Waderick Wells

Like I was saying, Waderick Wells is truly spectacular and no trip through the Exuma Cays would be complete without a stop here. 

This beautiful and amazing "J" shaped harbour has 22 mooring balls where nurse sharks and huge spotted eagle rays can be seen swimming under the boats.  (Both are harmless.)  The scenery is stunning both above and below the water.

The first day here, after a good long swim, we took a hike on the island up to "Boo Boo Hill".  This land mark not only gave us a fantastic view of the anchorage but it's where people have been leaving their boat names scribbled on driftwood (or whatever) for many years.  Blue Blazes left her mark in 2010 but we couldn't find it.   Lynn, however, found Adamant 1's sign from 2009!    Of course, we didnt leave without adding Folly to the pile. 

Believe it or not, we are waiting out another blow.   It seems we either have too much or too little wind these days but we are not complaining!  The rolling was getting a bit overwhelming on the boat yesterday so we spent a good part of the day hanging out on a nice private and secluded beach.  By the way Ken and Grace on Pisces (more Midland Bay Sailing Club members) have joined us here.  The six of us (Pat and Lynn, Ken and Grace, and ourselves) had a great day!

For me though, the number one draw to this area is the snorkeling but sadly we haven't been able to do that yet.  There is a very strong current here so slack tide is the best time.  Unfortunately slack tide has always been at a bad time so, for now, I just have to be patient.  I'm sure we'll fit it in before we leave.  But....more about that...next time.

Motor/sailing Over the Banks

Here we are in Waderick Wells with scenery out of this world, but the fact that there is no internet or cell phone coverage makes us feel like we are on another planet.   When we asked at the park office they explained that the communication tower was destroyed in hurricane Matthew.   Feeling bad, the girl in the office said if I stand  in this corner, and hold my tongue like that, I might get enough signal to send this, so....here goes....

Once the wind calmed a bit we left Nassau but not before we did a tour of the island.  Surprisingly,  with the many times we've been to Nassau, we've never done that.   This was as good a time as any to check it out.  Our taxi driver/tour guide did a great job showing us around.

On Tuesday morning we (and a bunch of other sailboats) left motoring ..... straight into the wind.  It wasn’t ideal but better than staying in Nassau another day.  We motor/sailed to Highborne Cay about 36 miles over the Yellow Banks.  At times I had to stand watch, at the bow, to direct Harley, at the helm, around coral heads but it was a beautiful sunny day and spotting them was easy.  We dropped anchor at Highborne Cay before 3:00 ..... early enough to have a nice swim and snorkel around the boat.

Wednesday we left .... motoring again as the sea condition was flat calm.  Yes we are a sailboat but at times dead calm is not so bad.  When it's like this we get to see the bottom and it feels like we are floating on air.  It's sooooo cool! 

Like I mentioned, we are presently in the spectacular mooring field in the Land and Sea Park at Waderick Wells.  We have lots to tell you and many pictures ....but....more about that ...  next time!

Waiting Out a Blow

Nassau Harbour is everything a harbour should be and has everything it should have.  It has cruise ships, party boats, container ships, mail boats, marinas and mega yachts.  What it doesn't need is us anchored in the middle of it!

The holding here is questionable but luckily our awsome Rocna anchor is holding us solidly even in this crazy strong wind we have......*touch wood* .  I hate saying things like that because you know what happens as soon as you do.  When the wind picked up last night several boats dragged, which isn't exactly comforting, and makes us wonder if we'll be next.  Anchored too close in front of us is a black steele-hulled schooner with four guys in their twenty's having the time of their lives.  They don't seem the least bit concerned, but then again, it won't be their boat that gets destroyed if their anchor let's go.  It will be us!

We went ashore yesterday and walked around downtown but soon got swallowed up in the crowds from the five cruise ships in port.  Honestly, we will be glad when the weather lightens up and we get moving again....but more about that....next time.

A bit too close for comfort.

Atlantis at night

Pat and Lynn getting directions from a traffic cop.  Nice Uniform!

Customs and immigration

Phew!....we didn't get deported!

Nassau is a busy port and not what comes to mind when thinking about the Bahamas.  We knew that, but it's become even more so since we were here 6 years ago.  The anchorage has become smaller due to the addition of large docks with mega yachts tied to them.  The laid back Green Parrot bar is no longer visible,  and the dinghy dock is gone.  It seems Nassau has become a playground for the rich but we are here and have cleared customs. 

The wind has picked up today and looks like it will be with us for a few days so it appears we'll be staying.  No problem.  Once ashore, there is lots to do and we are looking forward to checking it out......but more about that next time.

Bahamas! We Have Arrived!

Leaving Marathon in our wake, we set off for the Bahamas at 12 noon December 6th.  The winds were favorable and the gulf stream was kind to us as we sailed through the night.  Since we wanted to arrive on the Great Bahama Bank in daylight, we had to slow down by reducing sail between 4:00 and 6:30 am, (which made for a sloppy and, dare I say, uncomfortable ride) but that aside, it was a great crossing. 

Once on the banks we were in our glory.  We sailed for another nine hours with no land in sight in only fourteen feet of beautiful turquoise gin-clear water.  It was 3:30 when we called it a day and dropped our anchor out there, on the bank, in the middle of nowhere.  This is not the first time we've done that and, believe me, it was just as freaky the second time as it was the first.  Nassau is where we were headed to clear through customs but we knew we wouldn't be able to make it there before sunset so.. the bank was our cozy anchorage for the night. 

The anchor had barley touched the bottom off the bow when I was jumping off the stern into 84° water!   Within minutes Harley joined me and it was fabulous!  We'd been waiting to do that for a very long time and it will be the first of many.  We ate dinner in the cockpit watching our first Bahamian sunset.....*sigh*  life is good!....and soon after we both dropped like stones into bed and slept like rocks.

At the crack of dawn today we set off again.  The sea condition was flat calm giving us lots of time to relax and contemplate life and such when it dawned on me.... we have crossed our wake!  We have completed America's Great Loop.  Cool.  This wasn't really a goal of ours so it's no big deal but, hey, it gives us bragging rights if nothing else.

Presently, we are sailing towards Nassau Harbour so I will post this now so our family (and friends that care) know we are here safe.  We have yet to clear customs....here's hoping we don't get deported....but....more about that....next time.

Here Harley is raising the customary quarantine flag.
Second picture us at dawn sailing towards Nassau.

Lot's of Prep. Work

Not sure what I was thinking in my last post!  As if!  There has been precious little time to "chill"! 

We said goodbye to a bunch of fellow cruisers this morning as this is the weather window everyone was waiting for to sail to the Bahamas.  Oh how I wish we were sailing off with them but we will just have to wait for the next one. So many jobs needed to be done once we arrived in Marathon and so many things to see that we simply didn't have enough time to fit it all in a week.  I don't have a crystal ball but I bet there will be another  opportunity next week.  No worries.

So here we are.  The "to do" list is getting smaller every day.  The number one job was the watermaker and I'm happy to report it is now installed.  Number two? .... provisioning!  What a job that is!  I nearly had a complete meltdown in the grocery store the other day.  Grocery stores are few and far between in the Bahamas, and when you do find one, stock is limited and everything is so expensive.  Stocking up before heading over is highly recommended.  The problem for me is estimating how much we use.  For instance:  how much toilet paper do we use in three to four months?, or how much coffee do we drink?, how about happy hour snacks?  Yikes!  Where to put it all!  The other day we filled two grocery carts and we only went through half of the store.  By then we had, had enough and threw in the towel.  Today we finished that chore, filled the propane tanks and Harley is at West Marine right now picking up some more spare parts that we thought of.  At times it feels never-ending but as of right now I feel we can finally see the light.

You may think to yourself, " that doesnt sound like a lot", but when you factor in that we don't have a car and are not tied to a dock it might.  We are on a mooring ball, which means hauling all this stuff from shore into our dinghy and then from the dinghy onto the boat.  This often takes multiple trips in the heat and humidity. And, may I mention we walk everywhere and taxi back if there is a big load.  (We have our trusty fold up wagon for the smaller trips.)  I can understand why so many cruisers lose weight.  What I don't understand is why we haven't.

Anyway, we did take a well-deserved break one day and went to the colourful, artsy fartsy town of Key West.  It was great fun.   We spent the day browsing the shops and art galleries and took the side streets to check out the homes.  By the end of the day though I felt like my legs wouldn't hold me any longer and, to be honest, the best part was the bus ride there and back.  The bus was full with standing room only and alive with laughter and chatter as the locals all knew each other.  They included us in their banter and we had a blast!

Tomorrow our friends, Pat and Lynn on Adamant 1, should arrive here in Marathon.  Remember them?  We are quite excited to see them again and catch up....but...more about that. .next time.

One of the many trips with supplies and groceries . 

The dinghy dock

A manatee hanging aaround the dinghy dock

Duvall Street, Key West 

Key West chickens are everywhere 

No trip to Key West would be complete without a visit to see Sponge Bob

It's Chill Time!

There's a groovy vibe here in the keys.  Of course they didn't, but it feels like all the flower children of the 60's came here to retire and I'm love'n it.

Marathon is not only a place where retired cruisers (and hippies) come to play, its also where old and neglected boats come to retire or die.  I posted pictures below.

Our loose plan is to stay a bit longer to soak up the atmosphere and have fun.   So far we've been working on boat projects and taking multiple trips in to Home Depot....so many that I swear we have worn a permanent groove in the sidewalk .  Now...It's chill time! 

We have to wait for a good weather window anyway, before we leave, and that doesn't look like any time soon.  Then we will stage to go across to the Bahamas....but more about that next time.