We are in the Bahamas!

We are in the Bahamas!

While anchored in Angelfish Creek cut by Key Largo on a Thursday night the conversation between Bruce and myself kind of went like this “Hey, look there are 2 sailboats headed out.  You think they are headed for Bimini?  Maybe we should go tonight?  Yep, let’s go!”
And with that we quickly finished dinner and got the boat ready to leave.  We left the cut about 4:00 in the afternoon.  Now this may sound like it was a spur of the moment decision.  But it definitely was not.  This was after a month of studying the weather and looking for that elusive weather window.  We had decided to leave on Sunday which looked like a better window.  But the seas had already had a day of easterly winds and were settling down.  We decided on the night sail to stretch our window a little.  With a full moon it was beautiful but a little rough.  The cruise ships were easy to see, they were lit up like Christmas trees and visible for miles.

We arrived in Bimini a little before dawn and not wanting to enter while dark waited til the sun rose.  It was a magical moment, crystal clear, turquoise waters made even more special by the long wait with miserably strong northerly winds.  We have heard over and over again, do not cross with any northerly component to the wind.  The Gulf Stream moves from south to north and with a north wind opposed to the current can kick up some nasty seas. 

We knew some friends of ours had made the crossing about a week ahead of us from Key Largo but had been out of contact with them since they made the crossing.  As we drew nearer to Big Game Club we saw the Paradise Hunter and our friend Roger wildly waving to get our attention.  He was a welcome surprise and a big help during that first sleep deprived day.  We had very little sleep during the crossing.  We usually take 3 hour watches but I was seasick the first 6 hours and wasn’t able to break Bruce until after midnight.  He was a real trooper taking my watches until I felt better.  I very seldom get seasick but it will happen when it is rough on occasion. 

We anchored just north of the marina and Roger came over to help us with a stern anchor.  We were in a tight anchorage with one other boat and a strong current.  We were able to get everything set and the anchors held well the entire time we were there. 

We were also met and welcomed by our neighbor boat, an adorable 8 year old boy with a big cheeky smile and lots of attitude handling his dinghy like a real pro (mom was with him). 

Roger walked Bruce over to Customs and they cleared us.  We are now displaying the Bahamian flag and not the yellow quarantine flag.  When coming into the Bahamas you must display a yellow quarantine flag until you are cleared by Customs and only the Captain is allowed off the boat until then. 

After looking at our options for staying connected in the Bahamas we chose to get an International Bahamian cell number as my phone is unlocked and we were able to get a new sim card.  Roger (bless his heart) walked Bruce to the BTC building and took care of that business.  We plan to come back to the Bahamas next winter and if we keep a balance with a new deposit every three months after suspending our account we can have the same number when we return. 

Next point of business?  Catching up with old friends and meeting new friends with Pina Coladas at a beach restaurant of course!  We finished up that wonderful day with a lobster dinner on the Paradise Hunter with friends looking for bull sharks.  Ahh, what a life!

Sundowners on the Paradise Hunter

 Roger (Paradise Hunter) John (Last Chance)

 Keith (Kristteny) Terry (Paradise Hunter)

Jerry, Rhonda and son Tim (Ugowego)

About Alicetown

No bread at the bakery, got to get there early!

Veterans Park

Cars drive on the opposite side of the road.  Bruce has pulled me off the road more than once because I think they are on the other side!

We are not waiting for a weather window……. WELCOME TO THE BAHAMAS