Heading for the pretty blue water in the Bahamas

Heading for the pretty blue water

Thursday 29th of December

Out into the Gulf Stream, the Straights of Florida, The Atlantic in other words.

As I mentioned in the previous blog we were in Pumpkin creek next to Angel Fish creek which was our jump off place to cross to the Bahamas, so it was a first light start for us, nothing unusual. A beautiful sunrise encouraged us to get going. 

Both taken the same morning but no idea why the colours are so different

Part way across, look closely and you can see the course we have to take so we arrive in the right place. 

The weather for the crossing looked great, no northerly wind component is always good so are flat ish seas. Although we had been close to Bimini on Aguatherapy it was a little too shallow for her so now having Pearl is perfect for these waters. One of the reasons for buying Pearl was the shallow draft so we can comfortably go into the places Aguatherapy couldn’t.

The crossing wasn’t bad at all, 7 hours later found us in Bimini, we chose a marina here as its somewhere new to us and with the winds forecast and lack of decent anchorages it was the place to be. Don checked us in, paid our dues and we were good to stay in the Bahamas for a few months.

The Bimini blue water marina resort is ok, the resort bit is overstated though. Its a very basic place, with a pool of sorts and its a pretty noisy place. 

We made new friends here Gerry and Diane on their smashing 52 foot motor yacht “Babe”, and the dog Desi. Babe will be heading to most of the places we are so no doubt we will be seeing quite a lot of one another.

Pearl and Babe, taken at Black Point

Bimini Ministry of Tourism closed

He does look determined, coconuts for tourists

There is quite a lot of Ernest Hemingways memorabilia here so we think he was here for a while. 

We had some needed long walks, one to the top of the island where there is a huge resort, full of rowdy tourists and some super -yachts.  Bimini has some lovely beaches on the West side, however the tourists flock down on the rented golf carts and take over the beaches.

Local transport for the rich

There are lots of small supermarkets with the basics, all of which sell out the newly arrived vegetables in a flash. 

The blue clear water is just breathtaking, thats why we are here. There are sharks here, the scary ones such as Bull sharks and Black tips as well as the less aggressive ones like the nurse sharks although the size is pretty intimidating when they are so large.

The weather was warm and sunny however we needed more settled weather to head south to the next stop.

2017, where does the time go?

Somehow we found ourselves alone for new years eve but thats fine.

Tuesday January 3rd. 07:03 off we go to with the intention of anchoring at ‘Frazer Hogg Cay’. We saw Babe leave maybe an hour before us and they can go much faster than us. There was a little bit of a “chop” on the water on the Bahama banks but after as we left the bank, and into deeper blue water, the rolling was awful. The result of an ebb tide off of the bank and the wind against us. We pulled into Chub Cay which we have tried to anchor there before but had found it very rolly. It lived up to the reputation and we had a rolly night yet again. It wasn’t worth moving so late in the day as the light was fading so we decided to stay where we were for the night. 

Wednesday January 4th.

Into Frazier Hogg Cay north, a much more protected anchorage from the swell, we had been talking to Gerry, he had told us it was calm there but he was leaving before we would get there. It was only an hours journey away. So as we were looking forward to a decent rest we did enjoy the calm conditions for the night. There’s nowhere to go ashore here but no problem. Smashing anchorage, a shallow entrance but deep once inside.  As we were now in warm clear water, it was time to get into the water to have a look at the hull, shaft and propellers for marine growth, which turned out to be not too bad.  However, we found that there was significant wear on all of our anodes.  Took the opportunity to change these in the water.

Thursday January 5th

a 06:30 start, heading to Nassau for fuel and onto Highbourne Cay, we know it, we have been about 3 times before. Its a long journey with an unknown time to pick up fuel.

Although we have passed by Nassau before a few times we had never been in. There is an entrance - exit from the East and West. All the huge cruise ships are here, so are the resorts, from what we can see its pretty tacky. Thousands of passengers enter and leave from here, we have heard so many bad reports about this place needless to say this is not the Bahamas we want to see.

By 11:30 we had refuelled then went out heading for Highbourne Cay. Never sure if its Highbourne or Highborn we have seen it spelled both ways. 

Another long day, 11 plus hours and another rolly anchorage greeted us but at least it calmed down at night. We were so tired anyway I don’t think we noticed much.

January 6th

I took this at 07:05 this morning

07:30 on our way to Staniel Cay, Big Majors spot, where the swimming pigs are.

We saw this on the way

Staniel Cay, another place we had been to a few times.

Babe was there, the boat not the pig, sorry Diane and Gerry lol.

Well theres lots of boats here, we had chosen a good spot to anchor. The weather was being unkind to us again, not cold or rain but the winds were no good to move on to our next place. We did manage to get ashore for lunch one day but its a heck of a dinghy ride into Staniel Cay. Another day we did try to get ashore but made it just over half way and had to return both of us soaked to the skin, next time the waterproofs will be worn.

We did make it in once more to town and made the most of some fresh produce, and another meal too. Its pretty touristy here as there are quite a few resorts.

Both feisty local residents, the cats stand no chance 

Wednesday January the 18th.

Yes 12 days we were waiting for decent seas and wind not coming from the West or North, oh well theres no time restraints. Thats why we can never say that we will be “here or there” at any particular time.

Off we go to Black Point, a new place for us.

Love it, a smashing place and friendly. Babe was in here and we met up for a little while.

Its Babe again

Ate lunch at Lorraines a local cafe, a popular place for locals, good rum punches too.

Local boat builders restoring this one

Its a pity that yet again the weather monster decided to throw in another potentially bad weather window for us so, we have to leave but I know we will return here.

Nice !

Thursday 19th January

Off to Rudder Cay, a great anchorage, we have been here before.

We met up with Jane and Dave off So Far So Good and Gregg off Cantable.

Babe was here too and Gerry took Don off in his dinghy to an island to go and spearfish. Well its was Dons first lobster catch, he returned with 2 so it was fresh lobster for dinner that night.

Lobster for dinner that night

We have to return on the way back up.

The Remora's very kindly cleaned Pearls bottom, we counted 6, so we fed them pizza bases.
There were nurse sharks too but they stayed too deep to get photo's 

All the boats we knew cleared out to head south but as it was so nice, we stayed another night. Don went off for hours having borrowed Gerrys’ spear to get more lobster, well its a good job we have plenty of provisions he came back with one which wasn’t very big.

Goodnight from rudder Cay

I'm breaking up this blog now  its getting way to big, the next one will be in Georgetown Great Exuma. There will be so many photo's and videos.

So its BFN
Glenys and Don on
M/Y Pearl

Last stop before the crossing

Almost there
Before we left Fort Myers we bought ourselves a present for Christmas, something we can take home. A Marc Harris 20 x 30 metal picture.
Its an Egret, a bird we see all the time on the ICW.

The last step before the crossing to the Bahamas

14th December.

A late start of us as we had only planned to go to Fort Myers beach and pick up a mooring ball for the night. When we left the weather was nice but sadly it soon changed to fog which wasn’t nice, it was the first time we have encountered fog on Pearl. At least the radar was now fixed and the big airhorns work well should we need to use them.

We arrived in Fort Myers beach mid afternoon and picked up a mooring to pay for the ball we had to take the dinghy ashore so while we were there we walked around the town and had a smashing meal and a drink. Again another a touristy place but its ok.

Gift shops galore in Fort Myers beach 

heres the beach

                            

The lamb was fantastic, even better than the lamb in Australia, mind you Creole sauce ? 

Even had swings at the bar, what ! we are not going to risk spilling the drinks

December 15th.

As soon as we refuelled we set off again and out into the Gulf of Mexico, another first for us. However, we didn’t enjoy the squall with some rain along the way, oh well it happens and we just deal with it as best we can. 

A typical sight on the ICW

Don likes to fish

Another nice sunset

If I put all the sunsets we see on the blog there would be no room for anything else

That day we anchored in Smokehouse Bay in Naples, it had been a 37 mile trip but had taken 5 hours. The marinas here are so expensive anchoring is always our first choice anyway we like our privacy.

Friday 16th December.

A chilly start 59 deg F that day we did 68 miles and found our way into Little Shark river, kind of open but we had our anchor well dug in. A few local boats fished around us, there wasn’t any telephone signal so we didn’t have any internet data either, we always like to check the weather but had worked out we were safe for another night anyway.

Sunday 18th 

A lie in bed and a late start for us, 07:42 but by 13:15 we had dropped the hook in Crane Point on the west side of Marathon in the Florida Keys we had heard Marathon was very busy. Nothing exciting here.

Monday 19th December

Just 35 miles and another 5 hours we were all alone in a big anchorage Barley basin opposite Loreli restaurant.  Wow we can see the anchor and chain the waters clear at last.

We took the dinghy ashore and had a meal there and walked along the very busy road to check out the area. Stayed here a few days. We had good protection from the strong North east to the southwest winds. 

Friday 23rd December

Moved on towards Key Largo at Cowpens Bay but as we fancied a little more life moved a little further on close to Mile Marker 88 restaurant that we have visited before when we had a little break close by a couple of years ago. We anchored a short dinghy ride away so we took lunch there. Unfortunately they weren’t open for Christmas day, oh well, never mind. No groceries to be had here either its a long way from anywhere within walking distance here.

Monday 26th December

Off we go to refuel then into Tarpon Basin. Its a twisty turning cut into here with some pretty shallow water and there are some pretty fast boats whizzing past with no consideration for others.

Tarpon basin is big and has a great dinghy landing and government dock next to the county sheriffs office. There is free wifi which is always a bonus. This was the last place to provision for us before leaving for the Bahamas so the 3 trips to Public supermarket gave us some much needed exercise we must have walked 5 miles at least that day carrying the shopping.  

The weather looked good to cross to Bimini on Thursday 29th so we made plans to go to the next anchorage which is very close to our planned exit point from “The Keys” and into the Gulf Stream.

Well it is Christmas

Wednesday 28th December 

Set off for the last anchorage in the US at ‘Pumpkin Creek’, close to Angel Fish creek, our gateway out of the Keys. It would have been great but there were “resort boats” and locals whizzing past us making us rock and roll for most of the day.  After sunset it was very quiet, giving us a good nights sleep before our early start across the Gulf Stream which will help us to go a little north and on to Bimini in the Bahamas.

Ok enough for now.

Next blog will be from the Bahamas where the pretty blue water is

BFN

Glenys and Don

M/Y Pearl