14 – 21 Feb – We began our journey back northbound through the Abacos in preparation for our eventual return to Florida. From Green Turtle Cay we made our way back to West End arriving on Monique’s birthday. Celebrations were postponed as we readied the boat to cross the Gulfstream once more. With an approaching cold front expected we made an early morning departure and although it was a bumpy crossing, seas were not overly rough & winds were from the aft quarter and we managed a steady 7.5 knots, arriving at Lake Worth, West Palm Beach 9.5 hours after departing.

Our plan from here is to slowly make our way back up the east coast of Fla, visiting some of the places we rushed past on our way south, eventually turning down the St John River to Green Cove Springs where we will lay the boat up for the summer.

03 Mar – Manatee Pocket, Stuart Fla, a quaint little harbour, quiet with all around protection. While here we got in touch with Monique’s aunt & were treated to an excellent home cooked meal ashore, Danke Schurn Tante Helga!!!

06 Mar 2013

So here we sit in Vero Beach Fla, aka “Velcro Beach”, since other boats may raft up to you because of the limited # of moorings, and because it has SO much to offer that people end up staying. For $15 per night on a mooring you receive FREE wifi, showers, pumpout (at your boat, they come to you!), as well as a free bus system that is amazing!

With the approaching cold (yes I said cold!!) we have had nights as low as 4 & 5 degrees C with more to follow in the next few days. So we will pass the time doing some bus tours, shopping & generally taking in the local scene.

Speaking of local scene we were fortunate to take in an AWESOME stage show called Woody Sez, a tribute to Woody Guthrie set to his music, performed by 4 people, with acoustic instruments. seating was limited to 150 people & we were front row center! After the show the cast came out into thew lobby & were joined by several of the audience for a hootenany! What a wonderful Sunday afternoon...

Our 1st Gator sighting....

24 March 2013

So here we sit in "sunny St Augustine", actually warm but blustery, rainy, winds blowing 55 -65 km/hr rain extremely heavy at times, it took us 5 full minutes to bail out Levon!! Waited out the rain at a pub, getting wet inside!

Our plans to lay the boat up have changed, it seems that Green Cove Springs cannot lift us after all. So we have made plans with a great marina in Titusville. Expecting to have boat haule dout in another week or so, then pack up & head home for mid-April. seems like forever since we left home in August.

We will update again before we head home, but for now here are a few photos of Florida, sorry no dolphins, they are very camera shy & without a quick at hand camera snappy photos are not possible.

Beth & Jim S/V Dog Gone in Daytona Beach

Daytona in sunshine!!!

Update 18 Feb (that never got posted!!!!)

The huge snowstorm the Ontario area suffered through has now brought us some severe wind and the cold as well. Winds blowing 25 - 35 knots, so we hunkered down at the Bluff house Marina on green Turtle Cay to enjoy electricity, hot showers, & free wifi. If this sounds familiar it is the location of the New Year's celebration...

The last month has been awesome, favorable winds which have kept us SAILING from destination to destination....

A brief recap and as promised more pictures, so I will let you enjoy the pics with minimal comments about each location...

15 Jan - Man-O-War Cay

17 Jan - Hopetown, Elbow Cay

22 Jan - Marsh Harbour (again)

24 Jan - Lynard Cay

25 Jan - Little Harbour

"One Particular Harbour" a Jimmy Buffet song!

27 Jan - Tiloo Cay

28 Jan - Marsh Harbour (and again)

02 Feb - Great Guana Cay

Bottom painting Bahama's style

03 Feb - Treasure Cay (Superbowl Sunday)

05 Feb - Great Guana Cay

07 Feb - Marsh Harbour (again...see the pattern!)

Susan

Dana & Monique

Scott & Bob

11 Feb - Treasure Cay

13 Feb - Green Turtle Cay

Pre-dinner cocktails & conversation @ Bluff House

Hanging CFB Trenton burgee @ Bluff House bar Green Turtle Cay

13 Jan 2013 UPDATE finally....

18 December 2012

Had a good weather window to cross the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas, departed Ft. Lauderdale at 6 am and arrived after a pleasant crossing at 4:15 in West End, Grand Bahama. Clearing customs was uneventful. The next day we enjoyed our first beach coffee with our dear friends and buddy boat, M/V Time and Tide, Gary and Christelle.

Sunset over Customs house West End Grand Bahama Island...ya mon!

Morning coffee on the beach West End Grand Bahama

19 - 23 December 2012

These days were spent moving to various anchorages, beach combing with  M/V Time and Tide. On  21 - 22 we rode out our first " n'oreaster" ( strong cold front with heavy winds and rain coming from the north) After having to reset the anchor several times we finally got the  fortress anchor  to big in and hold us securely until things settled.

Anchored on the 23 December in very small town, Foxtown, enjoyed free internet, cracked conch, cold beer and local hospitality at "Da Valley" local restaurant/tavern/gas station . Thanks Raymond  and Judy.

Monique leaving our mark!

Da Valley

Time & Tide crew leaving their mark

Our mark!

24 December 2012

Arrived at Green Turtle Cay, Abacos and anchored in very congested bay . Immediately we were invited to the Christmas Pot Luck on the 25th which is a tradition and hosted by the  local dive shop, Brendalls.

Christmas Eve was celebrated with Gary and Christelle, our boating family. Christelle used her artistic ability and painted our boat name on a sea shell, very special!!!! A great evening with a full moon looking down on us.

Christmas Eve aboard Last Waltz

Boat family!

The feast

25 December 2012

Attended the Christmas Pot Luck with several fellow boaters and locals. It is deffinately diiferent singing Christmas carols with palm tress, warm weather and wearing summer attire. Spent the remainder of the week touring the island, enjoying the beaches and meeting several new boaters, S/V Corsair (Donna and Matt), S/V Malaika (Scott, Michelle and Jibb the sailor dog), M/V The Laurel (Marcel and Diana) and others.......

31 DEC 2012 - Rang in the new year with our  "boating family" at the Bluff House marina. Great dinner then bonfire on the beach, dancing until 2 am. Happy New Years!!!!!!!!

Hoppy new year mon.....

Gary & Monique cuttin' a rug

New Years Day was very special. Attended our first Junkanoo ( a mardi gras type of celebration, parade of costumes, drums and cowbells) in close by town of New Plymouth. Monique  finished the day standing in and playing drums with the local band. Great afternoon, lots of fun and terrific people. Kalik, Kalik...... the sound the cow bells make and the local beer.

After the festive week ,we all went our separate ways for some island "downtime". A quiet anchorage was found, we fished, caught & ate our first Bahama meal. Snorkeling, beach time  & a fire on the beach consumed our time. Met with a power cat M/V Fat Bottom Girl, Greg & Sue who joined us the next night for a beach fire.

05 Jan 2013 - With a perfect weather window we crossed the Whale Cut & headed south, stopping @ Great Guana Cay for a few days. We went to the beach by Nipper's ( a local establishment that is world famous for it's Sunday pig roast). Strolled the beach then ran into some of our New Year's party folks, enjoyed lunch, & more great company.

Nipper's pool

Nipper's

Marcel & Diana crew M/V The Laurel

Nipper's bar

Nipper's from the beach looking up...

Beach view from Nipper's

07 Jan 2013 - We made our way to Marsh Harbour, for re-provisioning  Prices here are much less than anywhere else in the Abacos, bulk food is available & selection is better. Ended up that almost every boat that we had contact with since arriving in the Bahamas was ALSO in the harbour including S/V Ishmael who we had last parted company with outside Savanah Georgia...here we go again, boat visits & great company...

12 Jan 2013 - Winds are up time to sail...depatarted Marsh Harbour & spent a great day SAILING, no time schedule, just letting the wind guide us. Destination Great Guaqna Cay again.

14 Jan 2013- So here we sit again in a beautiful anchorage withseveral of our friends preparing for a day of beach, snorkeling, and just plain enjoying the day. Temperature is a nice 75 dgress F, light winds and a few clouds, as typical Bahama day, so until next update, which will be a lot sooner than the last now that we have settled into a bit of a routine, missing you all, & wishing you were here to enjoy with us! Next post will be soon, less talk more pictures. 

 crew S/V Last Watz Bob & Monique...