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.
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| Sunset over Customs house West End Grand Bahama Island...ya mon! |
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| 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.
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| Monique leaving our mark! |
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| Da Valley |
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| Time & Tide crew leaving their mark |
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| 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.
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| Christmas Eve aboard Last Waltz |
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| Boat family! |
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| 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!!!!!!!!
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| Hoppy new year mon..... |
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| 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.
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| Nipper's pool |
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| Nipper's |
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| Marcel & Diana crew M/V The Laurel |
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| Nipper's bar |
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| Nipper's from the beach looking up... |
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| 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...
