Back in the USA

We crossed the Gulf Stream from Port Lucaya in the Bahamas and arrived in Fort Worth, Florida where we dropped the anchor.  We had a great crossing as the winds were out of the South and with the Gulf Stream flowing in a northerly direction it was the perfect conditions.  As soon as we arrived the Captain called Customs and Border Control with our new Local Boaters ID numbers and we were cleared in over the phone…no need to go in person.  The day before we left John had filed his “float plan” and also provided them with that confirmation number and this was the easiest entry into a country that we have experienced in a long time.

Today we decided to go back out to sea and get as many miles as possible under our belt.  We sailed North (avoiding 8 bridge openings in the ICW) until we arrived at the Fort Pierce entrance.  It was early yet so we motored up the ICW (Intra-Coastal Waterway).  I was at the helm trying to stay between the green and red markers and avoid any “running aground”.  We had our depth alarm set at 8 feet and it went off a few times which always wakes you right up.  There are a lot of dolphins playing near the boat.  Again we anchored off the waterway for the night.

This morning we had a short trip continuing up the ICW to Telemar Bay Marina where the Banana river meets the Indian river.  We are tying up well and have taken down all our canvas because there is a Tropical Storm due near here tomorrow.  It is a well protected marina…no worries.  It isn’t even June 1st yet which is the “official” start of Hurricane Season.

We celebrated the Circumnavigation to the Mediterranean and back as this is the Marina where Jay Sea Dee departed in June 2009.

  We are preparing to go home to enjoy Estes Park and the Rocky Mountain Summertime!

“Ring of Fire” Solar Eclipse 2012

Being out in the remoteness of the Bahamas we didn’t even know to look for a solar eclipse.  When we saw this strange thing happening to the sun, I had to take photos.  Then there was a rainbow underneath it…truly a phenomenon we were trying to figure out. 

Iguanas, Mice, Owls, Barracudas…what a zoo!

The seas have been flat, winds light, skies grey for almost a week now.  We have had quite a few thunder storms as well but that gives us a free boat wash so we like that.  We anchored off of Malibar Cay next to Warderick Wells.  It was a quiet place but the mosquitos and flies have been out in swarms…thank goodness for our built-in mosquito netting.  Our generator finally died so we don’t have A/C which is a luxury you hate to lose.

Next Day we motored to Allen’s Cay.  We made up our baggie of fruit and vegetables for the Iguanas (you are NOT supposed to feed them, but everyone does).  We charged up our video camera batteries and headed to shore.  We passed a major encampment and went to check it out.  There were DANGER signs about the pesticide use they were doing.  One gentleman was near shore so John inquired as to why they were spraying.  Apparently the island has been infested with mice from boaters trash.  With mice came the barn owls.  The owls not only eat the mice but they interfere with the nesting of the Shearwater birds by eating the eggs…so the mice need to go.

Last time we were here the iguanas came out by the hundreds and today we only saw about ten.

Next morning at high tide we left for Nassau.  I was excited to get internet finally and catch up on my emails, bills, facebook, etc.  But it was not to be…could not find internet anywhere, even pay internet .  We did walk over the bridge to Atlantis, won some money at the casino and left.  It is beautiful sailing through Nassau Harbor.  There were a lot of cruise ships in port today.

Jonathon bought some Bally Hoo bait for fishing as we head to Chub Cay (deep waters) and he already caught…you guessed it….another barracuda.

When Pigs Fly…or Swim

We had anchored at Big Majors so we could get an early start on activities.  The morning started with the Swimming Pigs…yes, they really swim.  They come to visit you on your dinghy and try to climb in if you are not careful.  I think too many people have provided free food. 

After the pigs we dinghied over to Thunderball Grotto.  It is a cave that you can snorkel into.  It was part of the James Bond movie by the same name , “Never Say Never Again” and the movie “Splash”.  The fish at the entrance were abundant and beautiful.  There is a beautiful “Antler” coral head (looks like a huge elk antler rack but yellow) at the entrance…see the yellow in the water in the last photo.  It was a bit crowded so we didn’t stay too long.

Next, onto the sunken airplane.  The water was so clear I took a photo of Jonathon diving near it. 

Finally, to the Sea Aquarium.  This is part of the Exuma Marine Park and is the BEST snorkeling in the whole world.  I saw such a variety of fish.  The Queen Angel Fish (photo #1)is by far the most beautiful to watch as the yellow and blue are so vibrant under the sea.  We also saw a Lion Fish (last photo) which have moved into the Bahamas more recently.  They are a predator and eat many fish.  They have a poison in their spikes and can attack if provoked…we kept our distance.  The Sergent Majors (photo #2) come to greet you by the Hundreds.  People keep feeding them and they swarm you underwater which can be fun or evasive depending on how you look at it…it made me laugh.  The parrotfish is another beautiful species (photo #3). It looks like he is smiling at you as he is headed your direction and he has buck teeth …haha.   I am just giving you photos of a few of the fish we saw…so many others were there as well.

Mother’s Day 2012

We almost forgot it was Mother’s Day…sailor’s are notorious for forgetting what day it is.  I knew that coming to the Bahamas I wouldn’t have much internet access so I wished all my Mother’s and Friends a Happy Mother’s Day ahead of time.  I really missed my girls today though.  I woke up to a rainbow over the top of us…good way to start the day !

I spent today on Sand Dollar Beach near Georgetown.  Jonathon walked in the low tide shallows with me and we collected a few sand dollars and my prize shell of the year…a Flame Helmet conch.  We also rescued a starfish that was stranded on the beach and put him back in the water.  John removed the snail for me and I have it soaking in bleach to remove the smell.  John cooked up a great grilled chicken dinner too.  What a Great Day!

Geo-Caching in Caicos

We rented a car today to tour the Island of Providenciales.  But first we got on-line and found some geo-cache points.  On the internet there is a website “geocache.com” that gives you GPS coordinates to TREASURE boxes people have hidden and listed on this site.  We found 3 possible cache’s here so off we went. 

The first one we found easily with the coordinates and the clue was “stay in the parking lot and don’t sink the boat”.  Here is John finding the box and the “goodies” inside of it.  We left a few foreign coins to add to the treasure for the next guy.

Next stop was the National Park on the North side of the island.  The road was pretty good but created from sand and there were a few “I don’t know if we should go through here” moments but a towing company had left many signs along the way “just in case”.  At the end was a light that the birds had obviously made into their home and we left our own geo-cache there.

Finally off to Grace Bay…one of Conde Nast’s Top 10 Beaches in the World.  It is very beautiful but has no sea-shells which is my top pre-requisite for a Top 10 Beach.

Last stop was another geo-cache fine although this “treasure” was a sight, not a box.  It was a Hole…and what a Hole it was!