crossing and making our way to Marsh Harbor

March 23, 2012

This morning was leisurely. We had breakfast on the dock with John and Carolyn and discussed the details about when to cross and left the dock about 10:00 AM.  It was a good decision not to try to go all the way to Lake Worth yesterday because we had to have to have 5 bridges open for us between Jupiter and Lake Worth.  Some open on the hour others opened on the quarter hour.  The trip he got even with Lake Worth, so we did not know exactly where to anchor.  While looking around at what we thought was the anchorage, we “PARKED” our boat to enjoy some of the activities around Peanut Island. You will also see some of the entertainment on the second video.  We told John and Carolyn to go on to the anchorage and we will be there right after high tide. We were to leave at sunset.  I think George and I talked Carolyn and John into leaving that early because no one was going to sleep until 2:00 AM and then get up and be awake when we left. As it turned out the anchorage was crowded and I don’t think we would have slept at all. The truth was George and I hate to pull anchor in the dark. 

                                        

The first time you do anything is always the most memorable.  Last year was my first crossing and it was magical.  I had expected this one might not be as special as last year.  I was little more uneasy about this crossing.  We had a buddy boat and even thought that is always wise, I felt a little more pressure to go just the right speed or stay just the right distance from them.  As I took my watch I again got adjusted to the night and our buddy boat just off our bow and on our starboard side.  The night was lit by just a crescent moon and all the stars.  The American flag was still flowing in the wind and our stern light gave it the spotlight.  There was not school of dolphin to usher us out like last year.  My first watch started at 11:00 PM and would end at 1:00 AM, by 1:00 I was again enjoying the night and let George sleep until 2:00.  Unlike last year I slept when I was not at the helm.  I went off at 2:00 and George, feeling rested let me sleep until 6:00 AM.  I took over just in time to say goodbye to the night and brilliant stars and hello the beautiful sunrise over the Grand Bahama Island. 

Sunrise over West End Bahamas

Saturday March 24, 2012

We docked at the fuel dock at West End and checked in with Clarence our old friend at the customs office. He granted us 90 days in the Bahamas. After refueling and clearing customs we moved Celebration in her slip at Old Bahama Bay Marina for the night. John and Carolyn had not slept.  They both stayed up as they crossed.  We realized then why they wanted to cross at 2:00 AM not at sunset.  We enjoyed a great breakfast at the Bar and Grill on the Beach.  George wanted to get his Bahamas phone working so he wanted to buy his simm card but the office was closed on Saturday.  It just happened that some one was coming in from Freeport and the Marina office called them to ask if they would bring a simm card for George and a phone for John.  The Bahamian people are some of the most accommodating people.  They are also very happy people. 

            After we received the phone and card, we went for a bike ride.  We went to a little grill in the village and had a lobster burger.  When we were riding back we stopped to buy some lobsters from a person who was just pulling out of the water with his catch.  Down the road we also stopped to buy some Conch.  The guy diving for the conch told us to be careful it was very slick and to watch our step.  George and Carolyn were down near the boat so to get a better picture of the conch I walked down.  When I did, the boat ramp met my backside.  Being the great blogger that I am and wanting to capture all action, not only did I fall gracefully but I took a picture on the way down. 

Yes taking pictures of all the action, including the fall.

Buying some lobsters

Sunday, March 25, 2012

On Sunday morning we were suppose to leave at 8:00.  George and I used our iphones now only as alarm clocks and to play games.  So we set our alarm and got up when it when off. John and Carolyn knocked on our boat as we were just finishing up breakfast.  We talked about the time to leave and realized it was an hour later than we thought. When we asked someone on the dock to help with the lines he asked where we were going.  We told him Great Sale Cay.  Jimmy ( pronounced Himmy as he was Spanish)  said he was going there too but was waiting till high tide.  He was going through Indian Cay channel.  George has always gone through Indian Cay Channel; but had decided not to go that way again because it is always as George puts it a “White knuckle ride” because of the skinny water. We were going instead to Memory Rock. This route was 3 hours longer but no worries of skinny waters. After talking to Jimmie, to go through Indian Cay at high tide Jimmy was a Sunday Morning God sent blessing.  The winds stayed up to 20 -23 knots all day. It would have been pretty rough ride for three hours but instead, we only had rough seas getting out of the West end inlet.  We had a great day and a great sail all the way to Great Sail Cay.  We were knowledgeable of a thunder storm heading our way, thank to our latest purchase XM weather service. We just did get anchored and covered our sails before it hit.  It blew about 30 to 33 knots for a few hours and then settled down for a good nights sleep.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Monday we spent the day at anchor resting.  Lunch was on Celebration and Dinner was on Indulgence.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

On Tuesday we weighed the anchor about 7:00 AM.  We decided to go to Powell Cay instead of Allen Pensacola so we could arrive at Green Turtle Cay at high tide.  The wind was on our nose which gave us a lot of spray.  There were salt crystals on every part of Celebration.  I felt that I had been dipped in a salt bath myself.  We got to Powell about 5:00.  Our refrigeration problems are still with us.  We had to borrow back the generator from Indulgence.  We had hamburgers, roasted peppers and potato salad on Indulgence.  I made the slaw.  Yes we eat well.  All were tired and we were looking forward to going to the docks at Green Turtle Cay.  You have to realize that when you go to the other boat, you must first let down your dingy, then let down the motor, and when you return do the revise.  It is all in an evening activity.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

On Wednesday we waited to pull anchor at about 9:00AM.  We called the Marina at Green Turtle Cay and found out that high tide was at 1:00.  We have to go in right before high tide because if you go aground you want to be on the raising tide.  We made it in and even docked ourselves with no help from the dock hand. I was pretty proud of that!  After we docked we walked down to the Pineapple’s restaurant and had some conch fritters and a George had a conch burger.  I introduced Carolyn to a Goom Bay Smash and George introduced John to a Klick Gold.  We then went for a walk in the village called New Providence.  It was a very modest little village where every one speaks.  The children go to school at 8:00 and get out of school at 3:00.  The children will speak but are very reserved and respectful.  They will only speak to you if you ask them a question.  They run about the village with seemingly very little care.  There is a lot of history here.  The loyalists to the Crown left American and settled in this area.

On Thursday March the 29 we listened to the Cruiser’s net. The cruiser’s net is a weather report that cruisers listen to.  It gives local conditions and reports from people who are actually going through the waters.  We heard last night and this a.m. that the whale Cay pass was flat.  This is good new because it can be very rough and treacherous. Therefore, we planned to leave at high tide. After that we went into the village to eat breakfast.  We walked to four different restaurants and all were closed, don’t know why that is just the way it is in the Bahamas.  One sign said closed on Wednesday but we will see you Thursday but they werThursday.  We finally found a place to eat.  It was a café and liquor store.  Yes I ate breakfast in a liquor store.  It was quite good.  We left Green Turtle Cay about 12, at high tide.  Great undocking!  I watched for skinny water as we left the docks. George and I did not say a word to each other until we were in deeper waters.  It was only a four hour sail from Green Turtle to Marsh Harbor.  We made it to Marsh Harbor about 4:00.  We of course, went to Curly Tails for a celebratory drink and then to Mangoes for dinner.  On the way to Mangoes there were some children asking for money for a school trip.  We asked where they were going and they said Orlando.  Their faces lit up with such excitement when they talked about going to Disney World.  We of course contributed to the trip.

Knee high in the water some where near marsh Harbor

George and Freida