We slept for 12 solid hours! Well, Jorge was up once checking the lines but other than that it was a very restful night, with the Bahamian waters rocking us to sleep.

I had breakfast in the cockpit and then a nice hot shower. Jorge was vegging out inside the boat. We saw a French-Canadian couple who we met earlier on our trip and we walked into Alice Town and the beach with them. When we first arrived in Bimini, a fellow boater had told us about a lady who served lunch out of her car so we went looking for and found her. We were also told her portions were large so we ordered one plate of steamed conch which came with rice, corn and cole slaw for $8.00. It was true, the plate was enough for both of us and delicious! We stopped at a bakery and picked up a fresh loaf of bread, so fresh it was still warm.

Kim outside the RBC downtown Bimini.

Tired of floating.

 

Jorge and Kim on Bimini beach with Straits of Florida in the background.

Jorge on Bimini beach.

 

Jorge in crystal clear water.

  

The only thing we hope to leave behind in Bimini.

Residential area.

Ordering lunch from the back of a car.

The bakery.

 

We got our Canadian Samsung phone out of storage, charged the battery and took it to Batelco (Bahama Telecommunication Company). We bought a SIMM card, got a phone number and a data package so we're wired for sound again! We haven't tried it yet but I am sure it will work, still using the marina internet. (Spoke too soon, as I am blogging, Jorge is having troubles with the phone!)

We were also told of a restaurant that made an excellent conch salad. I walked to the restaurant and ordered one to accompany dinner while Jorge took a shower. We enjoyed the salad with the fresh bread and a cold veggie plate with hummus for dinner on the marina patio with five other couples. We were all newbies so laughed about the nervousness we had about getting into the channel and harbour! The weather is looking good tomorrow for leaving Bimini and anchoring on the banks so that was also discussed. We are all in agreement that 0700 is a good time to leave. Some other boats who made the crossing with us but are in another marina are also considering leaving tomorrow so a flotilla will be going! Being on the banks I doubt there will be any kind of internet coverage so the next blog will have to wait until we get to Nassau (besides that the phone doesn't seem to be working.)

Employee making our conch salad.

Old Customs office.

 

Did I mention what gorgeous weather we had today? Until the next time . . .

We went to bed last night at 2030 and had the alarm set for 2300. I slept off and on. Jorge didn't. We readied the boat for the crossing, putting away things that had shaken loose earlier in the day, doned the personal beacons, lift jackets and tethering harness.

We weighed anchor around 2330 and headed out of No Name Harbour for the second time that day! The winds were light, less than 10 kts and the seas around 2', just as predicted. Cloud 9 followed close behind us. The rest of the boats left between 0130 and 0200. The couple who hosted the happy hour last night claimed this was their 16th crossing. She organized an hourly check in, taking positions from each boat and broadcasting any updates on ships (on AIS, automated identification system) and taking questions. In total I think 10 boats made the crossing. We had 3/4 of a moon for most of the night and a sky full of stars. Unfortunately we also had an ocean full of cruise ships and freighters!

Sunrise over the Straits of Florida heading towards Bimini.

Ditto.

 

The crossing was good. We motor sailed the whole way but did have to take the sails down at one point as the wind was coming directly from the stern. The winds started to increase and seas picked up around 0800, the northerlies were coming in earlier than predicted. We got to Bimini, Bahamas around 0900 and motored up the channel to a marina and got into a slip by 0930. We were quite impressed with the colour of the water leading into Bimini - a deep, deep blue and then of course the turquoise waters in the harbour. Truly it is just like in the pictures - you can see to the bottom with no problem!

The weather was cloudy first thing in the morning but then cleared and we had blue skies, temp 23C and a fairly breezy but very enjoyable day !

Approaching Bimini, Bahamas.

Channel into Bimini.

Approaching Brown's Marina.

 

We filled out the paperwork and Jorge checked us in, returning to the boat by 1130 in time for breakfast albeit a tad late. Some of the other cruisers were celebrating with beer but we figured one beer would be the end of us so we held off. Jorge did take a nap but I decided to walk into Alice Town and do some sightseeing.

The quarantine flag awaiting Customs and Immigration clearance

CS'ta Time in her slip at Brown's Marina.

Jorge hoisting the Bahamian flag with HYC's burgee.

Our marina was located here.

Next town up the island but one starts where the other one ends.

The beaches of North Bimini on the Straits of Florida side.

Just a tree skeleton.

Street entrance to Brown's Marina.

Turquoise water under CS'ta Time.

The rest of the afternoon was spent socializing and just hanging out. After two nights of very little sleep that was the most we could muster. I think we are staying here in the marina for another day and heading out on Tuesday. That will give us time to catch up on some zzzz's and be tourists. Besides the weather is looking good for anchoring on the banks for the night and that's something I want to do.

This one is for you Donna and John.

 



I'm using the marina's internet but will start investigating communication options soon.

Needless to say bedtime is going to be very early tonight!

We got up at 0500 when the alarm went off. Rechecked the weather, Jorge had some doubts about it, but two other boats decided to leave and so did we. One guy had left already at 0230 (a 26' boat). We weighed anchor and set out with the two other boats. The fourth boat decided not to go. The 2' - 4' seas with occasional seas to 5' ended up being more like 4' - 6' seas with occasional seas to 7+'. The forecasted winds were blowing 20 kts instead of 15 kts with gusts to 22 kts. The winds were also blowing more ESE and hadn't clocked around to the S and SW as expected which would have been a much better point of sail. We persevered for two hours. The general concensus amongst the three of us was to turn back. It took us two hours to get to the point of turning back and only one hour to get back to harbour! At times we were only going 3.5 kts and when we hit a wave the speed dropped to 2.5 kts. At that rate we were going to get to Bimini in the dark, not a good situation!

We set anchor by 0930, had breakfast and then had a snooze. We got an invite to a fellow cruiser's boat for happy hour at 1630. There were six sailing couples and one trawler couple (from Britt, Ontario) there. The next weather window was set for tonight (tomorrow morning) at 0200 which most cruisers were going to do. Dave and Rose from Cloud 9 (who left with us this morning) decided they wanted to leave earlier and us, being the smallest boat in the pack, figured we needed more time to make the crossing so agreed to leave with Cloud Nine at midnight tonight. That gives us a 10 hour window before some light northerlies (forecast to be 9 kts) blow in and we need 10 hours we figure to make the crossing.

I got some laundry done this afternoon, had outdoor showers and again got the boat ready for the crossing (ie putting the dinghy back up on the davits).

Hopefully Mother Nature will cooperate this time.

We got up at 0700 this morning. Jorge wanted to change the engine oil and leave it at the marina in Dinner Key. We then had breakfast, dinghied to the marina, got rid of the oil, had showers and then headed back to the boat (didn't get wet this time around.) Temp was mid 20s, humid, no rain and pretty clear skies.

It was 1030 when we weighed anchor and left for No Name Harbour arriving there at noon. We set anchor, had lunch, then dinghied to the seawall and walked into town for a few last minute items. Looks like tomorrow is a go to Bimini! Four other boats from No Name Harbour are leaving as well.

Enjoying Starbucks on an outdoor patio in Key Biscayne.

 

Fountain outside Starbucks.

Local bird eating crumbs from Jorge's finger at Starbucks. 

Alternative means of transportation. They even have designated parking spots for golf carts!

No Name Harbour is in this park.

Bike and walking path in Bill Baggs state park.

 

We had cruisers from the four other boats going to the Bahamas on CS'ta Time after supper discussing weather, timing, etc. for the crossing tomorrow. The general concensus was to leave at 0600. Winds are supposed to be from the southeast around 15 kts and 2 to 4 foot seas. Hopefully it will be a good crossing! We'll be in touch once I figure out communication in the Bahamas.

This morning we got up around our usual time at 0800. We needed to finish our purchases today and deliberated on whether to rent a car, take the dinghy across Biscayne Bay or take the boat (8 km). We decided that the best bet would be to take the boat so we weighed anchor later than we wanted to but were underway by 1100. It was a good thing we took CS'ta Time rather than the dinghy because the waves would have soaked us. The skies were cloudy with  a bit of rain but the temp was warm, mid 20s.

Close to Dinner Key we encountered many sailboats beginning a race. We were fortunate enough to get through to the channel before the race actually started. Then in the narrow channel we encountered a barge which had been collecting garbage from the bay.

Racing Biscayne Bay style.

Close up of the racers.

Barge collecting garbage (he was quite close as you can tell.)

Ditto.

Entering Dinner Key (Coconut Grove/Coral Gables area.)

Maybe 1/4 of the mooring field.

 

Once in Dinner Key Marina we tied up at a slip, had lunch and while I paid for a mooring ball, Jorge filled up the tanks with water and had extra time to kill so CS'ta Time enjoyed a fresh water bath. We then headed out to the mooring field, located our ball and tied up.

We dinghied into shore, located the bus stop and headed to get the propane tank filled. We were told it was quite a walk but we have walked further in our travels! We decided to walk part way back to the bus station as we wanted to stop off at the Office Depot, a marine shop and of course a Publix (grocery store). They make a good empanada and also carry the beer Jorge likes.

Next we walked to West Marine to purchase the new edition of the Exumas chart. Unfortunately the guy I spoke with over the phone misinformed us, it was not the newest edition, it was not in yet! Okay so that was twice I have been led astray by store employees in the last couple of days. While at West Marine we were asking directions to the bus stop to head back to the marina when a customer said he was going that way and offered us a ride. Fantastic, both Jorge and I were weary by this time. He dropped us off at a local restaurant as Stefano, Helen and people from two other boats from Ft. Lauderdale had arrived, phoned us and asked us to join them for happy hour.

Pelican statue in Monty's (the happy hour restaurant.)

Entrance to Monty's Restaurant.

We went back to Stefano and Helen's boat after dinner for a night cap, said our farewells as they and another couple are heading to the keys and the third boat is coming to No Name Harbour with us tomorrow for wait for the weather window for the Bahamas. We got back to CS'ta Time after 2300 a little wet as the ride to the boat in the mooring field was on the bumpy side!

I could have sworn that I heard sleet during the night but I guess it was just rain. We had a temp this morning in the boat of 19C but it was still very, very windy and overcast when we got up short after 0800.

We left CS'ta Time and walked through the state park to town this morning. Our first stop was Ace Hardware where I was told yesterday (via phone) that they refilled propane tanks. Wrong! They exchange propane tanks. What a waste of time. Back to re-searching on the internet. We did manage to make it to the pharmacy, post office and grocery store so not all was lost but those were on the list of lesser important jobs to be done. We had lunch in a restaurant offering some comfort foods for Jorge, some Argentine items on the menu, very tasty!

We got back to the boat in the late afternoon. It was pretty miserable weather-wise here today. Rain, high winds and cooler temps. No Name Harbour offers a free self-serve pumpout (emptying the holding tank of sewage) which we used before supper and then reanchored. We are now anchored in a better spot allowing more swing and not so close to the seawall.

While we did manage to get a few jobs accomplished, I wish that we had accomplished more, specifically topping up the propane tanks, as the weather window for crossing to the Bahamas seems to be this weekend.  Oh well, tomorrow is another day!

Okay, I thought everyone had ESP and could tell that I was blogging with difficulty this morning by using the phone and the itsy bitsy keyboard and that was why the blog was so short. Sorry.

We called the guy in Cocoa who worked on our computer last month and had him talk us through resetting something or other. Lo and behold I can blog again! In my next life I am coming back as a computer geek.

January 6, 2014

Yesterday morning we left our anchorage in Lake Sylvia, Ft. Lauderdale very early. The alarm went off at 0500 and we were weighing anchor by 0520, motoring out of the anchorage by 0535. We made it to the bridge and requested a 0600 opening which we got. Unfortunately the cruise ships were already coming into the harbour. The first one we met immediately after the bridge. Luckily we only had to do one donut to avoid him and then we were cleared to go. The second cruise ship was in the channel but we only had to give him the centre and we had to hug the north shore of the channel going out. That was a no brainer as he was much bigger than we were!

We had an uneventful motor down the Florida coast. Boy do we pick our weather windows, seas only about 2' and no wind! We got into No Name Harbour and had anchor set by 1215. The temp was warm and skies off and on cloudy with no rain until well after we were anchored.

North Miami.

Miami.

Turquoise water, too bad the picture doesn't capture the colour!

Government Cut, Miami (major shipping channel.)

Dive operation in the Government Cut channel.

 

Lighthouse at Cape Florida, Key Biscayne.

Stiltsville, literally houses built on stilts in the water (how do they get hurricane insurance?)

Entrance to No Name Harbour.

Boats at anchor in No Name Harbour.

Both Jorge and I had a bit of a siesta in the afternoon, just can't do early mornings anymore. Besides the winds were supposed to pick up after 1900 and really blow and we did not want to be exhausted, not knowing what kind of night we were going to get.

We put the dinghy in the water late afternoon and went over to visit Dave and Rose on Cloud 9. We got invited aboard for happy hour, (surprise, surprise) which we gladly accepted. Lots of no see 'ums around. The wind was picking up by 1900 when we headed back to CS'ta Time. We had supper and then settled down for an eventful night. As mentioned before, I got an error message when trying to sign into my blog, so I went to bed instead of blogging. Jorge stayed up until 2300 watching the boats swing and making sure things were fine and they were. This morning we were still in our same spot but one of the boat next to us reanchored during the night. A fellow cruiser said he checked the winds and at one point they were blowing 42 kts!

January 7, 2014

We were up shortly after 0800. Jorge had been up a couple of times during the night but things were fine. The CQR anchor has really worked for us. The weather has really turned cold, well 16C on board this morning. The winds were still blowing and it was time for the heater and warm clothes. Gee, I felt like it was October/November in Canada.

We dinghied around the harbour and talked to a few fellow boaters then headed to land. We checked out the pumpout system, laundry, showers, restaurant and part of the park. No Name Harbour in situated in the middle of a state park. We then headed back to the boat for lunch and warmth!

We spent the afternoon not doing too much, tidying up the boat, checking weather. You know the usual boat stuff.

We had invited Dave and Rose to have happy hour with us and they arrived around 1700. We discussed the weather window jumping to the Bahamas. This weekend is looking good and we have both decided it would be nice to do it together as buddy boats. We will talk further as the weekend gets closer.

(I have to work on the videos, couldn't download them tonight.)