We are in Provo

We arrived in Providenciales, part of the Turks and Cacios Islands, yesterday.
It was a long passage, about 190 miles! We made our first stop after leaving Rum Cay, 12 1/2 hours later in a small harbor called Atwood Harbor, Acklins. It was quite bumpy most of the trip and Schooner and I elected not to eat!! We were, however, able to go ashore and run and do her business, which she had held almost 24 hours. Again, in the morning we went ashore and didn't get the dingy secured very well and had to swim 40 yds. to get it!! We are still learning, but what a wake-up call that was.

Next it was on to Abrahams Bay on Mayaguana. That day was only 10 hours long and the water was setteled down some and we were able to put some sail out. The bad part was, we were over a mile from shore and it wasn't possible to get Schooner ashore! That was the night she decided to use her "Pup Head". Now it seems to be no big deal for her and makes life easier on us. But, it was a short night, as we left at 5:00 AM the next morning for Providenciales(Provo for short), another 10 hr. run.
We are one of three to make this trip together, BESO of Santa Barbara,and BELLEZA of Vancouver, and we all arived safetly and cleared Customs without a hitch (they are so nice here).

Today was spent washing down our boats of the aquired salt and seaweed. Wouldn't you know it that as we finished, Provo received one inch of their ANNUAL rainfall of only 16 inches. Atleast it was soft water and didn't mess up my windows!! Then it was on to find a beauty/barber shop. Gordon and I look pretty good again!!

Moving Day

The weather has a big window and we are on the way!! The last week has been just wonderful.....we have enjoyed Rum Cay so much. As I said before this place has only 3 resturants, we had dinner at all 3 and the food was great! All local cuisine only it is more peppery than most of the Bahamas. We went to almost every beach reachable and found more sea beans and shells. Our golf cart ride about the Island provided us with bunches of pictures and many memories!
Church this morning was interesting, we went to the Anglician Church, the biggest of the 3 churches,and a service we are most familar.
We will be out of Internet range now until we reach Turks & Cacios. I'm getting so excited and can't wait to get there. We will actually see a grocery and hopefully some shopping. Until then it means few few nights on the hook and sailing

More later.......

TO THE EAST

Thursday morning we got up and went snorkeling. The water was about 80°, but there wasn‘t much to see, although Chip was able to spot an octopus hiding among the rocks.
The weather started to look promising, so it was a mad dash back to the boats and in record time we were headed out! Found an anchorage north of Stella Maris, just off shore in Calabash Bay (see picture). The weather wasn’t as great as we thought and we rocked the whole night. I was glad to get up and move early the next morning.

About 6 hours (for us) due east south east of Long Island is the Island of Rum Cay. It is about 4miles by 5miles square and has a booming population of 100! There are 3 churches, 2 groceries and 2 restaurants “in the town” of Port Nelson, besides the Sumner Point Marina where we are.
The Bahamian government was pumping a lot of money in here about a year ago by paving the roads, adding stop signs, (although I have only seen golf carts, no cars) and dredging the channel and harbor. By the way gasoline here is going for $5.49 a gallon!! OUCH! There is a large, 1000-acre development under way and they say we won’t recognize this place next year

So for now, we will pass the time snorkeling, swimming, beach walking and enjoying the tropics!! We are now below the Tropic of Cancer! Another milestone accomplished!

We plan to stay here until this next weather front passes (Sunday), and then make a shot at Mayaguana (maybe I’ll finally see a flamingo) and then the Turks and Caicos.

Long Island, Day 2

We got up to rain and lots of wind this morning, rented a car that arrived about noon and headed north to check out Long Island. We drove as far north as we could …..the road abruptly ended, then stopped at Cape Santa Maria where it is said Columbus grounded his ship the Santa Maria. Later we had “ linner “ at The Stella Maris Club and checked e-mail…..quite the site……4 of us all on their own laptop checking e-mail……isn’t life grand!!

What great fun at the dock……4 boats all got together and had drinks and telling stories……this is cruising life!!




Today we drove south to Simms and crossed the Tropic of Cancer. We are truly in the tropics now!! Also on this trip we saw “Dean’s Blue Hole” which is a 6000 foot deep hole just off the beach. The colors of blue are incredible and the fact we were able to find some sea beans made the trip worthwhile.




A quick stop at the bakery landed us a fresh baked loaf of bread hot from the oven and a coconut cream pie…….so much for diets!!

Stella Maris, Long Island, South Bahamas

On to Stella Maris, Long Island….. we got information early Monday morning we had better get south or we would be stuck! So we left early for us, although not too soon for the NO SE UMS….and had another good day at sea. We were just ahead of a thunderstorm and a cruise ship until it passed us. The ”Volendam” was so big and so close even I could read the name without binoculars! I could count on one hand the number of boats we have seen the last three days and at least for awhile it was nice to have company! We reached the channel to the marina on the falling tide…and when I say shallow I mean shallow. We were able to clean the bottom fairly well and only got stuck once. Gordon threatened to charge them for dredging the channel!
Anyway, it’s a small marina, awkward to get on and off the boat, but everyone is friendly and helpful. Chip and Kay (BESO) helped us get tied up and it is good to meet up again with friends. It started storming about an hour after getting in so our timing was great, but it’s a bit boring now without TV. We have finally reached the outer limits of Direct TV, so someone keep me up to date on Survivor please!!

Cape Eleuthera, South Eleuthera, Bahamas

We finally got on our way early Saturday morning. Sailed all the way from Spanish Wells to the Current Cut, put the sails down never to go back up. We had a straight on head wind of 5-7 knots all the way to Cape Eleuthera, but the water was smooth. We tied up in the Cape Eleuthera Marina and Resort at 6:15 pm and we were the only boat, other than the owner there. It has come a long way since we were there last year. They now have fuel, water, electric, the Bahamian Coffee Company (Starbucks), “Barracuda’s”(a bar and restaurant), a general store and gift shop, but no Internet!

Gordon and I were treated to a fantastic fireworks display that many cities would envy on 4th of July and a local reggae band. The owner was in celebrating his birthday! Easter morning we had breakfast at the Bahamian Coffee Company before heading out to sea and to Hawk’s Nest, Cat Island.

We had such a wonderful trip south except, still no use for sails, and arrived in Hawk’s Nest at 5:30 pm to a welcoming committee of sand fleas!! I hate those D**m things!! Needless to say, there was no long walk along the beach at sunset with Schooner!! We both agree we won’t make this stop here again.

So much for leaving!

Well, (a deep subject) we went to bed about 9 last night after walking Schooner. Checked with 2 other boaters who were leaving with us....it was a clear and beautiful evening, about 83*, a big bright moon, and winds ESE at 6-8 knots.

Forward...2am.....thunder, lighting, hail, rain and N at 25 knot winds!!! In the rush to close up windows, hatches and the enclosure we both end up soaked and are awake for what seemed like hours!! Now at 6 am we are listening to the weather god and guess what?? The cold front moved farther south and faster than anticipated...duh as if I couldn't have guessed that one!!

So we will remain here in Spanish Wells today and try again tomorrow. Gordon says actually this front will have helped us because we can move farther faster now that it's here today instead of tomorrow....if that makes sense??!!?

Have a Happy Easter if I don't get back with this before then.

Spanish Wells, Bahamas

We arrived here in Spanish Wells two weeks ago. The weather has kept us here in the Yacht Haven tied securely to the dock. We have had winds up to 35knots and some rain.
We have been taking the water ferry to Jeans Bay on No. Eleuthera almost daily where our best friend Perry Neilly picks us up and takes to Current. Gordon has been helping set up a community computer center at the library there. This will eventually provide 4 computers available to the community and Internet services to visitors to Current. Most of my time has been spent visiting our friends and walking the beach with Schooner.



It looks like we will have a decent weather window tomorrow so we will head south to either Cape Eleuthera or Highbourn Cay, Exuma. Hopefully we'll meet up with "BESO" here in the next couple days.