March 22

Today we left Georgetown and sailed to Lee Stocking Island. We are with friends Richard and Joyce Ann, so cool another Joyce Ann.

Winds were averaging 24 knots and seas were between 4-6 feet. Bo tried fishing again and to no avail. Sorry Dana and Laurie.

We are anchored along with 6 other boats, went over to Joyce and Richards for fresh Wahoo it was wonderful tomorrow is my egg plant parmesian . Bo is working on the boat in the morning and Joyce and I are taking the dinghy to a dock and look around and go to the beach. About noon the guys are going fishing.

When we were over to their boat tonight there was a nurse shark swimming around about 6 ft. long with several aromas attached to it.

Gorgeous sunset and of course the conch horn and now it is Downton Abbey time.

Blue skies and crystal water.

Joyce

March 19

Today our friends on Cat's Meow left for Rum Cay, we will follow in a few days after we do some bottom cleaning on the boat. Bo is diving it and I am snorkeling it and reaching as far as my arm can reach down the side.

Had a rain pass through today and Bo had to pump about 6 inches of water out of the dinghy.

Bo took one of his air tanks for diving to be filled and will take the other one in tomorrow and then both his tanks will be full.

Did a little shopping at the Straw Market today and have the things packed away. Did some Xmas shopping and things for 2 of the granddaughters.

We are having 2 boats over tomorrow night for a get together. One of the boats we met 4 years ago and they are headed back to MA as their son-in-law has lung cancer and is Brigham Women's for treatment right now.

I will send pictures tomorrow when we go to town, you pay $5 a day and you can use the internet pretty cheap.

#1 the Limbo dancer and Bo, love the hair #2Coconut people(dummies) #3 Lavonne and I with the Junkanoo guy, I in a mask #4 Sharmaine #5Bo and Donald eating Conch Salad guess you have figured they all got turned around.

March 18

This has been a busy week like always, Bahama style.

Last week was the Georgetown Festival in a park. Bo took Lavonne and I in one day and when we picked her up we were the Bobsey Twins. We strolled around the park and I bought some napkins rings, a bandana, apron and fresh lima beans. Lavonne bought several things also and I ordered a basket like hers and can pick it up this week along with another set of napkin rings.

The festival was Thursday, Friday and Saturday, it was Thursday that we went and then Friday it was rainy an messy so stayed at the boat. We all went again on Saturday.

Saturday Donald, Lavonne,Bo and I went after listening to a talk about free diving from a young couple, sounds crazy to me.

We then went to the festival and we saw two of our favorite people Felecia and her daughter Somalia. Somalia was the 7 year old that asked Bo one day when we were doing laundry about being bald, where was his hair, he looked at her and said, "I ran so fast it flew off". She looked at him and said,"I am never going to run again". Her mother is wonderful have seen her several time and she tried to teach us Bahamian Rake and Scrape, of course Bo passed with flying colors but I am a return student, so fun. Bo's sister video taped it when she was here. This was at a boaters appreciation and Bo, Jaymi and I had gone across in the dinghy. When we came back we were so soaked and at least 4 inches of water in the dinghy and Bo said,"People pay good money to go on rides like this at amusement parks". Jaymi and I looked at each other and laughed, came in, took showers to wash the salt off and ready for another day.

Bo got rid of the large car battery charger we had bought when we got the lightening strike to a taxi driver we know, glad that is off the boat.

Friends we met 4 years ago in Charleston on our way to Florida and we met again in Charleston on our way home are next to us, so good to see them again. We had lunch yesterday and they came over last night good to catch up. They are going back to MA in several days as their son-in-law has cancer and need to be home.

This morning people that have a boat like ours except made in France came to visit. Their boat is different than ours (they are live a boards from Australia) .We are going over this afternoon and check theirs out and they have a solution for the freezer so can hardly wait to hear about that.

This evening numerous boats are going over to Cat's Meow as they are leaving for Rum Cay tomorrow and several boats are joining them, we were going to join them going to Rum Cay but Bo has so much work he needs to get caught up on will go someplace when his work is caught up.

One day Lavonne and I made some jewelry, she makes some very nice things, mine are average but so fun can hardly wait to get home and take glue gun and beads and have a place to work.

It will be pretty ugly going back to the Chesapeake Bay as one of the many things that does not work is our air-conditioner. If you know the CBay then you know what a killer this will be, might have to hit motels for a while.  #1 Joyce and Lavonne Joyce #2at the front gate #3man in Junkanoo costume #4 two joyce ann's and one Joyce

Feb.1

Today we got in the dinghy and road to a dock by a pile of sand, tied up, climbed the ladder and walked for maybe 10 minutes to a farmers market. It was an old school house so empty inside. Venders we selling items they have either made or grown. We bought some papaya and banana bread. Get this bread was $7. This was the same price we paid for homemade coconut bread. You are helping the economy. These people are so friendly and will always help you. It is the X Pats that have the huge houses and money and of course some islanders.

We are going to try the Bahamas bananas, they are maybe 4 inches and green. They will never turn yellow but as they say when they start to ripen they start to get a little soft. Everyone says they are the best and sweetest.

We are hanging out today with several friends, one wants info on the Chesapeake Bay the other the guys are going fishing and we are going to the beach to look for sea beans and hamburgers. Mostly to enjoy the day and beauty. There is a pool and pizza party later.

The guys are trying to figure out about the super bowl tomorrow and where we can get it.

Blue skies and gentle breeze.

December 15-16

Welcome to the Bahamas !!!!!!

Today, Sunday we left the Stadium in Key Biscayne at 5:45 to head out by the stilt houses in Key Biscayne. We Bo had a place here 13 years ago this was a big thing. All the hurricanes have destroyed some homes and others they have redone and people are in them. If you use to watch CSI Miami they started the show with a quick pan shot of the stilt house in Key Biscayne.(pictures stilt houses)Beautiful sun rise.

John and Denise left with us and it was perfect, winds so sailed the entire day and night, then about about 1 am the wind switched and we took the sails in and motored.

I wish each one of you could have been with me on my midnight-5 shift. Stars, full moon , light winds. As I looked over the big ocean I thought how blessed we are to have so much.

As we left Key Biscayne it was traffic in New York City with all the sailboats headed out. People call each other to chat and see where they are going on their VHF Radio to be in contact with people and the coast guard.

We thought we would stop in Bimini as our first port of call but the weather was to perfect so kept going, a thunderstorm passed behind us and the lightening was awesome.

As is grew dark all the lights came on from the sailboats, you had to laugh at the traffic lights and it was like a race.

In the afternoon I got to take the helm and my favorite thing to do is race and see who I can beat and we did!! In the picture with me at the helm look at the blue water, in sailing hair styles are a goner.

As we approached Nassau the sun was just coming up, you had to hail the harbor master to ask permission to come into the harbor, you had to give the boat documentation number and tell them where you came from and where you were going to stay while in Nassau.

As we approached the harbor Atlantis was on our port side, all I have to say is WOW !! We would like to go over there and look around as they are suppose to have a fabulous aquarium. 

After we checked into the marina and did a wash job to get layer 1-2-3 of salt off the boat we (the 4 of us) walked to the phone store to get Bahamian phone. John and Denise had one from last year so just put minutes on their phone. We have to buy a phone for service.

We had to fly a yellow flag (quarantine )from one of our halyards meaning we had not had customs and immigration come to our boat and check all our papers and they could board us. We had to pay X amount to enter the Bahamas, we had already had Butterscotch papers from the vet and board of agriculture that Butter could enter and paid for him to come. After immigration checked us out and we filled out the papers and they asked how long we wanted to stay (6 months) we had those papers, then later customs came and we had to fill out more papers and pay again to come into the country. Bo got a fishing permit so he can do lobster and other fish that goes until April.

We then walked and looked for a marine store as we broke a block putting up our dinghy Saturday night in preparation for leaving, if it is not one thing it is something else. So need to get parts again but think we will order some and have them sent to Jaymi’s ,Bo’s sister who is coming down in for a week in January. 

We are now trying to set up sort of a schedule of what we want to do for the 3 days we are here then move on. John and Denise are staying as the daughter and family and son are coming for the week before Christmas.

Thank you to all the people that have sent us messages on

share.delorne.com/HerbertChesney  password  Peacock. 

Yes Lee we were in the middle of the ocean, not really but the depth was 5000 ft. holly smoke could not touch bottom and the sea temp. was 90 degrees. (Gulf Stream)

Lee and Mary Pat your friends from Glory Days called us on VHF and they are at a dock over from us so will see them, they were getting in at the same time we were>

Clear skies and fair winds.

March 11

All our company is gone. We had so much fun with them all. Thursday starts the Bahamian Festival so we and Cat's Meow are going for the 3 days.

I will send just a few pictures of our company on their visit.

I have very few pictures of Sharon and David as Lavonne (Cat's Meow have so many) It was raining one night and we even went out in the rain in our dinghy for supper at Cat's Meow. They were having refr. and freezer problems (5 of each) so we went to help them get rid of food..so much fun. If you have never met Donald and Lavonne you are missing out.

Valera just tried her best to relax and as you can see did a great job, she also got to enjoy Donald and Lavonne, so much fun.

Fair winds