4.24.11
The much anticipated arrival of my parents occurred yesterday; they flew into Marsh Harbour where we met them at a restaurant for lunch. They had reluctantly agreed to stay on the boat with us so that we could teach them to sail and take them to some of the surrounding islands. The day was warm and bright and we had a great lunch at Curly Tails. Afterward, we dinghied them out to the mothership. They were impressed with how big it looked out amongst the other boats and impressed that we had given up our berth for them to have during their stay.
We spent the first night just sitting in the cockpit catching up and enjoying some run drinks while the sun set. We showed them our conch horn and after demonstrating how to properly use it, passed it along so that they could give it a try. Dad didn't have much luck, but did succeed in making my mother laugh so hard I thought she might fall off the boat. My mom, much to everyone's surprise (including her own!) was very good at the conch horn!
The following morning, we woke early to head over to Guana Cay. Nippers Beach Bar was having an Easter Egg hunt on the reef – snorkeling for eggs! We made it there in good time – making my Dad hoist the sails and take the helm. My Mom proved to be a great photographer and so sat tight in her chair while we moved. We were heeled over quite a bit, and after some white knuckled grips on the railings and wary eyes on the approaching seas, they settled in and took it like old pros.
We made it to Nippers, but the wind was so strong that day that they had decided to bury the eggs in the sand on the beach - the waves made snorkeling impossible. We were a bit late, so most of the eggs had already been unearthed. We opted just to sit upstairs with our Nippers frozen drinks and enjoy the view. We sat and chatted with some friends for a few hours before heading back out to the boat for naps (a few Nippers will do that to you!) It was blazing hot by the afternoon, so Brad, Dad and I jumped in and played catch with Koa for awhile. My Mom stayed on the boat to help haul him in whenever he needed a break. They got a kick out of Koa jumping off the back of the boat!
We had another delicious dinner accompanied by a beautiful sunset and all hit the sack in preparation for another sail in the morning.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Little Harbour
4.22.11
We left Lubbers Quarter at high tide on 4.19 and headed South to Little Harbour. We had a great sail and had made the 20 mile trek before we knew it. We thought we might get in a little beach time before the sunset, but soon realized we had put the cart before the horse. We attempted to anchor 3 times before the anchor finally made purchase. We were both yelling at each other, yelling at the anchor, even yelling at Koa (like that was going to help!). We were relieved to finally have it in, and despite the fact that we were much farther away from the beach then we wanted to be, we dared not move again for fear that it would never reset. After that fiasco we were pooped! So we opted to have a relaxing evening on the boat and take Koa to shore in the morning.
We were on our way to the beach the next morning as we zoomed by a boat that I recognized. I had Brad turn around and we went to greet our friends Following Tides. We had randomly run into them again! They had just come up from Nassau and were heading up to Marsh Harbour. We took Koa in to the beach, promising to get together with them later.
After a beach run with the mutt, we headed North in the dinghy to snorkel Sandy Cay. We tied up to one of the moorings and jumped right in. The water was chilly! This reef is very large and is at the mouth of one of the cuts into the Abaco Sea, so the water is very clear. The reef was huge, coming up 30 feet to the surface. There were reef of all kinds and colors and fish everywhere. The fish were obviously used to being fed, as they followed us around eagerly awaiting their handouts. We were empty handed though and they soon lost interest in us. Many people had told us they saw eagle rays and sharks while snorkeling these waters, but we were not lucky enough to be able to experience that. Nonetheless, the reef was spectacular and it had been a perfect day to snorkel!
We headed back to the boat, picked up Following Tides and then went South to Little Harbour. We ate lunch at the famed Pete's Pub, which we found to be overpriced and touristy. Then we dinghied across the harbour to some caves that the original founders of Little Harbour had lived in while building their houses. The caves were very large and infested with bats, so while I stood outside with Darlene, the boys went in a bit further to investigate. There wasn't much there, so we retired back to our boats for dinner.
Tides had us over for taco night and it was some of the best tacos we have ever had! Between the two boats, we had every possible taco topping one could imagine. After two tacos we were all stuffed so full we could hardly move! So, we drank a few more glasses of wine and played a rousing game of Sequence.
The following day the water was a bit choppier so we opted not to sail, but to sit tight and get some work done on the boat. It was a bumpy day, but we got a lot accomplished and were glad that the wind settled down before nightfall.
We left Lubbers Quarter at high tide on 4.19 and headed South to Little Harbour. We had a great sail and had made the 20 mile trek before we knew it. We thought we might get in a little beach time before the sunset, but soon realized we had put the cart before the horse. We attempted to anchor 3 times before the anchor finally made purchase. We were both yelling at each other, yelling at the anchor, even yelling at Koa (like that was going to help!). We were relieved to finally have it in, and despite the fact that we were much farther away from the beach then we wanted to be, we dared not move again for fear that it would never reset. After that fiasco we were pooped! So we opted to have a relaxing evening on the boat and take Koa to shore in the morning.
We were on our way to the beach the next morning as we zoomed by a boat that I recognized. I had Brad turn around and we went to greet our friends Following Tides. We had randomly run into them again! They had just come up from Nassau and were heading up to Marsh Harbour. We took Koa in to the beach, promising to get together with them later.
After a beach run with the mutt, we headed North in the dinghy to snorkel Sandy Cay. We tied up to one of the moorings and jumped right in. The water was chilly! This reef is very large and is at the mouth of one of the cuts into the Abaco Sea, so the water is very clear. The reef was huge, coming up 30 feet to the surface. There were reef of all kinds and colors and fish everywhere. The fish were obviously used to being fed, as they followed us around eagerly awaiting their handouts. We were empty handed though and they soon lost interest in us. Many people had told us they saw eagle rays and sharks while snorkeling these waters, but we were not lucky enough to be able to experience that. Nonetheless, the reef was spectacular and it had been a perfect day to snorkel!
We headed back to the boat, picked up Following Tides and then went South to Little Harbour. We ate lunch at the famed Pete's Pub, which we found to be overpriced and touristy. Then we dinghied across the harbour to some caves that the original founders of Little Harbour had lived in while building their houses. The caves were very large and infested with bats, so while I stood outside with Darlene, the boys went in a bit further to investigate. There wasn't much there, so we retired back to our boats for dinner.
Tides had us over for taco night and it was some of the best tacos we have ever had! Between the two boats, we had every possible taco topping one could imagine. After two tacos we were all stuffed so full we could hardly move! So, we drank a few more glasses of wine and played a rousing game of Sequence.
The following day the water was a bit choppier so we opted not to sail, but to sit tight and get some work done on the boat. It was a bumpy day, but we got a lot accomplished and were glad that the wind settled down before nightfall.
Full Moon
4.17.11
Tonight is a full moon, which here in Abaco means one thing – lots of Full Moon parties!! We decided to go to Cracker P's for their party, so we hauled up the anchor and took off for Lubbers Quarter. We were fighting the wind most of the way, so were making slow headway. Halfway there, the sky started looking ominous so we rushed downstairs, donned our bathing suits, grabbed our bars of soap and shampoo and waited for the impending showers (pun intended!). The rains came, although not in the sheets that were pouring down all around us. We were wet enough for a bit of a shower and I even got to wipe the deck down one good time. The showers ended, but the ominous skies remained.
We made it to Hopetown when we realized that the navigator (ashamedly, that would be me) had made a dreadful mistake and we were coming in at low tide instead of high. Oops! The water here was too shallow and we were soon churning up mud as we slogged along. We opted to drop anchor and have lunch while we waited for the tide to change.
Once the tide had shifted, we hoisted anchor and made way, once again, for Lubbers Quarter. We made it there around 5 and dashed over to Cracker P's for the festivities. The much anticipated Full Moon party was a dud. The moon was spectacular, but everyone was inside not even enjoying it! We met up with some friends of ours and went to another bar next door. We were the only ones there, but quickly fit in with the owners and chefs who were all sitting around the bar. We stayed until the wee hours of the morning and then headed back to our boat. The best part was that, despite the late hour, we could see everything around us and clear down to the bottom – thanks to the full moon!
The following day we went to Tahiti Beach; a sandbar that is only visible in low tide. We lounged on the beach with Koa until the tide started to come back in, then headed back for a sunset dinner.
Tonight is a full moon, which here in Abaco means one thing – lots of Full Moon parties!! We decided to go to Cracker P's for their party, so we hauled up the anchor and took off for Lubbers Quarter. We were fighting the wind most of the way, so were making slow headway. Halfway there, the sky started looking ominous so we rushed downstairs, donned our bathing suits, grabbed our bars of soap and shampoo and waited for the impending showers (pun intended!). The rains came, although not in the sheets that were pouring down all around us. We were wet enough for a bit of a shower and I even got to wipe the deck down one good time. The showers ended, but the ominous skies remained.
We made it to Hopetown when we realized that the navigator (ashamedly, that would be me) had made a dreadful mistake and we were coming in at low tide instead of high. Oops! The water here was too shallow and we were soon churning up mud as we slogged along. We opted to drop anchor and have lunch while we waited for the tide to change.
Once the tide had shifted, we hoisted anchor and made way, once again, for Lubbers Quarter. We made it there around 5 and dashed over to Cracker P's for the festivities. The much anticipated Full Moon party was a dud. The moon was spectacular, but everyone was inside not even enjoying it! We met up with some friends of ours and went to another bar next door. We were the only ones there, but quickly fit in with the owners and chefs who were all sitting around the bar. We stayed until the wee hours of the morning and then headed back to our boat. The best part was that, despite the late hour, we could see everything around us and clear down to the bottom – thanks to the full moon!
The following day we went to Tahiti Beach; a sandbar that is only visible in low tide. We lounged on the beach with Koa until the tide started to come back in, then headed back for a sunset dinner.
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