We have the fuel, water and enough grub to feed an army. The weather window isn't perfect but it is still good enough for us to get across the Gulf Stream so we up anchor and turn Nati to the west.
The winter in the Bahamas was a great time and I think we succeeded in our "reconnoiter" year in many ways. The people we met were one of the highlights. This was especially true with the local Bahamian people. They were as friendly as anyone we have met and helped out in any way they could. Both of us had to go to the dentist while in the islands and it was way more accommodating than in the US. Appointments didn't have to be made months in advance and the price (yes, US educated dentists) was not expensive. Combined for both of us amounted to $85.00! We saw some really cool things such as the foundry pour and climbing the "Cat-in-the-hat" lighthouse without having to wear helmets or sign our lives away as we would in any U.S. attraction. Too bad we have become such a litigious country. We rented a car for $75 and didn't have to sign off on a scratch and dent form. Besides, where could we take it on a island 50 miles long??!! I hitchhiked for the first time in over 40 years and didn't get picked up by a pervert....instead the gentleman took me to the store and returned me to Georgetown! As Pedrin says........"What a country!" So..............
We left Green Turtle Cay and made it to Great Sale Cay for the night. We have west winds so we anchor on the east side and we are there with 7 other boats. They mostly head out the next day but we just go around to the other side and wait for
Flight Plan to pull in later that afternoon. The next morning we have light ESE winds but at least its behind us.
 |
| Heading west |
 |
| Last sunset in the Bahamas |
The "magic water" is leaving but we will be back before you can blink an eye! For the records:
- From Miami over to the Bahamas and back to Cape Canaveral Nati took us 1,257nm.
- We anchored 93 nights.
- We were at a dock 15 nights (and this includes a week at Rum Cay for free!)
- Nati was on a mooring for 18 nights.
- 142 gallons of diesel fuel was used over and back to the states.
- I found, cleaned and we ate the conch that resided in my new horn!
- We had 10 guest visit us this year and had a ball!!
 |
| Conch salad made by Nati |
 |
| Herb Albert??? NOT! |
Cruz first bloomed at the end of January and he dropped his last flower the day before we departed Great Sale Cay. We left the four flowers in the "magic" water.........
Up early we head west in light wind. Nati flew her chute all day and we went into the Gulf Stream before it got dark. The trip stateside was uneventful but we were very happy to miss the T-storms that were all around us. It was eerie to see stars above us and have a "light show" 360 degrees around us. We only had one hard rain squall hit us but Nati liked the wash. The next morning we motored into Cape Canaveral and took a dock for a night to clean up the boat and take a long hot shower. Harbortowne Marina has a couple of new slips for catamarans so it makes docking pretty easy. We had to do a big cleaning project as when we went through the Canaveral lock we got hit by a swarm of love bugs. We mean "BIG" swarm!
 |
| Guess what the bottom of a foot looked like! |
 |
| Yuck! |
 |
| After washing Nati we had a really good rinse! |
 |
| Flight Plan locking through |
Right now we are in St Augustine looking at making a run on the "outside" in a day or two. The winds appear to be staying from the southern quadrant for 4-5 days so we are hoping to run all the way to Beaufort. That will put the Chesapeake only 200 miles away.
As a side note.....can anyone make out the picture below? First one to correctly guess what the white building in the center is will win a prize.
No comments:
Post a Comment