Moving On

December 29th.  We left this morning with the tide and traveled through the shallowest portion of the ICW.  With TowBoatUS advice, we made it through Devil's Elbow and Matanzes Inlet.  This is where we had to be towed last year.  Since we weren't able to get an early start, we decided to pull into Palm Coast Marina for the night.  Walked into the resort market place and had fabulous pizza for lunch/dinner - the second meal and last meal of the day! 

The Denoel, a French pastry shop, was our favorite lunch stop in St. Augustine.
Bistro de Leon was our selection Christmas Dinner, and may I add it was excellent!
We thought Snow Goose deserved a little reminder of home for the holidays.

Christmas weather

Thursday, December 23rd.


We are aboard today riding out some strong winds. Too rough to even try to take the Gosling into shore.

We walked to the malls yesterday and did some shopping. I think it is probably 5 to 6 miles round trip. We treated ourselves to lunch at the Cafe Denoel after our walk (our favorite French bakery here in St. Augustine).

We have made Christmas dinner reservations at the Bistro de Leon - recommended by our foody friends here in St. Augustine.

We had hoped to check our a couple of the beautiful Spanish revival architecture churches today, but that may have to wait for another day. At least it is not really cold and there is sunshine. However, the propane heater is going.

It is too windy today to get a picture of Snow Goose dressed for Christmas, but I'll try again tomorrow.
December 25th - Merry Christmas!

Bill squeezed two more water containers into the cockpit lockers by doing a throw out of all that stuff that we will never use or haven't ever used. That gives us two 5 gallon and one 6 gallon water containers for the Bahamas. We are carrying four diesel fuel jerry cans on the boat. That all represents a lot of lugging! The sun was shining today and I opened up Snow Goose to the outside world, airing her from the propane heater and general boat fumes of the past cold days. Because it was in the upper 60's, we actually were able to dress for our wonderful Christmas dinner at the Bistro de Leon. We chose the Christmas menu -- Bill's entree' was lamb comfit au jus and mine was salmon with a zucchini souffle - both excellent!

We walked the town afterwards, greeting all others doing the same. I am amazed at how many boats are moving around today. The weather report for the next 3 days is not good - rain, high winds and cold. Wednesday looks like our first day to take off. We seem to have grown roots here!

December 26th - Yes, we are again aboard for the day, the weather being cold and very windy.

Dec 27th - I felt like a mole this morning sticking my head out of the cabin.  Sun is shining, but 31 degrees and again windy.  We took the plunge and took the dinghy into the boaters lounge.

Touring

Friday December 17th - Happy Birthday Geoff - started with the 2 plus mile walk to Target and Winn Dixie and West Marine. Then the taxi ride back to the marina, loading up the Gosling and reprovising the boat. Then we took the Red Train tour of the city. It was a beautiful day. We had dinner out in St. Augustine at Harry's.


Saturday we walked to Anesthasia Island and St. Augustine Lighthouse - more than a couple of miles. The lighthouse and keeper's house is next to St. Augustine's Recreation Area. There was a skateboard competition going on in the park with some very talented kids. We toured the lighthouse museum and keeper's house and then climbed the 163 foot lighthouse. Obviously, the view was fabulous. We walked (with some stumbling) back to the city, bought a Christmas flag for Snow Goose, and called it quits for the day.

Sunday, December 19th. A cold front came through last night and it is cold and cloudy, foggy today. We are hanging here on the boat this morning, hoping for some improvement. We have been invited to the Coles' for dinner this evening. I hope there is improvement for that dinghy ride to shore.

Tuesday, December 21st.  Dinner with Mike and Oula was very nice - food from the oven and ice cream! 
Monday we toured Flagner College and the San Sebastian Winery.  A fun day!  We decided to hang here in St. Augustine for Christmas.  The weather south is no better than right here and there is so much to do right here.
 
Snow Goose is flying her Christmas pennant - let it snow!
 

Ongoing St. Augustine Visit

Friday, December 10th


Wednesday we took the Snow Goose to Comachee Boat Yard here in St. Augustine and had it hauled. We had a new dripless bearing put in and the stern plug sealed. While we were there, First Mate repair looked at our malfunctioning wind gauge. They ordered some parts, and we left the boat yard. On our way back to the mooring we lost our whole navigation system.

Thursday we did laundry and then visited a French cafe for lunch. The food is wonderful! After lunch we sought out a marine supply & salvage store. We came away with a pocket full and some line. We'll go back I'm sure. St. Augustine is now feeling very festive. They have used 2.5 million lights to adorn the downtown. It truly is breathtaking.

Friday we returned to the boat yard to have them install the navigation parts. We left with everything working, however by the time we reached our mooring ball we had lost our wind instruments again. I think a mast climb is next, but the weather has to cooperate. We have been having North winds 15-20 plus every day; cold and today with rain.. It was tricky going to the boat yard this morning.

We have the weekend to look forward to, and we intend to enjoy the Christmas festivities here. Monday we'll think about the boat problems again.

Tuesday, December 14th

The boat parade was Saturday. We took Gosling in and watched from Ft. George. We met our friends the Coles on the dock. They have Kismet on a mooring North of the Bridge of Lions here. We cruised with them last year for awhile.

Sunday we toured the Lightner Museum and had lunch out in our favorite French cafe. By the time we were ready to go back to the boat, the rain had stopped and the sun dried the seats on Gosling. It is the little things!

We had hoped to have a mastclimber go up Monday to retrieve our wind instrument, but the wind was howling 20 to 35 knots. Same story today. The weather has not improved and will be very cold one more day. We have been busy keeping our heat source stock of propane tanks. They are a hot item around here.

Today we are going to walk to West Marine to pick up the propane tanks they set aside for us. That walk takes us right by the marine supply store Bill has discovered, so I am sure we will stop by there too. We are working on updating our lines, and they have a lot of it very reasonable.

Thursday, December 16th

We made the trip into Comachee marina again yesterday.  First Mate went up the mast and cleaned up some connections in the wind instrument.  The day was beautiful on the water.

This morning Bill is repairing what we hope is our last needed fix for awhile - the waste pump.  The rubber in the pump cracked over the summer in the heat - like everything else onboard.  The weather has definitely improved, sunny and 68 degrees.  It was warmer last night too:  one down comforter and three fleece blankets night and no ice on the hatches!

Boat Parade 2010 St Augustine

Hanging out in St. Augustine

Sunday, December 5th. We arrived in St. Augustine on a wing and a prayer on Thursday evening and called the mechanic we were familiar with from last year. They showed up Friday morning and within a short time identified our fuel problem. The fuel line had been hooked up backwards, confirming Bill's thoughts. The discharge side of the pump was hooked up to the intake in the fuel tank. The suction side was hooked up to the discharge side. So therefore, it only had three or four gallons to pick up - enough to run us 3 or 4 hours and then the engine would quit. We left the marina in St. Augustine yesterday and did a sea trial. The engine ran so well!!! I think we are going to love it. There were also some other adjustments and part replacements made, so we should be all set now. We have picked up a mooring in St. Augustine and intend to stay here for a few days of rest and relaxation. Our nerves are shot!

Yesterday they had a Christmas parade in the morning. In the afternoon we attended a reenactment. I can hear the fife and drums onshore now and a canon was just shot. They do have fun! St. Augustine at Christmas time is beautiful. We did some shopping in the old town section yesterday afternoon.

Yes, it was cold coming into St. Augustine. It is still not warm, but it is sunny. The tall ship Lynx is docked here doing some training. It is registered in Portsmouth NH.
Bill is busy now doing some electrical work - putting up some more of those wonderful LED lights. There is always something going on - never boredom.

Tuesday, December 8th.  Still very COLD but at least it is sunny with no ice or snow.  Still hanging on a mooring and enjoying St. Augustine.

Limping into Florida

Tuesday, November 30th. Yesterday the mechanic came aboard in the morning at Jekyll Harbor Marina and repaired the electrical problem with the fuel pump. We left the dock after showers and lunch and motored around the waterway. There was still some air in the fuel line and we needed to bleed it out. We dropped anchor outside the marina and took the Gosling into Jekyll Island and walked around. I'm still looking for an allegator, but nothing yet.

This morning we left Jekyll Island, running just fine. We pulled over for lunch off Cumberland River. The wind really picked up and we decided to stay. Bill replaced the bilge pump, and I got out the chrome polish. The wind isn't letting up, so we have decided to sit tight. I was hoping for Florida today, but guess not yet.

Wind is calmer this morning so we started out again, continuing to be hampered by fuel problems.  We found a little river off the ICW to anchor.  It is getting colder, but the wind is still calm.

Dec 3, we are in Florida!!  Boy, is it COLD!  We continued to have fuel problems and limped our way into St. Augustine.  Again today a mechanic will be aboard.  I am doing laundry and will get my hair done later.  Then we will provision.  We walked around St. Augustine last night.  The Christmas lights are up again and it is so pretty.  We'll stay another night at least.  Happy Birthday Greg!!

Sailing in Jekyll Point/Sound

Thanksgiving & beyond

This is Black Friday. We had a very nice Thanksgiving Dinner aboard the Sean Patrick here in Two Way Boat Yard. We had planned to sail this afternoon with the mean high tide, however squall clouds and the ensuing rain prevented that thought. We did return the rental car, leave or not. It was costing us a small fortune. Now we walk. Tomorrow, Saturday, is supposed to be a cooler but nice day. We'll try again. Our VHF radio only needed a replacement cable at the base of the mast, and is now working better than ever. The scratch created by the improper transmission lever at the pedestal has now been repaired, and we are just ready to get out of here. I still haven't seen that allegator, but we did see a wild boar running frantically across the road yesterday. Can't wait to play with the dolphins again. Geoff and Connie have sent pictures which I will attach when I have wifi again (that is not here).




Saturday - We left Two Way - Yeah!!! We finally departed from Two Way Boat Yard. We waited for high tide and the wind to drop and at 2:00 pm left the dock. We motored down the waterway for two hours, sea trialingthe new Yanmar in the Snow Goose. All systems are great with the exception of our Garmin wind indicators - we will look into thatat a further later. We are happy with the engine performance but intend to stay within travel distance of our mechanic for another day. We walked the State of Georgia and Ducks Unlimited wildlife preserve this AM - very pretty open land, but didn't see wildlife. Still no allegators but we are told by the duck hunters that the reason they don't have dogs is because of the allegators - dogs are allegator bait! We are anchored just off the waterway in a wide spot and it is beautiful. A white heron showed off to us. Tonight is supposed to be cold again and tomorrow, but Monday warmer. We are anxious to get south.
 
Sunday, we hauled anchor and got a late start.  It was cold and we didn't intend to travel too far away from our mechanic today anyway.  All went well until we reached Jekyll Point/Sound and then the engine died.  We dropped anchor, checked things out and called Boat US.  They towed us back to Jekyll Harbor.  We expect to see Tom Lee at 8 am tomorrow morning.  And so it goes for us in Georgia.

Still hanging out in Georgia

Yes, we are still here in Two Way Boat Yard, however in the progress department the scratch on the side of Snow Goose that happened when reverse was forward and forward reverse on the pedestal is being repaired today.  We are waiting now for the paint match to come in.  The weather here is fantastic still with forecasted temps in the 80's for Thanksgiving.  We had hoped to be in St. Mary's or Brunswick Landing for Thanksgiving, but I don't see that happening.  We have been doing boat work every day and taking advantage of the car to get the supplies needed, so have been busy.  Internet is scarce here, so if I can't post again, Happy Thanksgiving!

Hilton Head & Savannah

We have been here at the resort on Hilton Head with Connie & Joe since Monday afternoon being tourists.  The resort and Hilton Head are beautiful, long beaches and lots of golf courses.  The harbor is like a hurricane hole with lots of $$ yachts.Today we went into Savannah and took a tour of the historic city with a native guide who knew lots of local history.  We had lunch down by the waterfront and stopped at a funky coffee shop (never did get that coffee, but did have fun).   The attached is Connie & Joe on the harbor wharf; armadillo and egrets in the Hilton Head wildlife preserve; and Savannah waterfront.  Love to all, B & B

From hard to splash; St. Simon's Light; Pequod 2 (and Bella)

We're in and running!!!

Yes, today the new Yanmar engine started on the first turn and hummed away with only a couple of minor tightenings!  Lots of soap and scrubbing happened, inside and out.  You could be snow blinded by the results!  The new anchor line was marked and installed.  The new cowel (brass air vent that cost a fortune) fits and looks quite impressive up there on the bow.  Gosling got a new tow line today.  Tomorrow I load and store all our stuff in the cabin.  Bill has to face getting the !!! outboard going and various other must do's.  The weather has been beautiful here - mid 70's and sunny.  Our hotel has turned out to be very nice - free breakfast and laundry (which we are using tonight). 
Love, B & B

Splash!!

Yes, the Snow Goose is happily in the water again - as is Gosling.  Unfortunately, the mechanic was a no show, so we still haven't powered up the new Yanmar.  Tomorrow.  This is Georgia and nothing moves very fast or smooth. The cleansers and brushes have been found and will be in full force tomorrow.  Also splashed today was a 1948 38' wooden boat, Pequod.  She is sitting in the water in the sling waiting for the hull to swell sufficiently.  Pictures to follow - left my camera aboard!  We talked with Francie, Ken & Skipper aboard the Release who are in Fernandina Beach today heading for Stuart, FL.  The weather here is holding with us - 70's and sunny.  I hope it will hold out through the weekend for the cleaning and provisioning.

Love,
B & B

Return to the Snow Goose

We arrived unceremoniously in Brunswick Airport at 4:15 yesterday and picked up our car.  We checked out the Snow Goose - she hadn't flown away!  Decided to check out the Baymont Inn in Brunswick GA.  We registered online in the Baymont computer lab since that was the cheapest way.  We plan to be here through the 15th, then hope to head for Hilton Head.  Connie, we don't have cell phone coverage at the hotel, but do at the boatyard, so I will call you.  Upon unlocking the boat this morning, we didn't find what we had hoped for.  The repower has not been completed, although almost, and the cabinet around the engine has not been completed, although he started to work on it today.  Nobody knows if the rudder has been repacked.  However, the hull had been buffed!  We checked rigging, put up the main sail, threw away bungie cords and jerry jugs as they had been disintegrated by the sun.  All our boxes but our foam mattress had been delivered.  But since we couldn't put anything away in the boat as they are still working in it, we unpacked all the boxes and packed them in the car.  Now we qualify for the homeless look. But on the bright side, our Fire In the Hole, Bahama's best rum, was safe and sound stashed away.  Stay tuned for Friday's planned splash!

Love, B & B

Georgia's on my mind

We have been thinking about our return to the boat lately.  Our time home and mine at work is getting shorter now.  Bill will have his eye surgery this Friday and put that behind us.  October will bring bird hunting and preparation and plans for the trip to Georgia and getting the boat in the water.  Hooray!

Georgia

April 28, 2010 - Wednesday. To all our faithful followers, this is the last episode of Snow Goose Adventures for this year. Snow Goose will be a resident of Georgia on hard while she has a new engine implant, most likely in July, and then she will be hanging out here until we return to her in the fall. We are flying out of Brunswick GA on Friday evening. We should be home on Saturday. In the meantime, we are doing all things necessary to leave the boat in good hands. Thanks for caring about our voyage. We are hoping to see you all soon.

Georgia

April 25, 2010 Sunday Anybody need the phone number for TowBoatUS? I have it memorized. A lot has happened since we left St. Augustine on Wednesday, April 21st. Wednesday went by with smooth sailing after our rebuilt starter was installed. We anchored off the ICW in calm waters. About noon time on Thursday a generator mounting bolt going into the engine block broke off. With no generator or water pump coolant we couldn't run. Thus, we called TowBoatUS who towed us into Jekyll Island, Georgia where we were repaired. Friday AM we are off again but about 3 in the afternoon we lost our transmission. Second call to TowBoatUS - same guys who towed us the first time. After some discussion, they helped us select a marine facility in Darien, GA, Two Way Marine. They have a haul out if we need it, and when Monday comes they have a complete repair facility. So, this weekend we are stuck here in nowhere in rainy weather with lots of bugs, trying to decide how we are going to approach our problem - new transmission or repower. Never a dull moment. Yesterday we took a long walk toward Darien. There was about two miles of waterfowl conservation area supported by the US, Georgia, Ducks Unlimited and Nature Conservancy. A one time the property was all owned by the Butler family who maintained the plantation and rice fields. Very beautiful area, but still lots of bugs. This is definitely a good ole boy part of the world where kareokee is still the Friday night special and all guys drive big pickup trucks. Fun!

Trucking on thru Georgia

4-21-10 Wednesday We pushed the glow plug and then the starter button and it worked!!! and so we left St. Augustine and the Bridge of Lions at 8:30 am. The day was glorious - 75 degrees. We passed our first barges - two of them - since we started the ICW North. We dropped anchor just outside Allegator Creek, and a few miles from Georgia. We put in 9 1/2 hours and 55 miles - yes, we fought the tides the whole way. But we used the jib when we could and did the best we could do. Tomorrow shallow water in Georgia. Wish us good luck!

4-22-10   We are in Jekyll Island tonight.  The day was very warm but with no wind.  We motored our way down the ICW.  We are in a social marina tonight.  There is a 34' Sea Sprite next to us and a 30' Cape Dory down the pier.  Also the cutest tug boat in front of us.  Everyone has stories to tell and wants to show off their boat.  We passed cruising friends on My Whim on our way in, and they came by the say hello.  They are leaving their boat and going home to Chicago for the summer. 

Dolphin at Municipal Marina, St. Augustine

Up and Running Again

The Snow Goose is up and running again with a rebuilt starter and some new wiring thanks to a young gentleman, Mike.  In his off hours from work, Mike stopped in on Saturday and helped Bill get the old starter out (Bill didn't have the right tools), and then on Monday evening, once the starter had been rebuilt by A&D Electric, Mike came by again and he and Bill reinstalled the rebuilt starter and did some rewiring necessary to energize the old wiring.  We will pull out tomorrow AM before the bridge closing at 8:00 AM and continue down the ICW.  As we reiterate our cruise to others, we realize we do miss the Bahamas.  It was a great experience.  The people were so pure and caring.  They spoke very quickly in a British accent with a Bahamian twist.  It was always difficult at first to understand, but the more they conversed with you, the more you understood.  The children were uninhibited and trusting.  They came up to you and spoke with you, answering questions about their school and games.  Bikes were big with them and they rode everywhere.  The children all wear school uniforms and spoke with respect.  I know I have this thing for the dolphins, but they are so much fun.  There is a school of them that live here at the marina, and there is a little black baby dolphin.  Yesterday they were tossing around a redfish, playing a game among themselves with it.  Obviously, they are not hungry!  Today, there was a dolphin right next to our slip, swimming all around the boat.  Missing you all.

Tough week

April 15 Thursday We left Titusville this morning having a heck of a time getting out of the tie up. Snow Goose only likes to back up turning starboard and there was no turnaround room. Convincing her to back out of the marina took some doing, but it happened and we had a good day even if we did fight the tide and wind most of the day. We dropped our anchor outside the Memorial Bridge in Daytona. Dealing with the bridge opening and closing times is always an issue, and this bridge was closed between 4:45 and 5:45 p.m. so we anchored South of the bridge.




April 16 Friday. The bridge opened for boats again at 8:45 am and we were ready. We saw some Manatees today. They certainly are ugly. I wouldn't want to be the boat that hit them. Huge! Today was warmer, less wind and nice until we reached Matanzas Island - South of St. Augustine. There was a red buoy and three temporary green buoys. The temporary green buoys have not been moved close enough to shore, shoaling has moved in, and we were the 6th boat USTowBoat has towed out of there today. Boy were we aground! After our rescue, we motored about 6 miles up the ICW and dropped anchor at 5:30 p.m.



April 17 Saturday. Left our quiet beautiful little anchorage for St. Augustine where we hit the fuel dock first and then pulled into the marina. We had planned to stay a couple of days, but it looks like we will be here a little longer. Snow Goose has starter problems, and this time it involves a replacement. That isn't going to happen until Monday at the earliest. So here we are in the historic city of St. Augustine and will enjoy it and perhaps catch up with some cruising friends, the Coles aboard Moon Wind, with whom we sailed down the ICW for a time.

Up and Running

The electrician came back to the Snow Goose Monday morning and took the alternator to his shop and found it had a bad stater.  He didn't have the right replacement, replaced it with another type.  Bill reinstalled the alternator, but it didn't work.  Electrician came back and took the alternator back to the shop.  Some alterations, an installation and it worked!  Yes, an all day event and costly.  However, a car ride to Publix Market was included in the cost.  Tuesday AM we set out for Palm Bay.  The 65 mile trip was breezy and beautiful.  We had the jib up all day in 15 to 20 knot winds.l  The dolphins played around the Snow Goose for a long time.  What a treat!  We anchored on the lee side of an spoil area.  This morning we were awaken by a crow sitting on our grill crowing at us to bring food.  We finally go the message and discovered he loved corn chips.  He made several trips back and forth and even requested seconds.  Our sail today was in higher winds 20 to 25 and we again made great progress.  However, we were held up almost 1 1/2 hours by a bridge.  Because anchoring would have been rocky at best, we are in a marina a Titusville tonight.  With good sailing, tomorrow we should be in Daytona.  What a life, huh!

Snow Goose breakdown

Apparently Snow Goose has deemed it needs a rest.  Upon fueling up and leaving Stuart, Fl, the batteries started overcharging.  A call to TowBoatUS put us in Manatee Pocket at a transient dock and they searched for an electrician (on a Saturday).  A gentleman stopped in and looked over the alternator, told Bill to pull it out, and he would be back on Monday morning and take it to his shop.  I am thinking Snow Goose wanted some more time in sunny Florida.  We have used the time to do some walking, exploring Manatee Park.  We saw our first two manatees when we were coming into the dock.  Wow, are they huge.  Unfortunately, I was distracted by the crippled boat and didn't get pictures!  Anyway, it seems we will be here in Manatee Pocket through Monday at best.  So much for sailing North. 

St. Lucie River - Sunset Marina

April 6, 2010 - Tuesday We left Las Olas Marina in Ft. Lauderdale this morning heading North back on the waterway again. We had to go under a bunch of bridges. Some bridges open on the hour and half hour - some on the quarter hour and some on request. Anyway, it takes awhile and manages to slow down progress. We are anchored this evening in Lantan, Florida with Release. We will travel together until we get to Ft. Pierce where they will leave their boat and drive to Vermont. The day was in the mid-70's and partly sunny - beauitiful on the water. We took the dinghy into town and walked around. Lantan is a very pretty place. We had dinner aboard listening to the on shore Key Lime Marina live band.




April 7 - Wednesday We traversed the ICW to Manatee Pocket, but could not find good anchorage. There were a lot of boats already anchored and no room for us. So we headed for the St. Luicie River and anchored on the north side of the bridge. There is a beach there for Skipper to go ashore. Tomorrow we will follow Release probably to Ft. Pierce or wherever they decide to park for a couple of weeks. We need diesel and ice, so we need to be close to a marina, if not in one.



April 8 - Thursday We decided to pick up a mooring ball at Sunset Marina in Stuart, Fl today to renew our ice and diesel supply. The trip into the facility involved going under 3 bridges, but the marina is beautiful and a good stop. Release has decided to leave their boat here on a mooring while they drive home to Vermont. Weather is still very warm and sunny.

April 9 - Friday  I'm here at the marina doing laundry.  Bill has the boat torn apart performing various tasks.  Release is preparing to leave their boat here during their Vermont trip.  We will depart tomorrow AM heading North on the ICW.  Skipper spent the morning aboard Snow Goose.  I suspect he knows something is up with all the preparation for departure that is going on aboard the Release.  Again, today the weather is wonderful, breezy and warm.  We hope to get some play time in this afternoon and check out the city of Stuart. 

Ft. Lauderdale

Our crossing last Thursday was beautiful.  The weather was sunny, we had both sails up and saw 8 knots more than once (that's fast you realize for Snow Goose).  It took 6 1/2 hrs, so we were in Ft. Lauderdale before cocktail hour and pulled into the Las Olas Marina where we were in December.  We have been busy with boat repairs - making sure our account at West Marine was up to date - and provisioning.  We have fresh vegetables again!!!!  And the best part, we have showers and water, water, water - free from the hose!!!  Water has been like gold.  It is bitter sweet being here because it means we will be parting from our new friendship with Jackie and Chris on Higheeled.  They will be going on to cruise the Keys and then south - perhaps Cuba and beyond.  Ken and Francie and Skipper on Release will leave with us tomorrow but will leave us in Ft. Pierce, FL to drive home to Vermont for a couple of weeks.  Then they'll come back to their boat to continue their cruise.  We had Easter Dinner with all of them aboard Release.  We are back in the communication world again and it was wonderful to call our family yesterday and hear their voices!  And so we are today preparing to follow the magenta line down the ICW, with some outside sails, toward home.

Crossing

March 31, 2010  Wednesday.  Today is beautiful in Bimini.  We have decided to let the seas calm today and cross the Gulf to Port Everglades tomorrow with Release and Higheeled.  Time has flown and it seems like just yesterday we arrived here.  I am hoping our trip back home is warmer but as much fun  as our trip down.  So today is check out the boat, pick up a few supplies, laundry and get ready to go. 

Nassau & Regatta hull

Cruising Pics

Bimini and Beyond

March 25, 2010 Thursday We had a beautiful sail yesterday from Nassau to Chubb Cay. The wind blew around 11 knots all day in a favorable direction so we could put out our main and head sails. This morning we hauled the anchor at 6 am and started our long trek across the Northwest Passage to Cat Cay and then Bimini. We will be traveling appx. 75 miles today to Cat Cay anchorage and don't expect to get there anything before 8:30 pm. Tomorrow to Bimini. The wind isn't as favorable for us today, but we are flying the jib. As our usual practice, we take 1/2 hr turns at the helm, and do boat duties in between turns.



March 26, 2010 Friday. Long day - 14 1/2 hrs - but we are in Cat Cay today. We dropped anchor in the dark at 8:15 p.m. Again I wish to state I don't like sailing in the dark, and anchoring is no fun either. Today is very warm and humid and threatens rain. We are leaving the anchorage at 1 pm to travel to Bimini on the incoming tide. We will stay there until the weather favors a crossing to Florida. It was nice to have this morning to sleep in awhile and do fueling, engine checks and boat work. Also to catch up with our fellow cruisers whom we have not seen, only radio contact, for two days. Bill is making a conch horn now for Erik. I am thinking since he has mastered the trumbone he will be able to blow the conch. I sure as heck can't. I now can pick up emails through my Blackberry - still not using the phone because of the $50 roaming charges - but as soon as we are on the mainland we will be reachable by phone too.



We set sail for Bimini at 1 pm and what a 15 mile trip it was. 20 kn winds and high seas, the barometer dropped like a rock and just as we pull into the harbor the storm hit with driving rain. We dropped anchor at first site and waited out the storm until we could see again. Then we moved to a second anchorage. It rained so hard for about two hours that you could see a foot in front of you. Anyway, we are here safe and sound. It feels like we have come home for whatever reason. The weather forecast - not that we can trust it obviously - says we probably will be here until the middle of next week. The winds are all northerly and we don't want to think about crossing the Gulf Stream with winds with a "N" in them. Today is beautiful and warm. We have dried out the main sail and done some other odds and end boat work. Bill is now trying to get the outboard running. Anything to do with water, and it won't run. Who knew! Then we will go ashore and get off the boat for the first time in days.



March 28, 2010 Sunday We enjoyed the beautiful weather yesterday. Did some shopping. Had lunch on the beach. We dined with our fellow cruisers on conch chowder, salad, corn bread and strawberry shortcake. It was a feast! During the night however Higheeled swung onto a shoal and they woke up to the boat heeded over to the toe rails. They kedged to keep it steady and when the tide came in it took them off the shoal and they moved about 7 am. The Bahamian shoaling waters are a test for all of us. This morning Release, Higheeled and Snow Goose all headed in to the marina here to ride out the next couple of days with the front coming in - high winds and at least a day of rain. Once done with that, we enjoyed the beach and hot showers!!!! Skipper is here visiting us now watching the Pelicans. Snow Goose is a bird's eye view, and besides we have good treats. We met a couple on the beach today that have a 43' 1980 Grand Banks Classic yacht. They are from Scotland. I wondered if that is the boat Rob and Karen have - Miss Julia???

Feeding the sharks in Compass Cay and the food shacks in Nassau

3-17-10 Wednesday This morning the flotilla of cruisers we are presently sailing with decided to head out of beautiful Compass Cay. All pulled anchor but Snow Goose had a problem. Her anchor was wrapped around a coral head. We would circle around the head in one direction and she would snag the head on the other side. Pulling forward was no help. Pulling backward didn't do it. Quite the dilemna! Finally through our circling and maneuvering we managed to coax the anchor free. Foreward Ho! We sailed to Hawksbill Cay that day, a portion of the Bahama Land and Sea Park. Blessedly, there were moorings!! The area is an attempt by the Bahamas toward conservation. This cay was sterile. Nothing - no shells, no conch, no fish, dead coral reefs. The sand was beautiful and the water was beautiful, but there was nothing alive. We had cocktails on the boat of a Vermont couple this evening. They bring their boat to Florida. Go home for December, January and February. And in March they fly back to Florida and sail the Bahamas during March and April. They find the weather better during those months, and have done this for a number of years.




3-18-10 Thursday We woke up during the night to the mooring ball banging against our hull and incredible rocking and rolling. The sea had picked up during the evening and there was no sleeping from then on. An early VHF conference among the flotilla as we hung onto the coffee pots on the stove was to get the heck out of Dodge. We sailed out of Hawksbill at 8 am, destination Normans Cay. We have sailed in worst conditions, but the Exuma Sound does blow up quickly. Normans Cay turned out to be a good decision as the entry to the harbor was easy and the anchorage is big. There were many boats here when we arrived, but there was plenty of room for the four of us: Higheeled; Release; I Nida Wind II; and Snow Goose. I Nida Wind II had engine trouble on our way to Normans Cay. It turned out to be a fuel pump. They sailed while figuring out a way to syphon fuel and then came into the harbor under power and anchored. The captains installed a new fuel pump here in Normans. Fortunately, Higheeled had a spare onboard. We walked the island this afternoon and checked out the air strip and beach club. We found conch on one of the remote beaches. We took the dinghies to the beach and picked up the very large conch shells. We saw a stingray that was at least four feet wide and a Lemon Shark while we were conching. The captains are at the beach now opening, releasing and skinning the conch. After they are cracked we will make a meal for all with them. We have now sampled conch salad with lemon; orange; and sour orange; and lime pepper. So we are now ready to create the perfect conch salad. We have the fritters knocked! We are just having so much fun, but Bill and I have admitted to each other that we are missing home. Some of the cruisers we meet - many - live on their boats and have no home. I love cruising and the boat, but I can't even imagine not having home. When I listen to them, I think they regret it too. Tomorrow, weather permitting, on to Highbourne Cay and from there it is Nassau, and that means heading home.



3-19-10 Friday In the morning there was some more conch cleaning - we had harvested a lot of conch and it is a process to clean them. In the afternoon we walked around the island and on the beach. The weather is still too cool for swimming and too rough for snokeling. We gathered in the evening with other cruisers and had conch fritters, conch bits and a salad. Very tasty!



3-20-10 Saturday We hauled anchor at 7 am and headed for Nassau, 40 plus miles. As we passed through the mouth of the harbor we passed another sailing vessel kedging off the shoal. He made it. The day was beautiful for sailing - 70 degrees and 9-10 knot winds. I spent time on the bow directing Bill around the coral heads as we sailed through the Yellow Banks. We arrived in Nassau Harbor at 3:30 pm. and dropped anchor. Bill remarked it is almost nice to see civilization again. We puppy sat I Nida Wind II's dogs while Nancy and Cal went in town for dog food. They had run out that morning. We will be here in Nassau a few days.



3-21-10 Sunday All shops and establishments are closed on Sundays in the Bahamas, so we decided it was a great day to do some sightseeing. We walked East Bay Street, the waterside way. We came to a boatyard where there were sailing vessels up on stands being worked on. Mr. Rolle (there are a million and one Rolles in the Bahamas and at least one on every cay) came along as we walked in to check out the vessels. He explained the boats were being prepared for the Regatta held annually. There were three classes of boats in the yard, designated by size, A, B and C. Mr. Rolle's was a B class, Lady Natalie, named after Natalie Cole. He was in the process of preparing to pain the hull. I took some pictures of these awesome vessels. We walked some more and did a little shopping before meeting friends at the fish shacks for lunch. I also took pictures of the fish shacks and the fruit and vegetable stands. They are all located under the bridge going across to Paradise Island. They set up their shacks backwards though. They should have them open to the water instead of to the street, ie the Portsmouth decks. We returned to the boat after lunch only to find that our traveling companion Release had dragged its anchor and was up against a wall within feet of rocks. There was flurry of action among the cruisers and a power boat was summoned. The power boat was able to tow Release out of danger and mercifully without damage. Very scary moments.



3-22-10 Monday We had thunderstorms during the evening and it is now raining. A day on the boat and with a book.
 
3/23-10  Tuesday  Today was laundry, shopping and catching up with banking, blog and emails.  Had a wonderful lunch at the Poop Deck.  We are meeting with our fellow cruisers later today to talk about our return trip to the mainland.  The weather is going to dictate our crossings. 
 

3-7-10 On Monday(I think) we took the dinghy out to Little Major Spot cay and watched the pigs swim. There were four adults on the beach and a bunch of little ones. They will swim out to the dinghy. We fed them carrots. What fun! Tuesday 3-8-10 we motored from Staniel Cay anchorage off Club Thunderball through the cays of Big Major Spot and Little Major Spot and numerous other smaller cays with the most beautiful beaches to Sampson Cay. It was a short distance and we were anchored off Sampson Cay at 11:00 a.m. There is a small marina here. It's a very pretty spot. I Nida Wind II - Cal and Nancy - met us there. Cal's thumb has finally healed to the point where he and Nancy can handle the boat again. They left Georgetown and met us here. It is great to see them again! I used the laundry at the marina and we purchased ice. Still too cool to swim. It rained lightly a couple of times. We are disappointed it isn't warm enough to swim and snokel. We explored a very long beautiful beach on a private cay. It had an air strip that was well maintained and not much else. We did see planes coming in and people met by a launch. You have to wonder what goes on there.




Highheeled, Release and I Nida Wind II along with Snow Goose headed for Fowl Cay on Thursday. A beautiful little anchorage but we decided no protection from the SW winds that were predicted Friday and Saturday. So on Friday we left Fowl and traveled into Pipe Creek, a short distance from Compass Cay, and anchored. Again, what a beautiful area. We explored the beaches with the dinghy and walked the shore looking for conch. Then we went into Compass Cay Marina for water. We were met at the dock by a gentleman from Rockport, Maine. He knew of John's hot dog stand. Small world. Around the marina docks were Nurse Sharks. They hang around to be fed. And of course, feeding the sharks brings other fish - I saw Needle Fish and Snapper. No fishing there however.



3-12-10 Today, Saturday, we woke up to the front coming in the form of a thunderstorm with heavy rain. It's the first real rain we have had in awhile. We hung clothes out to rinse and as soon as it was over took the mop and washed down the boat. Release was out taking baths. I Nida Wind II was catching water (we had just filled our tanks). Bill's morning activity now is engine check and retrieving tools with a magnet that have been dropped in the bilge. I took some pictures of the crew and captains we are traveling with presently the other evening at a dinner gathering on board I Nida Wind II that I am copying on disks for all.



Sunday, 3-13-10 Wow! Time is flying by. The winds calmed down during the morning and after lunch we took the dinghy out looking for conch. We drifted along the shallow shores around the smaller cays. We had no luck but Release and Higheeled found a beach with a lot of them right along the shore. We met at the beach across from the anchored boats and opened, peeled and cracked them. It is a procedure and takes awhile, but in the end we had a dozen or more to make fritters. The evening cooled down. We are almost out of bread and no supplies close by, so I made corn bread on the stove top for dinner and to grill for breakfast.



Monday, 3-14-10 We totally blew off day light savings time this AM and slept through the weather report. We dragged anchor last night, so first drill was to haul anchor and move the boat. We had a little trouble re-hooking, but after what probably looked like a comic routine, we succeeded. Bill has gone fishing with some of that conch scraps. It is a beautiful day. I went out on the pulpit and polished up the chrome. The boat looks great after the big rain washing it had.

Snow Goose - White Point, Exumas

2-24-10 Still on a mooring in Little Farmers Cay, Exuma. The weather is blowing up again and we have an anchor dropped as well as the mooring for tonight's blow out of the Northwest. Ken and Bill have gone fishing. They now have the inside knowledge that they should simplify their technique and use a hand line with some conch as bait. Soooo, we'll see. Francie and I took Skipper and explored the island yesterday while Bill was watering the boats and Ken and Chris had made the 4 mile trip to Cave Cay for gas. There is no gasoline here. During our exploration we found JR's Carvings. He had various island mementos including Bahama Papa, Bahama Mama, a Peel Owl and the native parrot. They were all carved from green Wild (sounds like) Tamerin wood (is that right Geoff??). It is the same wood they use for the ribs of boat hulls. Once it dries JR says it is very hard, but does not split. It also gets lighter in color. JR also is the public works department for the island roads (3). We also checked out the island school - one room for all grades through high school. However, when talking with the natives, they will tell you most of the children go to Nassau for high school and higher education. They usually live with relatives or friends. Bil and Ken found us shelling on the beach and treated us to lunch at the yacht club. There were no boats at the yacht club and no diners in the restaurant. Not a very booming place. However, the crack conch was yummy and as I hadn't seen anything green for awhile so was the salad. We continue to hope to continue North along the Exuma Bank side of the Exumas, weather permitting. The storms are blowing up from the Northwest every couple of days and there is no protection for us for a ways for storms in that direction, so we continue to wait for our window. Fortunately, it is a beautiful place to be




2-25-10 As expected, it was a wild night, high winds and hard rains. Today is still very windy, but sunny. The morning was spent by all checking moorings, anchors, etc. There was some shifting and right now our anchor is bearing the burden of Snow Goose. Bill and Ken caught one fish yesterday and ended up throwing it back since there was only one. I stayed onboard with the boat and was entertained by watching all the other cruisers come in and try to anchor. Dana was in his dinghy trying to help My Whim catch. Bill and Ken came in and helped Amity (from Brunswick, ME) untangle his anchor and mooring lines pushing his boat around in circles with the dinghy. Then they dropped Release's anchor 80 ft. NW and Snow Goose's anchor in the same direction. Terry Bain who owns our mooring and others around

was out making sure all was well. Little Jeff, also a mooring owner, sent out a diver to check anchors. We use the looky pail to check ours. I did get off the boat with Francie and Skipper and met Bill and Ken to show them the carver's shed. We made some purchases. Also picked up a bag of ice and rode back in the dinghy against the sea getting very wet.



2-26-10 Bill's eyes are bothering him today - swollen - and he needs to see about his prescriptions. So he will stay aboard and see the doctor at the clinic who is supposed to arrive between 2 and 3 today. I went exploring with Release in their dinghy in very shallow areas around Musha Cay and Cave Cay. We hit a number of beaches and did some conch hunting. I found a beautifu Queen Helmet conch shell. The day was fun. However, the doctor never showed and Bill's eyes are very bad.





The nurse showed up and was actually very thorough. She gave Bill antihistamine and eye drops for his eyes, filled three of his four heart prescriptions, gave him a medicated shampoo and a cream for the itch and rash he has developed. All this for $46.00. Just unbelieveable! We took the computer to the yacht club after the clinic visit and had lunch while we use the wifi and Bill downed his medication. I went for a swim off the boat in the afternoon and washed one side of the hull. The supply boat did come in around 2 pm so we went back into town with the dinghy around 4 and picked up what we could find - still slim pickings. Cereal is corn flakes; milk is boxed; bread is Wonder; no greens of any kind; however there were carrots; papaya, bananas, oranges and native potatoes (I couldn't understand when they told me the name - long very dark brown with thick skin). We also found the fishermen on the pier who had just come in and purchased 6 snapper and other varieties (Little Jeff reeled the names of the fish off, but he was difficult to understand). Anyway, we shared our catch with Release and Highheeled. Had cocktails with Highheeled and Release in the evening.



3-2-10 Sunday we visited the clinic again to get antibiotics. Bill's eyes were not a whole lot better. Monday brought improvement and we decided to go north to Black Point, hoping there were more supplies. We dropped the anchor around noon time following Release and Higheeled into the harbor. Did lunch, laundry and shopping in the afternoon. I loved Black Point settlement the first time we were here, and enjoyed the people as much again. A native fisherman pulled his boat along side Snow Goose in the early evening to see if we could pick him up at his boat mooring and take him to shore. He told us not to try to ride out Wednesday's weather out of the Northwest in the harbor. We had intended to go further north to Staniel Cay, but other boats in the harbor told us Staniel was full. So a cruiser's meeting concluded we had to go South on Tuesday to White Point, a suggested refuse from the native fisherman. This morning we did just that and here we are in a little hidey hole with better protection. The weather has just been a hinderance to our progress North, and we are not seeing what we had hoped. However, no snow here!



3-3-10 Holding wasn't good at White Point and the wind was howling and the sea rocking. We did take the dinghy in to a beautiful beach for a couple of hours to do some shelling and explore. You could see iguana tracks, but it was too windy and cold for them to show themselves. But about 4 pm with all anchors dragging, Higheeled, Release and Snow Goose headed back to Black Point. About 9 the front hit with a thunderstorm and we rocked all night with high seas and winds. I was rudely awakened in the night by a flood of sea water coming into the V berth port I had opened beside my bed. In the morning we felt like we had fought a battle all night. No sleep, trying to stay in the berth, and many anchor checks. Today all day same thing. The winds are 28 to 30 mph and the seas very high. There are four cruisers and one fishing boat here in the harbor. However, our anchor has held where others have not, so we're safe. There was no leaving the boat today though. Poor Skipper has been on the boat for 24 hours without shore time although they just took him in with life jacket on. It is still very rough at 5 pm. I will be glad to have tomorrow come and the weather to calm down. We have been trying some of the Bahamian foods. Last night we had beef patties - spices and ground beef inside a corn meal and flour pastry tart. Very good.



3-4-10 The seas are still high and the wind around 20 mph, but enough is enough and we headed for Staniel Cay this morning. It was another sleepless night between anchor watch and trying to stay in the berth. Rough ride to Staniel, but we're here and anchored in protection from the NW winds. It is nice not to be rocking!! We actually could get a meal too. Holding the coffee pot and soup pot on the stove was getting old. We will hang here tomorrow and let the seas calm down. The rest of the week and first of next week are predicted to be nice weather. Bill is changing the engine oil and I put the boat back together this morning - every time you opened a door all inside fell out. We'll explore and go to shore this afternoon. The supply ship came in so we'll hit that and they sell block ice here. What fun!

Weather, weather, weather

2-24-10 Still on a mooring in Little Farmers Cay, Exuma. The weather is blowing up again and we have an anchor dropped as well as the mooring for tonight's blow out of the Northwest. Ken and Bill have gone fishing. They now have the inside knowledge that they should simplify their technique and use a hand line with some conch as bait. Soooo, we'll see. Francie and I took Skipper and explored the island yesterday while Bill was watering the boats and Ken and Chris had made the 4 mile trip to Cave Cay for gas. There is no gasoline here. During our exploration we found JR's Carvings. He had various island mementos including Bahama Papa, Bahama Mama, a Peel Owl and the native parrot. They were all carved from green Wild (sounds like) Tamerin wood (is that right Geoff??). It is the same wood they use for the ribs of boat hulls. Once it dries JR says it is very hard, but does not split. It also gets lighter in color. JR also is the public works department for the island roads (3). We also checked out the island school - one room for all grades through high school. However, when talking with the natives, they will tell you most of the children go to Nassau for high school and higher education. They usually live with relatives or friends. Bil and Ken found us shelling on the beach and treated us to lunch at the yacht club. There were no boats at the yacht club and no diners in the restaurant. Not a very booming place. However, the crack conch was yummy and as I hadn't seen anything green for awhile so was the salad. We continue to hope to continue North along the Exuma Bank side of the Exumas, weather permitting. The storms are blowing up from the Northwest every couple of days and there is no protection for us for a ways for storms in that direction, so we continue to wait for our window. Fortunately, it is a beautiful place to be




2-25-10 As expected, it was a wild night, high winds and hard rains. Today is still very windy, but sunny. The morning was spent by all checking moorings, anchors, etc. There was some shifting and right now our anchor is bearing the burden of Snow Goose. Bill and Ken caught one fish yesterday and ended up throwing it back since there was only one. I stayed onboard with the boat and was entertained by watching all the other cruisers come in and try to anchor. Dana was in his dinghy trying to help My Whim catch. Bill and Ken came in and helped Amity (from Brunswick, ME) untangle his anchor and mooring lines pushing his boat around in circles with the dinghy. Then they dropped Release's anchor 80 ft. NW and Snow Goose's anchor in the same direction. Terry Bain who owns our mooring and others around was out making sure all was well. Little Jeff, also a mooring owner, sent out a diver to check anchors. We use the looky pail to check ours. I did get off the boat with Francie and Skipper and met Bill and Ken to show them the carver's shed. We made some purchases. Also picked up a bag of ice and rode back in the dinghy against the sea getting very wet.



2-26-10 Bill's eyes are bothering him today - swollen - and he needs to see about his prescriptions. So he will stay aboard and see the doctor at the clinic who is supposed to arrive between 2 and 3 today. I went exploring with Release in their dinghy in very shallow areas around Musha Cay and Cave Cay. We hit a number of beaches and did some conch hunting. I found a beautifu Queen Helmet conch shell. The day was fun. However, the doctor never showed and Bill's eyes are very bad.



2-27-10 Today we are sitting here at the clinic again waiting for the nurse to show up. Island time!! There is another weather system coming tomorrow so here we sit.The supply ship that was due in Thursday still has not shown up, and provisions for all are becoming scarce. Hopefully it arrives today before the storm. Release made bread, fresh food is gone and we are into the canned goods again.
 
Bill saw the nurse at the clinic and got all but one of his prescriptions filled and got medication and attention for his head and eye allergy.  We now are at the yacht club having lunch and taking advantage of the free wifi here. 

On the road again

2-22-10  We are back in Little Farmer's Cay hanging on a mooring and will probably be here a few days waiting out the weather once again.  Yesterday we watered up the boat, checked out a wreck and swam on a beautiful beach across from the boat.  In the evening we took Release and Highheeled out for lobster at Ocean Cabin.  A birthday celebration for Francie and a thank you for all their assistance during our breakdown, and just for being our friends.  We are here at Ocean Cabin using the Internet and getting ice.  It looks like rain and it is blowing up, but it is still warm!

This is what it's all about!!

2-15-10 Here we are anchored off Leaf Cay again. We were going to Lee Stocking, but ran out of water before we found any anchorage. So we returned to Leaf Cay. Bill had his fishing line over the side on our trip from Emerald Bay, but the fishing is going the way of the crabbing (none). The day is beautiful but no wind so the sails were hauled and then lowered. We walked the beach on Emerald Cay this morning before we left and watched the flotilla of boats leave the marina and bounce out the chanel. Now I'm watching the boats come into this anchorage - 4 so far.




2-16-10 You would think by now that we would be ready to return home, or at least anxious to return to the mainland. However, we are now saying oh no, only 6 more weeks to go! The weeks have flown by since we have been in the islands. It's Sunday and then it's Saturday again. The weather has dictated a lot of our layovers. However, how bad can the weather be in the Bahamas. Today was the first rainy day we have had since I can't remember when. It did rain all day. We are still in anchor in Leaf Cay and throwing all food and paper overboard. Well, this AM I tried to empty the coffee grounds overboard and lost the pot basket and all. Darn it! Now I guess it's camp coffee. No going out and buying a new coffee pot. Since the weather was rain, we taped, sanded and varnished some of the interior teak trim. A day's job, but one that was rewarding. We will take the looky pail out tomorrow and see if we can find our coffee basket, and then perhaps someone who can dive the 15 plus or minus feet. The looky pail is a very useful pail with a see through bottom. Great way to check your anchor and coffee pot inners. I think since we didn't get to enjoy the surroundings today, we will stay on tomorrow. Bill wants to drift = snokel with the dinghy - hoping to see some conch along the reefs. Another cruiser, High Heeled, wants to have a gathering on the beach for food and drink. So goes our demanding lifestyle.



2-17-10 Here we are at Leaf Cay one more day, but our last. We must seek out ice for the ice box tomorrow. Last night we were invited to board the Nautilas for cocktails with three other boats, Release and High Heeled that are also here in the harbor. Sue and Oscar aboard the Nautilas are from PA. Oscar just got his US citizenship. He is from Germany. Yes, he had to hear abour our GSP Oskar. It was Sue's birthday as it turned out. So double celebration, citizenship and birthday. We had various h'ordvers and conch chowder. Yummy. Today, Bill sanded and varnished the companionway again. The interior is beginning to look nice again. The trip down and all the dampness had really started to show on the woodwork. For lunch, we took our hot dogs, pasta salad and anything else we could think of via dinghy to the other end of Norman Pond Cay for a beach cookout with three other boats. We found more conch and just enjoyed the warmth. The wind and seas were rough again last night - hard sleeping with the anchor banging and the wind howling. As we do our situps and pushups and stretches tonight, the sea and wind are calm. Thankfully, tomorrow will be the same for our voyage to Little Farmers Cay for provisions.



2-20-10 Yesterday proved to be eventful. We hauled anchor and motored north from Leaf Cay, but only got a short distance when we lost our rpms and smelled engine. We dropped anchor and shut the engine down. The nipple on the cold water intake had broken right off. We radioed Ken and Francie on Release and Jackie and Chris on High Heeled looking for parts and pieces that might work. Release turned around and towed us back to the anchorage off Leaf Cay - a safe place to assess the situation. High Heeled turned around and came back into the anchorage too. When Chris on High Heeled returned he snapped the key off in his windless. And it wasn't such a good morning for Release either as they were unable to start their engine earlier and had to jump it. Anyway, Ken and Bill tore into our engine while Chris worked on a new windless key. Ken was able to dig out the parts needed. However, the engine had taken in water. They dug deeper, pulled injectors, etc. and dried everything out. Still no go. We were talking towing back to Nassau for repairs when Chris appeared with his fashioned key and another set of eyes and ideas. He sprayed diesel fuel into the engine and after some hesitation and chugging IT STARTED!. 4 pm in the afternoon the cleanup and celebration started. Another reaffirmation that our trip is more than just cruising, it is making real friends. Snow Goose, Release and High Heeled will try to head out again tomorrow (but we aren't going to tell the boats are plan).

Back again

We came back to Emerald Bay Marina as it was going to blow hard yesterday, and it did!!!  We'll wait for the seas to calm down before we head out again.  We met Pat and Fred Manley here who helped prep us for this cruise.  We'll have cocktails aboard Moody tonight.  Laundry and shopping is done again and we took on water this morning.  Waiting now for the pumpout.  Then we are ready to hit the road again.  We can't believe it is the middle of February.  Only about six more weeks of this paradise to go.  Happy Valentine's Day!!!

coconuts and rum

2-10-10 We left Emerald Bay Marina yesterday morning. Before we left Ron and Paula Ledgett pulled into the marina. They had heard we were in the area and Paula mistook Francie for me for an instant. Anyway, they had their boat delivered to the islands and then they flew in. We hope to see them again as our visit with them was short and most of the talking was done as we handled lines leaving oujr slip. The seas were rolling again yesterday as we made our way North and entered Adderly Cut. We are anchored for protection from the westerlies off Leaf Cay with perhaps five other cruisers. We went exploring yesterday afternoon and found a small beautiful beach on the other side of Leaf Cay with pink iguanas everywhere. They came right down onto the beach to greet us. We swam at the beach among some sizeable fish and found a couple of lobsters tucked under the reef. We also took the dinghy over to Norman Pond Cay and the beaches there. We thought we might find more iguanas, but there were none on that cay. Today is very windy - perhaps the hardest blow we have had so far - so we are sticking close to the boat. Once the wind dies down, we hope to do some snokeling. Anyway, we need time on the boat to catch up with some work. It is amazing how much there is to do on 30 feet. I hope to attach some pictures of us having all too much fun with Francie and Ken in Emerald Bay Cay and of Georgetown.

Emerald Bay Cay

We rock and rolled in good sized seas into Emerald Bay Marina last Friday to sit out another weather system.  And so it keeps going, the weather that is.  Life is tough here, showers, beautiful facility, walking the beach and drinking coconut w/rum.  The cruisers got together last night for a Super  Bowl feast.  It was wonderful.  We are still on Great Exuma and will head north up the Exuma cays tomorrow to take in everything we missed on the way down.  We have the inside word now on the must see places.  I talked with Jim today to hear that Mom had a blood infection, hospitalized for a few days, but is back in the Gorham House now and doing fine.  However, Matt who in Alaska with Andrew, is scheduled to have heart surgery today.  Brenda has flown out to be with him.  Our thoughts are with him.   Love to all. 

Photos from the Holidays

2-3=10  I finally found a wifi cafe in George Town that has Internet up and working.  We enjoyed the comments!!!  It is a beautiful, warm day with little wind.  Thus the ride across the harbor in the dinghy was relatively dry.  Yeah!  Yes, we have come to living in our bathing suits and relaxing in the island life.  We can't believe it is February!!  Love to all our followers and thanks for caring. 

1-23-09 This morning we hauled anchor from Black Point on Great Giuana Cay, Exuma, and sailed to Little Farmers Cay. I say sail, but even though we pulled the main sail the wind diminished and we ended up motoring. Shallow water, but we were the test boat for the big guys who followed us in as they draw more water than we do. We took the dinghy to some of the beaches that surround us. They are just beautiful. We are back in the sandstone area. We swam and cooled off. The tracks we saw in the sand look like pig or goats are on the island, but we never did see one. We then went into the government pier. Fishermen were cleaning their catch. We met other boaters and did happy hour with them. There are many,many Canadiens cruising. Maybe the dollar value??? The story is old, but once again there is a weather system that will keep us here, rocking and rolling, for a couple of days. We are watching the anchor for any drag. Sleep is difficult the last few days. However, if you have to be stalled, let it be in the Bahamas, Exuimas. It is warm and the people are wonderful and the water is to die for.




1-25-10 Yesterday we couldn't leave the boat for the wind and sea. This morning is a repeat although we understand this is to be the last day of this system. Sleep isn't easy with this rock and roll. Bill changed some filters and did some other engine maintenance yesterday and worked on the bright work. I waxed the cockpit and cleaned it up and polished the chrome. Water is premium so the boat hasn't been washed since the mainland. It is starting to look it. However, we have to do what we can to maintain our traditional image. We are starting to dig into our backup provisions now - canned goods, boxed milk, rice, etc. I am hoping to be able to reprovision in George Town. We are also running out of cash. There have been no banks since Nassau. George Town does have a bank. You can't live with a credit card on these islands. Signs posted read: Mr./Mrs. Credit have died. As I write, the wind is starting to calm and a few dinghies with dogs are headed into the mainland. We'll go in today for water and ice and to tour the island. I am sure weather permitting tomorrow we head for George Town.



1-27-10 Yesterday when we got up in the morning we listened to the VHF Bahama weather lwith Chris Parker. It predicted the only day in the next week to sail was yesterday. So we started out of Little Farmers Cay Cut and were followed by a flotilla (yes, we are the smaller boat with the lesser draw) of six other boats behind us. The wind was good but the seas were high, following seas, so we just pulled the jib and headed for George Town. We need cash, water and provisions. We stayed in contact with the other cruisers and pulled into anchorage under the monument. I have no idea what the monument is, but we'll investigate. Today, we ran out of water in the AM and took the dinghy and water cans into George Town. The water was free at the Exuma Markets pier so we filled up 28 gallons of containers (some borrowered from Release) and headed for the Snow Goose. Well, the winds are still blowing at 20 plus or minus. The gas that we purchased at Staniel had water in it. The outboard lasted about one-third our trip back to the Snow Goose and then quit. A French couple gave us a tow back into the "pond" at George Town. We got the outboard going again and started out with our water supply to the Snow Goose. We again made it about one third the way when the motor quit again. Now, if I have forgotten to mention, the winds going into George Town are blowing the sea in a favorable direction. However, going back to the Snow Goose anchorage, not so good. We are now wet from top to bottom and factor in the wind really Cold. Now we have to row back into George Town, Barb first up but Bill taking over to get rid of his by then ill temper. We decide we need to get rid of water in the gas. So we ride around and around the "pond"" in George Town until we use up all the gas in the outboard, many, many times. Then we walk to the Esso station with the gas can. The owner has Bill dump all but the very bottom of the can into his Dodge pickup and the rest into a dumpster (so much of fuel recycling) Then we buy a container of dry gas and fill up the gas can, emply it into the outboard and head out once again. By now we are both very wet and have been for a number of hours. We make it across to the Snow Goose!!! We fill our water tanks from the six containers we have carried over, change clothes, wash off the salt water and collapse until happy hour at the beach in front of our anchorage. We go over, meet a lot of fellow cruisers. However, the happy hour turns out to be no rum, no cups and no $1 bills, and no hamburgers. We will try to provision up tomorrow.



1-30-10 We have taken the nature trail hike on Stocking Cay where we are anchored. Stocking Cay is the island across from Great Exuma and George Town. We are anchored under the monument and we wanted to hike up to the monument. The nature trail was a surprise. The trail was labeled with the various trees and bushes and wildlife. There were water containers to fill the bird baths along the way. And on the other side of Stocking Cay was the most beautiful beach. It is still very windy, so we can't snokel yet, but we will come back to do just that. We continued our hike up to the monument which is a way point for sailors. The view is truly incredible. The colors of the ocean range from sage to green to a blue green and then a navy blue. Because the water is shallow, you can see the reefs and where they drop off. We had to do laundry today, so we once again braved it into George Town against the wind raged seas. It is about three miles by dinghy. We have now solved our water in the gas problem though - even bought a new gas can with a better spout. So our trip was uneventful albeit wet (we wore our foul weather gear across and Barb has learned to stand up and hold onto the bow line). Laundry was found and done. Water and power is expensive so laundry is expensive, but you can only go so long with salt washed clothing. We did find a store that sells beer at $1.75 a bottle and a restaurant that had Red Snapper a salad and Kalik at a vey reasonable price. That was lunch. George Town is a settlement where many cruisers come and stay all winter, and thus they have developed this social network. Bill and I have decided it is more like a trailer park - not for us. We want to travel back down the Exumas toward Nassau and take in what we missed on our way down to George Town. The beyond is very shallow unless you intend to go to the Dominican Republic, and we have still too much to see here. Again, with Renee's expertise, and Internet availability I will try to post some pictures of George Town. Yesterday we came across a Bahamian cracking a coconut; cutting up a Grouper; and opening up Conch; all of which they had just brought into government dock. So wonderful to meet the people.



2-3-10 The last few days we have spent exploring the islands and trails, laying around and being beach bums. Yesterday we were invited for a sail on the Release. It was fun not to have a time-destination deadline and just sail around the harbor. There is a storm system headed our way, so tomorrow we will haul the anchor and head for shelter from the northerly winds in Red Shank Cay - not very far from here. I again today am going to try to get WiFi.