Northern Exuma Update

We are fortunate to be sharing our pre-holiday travels through the Northern Exumas, with Different Drummer, Mattina, Nomada and Scooter.  Between the 5 boats we meet up in an anchorage, then split up for a night or two, only to reconnect somewhere down the line.

Keep in mind, anchorages are often only 1 to 2 hours away from each other, at 6-7 knots boat speed.  Each journey is an adventure, and the morning weather report often determines the evening's destination.

Happy Hour at Skipjack Point, Norman's Cay

We always watch for the "Green Flash" at sunset

Also fortunately, the water has been delightful for swimming and snorkeling.  We have also enjoyed trail walks, and leisurely kayaking around the shoreline.

 Beautiful, long beach at Hawksbill Cay

Sunrise from the boat

From Staniel Cay, where we just arrived last night, Happy Holidays! 

Peace to all

 

The Crossing

 I am just so happy to be here!
Weather maps, forecasts, sea states, wind direction, anchorages...  These are the topics most often broached in the last few days of travel. Of course, with 4 captains, and as many  crew (and 1 dog), the discussions can continue indefinitely.

The vessels: Independence (yours truly), Mattina, Different Drummer, and Nomada.  This crew member is simply overjoyed to be cruising with friends again. Normal abilities to climb on and off a dinghy, enjoy brisk, long walks, and manage life on a boat will never be taken for granted.

The first Wednesday of December, Independence cruised down to Miami from Ft Lauderdale (on the "inside") where we anchored alongside Jamie and Karen on Nomada. We launched our dinghy to head up the sketchy canal near Alton & Lincoln Rd for an early dinner and the full flavor of Miami Beach.

Thursday morning, we headed out Miami Cut with 2-3 ft seas on our bow, and light winds. The first part of our day had us pounding around and manually steering over and around the waves. By the time we approached Bimini seas had settled, sun was shining, and the water was the crystal clear aquamarine color we love so much.

Again, through radio communication, 2 to 3 vessels hemmed and hawed over which marina to pull into separated into North or South Bimini. (2 separate islands)  when entrance approaches proved deep enough for deeper draft boats, we all happily went into Bimini Sands marina, a clean, new facility with floating docks.

Friday, Batelco day. For those who cruise the Bahamas, you know there are always surprises and complications in setting up local phone and data service.  Suffice it to say, that after a complete morning at the Batelco office, we have all been spared from a stop in Nassau-- hooray!
Friday, December 7:  Happy Birthday, Dad!!!  Bless you, and keep knocking those golf balls into those tiny holes!

Installing SIM cards at Batelco

Saturday, and we are off the docks and headed across the Banks to anchor in West Harbor, New Providence. ETD-- 10pm.

Bienvenidos a Mexico

Although we planned it almost a year ago, the anticipation did not diminish the reality of our Most Excellent Baja Adventure!
Meeting up with Debi and Bruce at the San Jose del Cabo airport, we tied huge bags of kite gear to the roof and headed up to the coast of the Sea of Cortez and the beautiful fishing village, Los Barrilles, where Wayne and Sharon were waiting to install us in the adjoining casa.

Not too shabby!
We were later joined by Frank and Libby, and the activities began...
Highlights, included the release of newly hatched turtles, collected by a local who had started a non-profit and tirelessly collected nest eggs from along the stretch of beach, to protect them from vehicles and beach activities.

The kiteboarders hit the surf as soon as the wind blew (most days), and when they were not kiting, we were relaxing, or eating.   Oh, and Margaritas in the evenings-- delicious!

While we were there, in celebration of Dia del Revolucion, there was a colorful parade.

The children were very serious, although mothers encouraged them to smile from the sidelines.

I presumptuously speak for everyone when I suggest that we all fell in love with this charming fishing village, with the beautiful sunrise beach, and of course getting to know so many of Wayne and Sharon's friends who all had the great adventurous spirit.   Thanks, guys.  It was memorable!

Election Day 2012!!!

Well, Sue and Paul are back on the cruise circuit.  After a very busy summer, filled with home projects--  repairs, construction and general maintenance, we left our home in lovely Greenport in tip top shape with a  brand new generator about to be installed, but not quite there yet.
Alas, in the case of Sandy, almost was not quite good enough.  Of course, we lost power, but thankfully it was only a few days, and property damage was very minimal.
The new marina, filled with friend's boats was a greater concern, but again we were blessed with no damage, other than saltwater consequences to the shed contents, including a used refrigerator.
Now that Sandy is over, the ravaged area is bracing for a strong nor'easter, our favorite (not!) type of storm.

Prior to Sandy hitting the northeast coast, Paul and I were attending the Ft. Lauderdale boat show which was being buffeted by high winds and record full moon high tides.  Roads were closed, and canals were flooding over, as street drains backed up & flooded streets from below.  Amazing that the politicians can talk about everything but GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE!  (In my mind, the biggest issue we need to address)

We managed to get to Cape May (flying in to Atlantic City) for a beautiful, post-storm wedding in the arctic blasts.  Kerry Rose was the beautiful bride, now married to Christopher Dorbian.  Great to see the entire Rose family, including never-aging Margaret Rose.
Also, we had an amazing tour of a fish processing plant-- from ship to market-wrapped product, and the incredible custom-welded machinery that accomplishes it all.  Thank you, Clint, you are most gracious and very talented.

So, next week we board another plane for Baja Mexico to meet up with Bruce & Deb, Wayne & Sharon, Frank & Libby for a most excellent kite-board adventure.  (Sue, and her back will forever refrain from trying or learning said sport.)
Sue will be taking the opportunity to spend thanksgiving with family in Phoenix, AZ, before heading back to Stuart, FL and Independence.

That's when the "cruising" part of cruising should actually begin!!!  At the nearest weather opportunity, we look forward to crossing the Gulf Stream to our winter destination, the Bahamas.
It's a whirlwind schedule, and if nothing else, should keep us young-- or at least keep us from stagnation...

Settling in for a Florida Spring

Paul & Emyl getting ready to launch off Osprey

Now that we are re-situated with Independence in Plantation Key, we are accustoming ourselves to a new home base, and exploring the area. We have taken Osprey, our new 29-ft world-cat, out a few times now that all systems are (hopefully) working. First was a kite launch, in very shallow water in the bay just off our marina. Seychelle, Emyl and Paul all had great rides, and we got to chase Paul downwind in our fancy rescue boat.

We also had a fabulous dive adventure, guided by Tim, Seychelle's dad, who works with the marine scientists, and got us permission to dive the underwater research habitat. It has been abandoned for a short time, but the hundreds of fish- barracuda, snapper, grouper, etc-- have definitely not abandoned the area. The platforms and structures provide a nice habitat for prowling fish, we even saw a free-swimming green moray.
The most interesting part was swimming under and into a bell-like structure with oxygen at the top level. We could actually stand on a platform, with our heads inside this inverted bowl and talk to each other, as our heads were out of the water! Strange, indeed.

Tim and Paul at the helm

Later that day we were treated to a great dinner and inspiring sunset at the bay front home of Tim and Donna.

Although Donna & Tim took us out in her convertible-- This was not it!

Once again, delightful to make new friends, as we have taken our temporary leave of our old friends both at home and in the Bahamas. Good times, new times.

The marina that is home for now, is also a community park, featuring a first class olympic-size pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, sport fields and a skate park. There is also a small beach from which you can rent hobie cats, kayaks, etc. Today we saw a rescued and rehabilitated loggerhead turtle being released back to the bay at this beach.

Independence at Plantation Cay Marina

The Park also has an amphitheater. We have been swimming laps in the wonderful pool.

15-18 yr old loggerhead turtle

Cruising Again

March 2012

Keeping it brief-- lack of entries in this blog for the 2011 cruising season, due to our Bahamas adventure being cut short. We returned to Ft. Lauderdale in early January (Sue by plane, Paul following with Independence and
intrepid crewmate, Debi). Sue proceeded to visit various back doctors, MRI centers, chiropractors, acupuncturists for severe sciatica issues. After scheduling and canceling one surgery, finding an incredibly well-respected neuro-surgeon, and re-scheduling surgery with her, the body finally decided to start healing on its own. Wel
l, almost 4 months of invalid status, and finally returning to normality, the doc says don't do the surgery. How can you argue? Especially when you feel you have your life back!

Meanwhile, Paul remained happily busy at the World Cat dealer on a daily basis as

they put all finishing touches on our new baby: a 29-ft., center console power cat with twin 250hp Yamahas. Snap!

We look forward to bringing "Osprey" home to spend her time taking us around the East End and New England.

Shortly after the initial launching, Lisa arrived from Boston to look after her post-surgery Mom, who was actually pretty fine by that point, without surgery. Although the visit was short, we made a good attempt at enjoying every minute.

Johnny Dep's boat in Ft. Lauderdale

Cruise ship in Port Everglades

A fun place to grab a hamburger and a beer

(and feed the tarpon)

Without the time and weather to return to Bahamas, we decided to spend a month down in the Florida Keys. Never having gone there by boat, it was time to step out of our comfort zone. Although the wind blew fiercely for over a week, and threatened another week of same, we woke up Friday morning, cancelled our hair-cut appointments and grabbed the one and a half day of calming wind and seas that we saw in the forecast. Our first day took us to Miami Beach, where we stayed at the base of South Beach and had a pleasant and filling dinner with Capt. Joe P., our ol' buddy.

Early Saturday morning, out of Miami, Independence headed down the ICW, passing Miami in the morning light. South of Key Biscayne, we headed west from the ICW to proceed south on Hawk's Channel, or the passage east of the chain of islands, but west of the long corral reef running alongside the Keys and providing a buffer from sea swells, as well as terrific snorkeling and dive sites.

It was a great passage, and by afternoon, we decided to pull in to a marina at Key Largo on the ocean side. The entry was interesting, including the obligatory "securite" call on the radio-- once for the approach to the ridiculously narrow entrance at the breakwater, and again at a turning at the end of the canal, affectionately dubbed as "crash corner" for obvious reasons.

Once inside the tight space and tied up in an even tighter slip, we began to wonder if this was a big mistake, since we knew the winds were picking up that evening and on for the foreseeable future, as far as getting back out on the ocean side...

Although the digs were a bit "ghetto", the people were all extremely friendly, and when we walked across to the bay side later, for a sunset beer and then dinner at a local, and fabulous diner, we were happy for the interesting diversion.

Sunset Key Largo

This morning, however, we took the plunge, and decided to head back out in building winds and seas to come a bit further south to a marina and park on the bay side of Islamadora. Yes, the water is very shallow, and thankfully yes, it is mostly soft sand. We have not left our track in the sand yet, but....

We have now arrived at, ok, I feel like it is paradise. After the hustle and bustle of Ft. Lauderdale, the oh-so chic-ness of Miami Beach, here we are with the friendliest people in the world, a beautiful, new, olympic-swimming pool and park area, a sweet beach with bar-b-q and hobie cat rentals, tennis courts, trails, basketball, ampitheater-- all in a very laid-back atmosphere. We both swam long laps in the pool, and enjoyed reading in the lounge chairs. Paul took a bike ride and chatted with Hal Jones on the dock. I even jumped in the water off the back of our boat to swim with 2 very friendly manatees, who let me scratch their bellies!

Oh, there seems to be no TV service. Watch me cry. :)

Maybe not attractive, but certainly friendly manatee!