YES, THAT IS STEVEN SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS

With a pull of the heartstring we cast off our lines and pulled out of Compass Cay with our sights on Staniel Cay. Tucker and Preston reminded us to return “home” soon.

Dan’s ideal destination, the anchorage just off the Staniel Cay Marina, was just too full so we backtracked just a little to the Big Majors Anchorage to drop the hook.

We took a break to feed the famous Swimming Pigs then took the tender to the Staniel Cay Yacht Club for a late lunch/early dinner and Christmas Eve cocktail. With no snow and no chimney, I sure hope Santa can find us here in the balmy anchorage.

WHO DA THUNK IT?  SWIMMING PIGS?

Ho! Ho! Ho! “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!”

"WELCOME HOME" TO COMPASS CAY

12/23/2011 HAWKSBILL TO COMPASS CAY MARINA


FRIDAY

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 25 NM

DOCKED AT COMPASS CAY MARINA

SUNRISE IN EXUMAS: 6:46 AM

SUNSET IN EXUMAS: 5:25 PM

Boy, the wind came up a howling like the dickens last night but we were secure and sound in our protected mooring and slept peacefully. Any cruisers looking for an escape from the wind, this mooring field will fill that need.

We let go the mooring ball and headed for our beloved Compass Cay where we were greeted with a warm “Welcome home”. I just don’t know how to explain the magical place but Steven has been smitten and gets it already.

After securing the Quest we jumped into the tender (con-Quest) and headed back north to the “Aquarium” snorkeling grounds where we all dove in. We saw tons of Sergeant Majors, an amazing Lion Fish, Grouper, Tang, Triggerfish, and the boys even found an eel and a sea turtle. This is the best spot to snorkel and located a dink distance from the Cambridge Mooring field. Make note Garth and Kathy!

Back on land we toasted the setting sun (no Green-flash) and made plans to watch the sun rise tomorrow morning from the Sound side of the island. Hmmmm, we’ll see.

Breaking news!!!!! Quest has now utilized its water-maker and made desalinized water! Thought I’d never see the day. It was a bit of a learning experience for Dan and Steven and I heard shouts of pleasure as well as disgruntled curses as they tackled the job of refilling our tanks.

Image by sailn1 via Flickr

                                                   COMPASS CAY BEACH

MAKING OUR WAY SOUTH IN THE EXUMAS

12/22/2011 HIGHBOURNE TO NORMAN TO HAWKSBILL IN THE PARK


THURSDAY

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 17 NM

MOORED AT HAWKSBILL CAY IN THE EXUMA CAY LAND AND SEA PARK

SUNRISE IN THE EXUMAS: 6:48 AM

SUNSET IN NASSAU: 5:25 PM

TEMPERATURES IN THE MID 80’S

Pulling up anchor in Highbourne we headed for a quick stop at Normans Cay to snorkel the infamous ditched aircraft that dates from the Bahamian drug trading era. Carlos Leder based his operations here on Normans and the story goes that more than one cruiser was shot at when they ventured too close. Eventually the feds infiltrated and cleaned out the “bad guys”.

THE BOYS EXPLORING THE PLANE WRECK AT NORMANS

Our next stop was the beautiful mooring field at Hawksbill in the Exuma Cay Land and Sea Park. While the mooring balls in the park proper are assigned, these are on a first-come first-serve basis. We did call in and let them know we were occupying one of their sites and given direction to deposit our minimal fee at the box. The boys walked the beach, gathering any wayward trash along the way, and then spent hours snorkeling the waters. This area does not abound in fish but the boys saw several rays and some color on their backs.

Dan and I talked to John and Diane Zabell on S/V Spirit while we lounged on the sandy beach. They have sailed these waters for years and were a wealth of useful information.
We are now drifting in and out (mostly out today) of cell service but hope to be able to hook up again tomorrow.

FINALLY IN THE EXUMAS

12/21/2011 NASSAU TO HIGHBOURNE CAY IN THE EXUMAS


WEDNESDAY

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 38 NM

ANCHORED AT HIGHBOURNE CAY IN THE EXUMAS

SUNRISE IN NASSAU: 6:50 AM

SUNSET IN NASSAU: 5:24 PM

WINDY AND IN THE 80’S

Well, we’re off to the Exumas, finally! Steven and Andrew made our exit from the busy and constantly surging Nassau Harbour a snap. Whew, what a zoo! We did, however, enjoy our time there and still have much left to explore so Nassau is no longer totally off my list.
It was windy and a bit rough out there today but nothing too bad. Today’s extremely low tide over the Yellow Bank proved to hold no problems and by 1:00 we were “anchor down” and set for the night.

Although Highbourne Cay has a beautiful marina, the anchorage seemed like a magnet for the huge yachts. Before the night was over there were 5 big yachts anchored around Quest that ranged in size from about 90’ to 150’ in length and only 3 of the expected sailboats.

Steven and Andrew made quick work of donning the snorkel equipment and setting off to explore. Even though the waters were not quite in the 80’s that I prefer (yes, weenie Judy), even I enjoyed a bit of snorkeling.

ANDREW AND STEVEN OFF TO EXPLORE

We did explore around in the tender but the waters were so rough it was not quite as enjoyable as it could have been. The sparsely populated marina looked beautiful and we may have to make it a stop on our journey home later in the year. It offers lots of protection from the winds and surge and appears to be quite upscale.

12/20/2011 THE BOYS ARE HERE AND WE SOLVED THE INTERNET DELIMA

 NASSAU

TUESDAY

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 0 NM

DOCKED AT NASSAU HARBOUR CLUB MARINA

SUNRISE IN BARRY ISLANDS: 6:49 AM

SUNSET IN NASSAU: 5:24 PM


We were back working with Moses this morning! Verizon’s broadband card just couldn’t be made to work. What we finally did, upon recommendation of other cruisers in the store as well as Moses, was rush down to Cyber World and purchase a certain phone that could be teathered through. Worked hard at setting things up for us and now we have computer access anywhere there is cell phone service. By the way, the cell service here is very good! Thank you so much Moses at Custom Computers and Teresa Dorset at Cyber World for all your hard work and wonderful Bahamian hospitality. BTW, Teresa said that now all new phones coming from the US (even those on ATT) are locked so be aware.

Well, Steven and Andrew made it without a hitch and were at Quest by about 1:00. Gear was stowed and we headed out in search of lunch for four hungry people. Dan had noticed a woman selling from the trunk of her car and, being the suckers we are for that sort of thing; off we went to see if she was there today. This is a must stop for any of you stopping here. She was parked on the north side of East Bay before you get to the Poop Deck. I think it is some of the best food we have had in the Bahamas. She made a pea and dumpling soup that was to die for. Now bear in mind, the peas were not green peas but pigeon peas which are more like a bean and the soup was really a thick stew. Yummy! Dan had a meal of spare ribs and Andrew managed to fill his vegetarian needs with Mac-n-cheese, corn and coleslaw.

The boys and I did some last minute provisioning then they fell asleep on the deck for a short nap. Having gotten up way before the crack of dawn, these tired guys surfaced just long enough to move to their beds and slept the night through.

Dan and I escaped to The Poop Deck for our last night in Nassau. They were so busy tonight that we had to wait for a stool at the bar. Their cracked conch is one of the best and their wings were mighty tasty. Cruisers, add this place to your list too.

WORKING ON A BETTER INTERNET SYSTEM

12/19/2011 NASSAU


MONDAY

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 0 NM

DOCKED AT NASSAU HARBOUR CLUB MARINA
$1.75/FOOT+$8.00/DAY WATER+$14.20/POWER =$2.16/FOOT OA AND WE USED THE DRYER ONCE

SUNRISE IN NASSAU: 6:49 AM

SUNSET IN NASSAU: 5: 24PM

Our leisurely day here in Nassau turned out to be quite full. We hit all the marine stores along the way and picked up more foam brushes to continue our brightwork, an epoxy-repair kit to make the initial mend on the broken swim step and a couple more zincs. Next we made a stop at the dive store and got replacement parts for our aging snorkel gear and purchased an additional new set. Now we are all set for four people to snorkel in these beautiful blue waters.

No swimming today though! Dan made the initial bonding repair on the swim step then headed back to a metal shop we passed to have some angle iron bent to add to the stability. You should see the newly “remodeled“ step. It is all fixed plus it has a molded bumper to protect it from the tender. Nice job Dan.

Someone on the dock gave us a lead to setting up a better way to send and receive emails while here in the Bahamas. Moses at Custom Computers Limited, just across the way in Harbour Bay Shopping Center, spent hours trying to get our Verizon broadband to accept the BTC Sims chip and load minutes for us. Good ole’ Verizon, everything is locked. Now there are ways of pirating around that but it voids all their responsibility for the equipment. We left the store after hours of waiting and conferring knowing that we must continue with this tomorrow.

NASSAU, HERE WE COME!

12/18/2011FRAZERS HOG CAY TO NASSAU


SUNDAY

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 37 NM

DOCKED AT NASSAU HARBOUR CLUB 1.75/FOOT+8.00/DAY WATER+METERED POWER

SUNRISE IN BIMINI: 6:57 AM

SUNSET IN FRAZER'S HOG CAY: 5:23 PM

I have some good photos to share but the downloading process is painful at best and nonexistent right now so bear with me and maybe I will be able to fill in the pictures later, especially Dan's glorious Dorado!

While yesterday was a long travel day, today was just a quick hop to the Nassau Harbor. We pulled our ropes from the mooring ball’s loop and waved goodbye to the deserted mooring field.
With the skies looking so threatening over Nassau we anticipated the possibility of a rocky passage but the day turned out to be splendid.

It skipped up another notch when Dan hooked a nice Dorado. Fish tonight, baby!
One of the first things we could see as we neared Nassau was the silhouette of the hulking cruise ships at their dock. The Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Sea dwarfed those around her. These ships had climbing walls, water slides, movie screens, casinos and thousands of eager bodies just itching to play and deposit their hard earned money in the shops, bars and gaming tables. Bless them for contributing to the global economy.

Before entering into the bustling Nassau Harbour you must first contact the Nassau Harbour Control on the radio to obtain permission. He takes down the vessel’s name and country of registration then advises you to either proceed of stand -off if a cruise ship is approaching or departing. We were greeted and welcomed into the harbor immediately.

What a zoo! Boats coming and going, big and small, some knowledgeable and some clueless. We fit right in there somewhere. Upon calling the Nassau Harbour Club we received directions and proceeded to our dock. Well kind of. The guy was talking to at least two of us at the same time and everyone was totally confused! He insisted we put lines for a portside dockage but needed them on the starboard side instead. No foul, no harm but we were some kind of a show for a while.

Besides being just off the busy harbor channel the marina is in a great location. Just across the street there is a market, Radio Shack, Starbucks, hardware store and various other shops for those in need of some retail therapy or just provisioning. We took a stroll around and discovered the fish market stalls under the bridge and the ferry terminal with exiting passengers and van.

We stopped in at The Poop Deck for a quick cocktail and a peek at the Patriot/Bronco football game. Go Pats! It was a happening place with both boaters and locals enjoying the Happy Hour conch fritters and lively conversation that abounded.

BYE BYE BIMINI

12/17/2011 BIMINI TO FRAZER'S HOG CAY

SATURDAY

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 84 NM

MOORED AT FRAZER'S HOG CAY BERRY ISLAND CLUB CLOSED

SUNRISE IN BIMINI: 6:57 AM

SUNSET IN FRAZER'S HOG CAY: 5:23 PM

It was a long travel day, starting when we tossed our ropes off at 6:45 this morning and ending when we secured Quest to the mooring ball at 5:45.

Today we took a different route and veered north after exiting the Alice Town Harbor, skirting along Bimini’s western shore and seeing the island from the water. After passing the Bimini Bay Resort on the extreme north end of Bimini, the sun finally burst out to welcome us to the day.

ALICE TOWN FROM THE WESTERN SHORE

Our charted journey took us first to North Rock where we made our eastward turn and headed out across the Great Bahama Bank. This 50 NM wide and 180 NM wide mass of shallow waters (15 to 18’ deep in most places) affects the tidal currents and the wave patterns and is ever changing. Today it was like a freeway with sailboats poking along, cruisers motoring and fishing boats zipping along on their way to the busy port of Nassau.



NORTH ROCK. YEP, THAT'S ALL IT IS!

At the North West Channel Light we made another adjustment to our course as we entered the channel and continued on towards the Berry Islands.

Our destination was the mooring field at Berry Island Club but as we tried to hail them on the radio and Good Samaritan piped in and advised us that they were closed. When asked about the mooring balls he just said to “grab one and if anyone was interested they would come out to collect the fee”. We did and they didn’t.

I do love spending a night on a mooring ball. Although grabbing the line can sometimes be tricky the reward is a secure night. These floating balls are anchored to the sea’s floor with a rope and then have another floating rope with a loop that you can snag and run your boat line through. You don’t have to worry about your anchor dragging or being too close to another boat. Of course, here there were no other boats, just Quest.

The skies were resplendent with shining stars and shimmering planets tonight. You could even see the glow from Nassau off in the distance.

12/16/2011 LAST DAY IN BIMINI

12/16/2011 BIMINI


FRIDAY

SUNRISE

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 0 NM

DOCKED AT BIMINI BLUE WATER RESORT
     $1.00/FOOT AND $20.00 /POWER=$73.00

SUNRISE IN BIMINI: 6:56 AM

SUNSET IN BIMINI: 5:29 PM

HIGH: 79

LOW: 73

There is always something going on in Bimini. The dredges head out to get into position for their day’s work about 6:30. Ferries shuttle folks back and forth for school and work. Fishermen head out in search of the big one. Two of the sailboats in the marina began their journey to Nassau today but one got hung up on the encroaching sandbar, sooner or later we all do. With a little patience the incoming tide allowed them to sail off and continue on.

Ah, the smell of clean laundry! I paid a visit to the local Laundromat and came home with sparkling clean linens and clothes but a case of sticker shock too. When you live in paradise where everything comes in by ship and the precious water must be desalinated by reverse osmosis, you must pay the price.

CAN'T YOU JUST SMELL THE DRYING LAUNDRY?

More and more holiday decorations go up each day. There was a Christmas party for the local children in front of the government building; complete with giggles, dotting parents, and Santa hats but no snow.

CHRISTMAS PARTY FOR THE CHILDREN

HERE COMES THE DRUMS

What a surprise to look up and find a float plane landing in the waters just off our starboard. He dropped down just a pretty as you please then in the late afternoon; off he went into the wild, blue yonder. Way cool!

TROPIC OCEAN FLOAT PLANE

Two more coats of varnish went onto the wood today and everything done looks great. We will have to add several more coats but now it is protected for our run to the Berry Islands tomorrow. I suppose we have to face the nasty sanding again when we commence refinishing the side wood and the railing on the back but poor Dan deserves a break.

We caught our last Bimini sunset then walked the beach in the fading light, pausing to inspect the old wrecked ship then moving on to the little cemetery and finally stopping for a drink at the new Koko Plums.

THE SUN DESCENT HIDDEN BEHIND THE CLOUDS

FADING BELOW THE HORIZON

KIND OF AN ERIE SIGHT LOOKING THROUGH THE
WRECKED SS SAPONA

CHECKING OUT THE LITTLE CEMETERY

DAN DRINKING A KALIK, THE BAHAMIAN BEER
THE NAME KALIK COMES FROM THE SOUND OF THE COWBELLS THAT
KALIK, KALIK DURING THE THE JUNKANOO PARADES

12/15/2011 GOING AGROUND (BUT NOT US!)

BIMINI


THURSDAY

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 0 NM

DOCKED AT BIMINI BLUE WATER RESORT
     $1.00/FOOT AND $20.00/POWER=$73.00

SUNRISE IN BIMINI: 6:56 AM

SUNSET IN BIMINI: 5:29 PM

HIGH: 78

LOW: 72

Quest received her third and fourth coats of varnish today. With only a light sanding between coats it is moving much faster now. We hope to apply two more coats tomorrow then we should be traveling on Saturday.

With our morning varnishing session done we jumped on our bikes for a ride to the hardware store. Oops! Flat tire! Thankfully we caught it before leaving and Dan gave it a quick pump-up that held for the ride. It just gave us one more thing to look for at the hardware store.

CAN YOU SAY "FLAT"?

Lunch today was the ultimate Bimini experience. The local lunch wagon (make that a station wagon) parks in front of the Straw Mart and dishes up scrumptious plate lunches to those of us lucky enough to be there at the right time. Her $7.00 plates might feature a generous portion of fish, chicken, stuffed lobster, conch chowder, meatloaf or various other tasty items. Then there is always rice and two sides that you may choose. Mac-N-Cheese is a Bahamian staple but sides may also include potato salad and mixed vegetables. We feasted on fish and chicken with lots left over for tomorrow. If you venture to Alice Town, don’t miss this treat.

ROADSIDE DINER

YUMMY!

Needing some kick-back time we hopped in the tender for an enjoyable ride. Well, maybe not so much. Exiting the shelter of the harbor we encountered the real force of the gusting wind and decided not to venture too far. We did find what we assessed to be a “fishing boat hotel” and its fleet of boats. The paying guests go out in the little boats seeking nearby prime hot spots and, hopefully, return to the mother boat for meals and lodging. Even the hardy “fishing guys” had abandoned their hunt and were safely back on the large boat.

ALL THE FISHERMEN WERE ALREADY BACK HAVING EARLY COCKTAILS
AND TALKING ABOUT THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY

Thursdays in Alice Town are busy with the weekly mail and supply boat’s arrival. The Emerald Express comes across from Florida with supplies for all the stores and resorts as well as the mail. This week the excitement was stepped up a bit when the captain managed to ground her while as he attempted to give the dredge operation a wide berth. Needless to say, his exit came to an abrupt halt as tugs pushed, locals shouted out encouragement or taunts and everyone waited for the incoming tide to accomplish what man or machine could not. I’m thinking that captain was some pissed!

THE EMERALD ISLE HEADING OUT
(AND BEFORE SHE RAN AGROUND)

We enjoyed a fun evening at the Bimini Big Game Club when all the boaters from Blue Water Marina ended up there for drinks, dinner or just dessert. I think we ended up with ten adults and three kids. Lots of tales were told advice given and received.

12/14/2011BRIGHTWORK CONTINUED

12/14/2011 BIMINI


WEDNESDAY

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 0 NM

DOCKED AT BIMINI BLUE WATER RESORT
     $1.00/FOOT AND $20.00/POWER=$73.00

SUNRISE IN BIMINI: 6:55 AM

SUNSET IN BIMINI: 5:28 PM

HIGH: 77

LOW: 68

Work, work, work! “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” and this work stuff is getting old. While Dan sanded the margin of brightwork around the top, I made my first batch of banana bread in ages. Yesterday’s first coat looked great and we applied a second coat today. Looking good!

PRECARIOUSLY BALANCED ON THE RIM WHILE APPLYING VARNISH

For those of you that might not know, the brightwork refers to the varnished woodwork on a boat. It can, however, also refer to highly polished brass, bronze or stainless steel.

By late afternoon we were both ready to get back into that island mode, kicking back, reading, musing the world’s problems (not!) and napping. We did put some effort into walking the block or so to the west side and watching the sun set over the horizon.

12/13/2011 BRIGHTWORK IN BIMINI


TUESDAY

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 0 NM

DOCKED AT BIMINI BLUE WATER RESORT
     $1.00/FOOT AND $20.00/POWER=$73.00

SUNRISE IN BIMINI: 6:55 AM

SUNSET IN BIMINI: 5:28 PM

HIGH:  80

LOW:  72

It was Captain Bob’s for breakfast this morning. This legendary eatery caters to early rising fishermen as well as locals by opening at 6:30 AM seven days a week. Bob and Bonnie Smith opened up over 40 years ago and ran the place until Bob’s death in 2001. Bonnie then sold to a former employee, Esther Edgecombe, and who upholds the tradition of a great, early morning breakfast.

CAPTAIN BOB'S FOR BREAKFAST

Ugh! Time to get on the brightwork. Our last effort in March was not such a great job and now it is in dire need of some TLC. Dan had the little power sander out and really cleaned it up. We worked on the two long handrails from the helm doors forward. First it was sand, sand, sand then wiping down with both mineral spirits and a tack-rag and finally the first coat of diluted varnish went on. Looking good! During the next few days we will lightly sand and reapply several coats of the varnish. We will also attempt to include more areas of the wood each day.

NOT A PRETTY SIGHT WHEN WE BEGAN WORKING

DAN THE MAN SANDING

SANDING DONE AND READY FOR THE FIRST COAT OF VARNISH

FIRST COAT DONE!

What a mess we were! Sawdust clung to our hair and coated every visible body part. Showers were indeed a welcome event.

While trying to recuperate from our intense day of work we heard a ruckus out on the street. We, along with everyone else in the marina, rushed out to see just what was going on. A parade!! We all felt our “smile index” rising as the revelers marched on to the church for a Christmas celebration. What a nice surprise for us visitors.

THE PARADE WAS A WELCOMED DIVERSION
LOOK AT THOSE HAPPY FACES