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.