MOW Cay

We relocated to Man-O-War Cay yesterday.  It was unfair play by Barb, she lured us over with her famous key lime pie.  The winds were up and directly on the nose.  It was slow going and wet at first.  I told Myron I was fine with waiting another day.  He gave me a look and I knew the invitation to key lime was sufficient motivation for him to tolerate a little spray.  And yes, it was yummy!  Thanks Barb!

We are on Beach Cruiser’s mooring until we get a weather window to head south.  We were able to attend church this morning and reunite with Pastor Randy and the other brothers and sisters we met there last season.  

New Life Bible Church before Sunday School.  Notice people drive golf carts to church!

We sang lots of Christmas songs, some new to me.  It was a blessing.  We pray that the true spirit of Christmas infects you with joy!

Love to all,

Dena

Posted via 3G.
{GMST}26|35.420|N|077|00.130|W|Moored|{GEND}

Marsh Update

We have taken care of our major chores at Marsh Harbour: check-in, fuel, prescriptions, BTC card, and ginger beer.  I have yet to get Abaco chicken and more fresh produce.  That must happen before we leave this area.  We hope to see Barb, Barry, Paul and Sue at Man-O-War Cay and our brothers and sisters at the church there, but that depends upon the timing of the weather.  We are waiting out the passing of a front and wish it would move along.  At least the worst of it is well north of us.

Before we left the U.S., Myron secured a toggle that works with the BTC cell towers.  Yesterday he successfully connected to the internet on our computer through the Bahamian phone service.  It is not quick, especially during prime hours, but it is much less expensive than the cost of the internet service providers here and more available throughout the islands and cays.  The SIM card cost $14.95 and the monthly service is $30, as opposed to one month with an ISP at $99. The toggle is an HUAWEI E353.  It was about $30 on e-bay, unlocked.  It is compatible with the alpha R36 router, so both of us can be on the internet at the same time.  Leave us a comment with your email address (we will keep that private) if you have a question about it.

We miss our routine with our friends back in Jacksonville.  Tonight we would have had Moon River Pizza with Paul, Shari, Fred, and whoever else joined us.  Tomorrow we would spend the day with Fred and get Mexican food.  Sunday would have been breakfast with Fred, John, Marnie and Tom.  At Marsh Harbour, we have a different routine.   Thursday is the day for the special on a burger and fries at $8.00.  It was a really good burger!  We went there last season with Barb and Barry, but they did not make it over from MOW Cay today.  We rarely eat out due to the expense, even groceries are hard on the wallet.   As a result, we will make our own pizza with flat bread, pesto sauce, sausage, muenster cheese and onions.  But not tonight, we are still reeling from our lunch! 

We have been doing chores and projects on Hold Fast, because it never ends.  Do not kid yourself, it just never ends.  Myron was up the mast today and if it is calm enough tomorrow, he will go up again.  It is always something.  The disappointment is dampened when that fact is acknowledged, and we thank God that we rarely have something serious.

Here are a few pictures.  You can go to our picture album link to see more.

Barb and crew Karl step outside the cockpit to wave as we sail near:

Sunset at Marsh Harbour.  The cargo dock (toward the right with the light and arm lift) was busy all night.

Love to all,

Dena

Marsh Harbour

Last night was a good stay at Red Bay. The holding was good as well as protection from SE winds. There was an aroma that was incredibly inviting. I was almost sure someone was making jerk chicken. No one lives out on those cays so that heavenly smell had to be wafting off of Great Abaco.
Today after checking in as an arrival on the cruiser's net, we motor-sailed in to Marsh Harbour Marina, fueled up and cleared with immigration and customs. Immigration was quick, unfortunately only a 90 day visa. It does not seem to matter what we request. Customs took much longer too arrive, but was much more fun. She and the dockmaster/bar-keep/chef were neighbors and Myron got them to joke a lot about that.
Once we finished up the legalities, we needed to wait for a little more water under our keel to shove off. By then, the wind had us pretty well pinned to the fuel dock. Myron had me hold one line on a post as leverage at the stern so he could use reverse to thrust the bow away from the dock. We had to do that same thing at Bath, NC. It worked as he planned and soon we were picking out our anchoring spot. Snug at anchor, the sails buttoned up, the lines and fenders stowed and most of our offshore gear put away, we were suddenly inspired to take a nap. Tonight we catch up on rest. Tomorrow we will think about launching the dinghy and maybe tackle some tasks on shore. Or maybe not.
Love to all,
Dena

Posted via Ham Radio.
{GMST}26|32.804|N|077|03.351|W|Anchored|{GEND}

Red Bay

I made a pot roast, fresh salsa and lots of oatmeal cookies to sustain us through our journey to the Abacos. The salsa is gone, there is only one cookie left and only enough meat for a couple more sandwiches. Good thing we have arrived. Well mostly. We felt it was too dark to manuever in the Marsh Harbour anchorage, so we found our way in the dark to an anchorage just north of the harbor: Red Bay or Water Cay. There is no housing or buildings around and we can see the night sky with incredible clarity.

After last night's position update, we motor sailed into Great Sale Cay at about 4 am. We managed about two hours of sleep, then listened to weather for a bit and were pulling up anchor just after 7 am. We began to head north and saw Barry heading south. We abruptly turned to go south as well. I told Barry he needs to get more than two hours of sleep and change his MMSI number before he can ditch his loser friends! It was a good call by Barry. We had a fantastic day of sailing. We were regularly seeing seven knots and held a high of 8.2 knots. All canvas was out until the reach got too tight and we had to reef the mizzen to lighten the helm. Once we rounded Crab Cay, however, we were head into the wind. We were still making good time and having such a good day we could not resist going all the way into the Sea of Abaco. We shot out the Whale Cay cut before sunset and ran the Loggerhead Channel using radar and my best God-given, ala natural night vision.

I am heating up, of all things, tator tots for a snack before we hit the hay.

Love to all,
Dena

Posted via Ham Radio.
{GMST}26|36.447|N|077|10.875|W|Anchored|{GEND}

In Route - Position Report

You may recall that after last year I said no more Port Saint Lucie inlet. I guess it takes a year for us to forget things. However, the inlet had been dredged since our last outing and we never saw less than ten feet. We followed Barry and Barb and their crew Karl on Beach Cruiser out of the inlet. The initial part of our journey was a bit rough with conflicting swells and no wind, but all in all it has been a good trip thus far. We are nearing the banks and hope to get on them just before dark. Beach Cruiser is right here with us and it was fun doing the crossing with them.

We only fished in the international waters (ie. not US and not Bahamas), but no joy. The water temp was only 84 about the middle of the Gulf Stream. When we hit Bahamian water, the temp shot up to 88 degrees and we saw plenty of life. Several dolphin joined us for near an hour. We live to fish another day and know God will provide when He says it is time.

Love to all,
Dena

Posted via Ham Radio.
{GMST}27|17.219|N|079|06.739|W|Underway|{GEND}

Manatee Pocket

Today we slipped the mooring in Vero Beach and motor sailed down near the Port Saint Lucie inlet to join up with Barb and Barry at Manatee Pocket.  We dropped anchor just port and aft of Beach Cruiser and just finished a fun social time with their friends Pam and Barbara from Sunset Marina in Stuart and Karl from Ohio, a long-time friend of Barb’s who decided yesterday to fly down here and join them in the crossing to the Abacos.  Talk about spontaneous!

We were treated to a complete surprise last night when we discovered that the fuel dock at the city marina housed the judges for the parade of lights.  All the boats strutted by the fuel dock and showed off their very best lights as well as their music.  One boat was brave enough to attempt a cruise around the mooring field.  We heard his unfortunate meeting with an unlit channel marker. 

Our trip down here today had a few fun scenes.  One was an amphibious ATV.  It was different from a jet ski and it took me a while to spot the folded up tires.

We also had a huge gaggle of prams.  There were three separate areas with junior regattas.  The first one we encountered had well over 50 prams.  All were well herded by motor boats, keeping the prams out of the ICW and other boats away from the prams.  

Tomorrow is supposed to be record heat here, but tonight seems cools enough for a good sleep.

Love to all,

Dena

Posted via wifi
{GMST}27|09.206|N|080|11.822|W|Anchored|{GEND}

Vero Beach - Take Two

I am out of practice.  I broke my cardinal rule about sharing our plans.  Plans change.  So no more telling you about what we are going to do, until after we do it.  

What we perceived as a window in the weather was more like a door peephole.  Not enough time for seas to settle.  We cannot join up with Barb and Barry in Stuart because there is no mooring available near them.   Alas, we are still at our mooring in Vero Beach and just paid through Friday night.  Good thing we like it here!

Preparing to set sail is like many events in our lives, we prepare physically, emotionally and spiritually.  Then when the event is cancelled, we have to deal with the let down in all three aspects.  Today we read and caught up on sleep.  I am reading Franklin Sanders ‘At Home in Dogwood Mudhole’ and the timing was impeccable.  He quotes John Calvin “Ignorance of the providence of God is the cause of all impatience.”  We know we would not be alive or be here without God’s providence.  It is time to be patient and remember “The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.”  Proverbs 16:9 (NASB)

Love to all,

Dena

Vero Beach (aka Velcro Beach)

Many people arrive on their boat to Vero Beach, fall in love with it and stay.  As a result it is has acquired the nick-name ‘Velcro Beach.’  We had no intention of staying long, but we did need to wait for a weather window.  It is an easy place to wait and the local transit is free!  ‘Free’ is the most favorite word ever for cruisers, ie unemployed people that work really hard on their boats.

Waiting we did, hiding from rain squalls, doing little projects, reading, walking, and meeting new people.  We found a sweet shop aptly named ‘Cravings.’  Toasted coconut ice cream was my poison of choice.  We also found a well stocked, well organized hardware store within easy walking distance on Beachland.  The beach is only about a mile away and we would walk over there to peek at the ocean.  Each time we have gone, the ocean looks unhappy.

Doug on Moma Cal left after one night.  Two days later another boat rafted up with us, ‘Huli Makai,’ a Baba 35.  The owner and his friends are from Roanoke Island, North Carolina.  They are a nice group of young guys, a bit frustrated because the weather has ruined their plans to sail to various locals in the Caribbean and surf.  They walked to the beach with their boards and found more disappointment.  It was so broken up it was not even worth going into the water.  The next day was more of the same so they hitched down to Sabastian inlet based upon some anonymous tip.  The backup plan was to watch football at a nearby restaurant.  Their friends have joined us on the mooring.  That makes three rafted to this mooring, typical for Vero Beach, except the accumulated age of any two of these guys is still about a decade short of anyone’s age here in the marina.  I asked for a picture tonight to prove to Marja that there still are young people out adventuring on sailboats.  Youth can be refreshing and they have been gentlemen.  It is always sad when we part ways with nice folks.

We will slip the mooring Tuesday and join up with Barb and Barry in anticipation of a weather window for crossing.  If the Ham bans allow, we will supply position reports during the crossing.

On a side note, here is a shout out to Ellen and Jonathan on s/v Cupcake:  Thank you for letting us know you made it safely back to Maine.  We cannot contact you because we do NOT have your email address, please leave it for us in a comment and we promise not to publish it!

Love to all,

Dena