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Good-by's at Banana Bay Marina in Marathon
March 24, 2012
We have arrived!!!!! We pulled into a marina in South Bimini at 4:00PM. Twenty-four hours ago, we left our friends at the dock at Banana Bay. Our goal was to head south in the Gulf and then cross into the Atlantic at Channel 5 bridge. We arrived at Rodriguez Key at 11:00 PM. We thought the wind would begin to lessen and change direction. It didn’t so we bounced a little at anchor, but we were so tired that we hardly noticed. By midnight we were asleep, but were quite startled when the alarm went off at 4:30. It was a rocky ride at first but the send half of the trip we actually sailed.
We are glad to be here, and to have cleared customs.
March 25, 2012
We are so glad to be here and not making the crossing today. The winds are howling, and we are docked in a nice safe harbor. We walked around Alicetown in North Bimini. Alicetown is small, has a couple of marina’s, small homes and storefronts. Since it is Sunday, most places were closed. After looking at the sky, we decided to go back before… too late, it started to pour. By the time we returned to the water taxi to take us to South Bimini, we were already drenched. (We just tell ourselves living on a boat is a water sport.) Since water is 37 cents a gallon, the real plus of the torrential rain was our boat is free of salt and it was free! Prior to the rain it looked like the rim of a margarita glass.
There is internet if we go up to the marina office. Weather files, Francie’s ebooks, and a few skype phone calls have been accomplished.
At the end of the day, we watched our first Bahamian sun set while watching the waves crash onto the shore. It is a totally different ocean than the one we experienced 27 hours ago. Once again it is nice to be in a protected cove.
March 26, 2012
The wind howled all night. Francie and I, plus our neighbors on the dock, all agree that we are not leaving for a few days. This extra time gives us the opportunity to really explore Bimini.
Sunset in Bimini
Dolphin House in Alicetown, Bimini
Built by hand by local historian and poet laureate Ashley Saunders. Mr. Saunders took us on a tour of his work in progress. Notice the shells, tiles and objects plastered into all the walls and structure. All of the materials are donated or collected on the beach. He has been constructing the home and guest house for 18 years. There are 27 mosaic, sculpted and painted throughout the house.
April 1, 2012
We arrived in Highborne Cay yesterday afternoon after traveling for 3 days. The crossing from Bimini was uneventful, but the predicted lack of wind never happened. We were able to sail our last day.
Have you seen flying fish? When we crossed into the Atlantic from the Bahama Banks, they were everywhere. When the boat sliced through a wave, the fish would suddenly fly from the water with wings fluttering, like humming bird, skimming across the tops of the waves. Some crashed into the next wave; while others could get enough lift to keep going. The ones that went the furthest would bounce off a wave and continue until they sunk. They look like the stones we threw as kids trying to make them skip across the water.
Today the water is pretty bumpy. We can’t leave the boat; it feels like we are sailing even though we are at anchor. We hope the seas calm so we can explore the area in our dinghy and go into the marina for water.
Water is precious since there are limited places to obtain it; beside it is 50 cents a gallon. We are really working at conserving. We are using about 3 gallons a day. It amazes me how quickly we have changed our water habits.
In the harbor we are dwarfed by the mega-yachts that populate Highbourne and parts of the Exumas. The nurse sharks near the marina are waiting for fish scraps from boats.
We arrived in Highborne Cay yesterday afternoon after traveling for 3 days. The crossing from Bimini was uneventful, but the predicted lack of wind never happened. We were able to sail our last day.
Have you seen flying fish? When we crossed into the Atlantic from the Bahama Banks, they were everywhere. When the boat sliced through a wave, the fish would suddenly fly from the water with wings fluttering, like humming bird, skimming across the tops of the waves. Some crashed into the next wave; while others could get enough lift to keep going. The ones that went the furthest would bounce off a wave and continue until they sunk. They look like the stones we threw as kids trying to make them skip across the water.
Today the water is pretty bumpy. We can’t leave the boat; it feels like we are sailing even though we are at anchor. We hope the seas calm so we can explore the area in our dinghy and go into the marina for water.
Water is precious since there are limited places to obtain it; beside it is 50 cents a gallon. We are really working at conserving. We are using about 3 gallons a day. It amazes me how quickly we have changed our water habits.
In the harbor we are dwarfed by the mega-yachts that populate Highbourne and parts of the Exumas. The nurse sharks near the marina are waiting for fish scraps from boats.
Exumas
Pictures from Exuma Land & Sea Park & Compass Cay
April 15, 2012
Once again we are sitting out big winds. We are in Black Point Settlement. I am amazed that people live on the different islands. The land is covered with what we called scrub, waist high vegetation trying to hold down the little amount soil and clinging to rock. Because of the lack of soil, people are not raising food in little gardens. In addition to little soil, there is no natural water; it is made through reverse osmosis which takes energy. Also there is no way to make electricity except large generators run by fossil fuel. I am sure the recent rise in fuel prices really has hurt the local population.
Everything has to be delivered by boat. Building a home is a challenge just getting the materials is a difficult task. The supply boat comes once a week bringing provisions and mail. Fresh food is at a minimum.
Black Point Settlement is the most populated island we have been to in the Exumas. To our delight they have a laundromat. It has been a long time since we were able to wash clothes in a washing machine with fresh water. To add to the delight of the day, we could buy a shower. It was timed, but it was the first time skin didn’t taste like salt. It was wonderful.
The best part of the island is the people. They are warm and friendly as well as industrious. As we walk down the street, we are greeted by adults and children. In the morning children walked to school in their uniforms. They had just finished their vacation. Seeing them brought back so many memories of reluctantly returning to school after a vacation and watching my students return to the classroom.
Once again we are sitting out big winds. We are in Black Point Settlement. I am amazed that people live on the different islands. The land is covered with what we called scrub, waist high vegetation trying to hold down the little amount soil and clinging to rock. Because of the lack of soil, people are not raising food in little gardens. In addition to little soil, there is no natural water; it is made through reverse osmosis which takes energy. Also there is no way to make electricity except large generators run by fossil fuel. I am sure the recent rise in fuel prices really has hurt the local population.
Everything has to be delivered by boat. Building a home is a challenge just getting the materials is a difficult task. The supply boat comes once a week bringing provisions and mail. Fresh food is at a minimum.
Black Point Settlement is the most populated island we have been to in the Exumas. To our delight they have a laundromat. It has been a long time since we were able to wash clothes in a washing machine with fresh water. To add to the delight of the day, we could buy a shower. It was timed, but it was the first time skin didn’t taste like salt. It was wonderful.
The best part of the island is the people. They are warm and friendly as well as industrious. As we walk down the street, we are greeted by adults and children. In the morning children walked to school in their uniforms. They had just finished their vacation. Seeing them brought back so many memories of reluctantly returning to school after a vacation and watching my students return to the classroom.
April 21, 2012
We are returning north to visit the places we didn’t get a chance to spend much time. Our first stop was Staniel Cay. We wanted to visit the swimming pigs and snorkel Thunderbolt Grotto (featured in the James Bond movie). Friends told us about their experience of getting too close to shore and feeding the pigs potato chips. One of the pigs in his exuberance to eat the chips thrown to him hungrily attacked the bag ripping it open. Chips landed in the water and dinghy. The water was shallow enough that pig began climbing into the dinghy to eat the chips in the boat. Our friend had to wrestle the pig pushing it off the edge of the dinghy. Consequently we stayed off shore far enough; making the two pigs swim to us. I made sure to keep them in water deep enough that they could not board our boat. We made a second trip to the pigs to bring cabbage scraps thinking that those scraps would be a real treat for them. To our surprise, the pigs sniffed the cabbage and swam away! We figured they have become used to a diet of chips and crackers!
Later when the tide was low, we snorkeled the Thunderbolt Grotto. We swam into the cave, when we lifted our heads out of the water; we could see the sky. The grotto was full of fish and for a while we were the only one in the cave. We resisted the urge to pop out of the water and say, “Bond, James Bond”! But now we want to watch the James Bond movie, Thunderbolt, which featured the grotto.
We are returning north to visit the places we didn’t get a chance to spend much time. Our first stop was Staniel Cay. We wanted to visit the swimming pigs and snorkel Thunderbolt Grotto (featured in the James Bond movie). Friends told us about their experience of getting too close to shore and feeding the pigs potato chips. One of the pigs in his exuberance to eat the chips thrown to him hungrily attacked the bag ripping it open. Chips landed in the water and dinghy. The water was shallow enough that pig began climbing into the dinghy to eat the chips in the boat. Our friend had to wrestle the pig pushing it off the edge of the dinghy. Consequently we stayed off shore far enough; making the two pigs swim to us. I made sure to keep them in water deep enough that they could not board our boat. We made a second trip to the pigs to bring cabbage scraps thinking that those scraps would be a real treat for them. To our surprise, the pigs sniffed the cabbage and swam away! We figured they have become used to a diet of chips and crackers!
Later when the tide was low, we snorkeled the Thunderbolt Grotto. We swam into the cave, when we lifted our heads out of the water; we could see the sky. The grotto was full of fish and for a while we were the only one in the cave. We resisted the urge to pop out of the water and say, “Bond, James Bond”! But now we want to watch the James Bond movie, Thunderbolt, which featured the grotto.
We stopped at Cambridge Cay to snorkel and hike. We would have stayed longer, but the weather is predicted to once again get ugly. We sailed to Exuma Park again so we could be on a mooring ball in in a protected area. The weather is supposed to change later today with winds up to 30- 40 mph. We are glad to be tucked in a safe place. We should be able to begin traveling on Tuesday when the winds calm a bit and the seas settle down. We are going to Rock Sound in Eleuthera.