Monday, December 31, 2012

BOXING DAY TO NEW YEAR'S EVE


SEA STAR
12/26/2012 THROUGH 12/31/2012 AND THE END OF ANOTHER YEAR

     Boxing Day (12/26) found Quest and Algonquin making the 18 NM trek to the mooring field off Hawksbill Cay, part of the Exuma Cay Land and Sea Park that was designated as a protected area by the Bahamian Parliament in 1958.  The park encompasses 15 large cays and scads of small ones.  It is a NO TAKE ZONE meaning that there is no fishing, conching, loberstering, or shelling within its boundaries.  You are welcomed to swim, explore the islands on designated trails, grab a mooring ball
for a modest fee or anchor outside the mooring field. 

     We opted to take advantage of their mooring balls.  Algonquin was a mooring virgin but managed to grab the slime encrusted leader and run their ropes through the loop like champs.  They did, somehow, manage to bring aboard a large crab along with the mooring line.  These mooring balls are all designed to accommodate a minimum of 65’ vessels with a 6’ draft and those marked with a 150 MAX provide a safe mooring for vessels up to 150”.  While we love anchoring here in the peaceful waters of the islands, the reassurance that you will not drift while moored helps to provide a full night’s sleep and those monies collected help to sustain the park.
LOOKING AT THE MOORING BALL AND ROPES FROM
THE ANCHOR PULPIT

     The first night’s sunset proved to be just too spectacular for words.  After the sun dropped, its light continued to illuminate the clouds and turn the evening’s sky various shades of pink.  Lucky us!
JUST SIMPLY SPECTACULAR
 
 

     Dan is still toying with the faulty battery system.  He has taken two of the original batteries out of the system and is pretty sure the other two from that bank are not functioning properly.  We do have the four additional ones we got in Puerto Rico but they are not as large and powerful as the original ones.  Thankfully we bought the little Honda generator in Wilmington, NC.  We can run that baby on 1 gallon of gas for about 7 hours while it charges up the batteries and maintains our refrigerators. 

     Friday found a little excitement aboard Quest.  While cooking breakfast I began to smell traces of an odd odor.  As it intensified I recognized it as that acrid smell of sizzling electrical wires. “Dan!!!!!  Now!!!!”  Things went flying as Dan began to shut down systems and open all possible sources.  No problems in the engine room, ditto for the mechanic room under the galley, the cook top showed no signs of a failure either.    Once, however, he made it into the “V” berth he quickly discovered that the thermostat had fried itself.  Not a pretty sight!
THE BURNED OUT THERMOSTAT ABOVE
AND ITS "V" BERTH HOME BELOW


     I did my first snorkeling today and thoroughly enjoyed paddling around.  I saw yellowtail snappers, parrotfish, blue hamlet, fairy basslets and wrasse.  From the beach we spotted a ray several times but weren’t able to sight him while swimming.

     Garth and Dan got to make another daring rescue.  This time the folks from S/V Barefoot had dinked off to a small beach around the corner and were unable to restart the motor to return.  There they were, rounding the corner and paddling against the current, about pooped by now.  They sure were happy to grab the offered tow when the boys reached them.  I don’t know what the root of the problem was but soon I saw  them tooting around (staying real close to their boat) and testing out the “fix”.
AGAIN, THE CON- TO THE RESCUE

     Holy cow!  At times it appeared to be a mega-yacht freeway out in the bank waters.  The big boys are definitely here.  After sending her tender into the mooring field’s little bay to explore, the 252’ Pegasus V dropped anchor about four miles out.  They even had a slide from the top deck.  How much fun would that be??   Muchos Mar, though smaller, also kept to the deeper waters.
PEGASUS V, COMPLETE WITH SLIDE
 

     After thoroughly enjoying the beach and waters of Hawksbill, Quest and Algonquin decided to move on another 18 NM south to again moor in the park at Cambridge Cay.  We dropped our mooring ball by 8:30, took Wide Open Cut to the sound side then slipped back in at Bell Cut.  Pulling into the Cambridge Cay Mooring we found 130’ Mustang Sally.  We spent last New Year’s Eve docked at Compass Cay with that week’s charter group.
MUSTANG SALLY AND ALGONQUIN AT THE
 CAMBRIDGE MOORING FIELD
 

     Garth, Dan and I took the tender over to the Aquarium snorkel site, leaving Kathy to tend to Zeke and avoid the sun after the last two days basking. We think she may have developed a little sun poising rash.  The sea life and water clarity is amazing.  Today I saw Yellowtail damselfish, Blue chromes, Angelfish, Triggerfish, Butterflyfish, a Nassau grouper and a gazillion of those fearless and persistent Sargent majors.  Perfectly delightful!

     Boating is always an adventure.  Upon returning to Quest after our little outing, Dan smelled gasoline and found that one of the gas cans up top had sprung a leak.  Clean-up time.  With only a minimal loss, he salvaged the rest, refilled the generator and tender, washed down the top and sides of Quest then fell back in exhaustion with a beer.  A little nap was soon to follow.

     Saturday morning broke with the predicted gloom.  Garth had heard chatter on the radio yesterday that the expected winds might come early, around 6:00 AM, but at 7:00 it was still calm.  Dan had hardly uttered “So much for the early wind” when the gusts began with a whoosh.  Since we were going out on the Sound for a short distance to get to Compass Cay, we moved our departure up from 10:00 to 9:00 in hopes of catching the favorable wind from the north that would push us further south.  As the storm progressed the wind will shift from the east and this would make for a terribly rock ride.
 

     Arriving at Compass Cay we found ourselves in a bloody queue just to get in.  Mind you, this is quiet little Compass Cay!  Two boats went in, one came out, Quest was directed in, another exited, large Muchos Mas came in then Algonquin was finally directed to dock in the boonies.  Good for Zeke but a crummy place for Garth and Kathy.  This normally placid and peaceful marina is a zoo right now.
LIKE A NYC PARKING LOT
OUR COMPASS CAY SIGN WE MADE ON OUR FIRST VISIT
 

     Dan and I strolled over the island to walk the big beach.  With the wind blowing so strong, the waves came crashing to the shore making swimming not so inviting.  The extreme north end of the beach, just below the burned out Hester’s House, was protected enough to provide a calm pool for a quick dip.  We combed the beach for treasures.  I found this lovely piece of drift wood while Dan took the prize for his efforts.
MY FIND WAS A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF DRIFTWOOD
BUT DAN---------------------

DAN FOUND A WETSUIT AND FLIP FLOPS
THAT EVEN FIT HIS XL FEET
 

     New Year’s Eve day again found a hive of activity at the marina with boats leaving and just changing docks in order to make room for the large arriving vessels.  Thankfully, Algonquin was given a reprieve from their sentencing to the remote service dock and moved one space from Quest on the “real” dock.
ALGONQUIN'S NEW HOME, RIGHT IN THE MIDST OF IT ALL
 
New Year's Eve was celebrated with a boaters potluck with tons of yummy goodies provided by the the marina and all us 'boat people'.  Bahamian lobster, conch salad, fish, curry chicken, pasta, apple pie and on and on!  Fireworks around 9:30 and the evening began to wind down for the gathered crowd.  Nice way to end the year.

NEW YEAR'S EVE ON COMPASS CAY


Enhanced by Zemanta

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS IN HIGHBORNE



Lazing about, working out a solution to bypass our one failed battery, making our traditional Rocky Road candy, getting our bikes down for a ride, walking the sandy beach, making new friends, ‘docktails’, playing the ring toss game, reading and struggling with the often nonexistent Wi-Fi connection;  we have been busy bees!

 Highborne Cay at the southern end of those beautiful Exumas hosts a lovely marina and resort with luxury cottages for rent.  There are eight pristine beaches around the approximately 3 mile long island, a BTC tower (that is having some problems working right now) and a seldom frequented bus stop.
LOOKING WEST FROM THE TOP OF THE MARINA ROAD

IS THIS A COOL STOP SIGN OR WHAT??

STILL WAITING FOR THE BUS
Stromatolites, a laminated calcareous fossil structure constructed by marine algae, are found here and it is the only known marine environment where they are known to prosper.  Kind a cool thing.

There are boats coming and going from the marina like crazy.  We have seen sailboats, yachts like xoxo and Dancing Millie, and even My Reward showed up on Christmas Day.  We first met the captain of My Reward at the fuel dock in Jacksonville a couple of years ago. 

Christmas day we relaxed while opening our stockings then Garth and Kathy joined us for our traditional Christmas Morning Strata and a little eggnog. Later we all piled into the tender and set out for a leisurely exploration of the surrounding waters.  A perfectly lovely day.
THE STOCKINGS WERE HUNG BY THE CHIMNEY WITH CARE------

DAN AND GARTH FEELING THE JOY

CHRISTMAS DAY SWIM
 

After much jiggling, juggling and repetitious dialing we did talk to most of our family.  Hope you all had a most Merry Christmas!

Enhanced by Zemanta

Saturday, December 22, 2012

EXUMAS, HERE WE COME (12/20 AND 12/21)


12/20/2012 AND 12/21/2012                  








After sifting through all the possible weather date for days, today was picked to be the prime time to cross over to the Exumas.  Well, it was either now or wait until after the impending storm came and went, possibly after Christmas.  Our plans were laid out backwards; we need to get to Highborne Cay (www.highhbornecaybahamas.com) by 1:00 PM tomorrow, clear around New Providence Island (Nassau) right at daybreak so we could proceed in the shallow and coral infested waters in the daylight and no stopping for the night.  This brought us to a departure time of around 4:30 or 5:00 this evening.  Lots to do!

Our problem problematic battery was isolated and some maintenance work done.  Only time will tell how she performs.  Blogging and banking chores were brought to a current status.  Again, we attempted to establish a data connection on our Bahamian phone but still no dice.  Marina bills were settled up (best deal we expect to see for some time now).   All unnecessary gear was stowed or secured and all window blinds were either pulled up or opened for a clear view while traveling.   Let see now, what else needs to be done?  How about one last walk on the Bimini beach?
KATHY'S OFFICE, NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Today, Thursday, seems to be an extremely busy day in Bimini.  The mailboat came in and everyone is at the dock to get their incoming supplies for the week.  Lots of hustle and bustle all around!  Since everything must arrive at this tiny island via the mail boat much evolves around its schedule.  The on board crane lifts large items to the shore or onto waiting truck while smaller things are hauled out by hand.  This will be their last delivery before Christmas so everyone was watching for special deliveries from Santa.
MAILBOAT BUSY OFFLOADING ITS PRECIOUS CARGO

THE TOWS SHOES UP TO RECEIVE THE BOOTY

EVIDENCE OF THE MAILBOAT'S DELIVERY
After ogling at the busy dock we only made it a few steps more before finding the much anticipated “trunk food lady”.  Talk about timing!!  After she ladled up such goodies as ribs, lamb chops, cracked conch, mac-n-cheese, rice and peas, potato salad, green beans and corn on the cob we scurried back to Quest to gobble up lunch and stow the left overs for dinners in the night’s passage.  Yum!
TRUNK FOOD TODAY!!!!!!!!!

Zeke did get one last romp in the beautiful Bimini waters before getting a hosing-off to rid him of the clinging salt and sand. He was quite happy to just sit in a sea puddle and revel in the cool water.    
KIND OF LIKE A 'SPA DAY' FOR ZEKE

4:15 P.M. saw us casting off and working our way out the channel with the mail boat close on our tail.  The prediction of favorable weather left out the billowing wind that we found out there.  Hmmm, the best laid plans and all that!  Anyway, Santa held on for dear life and watched the setting sun from our mast.
THE MAILBOAT FOLLOWS US OUT THE CHANNEL OF BIMINI
QUEST AND THE CON LEAVING BIMINI


WHOA!  SANTA, HANG ON FOR THE RIDE!
(HE SHOULD BE USED TO THIS)
IT'S A BIG, BIG SEA!
KATHY CAUGHT QUEST BASKING IN THE SPECTACULAR LIGHT
 
By 6:00 A.M. we were rounding New Providence Island and beginning to hear lots of chatter on the radio from ships entering and exiting from the Nassau Port.  With much anticipation we watched the sun welcoming the day and made our course changes that would take us below the island and over to Highborne Cay in the Exumas. 
THE SUN BREAKING OVER THE EASTERN HORIZON
AND ALGONQUIN ON THE STARBOARD (RIGHT)
Right as planned we approached Highborne.  Unfortunately, so did the rest of the world.  The harried marina coordinator was dealing with a docking Patrol Boat, the Tropic Breeze bringing fuel, a cat taking on fuel and requesting dockage, Algonquin and Quest.  Relax!  We just sat back outside the narrow entrance and waited for her to get everyone moving and assigned to the proper slip.  Finally tied up we drug out the hoses and attempted to rid the boats of the caked on salt from the nights pounding over spray.  Just in time too as the predicted blustery wind and rain announced its arrival and cooled things down considerably.   I can’t tell you just how delighted we are to finally be here in the Exumas.  For a while there we thought we might still be tied up in Stuart, FL for Christmas.  Oh, by the way, we saw that this storm will bring tomorrow morning temperatures of a chilly 38 F. 
FOLLOWING THE FUEL BOAT INTO HIGHBORNE CAY MARINA

RAIN AND BLUSTERING SKIES SIGN THAT THE STORM HAS ARRIVED

THE FLAGS SNAP TO ATTENTION
 

Blogging for Quest will most likely be spotty but, hopefully, the BTC will get their data issues worked out and we will be able to tether and shoot out our news.  The main issues are usually the photos so they may become obsolete or at least minimal.  We will be here at Highborne through Christmas before moving on to a few anchorages or mooring balls.                       

Enhanced by Zemanta

Thursday, December 20, 2012

GONE FISHIN' (12/19)


12-19-2012

Dan and Garth finally took some time off to go fishing in the “con”.  Talk about happy grinning guys!  They did not go out too early because of promises of fresh, hot cinnamon buns from the nearby bakery, A Taste of Heaven.  I think we would all agree it was worth the wait.  Those hot, yummy swirls of yeast bread were chocked full of cinnamon and topped with shiny icing.  Yes, as a matter of fact, we are living “high on the hog” here in Bimini.
A PERFECT "GUYS DAY" AT SEA
 

Kathy and I spent almost all day writing our tardy blogs, struggling with Internet connections and doing a little bit of clean up.  When the boys got back it was back to the BTC facility and where Garth and Kathy bought a new phone and we discovered that it was a system failure causing our data package not to load.  Hopefully tomorrow. 

Tonight’s sunset was totally different with hulking clouds threatening to block our view.  Magically, the sun found a breach in the wall of clouds and we glimpsed its final descent. Always takes your breath away.
THE SUN FOUND A LITTLE SPACE TO DECLARE DAYS END
 

Sherri and Erik, of Sherri’s Beach Bar, prepared us a fabulous chicken dinner while we drank in the sunset.  We opted to take our dinners back to Quest instead of utilizing their several picnic tables and made plans for our tomorrow’s departure while devouring every last morsel.  Another good day in paradise.

SHERRII'S BEACH BAR IS THE PLACE TO GET GREAT FOOD
AND YUMMY LIBATIONS
 
SHERRI AND ERIK PREPARE OUR CHICKEN DINNER

KATHY, GARTH AND DAN DIG IN IN AND
MAKING PLANS FOR TOMORROW'S DEPARTURE
 

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

DOIN' THE BIMINI T'ING (12/18)


12/18/2012

 We found an appropriate way to start our first day in Bimini by introducing Garth to the Bimini Ring Game.  You will find these rings and hooks all over the islands as well as the rest of the world these days.
"SO FIRST YOU TAKE THIS RING ON A STRING"

"THEN YOU TRY TO GET IT TO SNAG THE HOOK"

"BINGO!"



While combing the beach and giving Zeke a little exercise we checked out the wreck of Gallant Lady.  The deterioration over the last two years was evident and made you realize the power of the ocean.    We also explored the seaside cemetery and found our favorite marker, that of Maud “Titty” Weeches.

MUCH OF THE GALLANT LADY HAS BEEN WASHED AWAY

HERE LIES TITTY WEECH
 

Our afternoon was spent zipping (well maybe not so much zipping as crawling) around on a golf cart.  Kathy remarked that this was most likely the first time Dan had been honked at for driving too slow. 
OUR COOL RIDE
 

Our first stop was Stuart’s for conch (pronounced konk) and lobster salad.  They are both just simply the best!  This concoction consists of chopped tomatoes, peppers, onions to which fresh lime juice is added along with a few secret spices.  The final, and most important ingredient, is the fresh chopped conch or lobster.  Now you just grab a spoon and dig into this divine dish and enjoy.  For those “brave of heart” you can add a little (very little) hot sauce made from the fiery Bahamian Goat Peppers.  Of course a local Kalik or one of the Boss Lady’s famous Rum Punch sure helps cool the pallet if you perhaps dab on a little too much hot sauce.
FIRST THE RUM PUNCH SERVED WITH A SMILE

THEN SHE CHOPS AND MIXES

YEP FOLKS, THIS IS THE BOSS LADY

KATHY, GARTH, DAN AND JUDY
TALK ABOUT "HAPPY CAMPERS"

RATHER BLUNT INSTRUCTION
ON THE DOOR AT STUART'S
 

The “B” Tel Office (Bahamas Telecommunications) was a high priority on our list of places to visit today.  New SIMM cards were purchased for our “unlocked” phones along with instructions on getting things going that would best serve our needs.  Hopefully, we are all set.

A beautiful sunset was our reward for enduring a long Bimini Day (rough job but someone has to do it).  The skies lit up as the sun bid us a “good night”.  Meanwhile Sherry, the proprietress of one of the local cuchifritos stands by the beach (OK, so everything here is by the beach) filled us with Bimini stories, rum punch and Kaliks.  With previous dinner plans already make we promised to return tomorrow night for more of her refreshing libations and chicken dinners.  Everyone you encounter here in Bimini has a smile and a wave and a word of kindness to brighten your day.  Lucky us!
BIMINI SUNSET

GOOD NIGHT, SUN
 

While Kathy and I were out walking the dog this morning, Garth and Dan bought lobster tails for dinner.  What a feast!  The guys cooked them on the BBQ, Kathy made a broccoli salad and I did up some Bahamian rice and peas.  Life is real good here in Bimini!

Enhanced by Zemanta