Coconut Grove and off to the Bahamas

December 8, 2012

We have been moored at Coconut Grove Sailing Club for almost two weeks. We plan to cross the Gulf Stream tomorrow to Bimini in the Bahamas.

Our stay in Miami featured a visit to cousins Corrine and Matt who have remodeled a house in Coconut Grove built in 1938.  They have done a wonderful job and the house looks great.  Matt is continuing to landscape utilizing primarily native plants - definitely a great way to go. 

We also drove back to Bradenton with a rental car to attend dock neighbors Rick and Susan's wedding.  The wedding was at a wonderful bed and breakfast in Palmetto across the Manatee River from Twin Dolphin Marina. It was great to attend the wedding and see many of our friends from the marina.  Best wishes for a blessed marriage Rick and Susan!

We continue to enjoy Coconut Grove and Miami.  We are not city-people, and the first time we came here we thought we would 'endure' our stay. But we have been greatly surprised that we really enjoy Miami.  It is a very Latin city with great food, a vibrant vibe, and lots to do.   Public transportation makes it relatively easy to get around. 

Our current plan is to cross to Bimini in the Bahamas tomorrow.  The weather looks fairly settled with winds from the SSE.  It probably will be a motoring/motor-sailing crossing, but that is difficult to avoid on an eastbound crossing.  One unknown is the length of the cruising permit that we will receive from Bahamian Customs. We would like a 6 month permit, but it up to the discretion of the officer and many people have rather arbitrarily been receiving 60-90 day permits.  They can be renewed, but the process is somewhat of a hassle so we are asking and hoping for longer.

From Bimini we will look for an another window to make further easting across the Bahamas Bank and to the Exuma Islands.  First stop will probably be Highborne Cay.

Tom
Coconut Grove Sailing Club
Miami, FL
Map - Cruise 2012-13