Keys & Beyond

Darrell,

Glad to see it all worked out!!! Was there a pig roast on Sunday? We know the pool well at Nippers and have spent quite a bit of time on Guana cay, though I have heard theat development has occurred and my favorite beaches are no longer accesible. The wx here has been great and for you should hold through the end of the week. Safe travels and I am jealous.

Frank

Ainokea
 
Darrel

Sorry spell check took over. I meant you should be good for the week wx wise. we are to get a front on Fri AM. Would probably put it in your area late Fri early Sat. Looks to a weak front with cooler temps but some wind to kick up the Gulf Stream. oh well a few extra days in Paradise.

Best

Frank

Ainokea
 
Did I say I was JEALOUS?!!!!!

Frank

Ainokea
 
Outstanding. I've been holding my breath for two days. Thought we should all get a peek at what we're missing out on. Soak it all up Capt!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXGgF3H4yGY[/youtube]
 
D,

Happy to hear you had a safe crossing. Like the others have said, take lots of pics and post lots of tall tales up for us folks still trapped in winter.

Jack
 
Yes we ended up at Nippers for Easter Sunday. Sun shining not much wind. Lots of girls. Ah, I mean lots of people, upwards of 600. Lots of people on the beach, every square foot of Nippers was full. Music, dancing and friendly people. The view from Nippers is absolutely Magnificent.
After about 4 or 5 hours we could stand no more. The holding in the anchorage was very poor. Made me nervous. If the wind changed we would either be into other boats or on the rocks. Told Bud we better go, he had girl under each arm and a couple following him around. I told him the boat was too small for them all. He said it was all or none. :cry: I guess we need a bigger boat. 😉

We landed Sunday afternoon in Marsh Harbor, on the hook of course. Today at the crack of dawn a 40 foot Donney water taxi went within a couple feet of the boat. He put out a four foot wake. The coffee pot went flying off the stove with boiling hot coffee in it. Bud tried to catch it and burnt his feet. What a mess. I went on the cruiser net and announced to the world what his parents were. I asked fellow cruisers whether he was trying to tell me something and if so couldn't he think of a better way.

We went to Mermaid Reef and fed some cherrios to the fish. Bud took some pictures. Have to see how they turned out.
Will post lots of picture when we have a faster connection. We found free internet at one place only and that is at Snappas. So every evening we are forced to have a couple cocktails or a bite to eat . Tough job but someone has got to do it.

Back to Nippers.......Those 4 women fit on deck and two in the engine room , But it turned out that when we got to Marsh Harbor it was past our bedtime so we kicked them off the boat. amen. I told Bud that I was going to report the truth even if it hurts and it hurt to turn those four girl out. And thats the truth.
Tune in for the rest of the story.

Little at Petes Pub will be the next journey. In the mean time we have made a deal for a slip anytime right in front of the wash house. for $25.00 and night and day. With showers, pool, Wash room, and laundry , good place to eat and get on line. free. That is the best deal all winter. Florida included. No charge for water. WOW!

Captd
 
Toooooo much fun, I'm surprised your writing isn't more slurred. Be safe, keep the posts coming, add some envious pictures now and then, and continue to live the dream. But.... please share.
 
Using their computer now. so later I will try to post some picture. Oops 😱 I don't know how to do it with their computer. I will try their password and user name and see if that works.
captd
 
!st page in my album. Abacos 2010.

If anyone Likes the looks of a picture would you move a couple of them to this thread. I always forget how to do it.

Today we will go to the middle reefs 🙂

Captd
 
Here you go...

main.php


Thought a view of the beach might be good for those still in the frozen northland.

And, off the stern...

main.php


Enjoying the travelogue - thanks for keeping us updated!

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Nice - couldn't resist one more. Cheers to you two!
 
Thanks Bruce,

Had to do an oil change , How does the hand pump hook up to a hose connection? Walked back and forth to the hardware store. Ended up borrowing a pump from fellow cruiser. Got to borrow it again, got to much oil in the engine. Pump did not get it all.

While close to groceries we figured we might as well get some stores. Waiting for a cab the police car came by. Lady cop at that. Bud said are you a public servant ? She said she was so Bud says " Why not give us a ride back to the Marina?"
She did and it saved us 6 bucks. 🙂

We had Mutton snapper for dinner. Bud caught a couple of them enroute to a snorkel site.. Threw one back and fried up the other for dinner. Great tasting fish.

A front is expected this weekend with winds over 30. We will be staying close to dock. Speaking of the dock, Last night a four piece band hammered away until 1:00 Am. Once this front is past we will be going out to anchor for the weekends.

Today I got to get a couple of quarts of oil out of the engine.

Coffee is done.
captd
 
Lookin' like a good time is being had by all! Enjoy yourselves and keep the pictures coming... BTW, it snowed here in Leavenworth on Thursday.
 
Did i mention we did see the shuttle launch a few days back. Night shot. We could see it for the 1st few minutes and then went into the clouds.

No big storm like predicted but some rain and a little breeze. We will see what come up today. Pete"s Pub in Little Harbor is the next heading. Then we will start the long trek home with fishing and snorkel spots in between. Looks like about 600 miles.

captd
 
We anchored in Man-O-War Cay last night. The wind she blew 1st from the East then from the North switching to the South, I would guess 30 to 40 miles an hour. I was on anchor watch from 1:00 AM to 3:30 in the morning. The Bruce (claw) held.
5 inches of rain. Guess they needed it , All their water comes from rain collected off the roofs into cisterns.

We now have a mooring in Hope Town, Plan on staying on it for a couple days. Weather looks bad for the rest of the week. Wind is blowing right now at a least 20 to 30. We still have not gone out on the outer reef. Too rough. We will be starting to head toward home at the end of this week. As we go back there are a number of spots we may get out on the reef. Near as I can figure it will be about 600 miles.

To be continued

captd
 
Night before last we drug anchor about 150 ft. Two anchors out now.

Rented a car and went to Petes Pub and Treasure Cay so we have seen it all. Will start back in the next two days . No more internet until we are in Palm beach. Expect to wait a few days in West End for the weather. Looks good for the weekend, so should be pretty nice on the way to West End. The wind has never quit since we got here. 15 to 30 every day always from the East and North east. Sun shines and was nice and warm at least.

Hope to post and all clear to this site in less than a week.

captd
 
Darrell,
May you have fair winds and following seas on your return to the "other side". If you get delayed, please have Dee let us all know that all is good. I will send you a PM with my cell. If she calls, I will post for everyone to see.

Travel safe,
David and Maureen
 
Leaving Marsh Harbor today and heading back. Might have to set at West End for a while. We will call Dee when we leave for the crossing.
Good story to tell about sailing yesterday. Tri maran, 17 knots. Wow what fun.
captd
 
Captd, a couple of questions about your trip:

1. Who insured your boat for the Bahamas trip? I have had difficulty finding carriers to cover the Bahamas. I had one agent tell me that there was a danger of pirates in the area. Not heard that one before!

2. Do you find the lack of a flying bridge to be a handicap in the Caribbean? Some comments I have read indicate that you need to be up high to read the water and that you should not rely heavily on charts.

Thanks!
Warren
 
Safe crossing Captd. Please let us know when you get back safely. Enjoyed your trip from afar!!

Charlie
 
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