From Nassau back to Warderick Wells

     Things are a bit quieter, but also pretty dull with Ben, Sam and Jess back in New Hampshire!  We used our time in Nassau after they left to do laundry, re provision the boat and to work on a ton of paperwork related to moving our brokerage stuff to follow our "guy".  We also let a cold front scud on by.  We left on Tuesday morning and headed back to Shroud Cay because we really liked it there.  We made sure we waited until high tide to make another trip up Sanctuary Creek where we saw the same sand shark on our way through.  We were in the company of three dinghies from people we had met at a beach cocktail party the night before,  when we got to the windward side we found two guys who didn't appear to have a dinghy.  We asked them how they got there and they said they had been dropped off on the leeward side by the research vessel Coral Reef and were doing a plant and animal count. 
     We left the mooring field right after lunch and headed for another repeat, Hawksbill Cay.  We  explored around the south end of the Cay to an area with dinghy moorings, but it was cold and windy so we didn't stay long.  Chili for dinner - - - too cold to grill anything! (I hear a deep pitying sigh from many of you)
      Today we had a beautiful sail from Hawksbill to Warderick Wells.  We decided to go to the Emerald Rock mooring field this time and decided we like it better than the dramatic cut where we stopped with Sam, Jess and Ben.  After checking in at the park office we chose one of the many beaches on the way back to the boat to stop and take a hike.  Once again the hiking was difficult over the jagged limestone terrain, but the views were spectacular.  We expect at least two more days of strong winds, so we may just continue to explore all the trails and sights here at Warderick Wells.  ~~~(\_~~~D&M
Google Earth track file for 3/3
Google Earth track file for 3/5

We approach the windward end of Sanctuary Creek on Shroud Cay.

We never tire of the incredibly beautiful colors of the water. We are on a mooring ball near Emerald Rock in the Exuma Land and Sea Park.

The limestone shoreline exhibits quite a contrast to the serene color or the water. Notice a few coral heads right off this overhang.

While hiking a trail on Warderick Wells we spotted the tallest palm tree we'd seen, in a deep "sink hole" in the limestone rocks.

This guy, I think he is just a catbird, came right up to us as if looking for a handout, but the park stresses "don't feed the natives" so we had to disappoint him.

Warderick Wells to Nassau

      Dan and Sam spent Wednesday morning over at Arete working on their Sirius radio antenna while Ben entertained Jess and Martha.  In the afternoon, the "kids" took another hike around Warderick  Wells, Dan went back over to Arete to finish the installation and Martha baked a birthday cake. Ben's birthday bash was great, even tho he didn't want to even try a piece of cake - he was ready for bed!  
      Thursday we sailed north to Shroud Cay and picked up a mooring ball.  The wind was still strong, but from the east, so the sail was fast and fun.  Shroud is really cool with all sorts of creeks running through the middle of the island.  In spite of the windy conditions we all took a dinghy ride up to the northernmost creek which goes all the way through the island.  The scenery on the trip was fascinating and we saw a shark swimming through the creek in about three feet of water or less!  We were a little bit early (you are only supposed to be able to make it through at high tide) and had to all get out and walk a few times while Sam dragged the dinghy over a sand bar.   The windward side was dramatically windier.  We climbed the hill to "Camp Driftwood" the site where a solitary cruiser built several things out of driftwood at the top of the highest spot on the island.  The termites got all the driftwood, but the site remains.
     We headed for Norman Cay on Friday and that took us out of the Exuma Land and Sea Park.  Norman was the site a large drug ring in the '80s and there is a wrecked plane in the shallows to attest to the method they used to move the drugs.  We motored through the cut to see the wreck and then anchored around on the west side of the island.  Sam and Jess left Grand Mar and Popov to sit and went ashore for dinner at Macduff's which was not as good as it's reputation (although maybe just because they were out of conch)!   They had a good time anyway.
     Finally on Saturday the winds died a bit and we headed off for our return trip to Nassau.  We had a great sail until about 3 when the wind died even more and we had to motorsail to get back to our slip in time to head ashore for our crew dinner.  We went to the Poop Deck which has been there forever, and Jess finally got her Conch Fritters!  We sat next to a large party (who were definitely partying) and Ben flirted with all the girls who thought he was the cutest ever.  We tend to agree!  We will  miss them as they fly home today.  We certainly enjoyed the whole adventure.  We will stay here through Tuesday to let another cold front pass through then we'll head south again back to the Exumas and particularly the Land and Sea Park where we barely scratched the surface.  We also are looking forward to meeting up with Robby and Carol again around the 12th when their daughter, Elizabeth and her husband Ray are joining them for a week.  ~~~(\_~~~D&M
Google Earth track file for 2/26
Google Earth track file for 2/27
Google Earth track file for 2/28

Ben tried to eat the candle and cried when he tasted the lemon
frosting, but his party was a great success.

Robby & Carol gave Ben a Bahamian carving of Roci the parrot for his birthday.

We took a dinghy ride through Sanctuary Creek (including a few portages over sandbars) and made it to the windward side of Shroud Cay.

Here we are at Camp Driftwood on the windward side of Shroud.

We all took turns pedalling our Mirage kayaks around Shroud Cay.

Sam couldn't resist submerging the underwater camera to get a picture of the pedal "fins" of the kayak.

We rigged the bosun's chair for Ben's meals.

It is amazing how a few "floaties" could keep Ben occupied for hours.

Highbourne to Hawksbill to Warderick Wells

     We have been keeping tabs (through SPOT) on Robby and Carol, and saw that they were at Hawksbill Cay on Sunday night, so we decided to head for Hawksbill Monday morning.  We finally reached them on the VHF when we were about 9 miles away and verified that they were still there.   We picked up a mooring ball right next to them around 1:30pm.  We were moored right off a small inlet that was a vast beach at low tide and had a channel back into the middle of the island at high.  Jess and Sam went adventuring while Ben napped (near low) and Dan and Martha did the same much later and got a very different view.  We had dinner with Rob and Carol aboard Brunelle and were eerily impressed with our well lit neighbor. 
     In spite of strong winds, we decided to move on to Warderick Wells which is the center of the Exuma Land and Sea Park.  Both Arete and Brunelle sailed with jib alone and made 6-7 knots along the lee of the Cays and had to power straight into it to reach our moorings. We checked in with the Park and took a hike to Boo Boo Hill (so named for the ghostly noises the waves make in the porous rocks) to see where cruisers leave their boat's name carved, painted, woven or otherwise affixed to a piece of driftwood.  We also got a good view of the windward side and were glad we had stayed on the bank in the lee - the wave spray could be felt at the top of the 70 ft. hill!  We plan to spend another night here to do some more exploring and to celebrate Ben's FIRST BIRTHDAY!  - - -Big party tonight!  ~~~(\_~~~D&M, J,S&B, C&R
Google Earth track file for 2/23
Google Earth track file for 2/24

Sam and Jess adventure ashore at Hawksbill. Arete's mast is visible
over the hill to the right.

Our eerie neighbor at Hawksbill used more amps in one night than we
use in a year!

The mooring field at Warderick Wells; an amazing cut through some very
shallow bars!

The trail to BooBoo Hill takes you through a mangrove nursery.

Jess and Ben check out the 52' sperm whale skeleton on the beach at
Warderick Wells Cay.

Nassau to Highborne Cay

Today was really like CRUISING!  Easy day, warm sun, light winds and a great crew.  We left Nassau about 10am and headed for Highborne Cay.  The sail across the bank was relaxing and fun.  We dodged a bunch of coral heads easily and arrived at the Marina at Highborne a little after 4pm.  That left time to watch some lucky fishermen  on the dock clean fish and feed a LARGE school of sharks, mostly nurse sharks, but also a few reef sharks and one large lemon shark.  We also all took a swim off the beach in the just slightly chilly water.  Ben enjoyed his first dip in the ocean.  We chose to shower in the outdoor cold water shower, because the official warm water one was $4 a shower!   We will continue south tomorrow, but not before enjoying Highborne Cay a little more. ~~~(\_~~~D&M
Google Earth track file


We were glad to get Sam aboard to fix the computer, but we were REALLY glad to get a new winchman!


Ben (with a little help from Mom (Jess) was the first to spot Highborne Cay.



Feeding frenzy.

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