Dec. 22/23

We have spent the last several days getting ready to leave on Tuesday and spending time with friends.

We walked across 2 bridges to go and look at Atlantis, amazing. This is where we saw the mega boats. One bridge takes you to the island (Paradise) and the other bridge takes you back to the mainland. You have to pay to drive onto the island.

We sat on the boats and watched the boat parade of lights but nothing like Annapolis has.

Our friends had part of the family get here, the son that is an opera singer in Boston (after mom said numerous times)never checked his passport...oh well he is still there but his sister, husband and baby got here. Other neighbors had family coming from Hobby in Houston and was in line for 4 hours and so they missed the flight. They were able to catch on to Fort Lauderdale and caught a plane and got here last night.

There are 5 boats leaving anytime from 5:30 am to 7:30 am. It is suppose to be a great day and maybe even a great several days.

Going to the grocery store and buy something to put in the pressure cooker for Xmas. Highlight tonight we are all going to the Dairy Queen across the street and buy one Blizzard get one at 1/2 price. Our huge splurge.

Another mega yacht to look at is Northern Lights, this one is behind us and is 80,000 -100,000 a week.

For the next 4-5 days we will have no access to internet but remember you can reach us with the tracker.

Another beautiful day in paradise.

Bo and I wish all our family and kids and grandkids a very blessed holiday, we miss you all so much. Hugs to Donald and Lavonne, our prayers and thoughts are with you!!

Bo and Joyce

Dec. 20

Bo and I walked to a beach not far from the marina.

It had a beautiful park there and one of my favorite signs on the road. Hope you liked the mobile barber picture.

We say bump in the road but they say HUMP !!!

I keep forgetting  to say that the Bahamas' are English colony SO they drive on the left side of the car and the wrong side of the street.

The shoes I really need, a family on the cruise ship was at the beach and we took their picture and I had to get her shoes, they were from Panama City, FL.

Last night we bought fish(Wahee) from our neighor fishing boat and Bo fixed it want to buy more before we leave on Monday or Tuesday.

Dec.21

2 boats by us tried to leave and the winds were so strong they are coming back, there is a boat parade of lights tonight right by us so will be fun.

Our friends family arrives tomorrow from VA and MA so will fun to gather.

Everyone be safe over the holidays. Hold your family close and dear.

How could I forget one of my favorite pictures.

December 18

Today Bo and I took advantage of the great weather and walk to town. Bo did some video and I had my camera.

We first walked to Potter Cay, this is under the bridge that goes across to Atlantis. Here the fisherman are busy taking the insides out of Conch shells, pounding them ready for cooking.

We continued our walk and the are busy getting ready for Junkanoo and Boxer Day, they had bleachers set up along the street, the hours are from midnight-10 am.

This is a hot spot for cruise ships so shopping is very up scale. One of the jewelry stores was beyond belief so had our pictures take, the lights reminded me of my child hood. When my sister(who is 6 years older),mother and I would go every year into Sioux City,Iowa before Xmas go to Younker Martins and Younker Davidson's, have lunch on the balcony and look at all the decorations in the stores and windows.

The have police all over, directing traffic and helping people. The have street decorations like we use to have years ago,carriage rides and the traffic is horrid, if you have ever ridden in a taxi in New York you fit right in.

We walked down to Arawak Cay. 32 places to eat and they are all like little colorful huts, so cool. As you walk along the beach there are little places like boxes open for food.

In the picture that shows the light house that is the channel that we came into. The water is unbelievable, so blue.

We walked to the Government House where the statue of Columbus is, talk about grounds, unbelievable.

After walking from 9am-2:30 we decided to ride a taxi $1.25 a person so we had a chance to ride the bus lines...hold on.

Dec.19th 3 of us took a taxi to a laundry to and back $35..little step but suck it up.

Doing some maintenance this afternoon and then at 5 getting together with 5 boats for appetizers .

Does not look like the weather will let us move until Monday.

Really windy so hoping for less wind and clear skies.

Welcome to the Bahamas

Welcome to the Bahamas !!!

December 15-16

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.

Picture 1 was sunrise as we left Biscayne Bay about 5:45

              2 Stilt house in Biscayne Bay, there are 7 of them and 4 of them are lived in at this time.

3 I love to race boats and see how many I can beat!!!did it. Blue water.

4.Atlantis, right across from our marina.

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.

December 14

Yesterday we dinghy into a bar so we can tie up the boat and take the bus to Brickell Station to catch the free mover to Bay Side one of our favorite places to go in Miami.

The first picture is of John and Denise McLinn at our last drink before we go to Bay Side then take off on Sunday to cross the Gulf Stream and continue into Bimini.

The picture does not do the trees justice, these are the Robinson Crusoe  trees. They have huge tangled roots and then hanging vines down to the ground, they are beautiful. Pictures of Bay Side, a tourists stop with lots of resturants .

As we are anchored back at the stadium and there is a school right on the water and they are big into water activities. Today they are having races and fun to watch.

Taking the dinghy over to the marina and fill the last jerry can filled with gas for the dinghy as gas is so expensive in the Bahamas, we know we will need to buy it but put it off as long as possible.

Watched the Iowa/Iowa State game last night way to go ISU!!! Today Bo is watching his Arizona Wildcats/Michigan at noon, his folks are recording the rest of the games so when we get back he can watch them when we go spend time this summer with them.

Hugs and prayers are with everyone at the holiday season. Count your blessing!!

Until I sign on again.

Bo and Joyce