Marina = $$$

Unfortunately, due to a Low forming over us in the Bahamas, we had to spend the next few days, on and off in marinas. While we occasionally enjoy the luxury of being in a marina, we also know the toll it takes on our cruising kitty so we usually like to keep our stays to a minimum, but sometimes, due to weather or safety issues, you just have to bite the bullet and go tie up.

Our first stay was in Atlantis - a ritual we started on our first trip. We just decided to splurge and enjoy ourselves for a few days while the wind sorted itself out. We enjoyed the water park everyday, walking around and seeing the aquarium and the beautiful buildings. We even took in a comedy show and quite a few movies at the free movie theater! And of course the gambling....

And then, when the winds finally subsided enough to our liking, we had a bumpy sail over to Bimini. We were hoping to make it all the way to the States, but Subtropical Storm Ana had other plans. She was literally forming right over top of us. So while the winds clocked about four times, we pulled into a marina in South Bimini and rested up before the last stretch of open ocean.

While in Bimini, we enjoyed some beautiful beaches and soaked in the last few Bahamian sunsets. We walked Koa all over the island everyday and even took an afternoon to go on a tour of the Shark Lab, which is featured in Shark Week on the discovery channel!

We enjoyed our stay in Bimini, but were antsy to get back to the States. So as soon as the winds lightened and the Tropical Storm moved farther North, we headed across the Gulf Stream towards the land o' plenty.