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| Nice Calm Morning on Kasidah |
Well it seems like the weather is looking a little better for everyone, except our friends in upstate NY where another round of very cool weather is headed their way. Don't forget the storm of '93 in March dumped a record number of feet at the time. It is winter in the Bahamas too, all the cool weather up north has had an affect on weather here. Many boats have been stuck in one location or another with unfavorable conditions. I know a few hard core want-to-be cruisers might say "You're a sailboat you just go,.." It's not just getting there or weathering a day or two in rough waters, it's also about what will be there when you get there. You might not be able to anchor because the winds and or anchorage don't allow for ideal holding. There are many reasons to stay and many to move. The wrong decision might cost you your boat.
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| North End of the Lucayain Waterway |
We are enjoying our time here doing many things. We went on dinghy up the Lucayain waterway with Doug and Sharon, long time cruisers. This is a man made canal or ditch that was made during the 70's, and goes from the south to the north cutting the island in two with only one bridge tying it together. This bridge and shallow water allow only powerboats of limited size to use it. It was a great day trip with lots to see and think about. We ran 32 miles and only used 4 gallons of fuel. We had lunch we brought with us, went through some of the smaller canals where many a dream had been hatched, and arrived at the top side of Grand Bahama Island into the Little Bahama Bank or the Abacos. This trip by sailboat or the long way around would have been 2 days if we went west and 5 days if we went east.
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| Hanya a Ukrainian from Canada at dinner with her ex boyfriend. |
As we learned like last year, we know the pattern of resort guest coming and going. We had a good time with several people, going to dinner, sharing wine and stories. We've meet some people from Annapolis who have a sailboat, they were at the time, 2 weeks away from retirement and going to do some cruising on their 39 ft Caliber. They have been following our virtual friends (did we just came up with that) Bill and Christie on Veranda. Small world! Also our friends here, Doug and Sharon, have a daughter and I understand in their earlier cruising time spent time with the Tom Neale family who's daughter Melanie we know another (virtual friend) through Facebook. Melanie is the author of Boat Girl. Small world. Surprised you didn't catch that Melanie,..
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| Resident kitty trying to sneak on board to retrieve a treat |
The cats that live here also know when new guest arrive and when they leave. There is usually one or two days when the cats come to the boats looking for a hand out. Well they also show up when the fisherman comes back with a catch and they hang out at the cleaning station,.....right next to the hungry cruisers. This is one of the brave ones that finds his way to the boat, and I think he knows his tides too.
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| Only in the Bahamas do you park the rental boat under the parking lot drain pipe. |
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| Blue getting comfy for an afternoon nap |
We've had a few down pours of rain over the last couple of weeks. When it's heavy down pour the run off from the parking lot existing into the basin via a 6 inch PVC pipe gushes out for enough that it lands in the small rental boat parked under it. After a few days they come and pump it out and clean it.
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| Arline getting some pointers from Hank who does still give lessons |
We've also taken up tennis here with a group of people who play in the mornings, we're quite bad,.. but getting better. We found some really good rackets and balls at a salvation army store here.
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| Lunch.... |
Our local fishing friend with the cooler had his equipment taken from him and he's been too proud or stubborn to get it back. So we took him to fish from our dinghy and it was nice enough weather that I followed him around in the water with my spearing equipment and watched how he was hunting his fish and looking for lobster, I learned a lot from that. I speared my 1st Hogfish that day and was happy enough at that. He also told me my spear was TOO SLACK, meaning not enough power, and he showed me how to fix it which I did. The next time out I hunted as he did and got this good sized fish, which I thought was a Gray Snapper but with a little bit of research it was probably a Grass Porgy, both are fine and good eating and it was gone that night anyway, with a nice butter infused Old Bay sauce, mmmm.
Arline threw out the idea of a beach dinghy lunch party, so I think 16 or so dinghies came out and had a great time. I guess she can still work her magic when it comes to party or event planning.
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| Nice time on the beach |
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| exploring the waterways on north side of island |
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| Silver Cove Entrance, you don't want t miss it, or enter it with a south wind blowing you into the channel. |
A sailboat came in while we were at the beach so a bunch went out to mark the channel low spot, great photo of how shallow it is and how far out it goes, and the narrow the usable part is for deep boats
Back to the weather,...it and tides are looking good for a move of Kasidah. We are most likely headed to the Berry's and Great Harbour Cay for a month soon. We might not stay at the marina for the full month and head out to the east side and a days travel to some quite remote areas for a few days. But we need to stay close to communications for our family.
My mom had a fall a few weeks ago, broke her hip and had emergency surgery that day which went well. Only through the Internet would I have known about it or be able to check in with dad and family. She is now in a rehab, PT, or Physical Therapy home for the next few weeks.
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| Dinner |
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| squid under dock |
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