Monday, May 20, 2013
ATLANTIS!!!
5.20.13
After leaving Warderick Wells, we stopped at Hawksbill Cay for two days as it is hands down our favorite beach in the Bahamas. We relaxed, swam with the mutt and had a bonfire. It was a great way to bring our trip to the Bahamas to a close.
We have since been moving quickly up the island chain with few stops. We made it to Nassau last night and anchored off of Rose Island in a "protected" cove - HA! We had no protection. The wind was coming from the East and we were facing into the wind, however we were getting strange waves from the South that were slamming into the beam of the boat and rocking us side to side. This continued all through the night and since the wind was strong and the cove was shallow, we alternated anchor alarm watch and neither of us got much sleep due to the bouncing around.
This morning, as soon as we could see outside, we hauled up anchor and headed in to Atlantis. This is our one splurge of the trip that we both look forward to. It is filled with days at the water park, laundry, hot, long showers, lightening fast internet, and of course, nights at the casino. We will sit here for a few days while these winds blow and then hopefully we will be able to head back stateside within the week.
We have had a blast here in the Bahamas, despite the mishaps, but are looking forward to the comforts of being dockside in the U.S. See everyone soon!
Warderick Wells
5.16.13
We arrived in Warderick Wells, the park headquarters, on Sunday and dropped the hook in calm waters. We knew the wind was going to pick up in a day or two, so we opted to go snorkeling while the wind was still calm. We found some beautiful coral on the ocean side of the park and caught some video of a large spotted eagle ray swimming beneath us, as well as encountering several sharks nurse sharks. The coral heads were beautiful and because of the swift current, the water was crystal clear. We snorkeled a few other spots and then took Koa to shore in the afternoon for a swim.
When the winds picked up, we spent the days hiking around the island. There are trails all over the island and you can walk from one end to the other pretty easily. While we didn't do that, we did hike many of the winding trails back and forth across the island and captured some beautiful scenery. And of course, we visited Boo Boo Hill where cruisers leave driftwood pieces with their boat names on them - either painted or carved. We spent time sorting through them to see how many of our friends' boats we could spot.
Our second night at anchor, our friends on Voyager showed up and invited us over for dinner. They are just completing their 14 year circumnavigation and are heading back to Cape Canaveral so we spent an evening being regaled with tales of their journey. It seems we will be traveling at the same pace, so will likely be seeing more of them.
We have also across several problem since being here in the park. We realized that we are low on water and on food - none of which can be found in the park. We are in super water conservation mode and are having to get creative with our canned food to make dinners. And last night, our camping stove connector broke and we can no longer us it. Luckily, we have a half tank of CNG left. So, we are also cooking very frugally in hopes that we have enough fuel to get us home. It will definitely be interesting to see how the remainder of the trip pans out. We will at least be able to restock food and water in Nassau. We are just holding our breaths about the stove fuel.
When the winds picked up, we spent the days hiking around the island. There are trails all over the island and you can walk from one end to the other pretty easily. While we didn't do that, we did hike many of the winding trails back and forth across the island and captured some beautiful scenery. And of course, we visited Boo Boo Hill where cruisers leave driftwood pieces with their boat names on them - either painted or carved. We spent time sorting through them to see how many of our friends' boats we could spot.
Our second night at anchor, our friends on Voyager showed up and invited us over for dinner. They are just completing their 14 year circumnavigation and are heading back to Cape Canaveral so we spent an evening being regaled with tales of their journey. It seems we will be traveling at the same pace, so will likely be seeing more of them.
We have also across several problem since being here in the park. We realized that we are low on water and on food - none of which can be found in the park. We are in super water conservation mode and are having to get creative with our canned food to make dinners. And last night, our camping stove connector broke and we can no longer us it. Luckily, we have a half tank of CNG left. So, we are also cooking very frugally in hopes that we have enough fuel to get us home. It will definitely be interesting to see how the remainder of the trip pans out. We will at least be able to restock food and water in Nassau. We are just holding our breaths about the stove fuel.
Snorkeling at Cambridge Cay
5.11.13
We left Staniel Cay yesterday afternoon after provisioning and headed back into the Exuam Land and Sea Park. We anchored off of Bell Island, a private island right inside the park. We did not reach our anchorage until the early evening, so we just spent a relaxing evening on the boat.
The following morning, we were up early to catch the slack tides. We headed out to the site of the plane wreck that Brad and Shane had discovered earlier in the week. We tied up to the dinghy mooring there and spent a good half hour checking out the wreck. Once we had loaded out camera with pictures, we untied ourselves from the mooring and did a drift dive with the dinghy over beautiful corals lots of brightly colored fish. We saw a mammoth grouper and were escorted by several large barracuda during our snorkel. Once we reached the other side of the coral heads, we hopped back in the dinghy and moved up to another snorkel site. This one was just as beautiful with a school of amberjack, some lobsters, a lionfish, and many small colorful fish.
We headed back to the boat for lunch and to wait for the next tide shift so that we could snorkel Rocky Dundas caves. We heard some friends of ours on the radio and we decided we would all get together at a local marina for sundowners.
At low tide, we headed over to the caves and tied up to a mooring and snorkeled in to the cave. It was cavernous inside with stalactites growing all along the walls and a hole in the ceiling lighting the whole cave. At low tide, we were able to stand up on the bottom so we could snap some pictures. We noticed some dinghies pull up outside the cave and since there wasn't much room getting in and out, we opted to head out before they started coming in.
We snorkeled some of the beautiful corals around the mouth of the cave until suddenly, off to my right, I saw a shark disappearing into the gloom. Brad was ahead of me a ways and I told myself not to panic and since he was leaving the area, to continue snorkeling. But I couldn't get my mind off of him, so I waved Brad back over and waited until we were safely in the dinghy before telling him what I had seen. Although I wasn't as concerned as I thought I would be when I saw my first shark, we were both hesitant to get back in the water, so we headed over for sundowners.
We had an enjoyable evening with our friends from "Mattina" and "Voyager" and will head up to Warderick Wells tomorrow to tuck in for an upcoming blow.
We headed back to the boat for lunch and to wait for the next tide shift so that we could snorkel Rocky Dundas caves. We heard some friends of ours on the radio and we decided we would all get together at a local marina for sundowners.
At low tide, we headed over to the caves and tied up to a mooring and snorkeled in to the cave. It was cavernous inside with stalactites growing all along the walls and a hole in the ceiling lighting the whole cave. At low tide, we were able to stand up on the bottom so we could snap some pictures. We noticed some dinghies pull up outside the cave and since there wasn't much room getting in and out, we opted to head out before they started coming in.
We snorkeled some of the beautiful corals around the mouth of the cave until suddenly, off to my right, I saw a shark disappearing into the gloom. Brad was ahead of me a ways and I told myself not to panic and since he was leaving the area, to continue snorkeling. But I couldn't get my mind off of him, so I waved Brad back over and waited until we were safely in the dinghy before telling him what I had seen. Although I wasn't as concerned as I thought I would be when I saw my first shark, we were both hesitant to get back in the water, so we headed over for sundowners.
We had an enjoyable evening with our friends from "Mattina" and "Voyager" and will head up to Warderick Wells tomorrow to tuck in for an upcoming blow.
Visitors!!
5.8.13
Warning - this is a long post, but worth the read!
We just finished loading Kathleen and Shane onto their planes to head back to real life. What a great four days we had with them!
Shane arrived first and was just in time to snorkel Thunderball grotto. The day was perfect and there was no one else in the cave so we had time to swim around and enjoy the fish and coral without anyone running into or over us.
Kathleen arrived a few hours later and once we had everyone safely loaded into the boat, we pulled up anchor and headed up to Big Major Spot. Unfortunately, the first day they were there, the wind was steady out of the west and we were wide open and vulnerable. We spent the evening at the beach just to get off the rocking boat. We met up with our friends on Kanaloa again and they generously gave us some of their mahi in exchange for some of our beer. After avoiding the bouncing boat for as long as we could, we finally headed back for a delicious fish dinner. We all turned in early as the hours in the sun had worn everyone out.
The following day, the west winds remained so we all got off the boat for some reprieve from the waves. We dinghied around the back side of the islands into some calmer waters and to enjoy the beaches. At lunch, we returned to the boat to find that the wind had finally backed off and we were rocking comfortably. In celebration of Cinco de Drinko, we opted to move the mothership back over near Staniel Cay to attend their happy hour and Mexican buffet night. We headed in that evening and all enjoyed some cervecas and a delicious buffet of tacos and key lime pie. We all ate our weight in tacos and then crawled back to the boat.
We woke everyone up early the following morning and headed North into the Exuma Land and Sea Park. Unfortunately, the wind had died down to nothing, which, while comfortable for sitting at anchor, does not bode well for a traveling sailboat. We tacked for a good two hours and when we had only gotten three miles from Staniel Cay, opted to turn on the motor. We made it just South of the park and so after lunch, dinghied over into the park for some snorkeling. We had heard that Cambridge Cay was one of the best snorkeling spots in the park, so we were excited to show our guests some of the beautiful coral and fish.
After scouting out some of the coral spots, we realized they were in strong current, so we decided to go two at a time, leaving two people to man the dinghy while the other two drift snorkeled the sights. Shane and I were first in, and after about 10 minutes of floating along with the current, we realized the corals there a lot to be desired. They were mostly soft corals and the almost no fish. We climbed back into the dinghy to search out other spots. Brad and Shane were next in at the next site and found the current to be even stronger and the coral to be small.
Kathleen and I had had enough of dinghying around, so the boys dropped us off at the beach and they continued the hunt for snorkel spots. While the girls were working on their tans, the boys found a few decent snorkel sites and also a plane wreck to snorkel.
We were all hoping to snorkel Rocky Dundas, which is supposed to be a neat cave with stalactites and stalagmites, but the current was running too swiftly to allow us entrance.
The following day, we hauled up anchor around 0800 and headed out into the Exuma Sound to try our hand at fishing. It was a beautiful morning, and despite having to motor the whole way since there was no wind, everyone was relaxed and enjoyed the cruise. Unfortunately, we were not successful in our fish catching venture.
Once inside the Staniel Cay Cut, we anchored right in front of Thunderball Grotto to go again and show Kathleen. We took some fish food (corns bits) and headed over. The day was perfect to snorkel, so of course the grotto was crowded. We waited until there was a lull, then headed inside. Everyone got a chance to feed the fish and we took lots of pictures before another group of tourons descended onto the cave. After some lady crawled up my back because she couldn't swim in the current, I took that as a sign to head back to the boat.
We upped anchor again and headed back to Big Major Spot and took them over to visit the notorious swimming pigs. When we dinghied over and showed them we had some carrots to offer, two of them swam out to our dinghy. Shane, the country boy, easily lead them close enough to the dinghy for some good pictures and then fed them the carrots and we dinghied out of the way and circled around the go in again. This time, Kathleen tried to feed the pig, but she was holding the carrot out with one hand and trying to take pictures with the other. She was so focused on taking the pictures, that she was neglecting to give the pig the carrot and he got his head very far in before she quickly dropped the carrot and we sped out of his way. We went in one more time, this time with Brad holding the carrot. He was even worse than Kathleen. When the pig approached, he wanted him to get as close as possible, but when he opened his mouth right next Brad, he panicked and stood up. The pig was not leaving without that carrot and launched himself out of the water and put one of his hooves on the dinghy in pursuit of the carrot, we all screamed and Brad held the carrot higher for fear of losing a finger. Finally, he dropped the carrot for the pig and the pig dropped back into the water. If he had waited another minute, we might have had a pig in the dinghy and I have a feeling the four of us would have been in the water. We were all laughing hysterically and the other boat watching us said we were more entertaining than the pigs. We considered that a succesful pig feeding and headed back to the boat before the pigs approached again.
We spent the remainder of the day swimming with Koa off the back of the boat and then ended the night with a bonfire on the beach. It was a relaxing end to their vacation.
Kathleen arrived a few hours later and once we had everyone safely loaded into the boat, we pulled up anchor and headed up to Big Major Spot. Unfortunately, the first day they were there, the wind was steady out of the west and we were wide open and vulnerable. We spent the evening at the beach just to get off the rocking boat. We met up with our friends on Kanaloa again and they generously gave us some of their mahi in exchange for some of our beer. After avoiding the bouncing boat for as long as we could, we finally headed back for a delicious fish dinner. We all turned in early as the hours in the sun had worn everyone out.
The following day, the west winds remained so we all got off the boat for some reprieve from the waves. We dinghied around the back side of the islands into some calmer waters and to enjoy the beaches. At lunch, we returned to the boat to find that the wind had finally backed off and we were rocking comfortably. In celebration of Cinco de Drinko, we opted to move the mothership back over near Staniel Cay to attend their happy hour and Mexican buffet night. We headed in that evening and all enjoyed some cervecas and a delicious buffet of tacos and key lime pie. We all ate our weight in tacos and then crawled back to the boat.
We woke everyone up early the following morning and headed North into the Exuma Land and Sea Park. Unfortunately, the wind had died down to nothing, which, while comfortable for sitting at anchor, does not bode well for a traveling sailboat. We tacked for a good two hours and when we had only gotten three miles from Staniel Cay, opted to turn on the motor. We made it just South of the park and so after lunch, dinghied over into the park for some snorkeling. We had heard that Cambridge Cay was one of the best snorkeling spots in the park, so we were excited to show our guests some of the beautiful coral and fish.
After scouting out some of the coral spots, we realized they were in strong current, so we decided to go two at a time, leaving two people to man the dinghy while the other two drift snorkeled the sights. Shane and I were first in, and after about 10 minutes of floating along with the current, we realized the corals there a lot to be desired. They were mostly soft corals and the almost no fish. We climbed back into the dinghy to search out other spots. Brad and Shane were next in at the next site and found the current to be even stronger and the coral to be small.
Kathleen and I had had enough of dinghying around, so the boys dropped us off at the beach and they continued the hunt for snorkel spots. While the girls were working on their tans, the boys found a few decent snorkel sites and also a plane wreck to snorkel.
We were all hoping to snorkel Rocky Dundas, which is supposed to be a neat cave with stalactites and stalagmites, but the current was running too swiftly to allow us entrance.
The following day, we hauled up anchor around 0800 and headed out into the Exuma Sound to try our hand at fishing. It was a beautiful morning, and despite having to motor the whole way since there was no wind, everyone was relaxed and enjoyed the cruise. Unfortunately, we were not successful in our fish catching venture.
Once inside the Staniel Cay Cut, we anchored right in front of Thunderball Grotto to go again and show Kathleen. We took some fish food (corns bits) and headed over. The day was perfect to snorkel, so of course the grotto was crowded. We waited until there was a lull, then headed inside. Everyone got a chance to feed the fish and we took lots of pictures before another group of tourons descended onto the cave. After some lady crawled up my back because she couldn't swim in the current, I took that as a sign to head back to the boat.
We upped anchor again and headed back to Big Major Spot and took them over to visit the notorious swimming pigs. When we dinghied over and showed them we had some carrots to offer, two of them swam out to our dinghy. Shane, the country boy, easily lead them close enough to the dinghy for some good pictures and then fed them the carrots and we dinghied out of the way and circled around the go in again. This time, Kathleen tried to feed the pig, but she was holding the carrot out with one hand and trying to take pictures with the other. She was so focused on taking the pictures, that she was neglecting to give the pig the carrot and he got his head very far in before she quickly dropped the carrot and we sped out of his way. We went in one more time, this time with Brad holding the carrot. He was even worse than Kathleen. When the pig approached, he wanted him to get as close as possible, but when he opened his mouth right next Brad, he panicked and stood up. The pig was not leaving without that carrot and launched himself out of the water and put one of his hooves on the dinghy in pursuit of the carrot, we all screamed and Brad held the carrot higher for fear of losing a finger. Finally, he dropped the carrot for the pig and the pig dropped back into the water. If he had waited another minute, we might have had a pig in the dinghy and I have a feeling the four of us would have been in the water. We were all laughing hysterically and the other boat watching us said we were more entertaining than the pigs. We considered that a succesful pig feeding and headed back to the boat before the pigs approached again.
We spent the remainder of the day swimming with Koa off the back of the boat and then ended the night with a bonfire on the beach. It was a relaxing end to their vacation.
Mermaid Dive
5.1.13
This morning we got up and at slack tide, we dinghied down to Rudder Cut Cay to snorkel. We had been told that there was a sculpture that someone had made of a mermaid sitting at the bench of a grand piano. This person had welded this sculpture and then sunk it in the middle of a sandy area and secured it to the ground.
So, we donned our mask and fins to check it out. Sure enough, in the middle of the sandy spot just off the beach, in about 20 feet of water was this beautiful piece of art. The mermaid sits on the ground with her arm on the bench and her tail has even been designed to glitter in the sunlight. It was fabulous and definitely worth the journey.
After we had snorkeled, we headed up to Black Point to catch up on some laundry and pick up some groceries. There was little to no wind, but we opted to sail anyway since we were in no rush. Along the way, many of the friends we had made down in Georgetown passed us by and we all agreed to meet up for drinks the following night.
Leaving Gtown
4/29/13
Our last few weeks in Georgetown have been filled with activities. Since we've gotten our "in" with the volleyball guys, we have been playing almost everyday. Brad plays poker Tuesday and Thursday and I have been joining everyone up at the bar while he plays. He has also started playing a more competitive cash game on Sundays.
The local Family Island Regatta was last week. Boats from all of the islands are raced in this national event. And people from all over the islands come down to watch and cheer for their island's boats. There are shacks built at the government dock just for this occassion - they sell food and drinks and souvenirs 24 hours a day. And there are always people there. All three classes (A,B and C) of boats race for four days. The winner is the one with the lowest cumulative score.
One day we joined a group of people on our friend's boat - Kanaloa - and we chased the race boats around while they went around all the buoys. It was great being in the middle of all the action and we met some fun new boater friends while we were out too! Another day, we took our dinghy out and followed them around. We saw two boats collide, miss the buoy and lose the lead because they had to go back around. We also saw one boat sink! It is quite an adventure and we were glad we stuck around.
We have also been spending a lot of time with our cruising friends who we know we will soon have to part ways from. Our friends on Necesse are leaving about the same time we are to head South. We have known them since our first trip down to Georgetown and will be sad to see them go. But we wish them luck on their trip down! Here are some pictures of Eben and Koa swimming with the dolphins off the beach!
Tomorrow we head North towards Staniel Cay where we will pick up some visitors for a few days. Hopefully the weather gods will treat them nicely!
We have also been spending a lot of time with our cruising friends who we know we will soon have to part ways from. Our friends on Necesse are leaving about the same time we are to head South. We have known them since our first trip down to Georgetown and will be sad to see them go. But we wish them luck on their trip down! Here are some pictures of Eben and Koa swimming with the dolphins off the beach!
Tomorrow we head North towards Staniel Cay where we will pick up some visitors for a few days. Hopefully the weather gods will treat them nicely!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)