February 9, 2016

I have not written for several days but thought I would send a few more pictures.

We have been kept busy with filming and interviewing. Bimini to us is a well kept secret, the kind of place we love to visit and spend some time.

We have had 3 fronts go past us and when I say fronts I mean winds. Today the winds at our dock are between 20-25. The sun is trying to come out but seems to be having a hard time. I think all of us are waiting for a window to either go to The Berries or Nassau.

We are having to go to Nassau as they have now passed a law like the states you have to a permit to fly a drone. We totally understand this. We have been given the people and offices to contact that can do this for us but they are in Nassau.

Let me send a couple more pictures. Another picture of The Dolphin House, he has even his stairways all done in a mosaic form and incredible. Our service is so slow I am not able to send another picture so will settle with this one.

February 3, 2016

Today was our tour of the Dolphin House, a must see.  What an incredible afternoon we spent about 2 hours there for filming and talking. I will try and include a picture, he Ashley Saunders is from here but went to college in Wisconsin then grad. school at Harvard and came back home to teach for 30 years. This house he started in 1993. I will send a link and you can get a better view and idea what it is all about. www.doLPinhousebimini.com.

We met a gentlemen whose name was Chipper and he was a carver and had carved a piece for the Dolphin House.

February 4, 2016

We walked to the Bimini Big Game Club Resort and Marina for 10am.and were there for about an hour. ( original owners were The Bacardi's) .We were given a tour and interview of the resort so we can go back and film. It is truly a resort . They have a motel unit and also single apartments. Big Game Club are very active into fishing and have many tournaments here. I have a picture of the structure they use to weight the Marlins. Right now the Discovery Channel has a crew here filming for Shark Week which is on their channel. Bo was able to interview a gentlemen involved in this production. We saw where they have the cages that divers get into with all the bars and can encounter sharks.

We walked back to Dolphin House to have Ashley sign more release papers and I was able to give him one of my nature treasure. Two years ago I found a glass bottle on the beach at Stocking Island. The bottle was from Trinidad and I filled it with tiny shells and then made a twine tie with shells attached around the neck of the bottle. I used this as a decor. Now Ashley has it for his home.

We took a shuttle to the very end of the Island to The Marina at Resort World Bimini. There is a Hilton hotel and housing addition here. The sea plane lands not far from here 4 times a day. We took a taxi back to the marina for $10 and spent some time gathering our thought and preparing for the next day.

About 3:30 I was walking to the beach and in a building next to the marina were 2 gentlemen outside. I stopped to ask a question about the huge fences land across from them. They were telling history and had pictures so called Bo and he came right over. He showed us pictures of what the estate had looked like back in prohibition days. It was bought and built for people from the US and later sold to people from DC. Part of it was destroyed by hurricanes but enough stand the family still comes today. The gentleman that owned the building (a disco) was named Star as he had been an athlete and coached for years taking youth baseball teams all over to play in competition. Star told us about people that had built and owned property for years and then sold it. One tidbit was the movie, "Silence of the Lamb" had the last scene filmed here right down the street so have to watch the movie again. We talked and looked at pictures for maybe an hour.  Wish we could get he along with others to sit for an evening of talk and history.

We then walked to the beach so I looked for shells and Bo enjoyed the sunset. As we got back to the boat the gentlemen on a sailboat across to us stopped to talk so we invited them over. They came with what they wanted to drink an some munchies. Everyone has a story and it is so interesting to hear all the stories about where they are from and why they are doing this and where they are headed. As we were talking the boat next to us from Chii (57 ft. Swan) needed more water hose to fill tanks. We all carry water hose that is used ONLY for water so gave them one of our 35ft hoses.

Here is a picture of the front of the Dolphin House, all hand done. Dolphins are 6 ft. It is like this all over, the sides, the steps to 2nd floor all of it unbelievable.

Joyce

February 3, 2016

Another beautiful day in paradise.

My day started with a walk on the beach at 7:15-8:30.  I was the only one on the beach until the gal on the German boat next to us came to walk her dog.

Bo stayed at the boat and worked on music that we bought from Stevie S, we are going to go to the Big Game Club Saturday to listen to him.

On todays schedule is going to the Dolphin House which you need to check out on line.  The top picture is while walking the beach and the second picture we were walking in town and saw the boats anchored out.

February 1, 2016

Rained off and on all day but we went out to check out the island. We met a couple while walking that also was on a sailboat at another marina that has spent winters here in Bimini. She is an illustrator for Latitudes and Attitudes . We walked with them to a local cafe called Seaside Cafe,the lady cooked the food while you waited, really small but very good. I would call this a true Bimini treasure. We were able to try Bimini bread and we need to buy some so good.

February 2, 2016

Beautiful walked the beach for over an hour and found mostly sea glass that I will give to others as that is one thing I do not do.

We got back showered now ready for the day. Bo walked up to BTC so we could connect our phones as Bahama phones and he stopped back at Tourism and received a name to contact so we can take the clothing and books to the correct people in Blackpoint. Jerrie Springer gave us clothes from Addison and books she no longer needed and we were so excited to be able to bring them over here where they will be so treasured.

Bo started to make water and that will run for several hours before he shuts it off and transfers it to the front tank. Bo checked out renting a golf cart and it is expensive and found out we can take a taxi for $10, so this is what we will do to get to the far end of the island where the resorts are located.

When Bo came back we walked to the cafe by the marina Big John's for lunch and was excellent. Bo them came back to the boat and I took off.

My job today was to write down all the markets and some restaurants and see if they were still open. As I was out I got to talking to a gentleman and he then told me about music and he owned a local restaurant called 3 Daughters Deli. Ended up his cousin sing, write music and preforms local so we came back to the boat and he and Bo are making a deal to use his music in some of his video but we will go listen to him Saturday as he is singing there.

You never know who Joyce will find to talk to on one of her excursions.

I am going to send some pictures so you can also enjoy the beautiful clear blue water and the beauty of the island.

Tonight we are walking up to another marina for Happy Hour and tomorrow evening walking with people on a boat by us that are from Germany to a place called C J's Deli right on the water have a Kalik beer and watch the sunset.

How does it get any better.

Joyce

January 30, 2016

We have been anchored outside the Hurricane Hole for 3 days and now is time to bring up anchor and go to Crandon Marina at Key Biscayne to top off fuel. Brandon is where we kept a 30 ft sailboat a Catalina named Cool Change for the few months we lived here and then had it hauled to Annapolis.

We left our anchorage about 1:30 and got back about 2:30 and went from 3 boats in the anchorage to about 30, forgot it was the weekend.

We plan to leave for the Bahamas about 6 am.

January 31, 2016

We did pull up anchor and head out but not until about 7. We chose to go out around No Name Harbor by all the stilt houses. If you use to watch CSI Miami the entrance shoot was of a boat going past a lot of houses off shore, these are the stilt houses. When we lived here people still lived in them but through the years and hurricanes some are only frames but some still have people out there.

It is hard for us to believe it has taken us 3 months to leave the states, with weather and boat issues, it has been crazy but we are on our way and you can imagine the smiles faces, YAH !!

At 9 am we are about 40 miles from Bimini ad we should arrive there about 3-4.

Wind has been out of the east at 3 knots so there is a little chop but not much, seas are about 2-3 ft.

Once we get to Bimini my cell phone will become a Bahamian phone until we return back to the states and the only communication we have to the states are our computers so keep the emails coming. With Bo's tracker and the people that follow him they can also send him an email or text and this is how his family will get ahold of us in an emergency.

We have another old phone that we also use as a Bahamian phone besides mine and we will put in a sim card and just add time to it when we have used it up.

We have been the only ones out here today except 4 freighters headed back to the south one was going to Houston.  No boats on AIS so a pretty low key day out here.

We started seeing Man-of-Wars out here when we got closer to the Gulf Stream. My first sighting of these was when we lived in Key Biscayne on the beaches. Look them up and read about them. They are beautiful bright, pink, blue and purple with long tentacles but they are very deadly.

We are so excited to be back to what we love, travel and adventure and meeting other cultures.

Bo started to make water with our water maker so now will not have to worry about being at marinas and here either you haul it or pay for it.

Our depth exceeds our instruments as does the water.

About 2 we see land and as we get closer you hear other boats on the radio calling marinas but the biggest thing is to look at the entrance and see the most beautiful turquoise water you have ever seen. We call to Brown Marina and they plus about 5 guys from the marina are here to help us with docking. The water is so clear you see the bottom and all the fish, amazing.

After we are settled Bo has to walk up to customs by himself and give them all our papers and passports to clear us in. We then change our yellow flag ( quarantine flag) to our Bahama flag we are now legal.

We sit outside and take in the beauty ready for tomorrow when our walking adventures begin. Bo has been contacted already by a Waterway gentleman from Nassau about doing some photography so that puts a smile on his face.

I will send pictures later but now will have to wait until we are at a place where we pay to do big network things but no worry you will get them.

The weather God's have been good to us again to guide us safely across the Atlantic.

Joyce

January 25, 2016

We are staying at Dinner Key for a few days to wait out a front. We did our last land errands, Home Depot, groceries, bank and laundry so we are ready to leave the marina and go to an anchorage.

We had an easy out of the marina slip as the wind and current was with us so could do it by ourselves.

We are headed to the Stadium our favorite anchorage for Miami.

When Bo worked here about 18 years ago he had a place in Key Biscayne as it was cheaper for his company to rent him an apartment rather than fly him home every weekend, so I would fly down and use his milage. When were were here the stadium was used for racing boats and rented jet skis. It was February and people thought we were crazy as it was their winter and we thought it was warm. Over the years boats got to large, area to small and venue changed so the stadium sat empty and has gone to disary,  it has empty and closed for years. Two years ago we were here and some of you may remember the picture I sent of a log cabin for Santa as it was on a pier used for a Miami art show. We are at the same place except now Miami has taken over the area and are using it as part of the Miami Boat Show. The boat show is in Feb. so they had to put up all the docks and there are so many, tents and prepare the area.

We are at the far end in-front of a private school and we get to watch them skull their boats every evening. There are boats that are 2-4-6-8 person boats. the 6-8 person have an extra person that gives them commands. There are 2 small power boats that follow them they must be coaches.(they are like the Olympics)

There are several other boats anchored here, quiet and peaceful.

We know they are closing the anchorage and will have to move as they prepare for the finishing touches of the boat show.

A police boat stopped by and told us that they were closing the area first thing tomorrow morning (Jan. 28) so we will have to move.  Anchor up, anchor cleaned and off we go. We are outside the hurricane hole waiting for a few days for the next front to pass then plan is to leave early Sunday morning for Bimini.

Lots of storms around southern Florida today with tornadoes but we only had rain, friends in Marathon,Florida also lucked out last night.

Will keep you all posted.

So many boat waiting to cross over to the Bahamas so know we will not be alone in the crossing.

Fair skies.

Joyce

January 20-21, 2016

We left Cape Canaveral about 8:30 am with the help of Dave (a friend from Canada). His sailboat is the one that was lost its mast going under a bridge in Florida on the ICW.

10:40 stats
winds 11 knots
seas 4-6 ft.
water temp. 64
cloudy
off shore about 6 miles

We can see the clouds over the Gulf Stream. The  Gulf Stream plays a part in our sailing the current runs south-north and the weather is ever changing. The Gulf Stream has the current headed north and from the north you have the Labador current headed south and they meet off of Hatteras and this is why there are so many issues going around Hatteras. When we head home in May we get in the stream and fly awesome go maybe 10-12 knots.

As you head south off shore in Florida it is one big city, you have no idea when one town starts or ends they run all together.

We will stay about 6 miles from shore util we we get closer to the Gulf Stream which comes very close around Jupiter Florida and even closer to Lake Worth.  (West Palm Beach)


stats

water temp over 100 degrees
depth beyond our 200 ft reading
winds 18 knots
sea height about 6 ft.

What happens with the Gulf Stream is the water temps will go up as they are very warm and we will be fighting the currents which will slow us down.

It has been an incredible day as there is no noise from the wheel, as you remember from our trip to Cape Canaveral our wheel made so much noise we had to wear ear plugs, one project Bo tackeled over our stay at Cape Canaveral. We had to replace our Genoa lines and main sheet fuller lines. Rewire our AIS as we were having a problem with it going off while we sailed.

We received a call on our VHF radio from a sailboat, Relativity that was a 56 ft boat. They just wanted to find out where we were going and check in with us. They are going to Miami and then doing a race to Cuba.

11:08 am
winds have risen to 18 knots so we put out our Genoa for stability and balance and our speed was now 7-8 knots. We later brought it in and put our our sail for stability and left it out until we came in Government Cut.

As we get closer to the Gulf Stream the ocean temp goes over 100 degrees and the depth goes deeper than our 200 ft. We also loose speed as we then fight the current.

To pass time Bo reads and I listen to my 40 plus country CD's in shuffle mode. Goes from the Oaks, Brad Paisley,  Little Big Town, Rascall Flatts to the Gatlins.

We took our first selfie at the close of the day and we will send it along with other pictures of our trip to Miami.

Thursday the 21st

There was a lot of traffic off shore last night as there are busy ports for shipping and cruise ships so  we both were up most all of the night.

Turning into Government Cut from off shore and going down the shipping channels where all the freighters and cruise ships are is always a moment you think about the freighters that loose cargo off shore, they are hugs. I will include a picture.

The dolphins created us, about 6-8 swam and jumped around our boat, they love to play in your wake.

Our destination was the Stadium to anchor for the front but this was not a choice this year as this is where the Miami Boat show is going to be this year in Feb. so were putting out docks.  Much to our pocket book we came to Dinner Key in Coconut Grove. It cost us for 4 days what we would pay for 1 1/2 months in either VA or Myrtle Beach, suck it up!!! What will be will be. At least we can go and do things, go to grocery and bank.

Before we were married Bo worked for a company that he was assignment was Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines in Key Biscayne for 6 months so had a place. We love it here but expensive.

We each took naps after coffee and breakfast/lunch combo and are ready to watch some TV, relax and back to bed for a good nights sleep.

This was an incredible trip and one more journey for us, God's beauty is all around us just take time to sit back, relax and take life journey.

Joyce