Exumas

Next stop – Comapss Cay. We anchored just outside the marina where there were some big yachts. A sign on the dock read $8 per person to land the dinghy. We didn’t need to walk the dog – she had just gone for a run on our own private beach! We fished Exuma Sound on the way there and got skunked AGAIN!!!!
Next day was another upwind sail to Blackpoint. I had internet there at Lorraine’s Café, briefly. We left there this morning for Farmers Cay. There is a cold front and 20-25 kt NE winds predicted so we are going for the protection that spot affords us.
When we were a few hundred yards from where we wanted to drop the anchor, we heard thump, thump and the motor died! In the middle of a swiftly moving cut!! We weren’t going anywhere, though because I had run over a buoy (neither of us saw) and it had wrapped the prop. Thank goodness for our dive shop experience – Darrell to save the day! We had a small boat come out to help us but we had already taken care of it all.
Anyway, we opted to go to anchorage #2. One where there was nothing to run over and one we were familiar with from last year. About 15 minutes after we got the anchor set, the people who live in the house overlooking our basin came by. They were headed to a lunch benefit at the church and invited us. I threw the sandwiches was making into baggies and we loaded onto their boat to go to the social. Great food – choice of chicken, lobster, or steak. I had lobster and it was 1/2 tail so big I couldn't eat it all!! As Darrell said - no Florida lobster!! 't also got to meet some of the locals (the guys who tried to help us hit Darrell up for money).
We will see how long we stay here- allowing for weather. Some boat projects to work on so we might stay a few days.
We have Captain Jim Fagan coming for a visit in March. We had a blast with him last year. We are really looking forward to another visit this year.
We went for happy hour with Steve and Cindy (the house mentioned above) last night and have them coming over this evening to the boat. They are a really nice couple and we enjoyed the tour of their house. It is “off the grid” as far as depending on public utility systems. Solar power and water collection, back-up generator, a huge workshop under the house. Will take a picture of the place and post it later. As I write this we are sitting at a picnic table outside the school (can hear the teacher) using their internet signal. The people here are so very kind and friendly!

Well, I need to pinch myself to be sure I’m awake and not dreaming this! We are enjoying white sandy beaches, turquoise waters and great weather! THIS is what we signed on for!!!!
Last Night, we ate the last of our bounty from Frazer/Hog Cay. We had cracked conch that was delicious! We are now in Exuma Land And Sea Park and cannot take any critters here. We stopped at Shroud Cay for the first time. It is laced with creeks and mangroves. We hope for the right tide this morning to g exploring but many of the creeks are closed to motorized vessels so we can’t take the dinghy in them.
We got to Skype with the kids when we were in Nassau. They could see us but we couldn’t see them (question a bad connection). Oh well, Lyric was in bed anyway, LOL!! We bought a cheap cell phone here to be able to make calls on while we are here. I wanted to get one for tethering to the computer for internet but too expensive. So I just have to make do with periodic web “fixes” like this one. I admit it, I’m a web junkie!
We rode bicycles all over Nassau to find the shopping mall where we could buy the cell phone. The bicycles are going to make a big difference in how much more of the land based sights we can visit. They are hanging on the back of the boat upside down off the arch when we are traveling. The other night we had a big mail boat following us through Northwest Channel and he kept shining his light on us. We finally figured out that he was trying to see what was looking back at him – from a distance the white walls on Darrell’s bicycle look like eye glasses!! LOL
We started Yoga classes in Key Largo before we left. I figured it was a form of exercise I can do on the boat. I have continued practicing every chance I get and the rocking boat makes some of the poses even more challenging! Best of all is that I’m getting back in shape!!!
I thought my iPhone had died the other day. I tried to take a picture and it froze in camera mode. Wouldn’t do ANYTHING!!! The battery finally went dead and it works again after charging. Man, was I worried – I have a lot of stuff stored on this thing. Yes, I even type the blog on it.
I guess there is not a darn thing to complain about. Life is wonderful. We are all doing great. Roxy loved the dolphins surfing in front of the boat yesterday and enjoys her two (at least) trips a day to frolic in the crystal clear waters.
We will leave Warderick Wells this morning for points east and/or south. Hope all who are reading this are healthy and happy. Love you bunches!

DnA and Roxy

We left Key Largo on Friday afternoon (Feb. 10,2012) for our FIRST night crossing of the Gulf Stream. WOO WEE!!! We need to listen more carefully to the weather reports! First half of the trip was nice and we escaped the rain that had plagued Key Largo for days. Second Half of the trip was a real humdinger with winds and squalls. The boat handled the big seas very well and we made it to Nixon's Harbor anchorage (South of Bimini) around 9:30 AM. Worn out, we laid down for a nap. Roxy was very glad to see calmer water too.

After a couple of days of rest, we were ready to cross the Great Bahama Banks. With little wind and a bad direction, we finally made it to Chub Cay. We hoped the next stop would be Nassau but the winds didn't cooperate. Instead, we tucked in at Frazer Hog Cay for three nights. Not a bad place at all. We were welcomed by Harry and Howard at the Berry Islands Club. Harry was in the process of bringing the place back into good order. It seems that there were issues with the former manager. Harry had interesting tales of his former career as US Air Marshall. Roxy had run of the house and of course loved that! They gave us tips on where to go get lobster and conch - also when and how to catch fish from the boat. We ate like kings/queens and still have some conch!

Today finds us making another crossing but a shorter and fairer one. We are crossing New Providence Channel to Nassau (30.7 nautical miles). We have some legwork to do to make Roxy's paperwork right and I want to look into a cellphone with internet connection. That way we can keep y'all prated more often than once a week.

There is another cold front coming this weekend and we are not sure where we might head when we leave Nassau. For sure though, we don't want to stay here any longer than we have to. Roxy loves beaches and there aren't any where we stay in Nassau.