Nassau update

FINALLY Sam is here and fixed the computer so we could get online!  We had some setting that was preventing us for logging on to wifi.  We lucked out on our Gulf Stream crossing (on Friday the 13th) even though the wind had turned North overnight as we were anchored off Rodriguez!  We headed out at 5 am and decided to keep going because the wind was between 3 and 5 knots; luckily it stayed light all day and the stream was quite benign.  We arrived at Gun Cay cut at 2:30 and into the marina at Cat Cay by 3.  We cleared customs with no problem and went ashore for a  very nice Valentine's Day eve dinner.  The trip across the Bahamas Bank on Saturday was also very quiet, so we motorsailed and anchored on the bank around 5pm.  As we anchored you could see the bottom but nothing else.  There was no land visible in any direction.  Sunday we headed toward the Berry Islands and anchored off the Berry Island Club at the east end of Frazer's Hog Cay.  Weather was not great for moving on so we stayed anchored for two nights.  Gained all kinds of respect for our Manson Supreme Anchor as we were in 20ish knot winds and current and never budged...no I didn't say I slept through it all, but we didn't drag!!  We met some folks from Bethlehem, PA and spent those two evenings and two more on the West Bay of New Providence with them.  We also have been enjoying their company here in Nassau. 

Sam, Jess and Ben arrived Friday evening from New England - we were so excited to have them join us! We decided not to run off immediately from Nassau and spent today relaxing and getting a Bahamian phone and eating wonderful food at a Greek Festival.  Tomorrow we head toward the  Exumas and hope to connect with Martha's brother Robby Robinson and his wife Carol in Warderick Wells by Tuesday, so we can celebrate Ben's first birthday in style with family!  Anyone wanting to "learn it all", check out Robby's new book - "The International Marine Book of Sailing";   Who woulda thunk---!  I am duly impressed.  We hear there is WiFi in Warderick Wells, so you should hear from us again soon.  ~~~(\_~~~D&M
Google Earth track file for 2/13
Google Earth track file for 2/14
Google Earth track file for 2/15
Google Earth track file for 2/17
Google Earth track file for 2/19

Two hours after we left Rodriguez Key the sun decided to join us on
our trip across the Gulfstream.

By three pm we were tied up at Cat Cay YC and had raised the Bahamian
courtesy flag.

On Valentine's Day we set off across "the Banks" headed for the rest
of the Bahamas.

We reflected on the joys of cruising as we crossed the shallow Banks,
with our sails reflected on the bottom.

After two days in the Berry Islands and two days in West Bay, New
Providence we finally entered Nassau harbor.

Key Largo to Rodriguez Key

Here we are!  READY TO GO!  We really enjoyed our Key Largo stay, but are ready for the next leg.  We had to leave Port Largo at high tide, so we arrived here around 11:45am. We were the first, but boats have been trickling in all day.  Dan went over the side and checked the bottom and the prop and all is well, except for the "sandblasting" we gave the rudder and the keel while "relaxing" in Florida Sound!  We eavesdropped on a radio conference at 5:30pm with several of the boats heading out at 5:00am and piped in that we'd be heading out right along with all of them. Everyone else is headed to Bimini, while we chose Cat Cay, but we will certainly enjoy the company getting out of the reef here.  We will be using the SPOT tracking as we move over to and through the Bahamas, as we won't have internet unless we find it at a marina.  We will try to keep adding posts when we do find the internet.  Thanks for all the support and enthusiasm you have all given us!  ~~~_/)~~~(notice we are now heading east!) D&M
Google Earth track file

Last chance to relax by the Marina del Mar pool.

Last look at "crash corner" on the way out of Port Largo.

Brunelle headed for Rodriguez Key. We were the first to arrive, but
there are over 25 boats here now waiting to cross tomorrow. We head
out at 5 am.

Key Largo update

New month, new week but no new travels!  The biggest trip was Dan's bike ride to the Publix, about two miles away, on Sunday to get extra V-8 for a Bloody Mary party at noon on Brunelle to start off the Super Bowl festivities.  About 10 of our new friends joined us.  We are getting to know our marina neighbors easily because our slips come with a continental breakfast, and we have been enjoying that each morning, usually at tables with others up on the veranda.  The veranda was also the sight of the Super Bowl party where we had 2 TVs, 24 people, one 25cents a square pool, and LOTS of food!  No one was too concerned who won, so it was a pleasant evening.  We spent today icing knees, working on paperwork for the Bahamas and swimming in the heated pool.  This is a rough life!
~~~(\_~~~D&M

Roadside view of our location.

Our present slip right in front of the breakfast/Super Bowl veranda

Shopping trip

Still here in Key Largo

Today we have committed to at least a couple of more weeks here in Key Largo.  It is a very comfortable spot to work on getting Martha's knees a little stronger.  It is not a great place for antsy Dan.  He has turned half the boat inside out checking stuff (stuff is an engineering term for ???).  More work to be done.  We are just learning that some of our neighbors come from all over and spend 1 to 3 months here each winter.  Seem to be great folks as anyone who rides around in a hole-in-the-water-into-which-you-throw-money has to be.  We have been invited to a Superbowl Party so we are feeling right at home.

We have had great support from lots of folks as we do this trip.  It is always dangerous to start something like this.  Jay and Pegg have been great fellow cruisers and spent a lot of time watching Brunelle as we went north for Christmas and THE KNEES.  Jay's daughter Amy is our wonderful "remote" at home taking care of Maggie, looking in on Mom, and sorting the mail...and wishing she had not agreed to go north for the winter, maybe.  Many friends and CCYC (Chesapeake Catalina Yacht Club) members have cheered us on...of course they would not know what to cheer about if it were not for our son Sam's effort on the blog site.  He has done a great job while dealing with the blog "newbies" on Brunelle.  Thanks Jay, Pegg, Amy, and Sam.

A secret weapon has been Gerry Helldorfer.  He and his wife Jeanne did this trip in 1999.  He has sent many emails coaching us on where to go and where not to go.  He is the reason we are in Key Largo.  Today he sent an email saying, "A delay in your trip to the Bahamas could be a good thing.  The Bahamas are at their best in the Spring.  About March 1 the weather fronts are much weaker and they are usually gone from the Exumas.  The winds are lighter, so the water is even clearer.  The water is warmer and just perfect for snorkeling.  The days are longer and the weather windows are frequent.  Even if you spend all of February in the Keys you could still spend two months in the Bahamas and be home in May.  In May, it ought to be a fast off-shore trip up the coast riding in the Gulf Stream."  This email was a great boost in our morale today.  And Martha and Jeanne (who also had knee replacements this year) have commiserated frequently as Martha tries to deal with this.  Thanks, Gerry and Jeanne!!

Updates may not be too frequent in the next couple of weeks.  I hope you have signed up for Sam's emails when there is a new bit of wisdom from the warm part of the country.~~~(\_~~~D&M

Home in Key Largo

We are mostly set to move on as we said in last night's note.  However, Martha's knees have been more swollen and painful for the last few days.  We have decided to stay a little longer as long as we are in such a great spot (thanks Helldorfers!).  We will continue to enjoy Marina del Mar and Martha's knees will continue to heal.  We hope to head on within a week.~~~(\_~~~D & M

A shot of Brunelle in the morning sun in Key Largo...too much bright sun.

Key Largo again...worth hanging around!

Jay and Pegg headed off this morning going back to St. Augustine but not before we borrowed their car for a last trip to the local Publix supermarket and conning Jay into carting two 2 gallon cans of gas to the boat while we shopped.   We've had a great time with them and now we have to head on on our own.  A major change will be that we don't have Pegg's pictures to select from when we do this blog. We'll try to pick up our picture taking but we didn't today.   Martha and I spent the day organizing some stuff to get ready for the trip to the Bahamas on Thursday.  Working on charts, VHF licenses which we hadn't noted that we needed, and setting up for cell phone and texting to minimize the cost of communicating when we are over there.  We have really become spoiled by the air card that gives us internet coverage along most of the east coast.  That will change Thursday.  The blog will be a lot different.  Hope you will all keep tuning in and I hope we can make it worth while for you.~~~(\_~~~D & M

Still having a good time in Key Largo

Today was the beginning of the restocking to head to the Bahamas.  Weather indicates that we should go across on Thursday.  Jay and Pegg drove us 20 miles north to a BJ's and of course stopped at a couple of other places including the Candy Store (West Marine) on the way home.  We got back and put things away (including some in the dockmaster's freezer for pre-freezing).  Then we jumped into the hot tub for a while and swam a couple of laps (not really in the form of excercise) and then got back to the boat just in time for cocktail hour (CCYC Training).  Just before dinner we heard someone calling, "Spring Grove".  It was Doug Small of Doug's Lawn Service who has taken care of our lawn on several occasions, the library's lawn, and the PaHaGaCo Association lawn.  They will stop by for a visit in the morning.  Small world!~~~(\_~~~D&M

On the way back from BJ's we stopped at West Marine. "Yes"!!

A little time in the hot tub (even after the shower I can still smell the chlorine)

The boat in the slip just before cocktails with the Marina del Mar Resort and Coconuts (restaurant) in the background.