Monday February 23, 2009
Captain Barr and his wife Trish came by for a cup of tea in the morning. The weather for the week is going to be winds of 20 knots and so we decided to join them on a tour of Man-of War and Hope Town
Their boat the Road to the Isles is a 65 foot Schooner that draws 6 -7 feet so they anchor off most places at the outside of the harbour. Something we have never been confident to do. I so enjoyed their mentoring and confidence boosting, they have provided us with.
In the afternoon we did our errands in town and got ship shape to take off early in the morning. I decided to prepare a big patch of chili and have it ready for the next couple of days.
Tuesday February 24, 2009
Up and tripping over each other in a hurray to make provisions to be ready to leave on scheduled time with the Barr family. We were anxious to raise our anchor and be ready when it was time to go. No realizing they had two anchors down we were up and free and half way across the Sea of Abaco before we could see them coming. We got to the mouth of the Harbour at Man-of War and there was a light chop and about 20 knots of wind. The water is deep up to the shore so here we were doing something we never do by ourselves. ;)
After we had set the anchor (not really confidently) the Barrs arrived and set their hook and the Captain said it was a good hold. We are still skeptical but love the confidence that years of experience produces. They invited us aboard to have a coffee while we waited to make sure if the anchor was going to hold. True to his word the anchor held so we decided to go into town and check out the village again. It was fun to show someone a place we had been and so we hit all the high lights. We went out for lunch at the Dock and Dine and headed down the dock to look for the masts. Sure enough they were at the end of the harbour. The North east wind was continuing to increase to 25 knots so when we arrived at Hopetown it was rougher than at Man-of War so but we dropped the anchor and radioed to the Barrs. They were experiencing some discomfort but their boat (full keel) will hunker down and ride into the wind. Our boat has a fin keel and likes to dance around in the waves. Dick decided we would move into the harbour and take a mooring. I tried to hail a Marina but they leave at 4:00 pm. A fellow boater told us the one with the bottle was available. Inside the harbour it was much calmer but the wind held all night. Fortunately for the Barrs it rounded to the east and they were able to have some shelter from the end of the island. I had invited the Barrs to have Chili with us but that will have to wait until tomorrow.
Wednesday February 25, 2009
Monumental Day for Us
Dick and I got up in the morning and decided to move back out to the anchorage out side the harbour and drop anchor by the Barrs. We have become more accomplished at the art of anchoring and are getting a lot better at doing it in a variety of conditions. We grabbed the camera and headed into Hope Town to take some photos. Hope Town is our last destination and from here on in we will be heading back HOME. The Barrs invited us aboard to have the Chili and we toasted the end of the trip with them. What a wonderful moment to go so far and finish it in the fellowship of people you have come to love and respect. After lunch they will continue on to Cuba and we will return to Marsh Harbour for the night and then make our way up toward the Whale for there appears to be a window coming on Saturday. My joy is intense deep and quiet. Thank you Lord for this wonderful moment in time.
We were happy to return to Marsh Harbour as the confidence of having been there and then done it so reduces the stress of coming into a new place. The trip home will offer this many more times and the daylight hours will increase so now we are looking forward to getting in the that Gulf Stream and riding it North east to Fort Pierce. (Weather permitting)
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Week at Marsh Harbour
Wednesday February 18, 2009
Morning Routine is get up have breakfast and listen to the Cruisers Net on VHF Radio for weather and community events. After you know the weather then you make plans. The winds has become a way of life. We head over to the Gib Restaurant Marina to buy showers. Showers are $4.00 and we are thankful that someone provides them to the boaters on anchor. Another cruiser need is movie rentals and used books, there is a group of woman that are raising money for the Horses of Abaco and they provide used books for a $1.00 and movie rentals for $1.00. There are only 8 horses left at this time and they have suffered ill health from pesticides and they are trying to impregnate them but nothing has took yet which would mean extinction of that species. Their coats are beautiful and it would be very sad to loose this breed. We took a walk down the tourist side of Marsh Harbour and went for a walk over to the other bay to see if Captain Barr had made it to the Anchorage.
Thursday February 19, 2009
The temperature has gone up about 10 degrees. The dinghy ride to the dock is more pleasurable than it has been. We are on a mission to find some “rake and scrape” music. The local radio channel plays fantastic gospel music and then in the afternoon it puts on the Bahamian dance beat music. I found a beautiful fabric store and the ladies that were working asked me if I knew that Friday was the Junkanoo Festival and Friday night there is a parade and Saturday there is the adult parade. We spend the day quilting and Dick did some water colours. The days are so relaxing and I know it will all end soon.
Friday February 20, 2009
The big event today was the evening children's Junkanoo Festival. The parade was scheduled to start at 7:00 pm but it did not get started until closer to 8pm. The children were dressed in bright costumes and learning co-ordinate a dance to the music and the drums at the end of the procession for each entry.
It was great to see so many people out on the streets having a good time. There was food vendors and some trinket carnies.Tomorrow night is the adult parade.
Saturday February 21, 2009
Senior Junkaroo was on and there were even more people out than last night. The photos only show a portion of the moods and music and community effort. This event is supported by the youth workers as a way of keeping the kids off the streets. All the costumes are hand made.
Sunday February 22, 2009
After seeing all those Bahamian well dressed people out last night my husband is having an argument about going to church in his shorts. In the middle of the tete I look out and see Road to the Isles anchored off our port stern. We are overjoyed to see the Barr's again and do a catch up. Their daughter Cheryl is with them and she is working on another cruising guide to Cuba via the Abacos. We stopped by to say hello and got back to the boat about 11:30 pm. Mr. Shorts is off the hook. Quiet day finishing the quilt. Had a long walk with Cheryl Barr around Marsh Harbour.
Morning Routine is get up have breakfast and listen to the Cruisers Net on VHF Radio for weather and community events. After you know the weather then you make plans. The winds has become a way of life. We head over to the Gib Restaurant Marina to buy showers. Showers are $4.00 and we are thankful that someone provides them to the boaters on anchor. Another cruiser need is movie rentals and used books, there is a group of woman that are raising money for the Horses of Abaco and they provide used books for a $1.00 and movie rentals for $1.00. There are only 8 horses left at this time and they have suffered ill health from pesticides and they are trying to impregnate them but nothing has took yet which would mean extinction of that species. Their coats are beautiful and it would be very sad to loose this breed. We took a walk down the tourist side of Marsh Harbour and went for a walk over to the other bay to see if Captain Barr had made it to the Anchorage.
Thursday February 19, 2009
The temperature has gone up about 10 degrees. The dinghy ride to the dock is more pleasurable than it has been. We are on a mission to find some “rake and scrape” music. The local radio channel plays fantastic gospel music and then in the afternoon it puts on the Bahamian dance beat music. I found a beautiful fabric store and the ladies that were working asked me if I knew that Friday was the Junkanoo Festival and Friday night there is a parade and Saturday there is the adult parade. We spend the day quilting and Dick did some water colours. The days are so relaxing and I know it will all end soon.
Friday February 20, 2009
The big event today was the evening children's Junkanoo Festival. The parade was scheduled to start at 7:00 pm but it did not get started until closer to 8pm. The children were dressed in bright costumes and learning co-ordinate a dance to the music and the drums at the end of the procession for each entry.
It was great to see so many people out on the streets having a good time. There was food vendors and some trinket carnies.Tomorrow night is the adult parade.
Saturday February 21, 2009
Senior Junkaroo was on and there were even more people out than last night. The photos only show a portion of the moods and music and community effort. This event is supported by the youth workers as a way of keeping the kids off the streets. All the costumes are hand made.
Sunday February 22, 2009
After seeing all those Bahamian well dressed people out last night my husband is having an argument about going to church in his shorts. In the middle of the tete I look out and see Road to the Isles anchored off our port stern. We are overjoyed to see the Barr's again and do a catch up. Their daughter Cheryl is with them and she is working on another cruising guide to Cuba via the Abacos. We stopped by to say hello and got back to the boat about 11:30 pm. Mr. Shorts is off the hook. Quiet day finishing the quilt. Had a long walk with Cheryl Barr around Marsh Harbour.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Back to Marsh Harbour
Sunday February 15, 2009
Michelle and Ian on Southern Flite were heading back to the States today and going through the Whale was going to be the best opportunity today. They were up early and headed out. It feels a little melancholy and we will miss having their company. Michelle ran down from the bridge deck to get the camera and take a picture of us standing on the dock waving good-bye so I guess she was feeling the same. I could feel the cold steel of self survival clench around my heart and when we got back on board the VHF had someone hailing Road to the Isles. We could only hear one side of the conversation but we gathered that they had arrived in Green Turtle and were heading to this area by Wednesday. Dick and I had to wait for high tide to head back to Marsh Harbour. When we got back to the harbour we anchored closer to the mouth of the harbour so we would not go aground during low tide. The tides have been very intense due to the Full Moon. It was Sunday night so we ding hied to town to find an evening church service. Most of the services did not start until 7:00 pm and we were not comfortable being uptown that long with the forecast that was predicted for Sunday evening. We came back to the boat and had dinner and watched a movie Dick had purchased at the garage sale.
Monday February 16, 2009
Today we spent a reflective day. The weather was beautiful in the morning but we had been warned by the Cruisers Net on VHF not to be deceived. Within a matter of an hour the wind had picked up and the chop in the harbour had increased. We decided to go to town to check our email and pick up some bakery bread. By the time we got back to the dinghy it was time to get back on board and hunker down for the winds that were coming. When we were at the Internet Provider place we received an email from Karen on Whippoorwill and Vertigo 1 and they are apparently back in Miami as Vertigo 1 had engine trouble after they were at Bimini and they had to go back to the States. We were very sorry to hear about that and as always things play on your mind and you have no way to change it. Whippoorwill will have to make a decision to stay or go back to the Bahamas. We recommended the Abacos or the Florida Keys. It would be wonderful to catch up with them when we get back to Florida.
I got out the sewing machine and spent the whole day making another quilt top. I had packed a bag of patches and bought some fat squares in St. Augustine but if I what to quilt these I need a fabric store to buy the backing. There is a decorator store downtown Marsh Harbour so I will check that out when I know what I will need. Meals were on board and I whipped up a potato chowder to use some of the food I had brought to the Bahamas. The wind howled all day and all through the night. Not much sleep but the Anchor held just fine.
Tuesday February 17, 2009
Sewing Morning. :)
In the afternoon stopped by a boat that was at the Conch Inn with people we knew from Green Turtle,
Joan and Ed on Willem a 36 foot Monk from Dunkirk on Lake Erie.
Michelle and Ian on Southern Flite were heading back to the States today and going through the Whale was going to be the best opportunity today. They were up early and headed out. It feels a little melancholy and we will miss having their company. Michelle ran down from the bridge deck to get the camera and take a picture of us standing on the dock waving good-bye so I guess she was feeling the same. I could feel the cold steel of self survival clench around my heart and when we got back on board the VHF had someone hailing Road to the Isles. We could only hear one side of the conversation but we gathered that they had arrived in Green Turtle and were heading to this area by Wednesday. Dick and I had to wait for high tide to head back to Marsh Harbour. When we got back to the harbour we anchored closer to the mouth of the harbour so we would not go aground during low tide. The tides have been very intense due to the Full Moon. It was Sunday night so we ding hied to town to find an evening church service. Most of the services did not start until 7:00 pm and we were not comfortable being uptown that long with the forecast that was predicted for Sunday evening. We came back to the boat and had dinner and watched a movie Dick had purchased at the garage sale.
Monday February 16, 2009
Today we spent a reflective day. The weather was beautiful in the morning but we had been warned by the Cruisers Net on VHF not to be deceived. Within a matter of an hour the wind had picked up and the chop in the harbour had increased. We decided to go to town to check our email and pick up some bakery bread. By the time we got back to the dinghy it was time to get back on board and hunker down for the winds that were coming. When we were at the Internet Provider place we received an email from Karen on Whippoorwill and Vertigo 1 and they are apparently back in Miami as Vertigo 1 had engine trouble after they were at Bimini and they had to go back to the States. We were very sorry to hear about that and as always things play on your mind and you have no way to change it. Whippoorwill will have to make a decision to stay or go back to the Bahamas. We recommended the Abacos or the Florida Keys. It would be wonderful to catch up with them when we get back to Florida.
I got out the sewing machine and spent the whole day making another quilt top. I had packed a bag of patches and bought some fat squares in St. Augustine but if I what to quilt these I need a fabric store to buy the backing. There is a decorator store downtown Marsh Harbour so I will check that out when I know what I will need. Meals were on board and I whipped up a potato chowder to use some of the food I had brought to the Bahamas. The wind howled all day and all through the night. Not much sleep but the Anchor held just fine.
Tuesday February 17, 2009
Sewing Morning. :)
In the afternoon stopped by a boat that was at the Conch Inn with people we knew from Green Turtle,
Joan and Ed on Willem a 36 foot Monk from Dunkirk on Lake Erie.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Heading back to Marsh Harbour
Just discussed with the Captain and Grace C will be returning to Marsh Harbour to hunker down for a couple new cold fronts that will be arriving this week.
Celebrating our 34th Wedding Anniversary
Friday February 14, 2009We got up early to tour the flee market before the ferry crowd arrive. There were lots of vendors and craft people to. The food was all homemade but rather expensive. No one seemed to mind as there were long lineups. In the afternoon we took the dinghy over to the Atlantic side to look for the reefs. There was a bit of a chop so we decided to return to the protection of the harbour. I was still not feeling comfortable with my breathing and the snorkel. When we got back to the Marina I took the snorkel equipment and went in the pool and after a few practise tries I felt really comfortable. I will try again when we get to a reef. Dick and I made dinner on board and had a candlelight meal in the cockpit.
Touring Man of War
Friday February 13, 2009
This photo is for Paula our treasurer at the PSSS. The other shots are of the Albury Sailing Shop where they make beautiful bags and totes from sailing materials. Diane and Karen I hope you are still reading the blog.
We left Marsh Harbour and headed across the tranquil Sea of Abaco to head toward Man-of War Cay. This particular island is a unique community and the island is dry. No alcohol is sold here. It is a Loyalist settlement and they do not work on Sundays. Their brag is their boat building and other island crafts. We had decided to tour this island this week-end as they have a huge flee market and community fair to raise money for their primary school. Bye the time we got the boat tied up the 80 degree temperatures had cooled down as a cold front had come through. We sent the afternoon strolling the streets and bought some fresh baked bread out of the back of a golf cart.
We spent the evening at the Man of War Marina visiting friends on Southern Flite.
This photo is for Paula our treasurer at the PSSS. The other shots are of the Albury Sailing Shop where they make beautiful bags and totes from sailing materials. Diane and Karen I hope you are still reading the blog.
We left Marsh Harbour and headed across the tranquil Sea of Abaco to head toward Man-of War Cay. This particular island is a unique community and the island is dry. No alcohol is sold here. It is a Loyalist settlement and they do not work on Sundays. Their brag is their boat building and other island crafts. We had decided to tour this island this week-end as they have a huge flee market and community fair to raise money for their primary school. Bye the time we got the boat tied up the 80 degree temperatures had cooled down as a cold front had come through. We sent the afternoon strolling the streets and bought some fresh baked bread out of the back of a golf cart.
We spent the evening at the Man of War Marina visiting friends on Southern Flite.
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