December 31, 2015
Left Marathon this morning.
Currently underway up the Hawk Channel towards Miami.
Underway decision today to keep going across the stream to West End, Grand Bahama overnight rather than wait until tomorrow; Should arrive there around 1400 1/1.
Periodic position updates here on the blog.
Happy New Year!!!
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Marco Island
December 22, 2015
We have been docked at Rose Marina in Marco Island for a little over three weeks - longer than we usually stay here. The length of our stay was based on a few personal matters that we needed to deal with and some strong weather.
We arrived in early December expecting to stay for at least a few weeks and got a great deal on dockage for a month making the length of our stay flexible.
Typically Marco is a quick stop for us where we get provisions, fuel, etc. and continue on our way. It is easy to run out of things to do within walking distance of the marina in this upscale community, so we splurged on a rental car for most of our stay. It has really made this a fun stop!
We caught a few movies - most importantly (to me anyway), 'Mockingjay - Part 2'.
The burrowing owls are still living near the marina in the middle of all these big houses They are so cute!:
We went to two Collier County museums - most interesting was the 'Pioneer Museum' (Roberts Ranch) in Immokolee http://www.colliermuseums.com/locations/immokalee_pioneer_museum. This is a well preserved cattle ranch dating back well over 100 years ago. Many people do not realize the importance of the cattle industry in Florida, both in the past and today. Drive up through the center of the state and you will be amazed by all the cattle.
We went to a high school basketball game (boys and girls) between Marco Island Academy and Everglades City. Neither team had great records, but were evenly matched. Everglades City won hard fought games in both the boys and girls contests. Everglades has about 160 students in total in grades K-12, so they are a very small school. They had no cheerleaders (compared to Marco's 15), but the girl's team formed a great cheer section for the boys game - they were a blast to watch - they had so much fun. We rooted for the 'country kids' from Everglades City where we have visited for over 25 years.
We also decided to make a trip north to Orlando for the 'Florida Sunshine Classic' women's basket ball tournament where the Miami Hurricanes were playing. In the first game on Saturday the 23rd-ranked Hurricanes faced 4th-ranked Baylor. It was a great game with the lead going back and forth for most of the game; unfortunately Baylor's superior height prevailed in the fourth quarter as they won 88-81. Miami played great and we were very proud of them!
On Sunday, Miami faced Indiana in a tough match, winning 89 -75. In the beginning of the game we were afraid that the Baylor game the night before had taken too much out of Miami (it was Indiana's first game of the tournament) but the gritty Hurricane's prevailed!
While in Orlando, we went to see Wakiwa Springs (https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Wekiwa-Springs) - one of the many natural springs in Florida. In all the years we have been coming to Florida, we have never seen a spring - most are in northern Florida. I didn't know quite what to expect, but the outflow from the spring was impressive! Near the spring, you could see big 'boils' of water coming to the surface; if you look closely to the following picture, you may be able to see them in the foreground.
We hope to leave Marco right after Christmas and make our way quickly to the Bahamas (Abaco).
Tom
Docked Rose Marina
Marco Island, FL
We have been docked at Rose Marina in Marco Island for a little over three weeks - longer than we usually stay here. The length of our stay was based on a few personal matters that we needed to deal with and some strong weather.
We arrived in early December expecting to stay for at least a few weeks and got a great deal on dockage for a month making the length of our stay flexible.
Typically Marco is a quick stop for us where we get provisions, fuel, etc. and continue on our way. It is easy to run out of things to do within walking distance of the marina in this upscale community, so we splurged on a rental car for most of our stay. It has really made this a fun stop!
We caught a few movies - most importantly (to me anyway), 'Mockingjay - Part 2'.
 |
| Go Katniss Everdeen! |
The burrowing owls are still living near the marina in the middle of all these big houses They are so cute!:
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| Picture from 2013 |
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| Peek-a-boo - Grass is higher this year |
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| What'chu talkin' 'bout, Willis? |
We went to two Collier County museums - most interesting was the 'Pioneer Museum' (Roberts Ranch) in Immokolee http://www.colliermuseums.com/locations/immokalee_pioneer_museum. This is a well preserved cattle ranch dating back well over 100 years ago. Many people do not realize the importance of the cattle industry in Florida, both in the past and today. Drive up through the center of the state and you will be amazed by all the cattle.
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| Main Museum - Formerly the church on the ranch |
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| Bunk House - available without charge to cattleman driving herds through the area. |
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| Florida cattle |
We went to a high school basketball game (boys and girls) between Marco Island Academy and Everglades City. Neither team had great records, but were evenly matched. Everglades City won hard fought games in both the boys and girls contests. Everglades has about 160 students in total in grades K-12, so they are a very small school. They had no cheerleaders (compared to Marco's 15), but the girl's team formed a great cheer section for the boys game - they were a blast to watch - they had so much fun. We rooted for the 'country kids' from Everglades City where we have visited for over 25 years.
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| Both games were very physical with a lot of 'floor-rash' |
We also decided to make a trip north to Orlando for the 'Florida Sunshine Classic' women's basket ball tournament where the Miami Hurricanes were playing. In the first game on Saturday the 23rd-ranked Hurricanes faced 4th-ranked Baylor. It was a great game with the lead going back and forth for most of the game; unfortunately Baylor's superior height prevailed in the fourth quarter as they won 88-81. Miami played great and we were very proud of them!
 |
| Coach Meier leading her team to a near upset over 4th-ranked Baylor |
On Sunday, Miami faced Indiana in a tough match, winning 89 -75. In the beginning of the game we were afraid that the Baylor game the night before had taken too much out of Miami (it was Indiana's first game of the tournament) but the gritty Hurricane's prevailed!
While in Orlando, we went to see Wakiwa Springs (https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Wekiwa-Springs) - one of the many natural springs in Florida. In all the years we have been coming to Florida, we have never seen a spring - most are in northern Florida. I didn't know quite what to expect, but the outflow from the spring was impressive! Near the spring, you could see big 'boils' of water coming to the surface; if you look closely to the following picture, you may be able to see them in the foreground.
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| The constant 72 degree crystal-clear water makes great Florida swimming in the Summer - not when we were there :-) |
We hope to leave Marco right after Christmas and make our way quickly to the Bahamas (Abaco).
Tom
Docked Rose Marina
Marco Island, FL
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Christmas 2015
December 8, 2015
We are at Marco Island and have just put up our Christmas decorations.
When we moved on to the boat, we selected a group of Christmas decorations that met three criteria: they were memorable or significant to us personally; they were small; they were relatively sturdy. Well, all our decorations have survived to see their fifth Christmas on boat, in spite of a 'bath' courtesy of a leaking water heater.
Christmas on boat always changes and always stays the same....
It always changes because we have been in four different places for Christmases past and we don't really know where we will be this year. Year 1 was a delightful time at Everglades Community Church in Everglades City. Year 2 was in isolated Shroud Cay in northern Exuma. Year 3 was in Bimini where we attended a tree-lighting ceremony that featured great speakers and singers that focused on the real meaning of the season and ended with a Junkanoo 'Rush-out'. Year 4 was in Marsh Harbour in Abaco with our family at Grace Baptist Church. This year we would like to be back in Marsh Harbour for Christmas, but the weather will make that call.
It always stays the same because of our focus on the true meaning of Christmas (and our precious collection of decorations that bring back so many memories).
One of our favorite non-traditonal Christmas carols is "Let It Be Christmas" by Alan Jackson. We think it should be a 'classic'. Listen on the following YouTube video (not responsible for the ad that may precede the video - you can skip it after a few seconds):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4YBHZ5Y7ZI
Have a blessed Christmas!
Tom & Joyce
Docked Rose Marina
Marco Island, FL
We are at Marco Island and have just put up our Christmas decorations.
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| Our Christmas Wreath (no room for a tree) |
When we moved on to the boat, we selected a group of Christmas decorations that met three criteria: they were memorable or significant to us personally; they were small; they were relatively sturdy. Well, all our decorations have survived to see their fifth Christmas on boat, in spite of a 'bath' courtesy of a leaking water heater.
Christmas on boat always changes and always stays the same....
It always changes because we have been in four different places for Christmases past and we don't really know where we will be this year. Year 1 was a delightful time at Everglades Community Church in Everglades City. Year 2 was in isolated Shroud Cay in northern Exuma. Year 3 was in Bimini where we attended a tree-lighting ceremony that featured great speakers and singers that focused on the real meaning of the season and ended with a Junkanoo 'Rush-out'. Year 4 was in Marsh Harbour in Abaco with our family at Grace Baptist Church. This year we would like to be back in Marsh Harbour for Christmas, but the weather will make that call.
It always stays the same because of our focus on the true meaning of Christmas (and our precious collection of decorations that bring back so many memories).
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| 'Sled-bear' |
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| 'Jingle-bear' |
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| A handmade ornament that always reminds us of a certain Christmas with family |
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| A 25+ year old music box ornament that still plays (sort-of) |
One of our favorite non-traditonal Christmas carols is "Let It Be Christmas" by Alan Jackson. We think it should be a 'classic'. Listen on the following YouTube video (not responsible for the ad that may precede the video - you can skip it after a few seconds):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4YBHZ5Y7ZI
Have a blessed Christmas!
Tom & Joyce
Docked Rose Marina
Marco Island, FL
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Waiting for a Cold Front with 500+ Friends
November 22, 2015
We are in Pelican Bay on Cayo Costa awaiting arrival of a moderate cold front; there are at least 500 White Pelicans here doing the same thing.
Last week we saw small groups passing through, but in the last two days a tremendous number of them have been congregating. How do they know bad weather is coming? Amazing birds!
Following are a few pictures:
Unfortunately the pictures are just cellphone quality. Moral of the story, even though you don't use you 'good' camera much anymore - keep it charged :-)
Tom
Anchored 'Back Bay'
Pelican Bay, Cayo Costa
We are in Pelican Bay on Cayo Costa awaiting arrival of a moderate cold front; there are at least 500 White Pelicans here doing the same thing.
Last week we saw small groups passing through, but in the last two days a tremendous number of them have been congregating. How do they know bad weather is coming? Amazing birds!
Following are a few pictures:
Unfortunately the pictures are just cellphone quality. Moral of the story, even though you don't use you 'good' camera much anymore - keep it charged :-)
Tom
Anchored 'Back Bay'
Pelican Bay, Cayo Costa
Monday, November 16, 2015
Manatees, Crocodiles and White Pelicans - Oh My!
November 16, 2015
Today we spent a couple hours in the Pelican Bay 'Lagoon' with the manatees.
Although they are hard to count, we would estimate that there are still 8-10 manatees here including what appears to be a mom with a calf/calves. At least we see a larger manatee with two juveniles swimming by her side. Twin births are very rare, but not unheard of in manatees.
A few manatee pictures follow (disclaimer - these photos were taken a few years ago at Burnt Store Marina - just my cellphone today and no great photo ops):
Now to crocodiles. We have heard stories about a crocodile in the Pelican Bay area for years and have dismissed it as lore. American crocodiles are very rare - with only about 2000 in south Florida, most south of here.
But today we saw what we think was a 8-10' crocodile in the lagoon. Although it is hard to tell them apart from alligators, based on the fact that he was in quite salty water (alligators do not like salt water) and the profile of his snout, we believe it was in fact a crocodile!
Although it has some quality resemblance to pictures of the Loch Ness monster or Bigfoot :-) , following is a cellphone picture of our sighting:
We have also seen a few flocks of white pelicans. These amazing birds migrate over 2000 miles from the upper United States and Canada to Central America and back each year.
Tom
Anchored Pelican Bay
Cayo Costa
Today we spent a couple hours in the Pelican Bay 'Lagoon' with the manatees.
Although they are hard to count, we would estimate that there are still 8-10 manatees here including what appears to be a mom with a calf/calves. At least we see a larger manatee with two juveniles swimming by her side. Twin births are very rare, but not unheard of in manatees.
A few manatee pictures follow (disclaimer - these photos were taken a few years ago at Burnt Store Marina - just my cellphone today and no great photo ops):
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| Body with propeller scar |
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| A Snout |
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| A Fluke |
Now to crocodiles. We have heard stories about a crocodile in the Pelican Bay area for years and have dismissed it as lore. American crocodiles are very rare - with only about 2000 in south Florida, most south of here.
But today we saw what we think was a 8-10' crocodile in the lagoon. Although it is hard to tell them apart from alligators, based on the fact that he was in quite salty water (alligators do not like salt water) and the profile of his snout, we believe it was in fact a crocodile!
Although it has some quality resemblance to pictures of the Loch Ness monster or Bigfoot :-) , following is a cellphone picture of our sighting:
We have also seen a few flocks of white pelicans. These amazing birds migrate over 2000 miles from the upper United States and Canada to Central America and back each year.
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| White Pelican in flight |
Tom
Anchored Pelican Bay
Cayo Costa
Saturday, November 14, 2015
2015-16 Cruise Begins
November 14, 2015
Our 2015-16 cruise has begun. We are currently anchored in Pelican Bay on Cayo Costa Island on the west coast of Florida.
We left Twin Dolphin Marina in Bradenton, FL midday on Thursday (11/12) and made the short 4- mile trip down the Manatee River to anchor at Emerson Point and stage for a '0-dark-thirty' departure down the coast the next morning.
We raised anchor and headed out of the Manatee River at 3 AM on Friday (11/13). Winding out through the narrow shoal-lined channel to Tampa Bay in the dark is always challenging; the New Moon that night (pitch black) made it more challenging than average.
In spite of lighted aids to navigation and modern chart-plotters, staying in the channel and avoiding unlit markers is still demanding. The Coast Guard threw two curve-balls this year:
Crab pots become the major danger traveling on a dark night like this. Luckily we had a favorable moderate (8-12 knots) wind that allowed us to sail through the night hours, reducing the potential of getting caught in a trap line. Overall, it was a great sail for about 6 hours and then a good motor-sail for another 3 as we transited down the west coast of Florida.
Entering Boca Grande channel on an incoming current and into Pelican Bay on Cayo Costa Island at around 4 PM on Friday was uneventful. Total distance traveled of 72 nautical miles in 13 hours.
We have been cruising in the Cayo Costa area for almost 25 years and feel like it is our boating 'home'. Last year we did not stop here on our way to the Bahamas, but this year we plan to spend 2+ weeks in the area.
After leaving the west coast of Florida sometime in early December, we plan to transit fairly directly to the Bahamas, arriving in Marsh Harbour, Abaco before Christmas.
The summer featured the usual mix of boat work and pleasure. The previous blog entry (Summer 2015) details some of the pleasure.
In addition to typical boat maintenance, a few boat projects this summer are notable.
We replaced our galley stove. After 20 years of faithful service our Seward Princess propane stove was starting to show its age. Several years ago, I was lucky to find a rebuilt replacement for the mercury valve that controls gas flow to the stove. This winter the 'igniter' stopped working and I was not able to find a replacement part.
In researching the replacement, we were somewhat shocked to find that they were no longer making the Seaward propane stoves. Interestingly, they still make electric and gas range-tops, but have discontinued the gimballed stove (liability issues perhaps?). We were able to locate a stove in inventory and ordered it while in the Bahamas and had it installed upon our return to Bradenton last Spring.
After some debate, we ordered the model with a one-piece grate (as opposed to the traditional individual grates). As a note to other boaters facing a similar purchase, we probably would get the individual grates if we were to repeat the purchase. While as anticipated, it makes 'pan management' much easier, but makes cleaning the stove-top harder (you have to always remove the grate).
And as any offshore sailor knows, your gimballed stove is your lifeline to hot food and drinks underway and the ONLY place you can set something down with a reasonable expectation it will stay where you put it without spilling. What we just realized on our recent trip down the coast is that the one-piece grate is not as stable for this purpose.
Another notable project was a factory rebuild of our water-maker. Our product quality had declined last winter. We thought we would just get a new membrane, but a factory rebuild was recommended. The factory reported that our high-pressure pump cylinder was scored due to some particles that evaded the extensive filtration system. I have been cleaning our fine-filters and reusing them several times; this may be penny-wise and pound foolish.
A cold-front came through here the night of our arrival, producing brisk winds today and a day on-boat, but it is great to be back in Pelican Bay. We just saw a small flock of White Pelicans - yeehaw!
Tom
Anchored Pelican Bay
Cayo Costa
Our 2015-16 cruise has begun. We are currently anchored in Pelican Bay on Cayo Costa Island on the west coast of Florida.
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| Pelican Bay Sunset |
We left Twin Dolphin Marina in Bradenton, FL midday on Thursday (11/12) and made the short 4- mile trip down the Manatee River to anchor at Emerson Point and stage for a '0-dark-thirty' departure down the coast the next morning.
We raised anchor and headed out of the Manatee River at 3 AM on Friday (11/13). Winding out through the narrow shoal-lined channel to Tampa Bay in the dark is always challenging; the New Moon that night (pitch black) made it more challenging than average.
In spite of lighted aids to navigation and modern chart-plotters, staying in the channel and avoiding unlit markers is still demanding. The Coast Guard threw two curve-balls this year:
- The Red "12" day-mark that denotes the beginning of the narrow channel out of the river has always been a 'Flashing 2.5 sec' light. Luckily the night before I noted that it appeared to be a 'Quick Red' light; all of my charting (paper, electronic, on-line) still indicated the 2.5 sec characteristic . Light characteristics are a key element that helps the mariner distinguish between nearby aids to navigation and I was glad that I didn't have to figure that out at 3 AM.
- Secondly in researching this light, I found information that the Coast Guard was planning to add an unlit Green "5" marker in the channel. Now the question: is it there or not? It wasn't, but the uncertainty is nerve-racking!
Crab pots become the major danger traveling on a dark night like this. Luckily we had a favorable moderate (8-12 knots) wind that allowed us to sail through the night hours, reducing the potential of getting caught in a trap line. Overall, it was a great sail for about 6 hours and then a good motor-sail for another 3 as we transited down the west coast of Florida.
Entering Boca Grande channel on an incoming current and into Pelican Bay on Cayo Costa Island at around 4 PM on Friday was uneventful. Total distance traveled of 72 nautical miles in 13 hours.
We have been cruising in the Cayo Costa area for almost 25 years and feel like it is our boating 'home'. Last year we did not stop here on our way to the Bahamas, but this year we plan to spend 2+ weeks in the area.
After leaving the west coast of Florida sometime in early December, we plan to transit fairly directly to the Bahamas, arriving in Marsh Harbour, Abaco before Christmas.
The summer featured the usual mix of boat work and pleasure. The previous blog entry (Summer 2015) details some of the pleasure.
In addition to typical boat maintenance, a few boat projects this summer are notable.
We replaced our galley stove. After 20 years of faithful service our Seward Princess propane stove was starting to show its age. Several years ago, I was lucky to find a rebuilt replacement for the mercury valve that controls gas flow to the stove. This winter the 'igniter' stopped working and I was not able to find a replacement part.
In researching the replacement, we were somewhat shocked to find that they were no longer making the Seaward propane stoves. Interestingly, they still make electric and gas range-tops, but have discontinued the gimballed stove (liability issues perhaps?). We were able to locate a stove in inventory and ordered it while in the Bahamas and had it installed upon our return to Bradenton last Spring.
 |
| Stove with one-piece grate |
After some debate, we ordered the model with a one-piece grate (as opposed to the traditional individual grates). As a note to other boaters facing a similar purchase, we probably would get the individual grates if we were to repeat the purchase. While as anticipated, it makes 'pan management' much easier, but makes cleaning the stove-top harder (you have to always remove the grate).
And as any offshore sailor knows, your gimballed stove is your lifeline to hot food and drinks underway and the ONLY place you can set something down with a reasonable expectation it will stay where you put it without spilling. What we just realized on our recent trip down the coast is that the one-piece grate is not as stable for this purpose.
Another notable project was a factory rebuild of our water-maker. Our product quality had declined last winter. We thought we would just get a new membrane, but a factory rebuild was recommended. The factory reported that our high-pressure pump cylinder was scored due to some particles that evaded the extensive filtration system. I have been cleaning our fine-filters and reusing them several times; this may be penny-wise and pound foolish.
A cold-front came through here the night of our arrival, producing brisk winds today and a day on-boat, but it is great to be back in Pelican Bay. We just saw a small flock of White Pelicans - yeehaw!
Tom
Anchored Pelican Bay
Cayo Costa
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Summer 2015
October 7, 2015
A quick recap of our summer.
We returned to Bradenton in early June after almost 6 great months in the Bahamas.
Thankfully the boat did not have to go the yard this year, so we got a great jump on summer boat work, particularly varnishing teak.
Our month in Bradenton featured some fun with a Dierks Bentley concert in Tampa.
And some hikes around the area - Night Heron at Emerson Point below:
In July we headed north to Syracuse for our yearly medical, dental, and friend/family visits. Blessings of another year of good health!
We enjoyed a trip to Quebec, a great 'French' holiday just hours away. This year we timed our visit to include The New France Festival in Quebec City. The following picture is of a drum corp that was a BLAST to watch. We saw them twice and they sat all around us before one of the performances, we wish our French was better, it would have been nice to talk to them (not a lot of English here).
We then spent a few days in Sherbrooke in the Eastern Townships - a very pleasant place.
After our return to the boat in Bradenton in August, it was back to boat work but also featured a great trip to Miami.
We went to two Marlin's games - great seats at a modest price. The new stadium is awesome! As a long-time Marlin's fan I often joke 'that someone has to do it' (the Marlin's are not that popular in Miami).
View of first base from our seats (with just my phone):
We went to a great exhibit at History Miami about the children that were sent to the US from Cuba after the revolution there. What a horrible decision to make - send your children away, maybe to never see them again, or let them be indoctrinated by the regime. Very touching memorabilia and testimonial videos of individuals who were children in the exodus.
Of course any visit to Miami involves great food - Pollo Tropical - maybe the best 'fast food' in the world (maybe a bit of an overstatement, but it is really good!).
This year we went back to Syracuse in early Fall, for a quick laser eye procedure for Tom - everything went very well. It was interesting to be back north in the Fall for the first time in 4 years.
Now back in Bradenton, we will be getting the boat ready for a 'sea-trial' around the middle of October, with a planned early November departure for our fifth season in the Bahamas. We are hopeful that the areas we typically visit were not heavily affected by the hurricane. We will have to evaluate our planned excursion around the south east islands (Crooked, Aklins, Rum) that saw a lot of damage from the hurricane.
Tom
Docked Twin Dolphin Marina
Bradenton, FL
A quick recap of our summer.
We returned to Bradenton in early June after almost 6 great months in the Bahamas.
Thankfully the boat did not have to go the yard this year, so we got a great jump on summer boat work, particularly varnishing teak.
Our month in Bradenton featured some fun with a Dierks Bentley concert in Tampa.
And some hikes around the area - Night Heron at Emerson Point below:
In July we headed north to Syracuse for our yearly medical, dental, and friend/family visits. Blessings of another year of good health!
We enjoyed a trip to Quebec, a great 'French' holiday just hours away. This year we timed our visit to include The New France Festival in Quebec City. The following picture is of a drum corp that was a BLAST to watch. We saw them twice and they sat all around us before one of the performances, we wish our French was better, it would have been nice to talk to them (not a lot of English here).
 |
| There are many people at the festival dressed in period attire. These dancers above are in 'noble' dress. The drum corp (two above) is dressed in common attire |
We then spent a few days in Sherbrooke in the Eastern Townships - a very pleasant place.
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| The view from our room at the Grand Times Hotel overlooking the park. |
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| A garden in the Sherbrooke park. Public gardens in Canada are very impressive! |
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| At the Festival, we discovered Coaticook ice cream and made a 'pilgrimage' to their plant in the Eastern Toiwnships Great ice cream - I swear the strawberry was filled with tons of fresh berries. |
After our return to the boat in Bradenton in August, it was back to boat work but also featured a great trip to Miami.
We went to two Marlin's games - great seats at a modest price. The new stadium is awesome! As a long-time Marlin's fan I often joke 'that someone has to do it' (the Marlin's are not that popular in Miami).
View of first base from our seats (with just my phone):
We went to a great exhibit at History Miami about the children that were sent to the US from Cuba after the revolution there. What a horrible decision to make - send your children away, maybe to never see them again, or let them be indoctrinated by the regime. Very touching memorabilia and testimonial videos of individuals who were children in the exodus.
Of course any visit to Miami involves great food - Pollo Tropical - maybe the best 'fast food' in the world (maybe a bit of an overstatement, but it is really good!).
 |
| New color scheme, but same great food! |
This year we went back to Syracuse in early Fall, for a quick laser eye procedure for Tom - everything went very well. It was interesting to be back north in the Fall for the first time in 4 years.
 |
| We couldn't believe all the changes at Beak & Skiff apple orchards. For thirty years it was one store and you-pick apples - now it is a little village! |
Now back in Bradenton, we will be getting the boat ready for a 'sea-trial' around the middle of October, with a planned early November departure for our fifth season in the Bahamas. We are hopeful that the areas we typically visit were not heavily affected by the hurricane. We will have to evaluate our planned excursion around the south east islands (Crooked, Aklins, Rum) that saw a lot of damage from the hurricane.
Tom
Docked Twin Dolphin Marina
Bradenton, FL
Monday, July 20, 2015
2014-2015 Cruise Review
I started to think that our last few posts of the year, which dealt primarily with our return transit, were probably pretty boring to new readers. So I decided to do a little recap of our 2014-2015 Bahamas Cruise.
We spent almost 6 months in the Bahamas visiting the Abacos, Eleuthera, Cat Island, and the Exumas.
We had a great time, the highlight of the trip was spending time with our Bahamian friends and 'family'. We have several relationships in which both sides call each other family - what a special bond. We will miss them and God-willing will see them next year.
We left Bradenton in early November and headed pretty directly to Miami.
We spent about a month in Miami, an interesting and vibrant city with a Latin vibe that we have grown to like quite a bit.
We crossed from Miami to West End, Grand Bahama on 12/12. After a few days at Old Bahama Bay Marina, we transited to Marsh Harbour in the Abacos.
.
We spent the holidays with great friends/family at Grace Baptist Church in Dundas Town.
One of the highlights of our visit was attending the 'Watch Night" service on New Years Eve. The evening featured a 'foot washing' (first time for us), communion, and numerous members of the congregation speaking on the theme "Our God is Greater than That"
Watching the mega-yachts at Emerald Bay Marina is entertaining:
We spent almost 6 months in the Bahamas visiting the Abacos, Eleuthera, Cat Island, and the Exumas.
We had a great time, the highlight of the trip was spending time with our Bahamian friends and 'family'. We have several relationships in which both sides call each other family - what a special bond. We will miss them and God-willing will see them next year.
We left Bradenton in early November and headed pretty directly to Miami.
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| Sunrise off Sarasota after leaving Bradenton |
We spent about a month in Miami, an interesting and vibrant city with a Latin vibe that we have grown to like quite a bit.
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| Miami skyline as we approach |
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| One of the Stiltsville houses in Biscayne Bay |
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| Long-time fans of women's basketball, we became fans of the Miami Hurricanes (still Syracuse fans too!) |
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| Pan-master Joyce at History Miami |
We crossed from Miami to West End, Grand Bahama on 12/12. After a few days at Old Bahama Bay Marina, we transited to Marsh Harbour in the Abacos.
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| Harbour View Marina |
We spent the holidays with great friends/family at Grace Baptist Church in Dundas Town.
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| With Pastor Shawn & Elder Jackie of Grace Baptist |
One of the highlights of our visit was attending the 'Watch Night" service on New Years Eve. The evening featured a 'foot washing' (first time for us), communion, and numerous members of the congregation speaking on the theme "Our God is Greater than That"
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We extended our stay in Marsh Harbour to attend Family Day at Grace. I was allowed to be the 'church photographer', but ended up letting the kids (there are a lot of them) take pictures with my camera. They got shots I would never have been able to get.
We visited a few of the Abaco Cays by ferry - an interesting experience:
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| New Plymouth, Green Turtle |
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| Hopetown or in Bahamian 'Opetown |
After leaving Abaco, we transited to Eluethera.
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| Good friends at Sammy's Place, Rock Sound |
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| Ocean Hole - Rock Sound |
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| Pretty Shrubs - Rock Sound |
On Cat Island we had the honor of 'helping' master boat builder and sloop racer Mark Knowles build a Bahamian "C Class" racing sloop.
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| Ribs in-process cut from native hardwood |
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| Almost completed mast |
Cat Island is also home to some beautiful beaches.
While in Exuma, we finally got to see the National Family Island Regatta in Georgetown. Sloop racing is the 'national' sport of the Bahamas
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| Boats are anchored with sails down at the start. |
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| Red Stripe - Black Point boat that ran away with the third A Class race |
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| Mark Knowles skippering Running Tide (5) came in third in the A Class Series |
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| Mark won the Governor General's B Class Cup Race Celebration in process on Cat Island |
Watching the mega-yachts at Emerald Bay Marina is entertaining:
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| Meduse owned by Paul Allen, Microsoft Co-founder Picture not at Emerald Bay |
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| Meduse landing a helicopter on her aft deck |
Santana's Grill Pit - arguably the best fish in the Bahamas.
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| Tanya (left) and the one and only Dee |
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| View from Santana's |
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| The lunch counter at the Georgetown Primary School Beautiful Bahamian smile! |
While at Emerald Bay, we were able to attend the commissioning of a new Bahamian Royal Defence Force ship - HMBS Rolly Gray
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| Ship's Company receiving dignitaries |
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| Prime Minister Perry Christie |
Black Point is one of our favorite places in the Bahamas. The Peermon (Paymon) & Basil Rolle clan are family here. Peermon makes arguably the best coconut bread in the Bahamas and is a Deaconess in Gethsemane Baptist Church of which we are 'members'.
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| Joyce, Peermon, and a rare picture of Lorraine resting. We often spend hours on the porch, just talking and enjoying each others company. |
Although we have known her since see was a baby, it was delightful to spend some time with Peermon's great granddaughter, who at 2 3/4 years old is blossoming into quite a young lady. Peermon often baby sits her when her mother is working and we tried to help relieve her a bit so see could get work done. Joyce says that rather than a baby sitter, I am more like her 'playmate' - whatever it's fun!
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| A picture of Peermon plaiting (weaving straw work) taken by her great grand daughter - 'my baby girl' LOVES to play with my phone. |
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| Joyce's birthday party at Black Point Mrs Adderley of Adderley's Friendly Store on the right |
We ended our Bahamas trip with an unplanned stop in Bimini due to weather - but any excuse to visit Taste of Heaven Bakery and Stuarts Conch Stand
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| Stuart's Conch stand. |
Hope this gives you a taste of our great trip to the Bahamas this year.
Tom
Docked at Twin Dolphin Marina
Bradenton, FL
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