Christmas in Marsh Harbour, Abaco

December 18, 2014

Well, this year we have made it to where we had hoped to spend Christmas - Marsh Harbour in the Abacos.  The biggest reason that this was our target destination this year was so that we could spend Christmas with our Grace Baptist Church family in Dundas Town.

The transit weather was great, as opposed to last year where we spent two weeks in Bimini and almost a week in West End traveling from Miami to Marsh Harbour.  This year we made the trip in less than a week with a 3-night stop in West End.  Great weather window!

We are docked at Harbour View Marina where we plan to stay at least a few weeks.

Time to take the fids off the coffee pot and tea kettle!

We have put up our Christmas decorations; we have a small wreath, instead of a tree.  When we were selling our house we gathered a small collection of ornaments to bring on the boat.  The criteria for selection were: small, relatively unbreakable, and of sentimental value.  In spite of a water dousing courtesy of a leaking water heater a few years ago, they have held up fairly well.  Our 25+ year music-box ornament still plays 'Silent Night'!

'Sled-bear' sliding down our cabin wall

Always remembering the true meaning of Christmas:

Wishing all a blessed Christmas from the crew of SV Barefoot!


Tom & Joyce
Docked Marsh Harbour, Abaco

Arrival West End, Grand Bahama

December 12, 2014

We have arrived in the Bahamas after crossing the Gulf Stream from Miami.

As planned, we departed Coconut Grove at 1430 on Thursday (12/11).  We like to leave so we can exit Biscayne Bay and start to get away from the coast before it gets dark.  After transiting across Biscayne Bay and out the Biscayne Bay Channel, we set a current sailing course for West End on Grand Bahama.  Because of the strong Gulf Stream (up to 3 knots) you must allow for the current in your course, essentially aiming somewhat 'upstream'.  There are calculations that help to determine your best course, but in the end it is always a bit of trial and error.

Wind was light and variable, so this was primarily a motoring trip. This was not a particularly fast crossing, but we were taking off speed for almost half of the trip to delay our arrival until after the marina opened and we still arrived too early. The wind picked up a bit about 10 miles from West End, but at that point we were really trying to slow up so as not get to the Old Bahama Bay Marina too early.

We still arrived at 0830 on Friday before any dock staff were on duty.  We temporarily docked on the seawall to await the opening of the marina and customs.  This docking was probably the most exciting part of the trip with a moderate wind blowing off the dock. With no assistance from the dock to handle lines, this is a relatively difficult maneuver, but after a couple unsuccessful attempts to get a line around a piling we finally snagged one.  Luckily, we had plenty of room.

After clearing customs and immigration, we moved to our slip.  Catching up on sleep and cleaning the boat after a month of Miami birds topped the activities list.

On Monday or Tuesday we will continue on to Great Sale Cay and then Green Turtle Cay, where we will spend some time.  We had planned to be in Marsh Harbour by Christmas, but it seems we rarely spend holidays where we thought we would.  We may or may not make it - that is the cruising life - you can sail or you can have schedule,but you can't have both!

Tom
Docked Old Bahama Bay
West End, Grand Bahama

Farewell Miami - Hello Bahamas!

December 11, 2014

It is with mixed emotions that we plan to leave Miami shortly and transit to the Bahamas.

It is with some sadness that we prepare to leave Miami.  We have been here for a little over a month, and have had a great time.  Miami is a vibrant and interesting city that we have grown to like very much.

When people imagine cruising on a sailboat, they naturally think about tropical islands and deserted white sand beaches - and certainly that is something that we experience in  the Bahamas.  But another aspect of cruising can be immersing in a city like Miami for an extended period of time - maybe call it 'urban-cruising'.   Seeing the sites yes, but doing everyday things like shopping, doing laundry, and riding mass-transit also makes you feel like a real part of the city.

Goodbye Miami -  we will be back!

But it is with gladness that we think about transiting to the beautiful Bahamian islands and seeing our many Bahamian friends.

Whether in Miami or the Bahamas, meeting people from other cultures is what makes travel special.  As we meet, spend time with, and get to know 'them' -  they magically become 'us'.

In the 'nuts and bolts' category - we plan to leave Coconut Grove on Thursday afternoon around 3 PM and transit the Gulf Stream to West End, Grand Bahama overnight.  This allows a daylight departure from Biscayne Bay and a Friday morning arrival at Old Bahama Bay Marina in West End.  Any Gulf Stream crossing must be taken  very seriously with the strong current and large amount of commercial traffic.  We will post some location updates while underway and another blog entry after arrival.

Tom
Moored Coconut Grove

Great Pizza - 'Visa-O1' in Miami Beach

December 8, 2014

Ice cream and pizza are two things we crave when we are in the Bahamas.  We find lots of good ice cream and gelato as soon as we return to the States, but good pizza is more illusive.  No longer...we've found a great pizza restaurant and coffee shop in Miami Beach, Visa-O1.  The chef, Renato, is in the US on an O1 visa, which are reserved for individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement.  Renato has won many pizza competitions in Italy, and now we can enjoy his masterpieces here in Miami.  The crust is very thin, with a wonderful sauce and just the right seasonings.  And, his pastries are to die for, especially the Nutella croissants.

All Photo Credits TripAdvisor

Visa-O1 is not the easiest restaurant to find, being tucked in a back corner of the first floor of an office building.  In fact, the first time we went there, we had to ask the guard if there really was a pizza place in the building.  But, this is the way Renato likes it.  The hidden location and homey atmosphere make it special.

The entrance of the 1680 Michigan Ave building

Visa-O1 has been open 6 weeks and currently has 74 Trip Advisor reviews, 72 being the highest ranking (excellent) and the other two being very good, putting them number 1 of over 700 restaurants in Miami Beach.  Since we discovered it two weeks ago, we've visited three times, even though it's a 1/2 hour drive from Coconut Grove,  Today we took public transportation, a trip of 1-1/2 to 2 hours each way, which required two different buses, the Metrorail and the Metromover.  But, it was worth it! 

Renato in his native Italy

And, Miami Beach is always interesting, with a mix of model thin young people in high fashion and tourists speaking almost any language but English.  People watching becomes a favorite pass time.


Joyce
Moored Miami (Coconut Grove)