SAYING GOODBYE

The past several weeks I have been saying "I need to finish the blog"......but then I couldn't find the computer, or another box needed to be emptied, or an appointment had to be kept.....etc, etc.

So, Today is the day!.....Here  I sit in my "dirt house" in Rogers City, Michigan with TONS of boxes holding TONS of STUFF!....Where will it all go?  But I get ahead of myself.....First, back to the Bahamas....

April... We headed to Long Island and anchored out there before heading to Cat Island a few days earlier than originally planned as the wind and water dictated our moves....It worked out as Rob and Jennifer could change their flight arrangements to fly in AND out of Cat.....They arrived on a small island hopper plane that I swear looked like it DROPPED out of the sky, skidded on the runway, made a u turn and dropped them out the door.....Jennifer said that was exactly how it felt also!!  We spent the first day with them anchored out in a beautiful bay just outside Fernando's Resort, where they have an "honor bar" and good food.  The first evening with them, we ate down the beach at a  beach side shack, enjoying "one of everything" on the menu!....Fish, Lobster, Chicken, Kaliks, etc...what a feast.  We were happy we did this because after that evening and the next evening at Fernando's...the wind and rain forced us into a "substandard" marina (at least my impression, compared to some of the wonderful ones we had stayed in previously)  but the "kids" seemed to enjoy it...it also had good food, a pool and a beach....I just wanted a little better weather for them. We did take a few "road trips" by car .....and the word ROAD is used graciously....it was more like making our own path thru the jungle on a track that had been washed out by previous rains....oh well, more for the "adventure"...no wonder none of the rental cars have shocks....!  Rob has lots of wonderful pictures of the few days spent with us...and we have wonderful memories.

We finally made the crossing back from the beautiful Bahamas to Port Canaveral, Florida on May 6, after spending a week at Old Bahama Bay Marina in West End.  Our "buddy boats" left earlier in water that we were not comfortable with, so we stayed a few more days waiting for the right water for us.   That involved a failed start on the 5th...when the water didn't behave the way it was predicted.. we turned around and went back to Marina for another night.   The 6th started out as a beautiful day to cross and we had flat seas MOST of the way.  About an hour off the coast of Florida, USA, we could see a storm coming and knew we would have to ride it out.  It tossed us about and tried to tip us over, but good ole Le Reve hung in there as the storm just scared us and got us soaking wet!.  We were extremely happy to tie up that evening in a slip.  We spend the next few days getting back to Ortega Landings in Jacksonville.

 I don't know if it was the storm we endured, or the fantastic memories of our 4 months in Paradise....but I was the one to say it first...…"what will we ever do again on this boat that will even come close to the last 4 months?"  "Will we really be happy sitting in a slip in Florida next winter using LeReve as a floating condo?"......and "how much does it cost to have her sit there all summer/fall while we return to Michigan?"   So we made a very heart wrenching,  soul searching decision to sell LeReve and take it a day (or season) at a time.  We knew we would not be able to afford to head back to the Bahamas again in the near future.  We also were torn about "finishing" the loop, but not crazy about going up the East Coast to get to Canada, where we have boated many times....only to bring her back to Florida, just to say we finished,  and we knew we wanted to spend more time closer to our family.....Then to add to the mix,  Bob purchased the "eye sore" rental income property next to the house we purchased last December in Rogers City, with the plan to completely gut it and make it acceptable to the neighborhood and provide us with some rental income once complete.  We have a very busy summer ahead of us.

We had our plan...now to execute it.   We rented a U Haul and loaded ALL our STUFF (more than I could ever remember bringing on the boat 3 years ago....) shed more than a few tears and handed her over to our boat broker in Jacksonville.  After a few minor repairs, and upgrades LeReve will be ready for someone new to enjoy wonderful adventures.

We headed north, stopping first to see our friends the Flickers in Georgia, where they have started a new phase in their lives also with a new home in a beautiful golf course community.  We hope to be able to have some time to spend with them there in the future.  And we talk of where we will go to avoid Michigan winters......perhaps Mexico....or maybe we will even brave the cold and stay put for a year??  We have learned to take it a day at a time.....but always dreaming of the next adventure.

 For now, I feel like I will NEVER sort thru 45 years of STUFF that I know will not fit in our "downsized house"....Bob spends most of his days next door tearing things apart....he has employed some college boys looking for summer jobs to help him and next week we will also have a couple of our grandsons here also.  I spent a few days in southern Michigan seeing doctors, and more importantly spending time with our 18 month old granddaughter, who didn't remember us from Christmastime.....it is my mission that she will not "have" to go that long without seeing grandma Jane ever again!

So, for now, this is the end of "Jane and Bob's Excellent Adventure" blog.....we do not know what the future holds for us any further than unloading boxes, having a garage sale for our STUFF, becoming landlords next door, updating my kitchen and enjoying a Michigan summer.... I sure hope it warms up!

 It's been quite a ride!  Can't wait to see what's next.  We both look at each other and say "grow old with me, the best is yet to come".  Thanks for following our blog...we hope you enjoyed it.

The past month in Pictures.

 The above 3 pics were on a beach we dinghy to.....I noticed small tracks in the sand.....ekkkkk, it was an Iguana!

 I guess he can't help how ugly he is!!

 I much prefer the beautiful turtles....even got to rub this ones back!

 Obviously in "Farmers Cay"....directions to ALL the local hot spots!

 This is Molly!...our buddy boat dog....Molly LOVES Jane...she makes herself to home on LeReve.  Hey, it was a long day for her also.   If we ever get a dog, I will have to name her Stacey.....after Job Site's (buddy boat) daughter!!  But at least I can't forget her name.   And I love her too!  Notice the "shoeless" happy hour guest.....its a sad day when we have to wear shoes.  Love this life!  Obviously so does Molly!

 This is at the Sandals where we spent a glorious Sunday....so nice to be waited on!

A typical sunset at anchorage.   So beautiful

The 2 above pics are from Palm Cay, where you paid to use the pool....but so beautiful and very upscale compared to the future Marinas we will visit.

 I won't wait as long as this guy for a bus!...As you can see, someone on this island has a great sense of humor.   Bob didn't post the pic of the "springs" he walked to!   (but you can imagine what a BED spring looks like in the wild!)

 Our boats at moorings in the Exuma Sea Park....note the different colors of water.

 Too bad this is SALT water....there would be no need for a shower....and so clear...right off back of LeReve.

So...on Warderick  Wells you climb a high hill....and find a mound of plaques left over the years by previous boaters....of course, we left one in honor of LeReve.

 Maybe someday we will return and see if we can find it among the growing pile.

 I made Capt Bob take this pic of lizard ….except in real he was same color as leaf and we didn't think you would be able to see him so well...a real camellion ...

 Yes, that is us.....sandwiched between the BIG guys!!  But like we said, we are very happy with our boat .....and don't have to put up with a pesky crew lurking around you all the time.....wanting to wait on you and fix you food and drink.

 The above map shows you in BLUE where we have traveled this year....the red (north end covered over by Blue) was what we did last year.  Last season we came into Bimini and went to Chub Cay, Eleuthera, and north to Abacos.   This year we came across from father north coming into West End....traveling south to Eleuthera, Nassau, and Exumas.  Soon we will start our track back north....probably to west end again and cross back to good ole USA.

Good ole former Gov Chris Cristie just hanging with us in Staniel Cay watching MSU basketball....Thank goodness Michigan State won this one.  Poor rich guy who hosted him on HUGE boat got no recognition!  Just Gov and Mary Pat! ...have no idea who it was that was his host!

ET.....er, Jane... Phone Home.!...haven't seen one of these in a long time.  I attempted to go in, but something ran out the bottom before I got the chance, so no thanks!

Catching up ...Living the Dream!

So here we are in April and like stated, we are having so much fun at living life that it seems we have forgotten to add to our blog.  Everything we had heard about the Exumas is so true.   The water is so beautiful and more extremely colored than we have ever seen.   It is so clear that no mask is needed to see  bottom.   But here's the recap before we got here.

Spent a few nights anchored at Rose Island.....outside Naussau.  We could see the "Atlantis" resort and reminded us of the (many) times we spent there...gambling away our children's inheritance!  HAHA.....At this anchorage the young man on the boat next to us, proceeded to strip naked and swim in the crystal clear water.   There were several others on his boat, so I guess this was ok with them....AND it certainly was OK with me 👍😁.  

Then we went into Naussau…...I said I was NOT going, but was assured that this marina on the "other end" from the city was safe.   Well it turned out to be a beautiful place....very secure. (they even chain off the entrance to the harbor at night, and the road in is gated and secure.  So there was no feelings of apprehension for coming here.   Palm Cay is the name, and we took a courtesy car to a near by groc store.   Probably the BEST grocery store we have seen since the states.  Marina also had a spa which we both took advantage of, and a beautiful pool area and bar (extra charge....to get into the bar to pay for the drinks, and nothing in the Bahamas is cheap!)

Onward to the Exumas…...noting the marinas are getting smaller, more rustic, and so are the "towns"......

From here we cruised to Highbourn Cay...a beautiful, clean island....all that's here is the marina.  We dinghied to another island where the Iguanas come racing toward you once you land.....looking for the food people feed them....NOT me, I wouldn't get out of dinghy!   They are U G L Y!  We rented a golf cart here and got some excellent photos....will post separately.  Oh ya, they also have TONS of nurse sharks roaming around here, looking for food....I am TOLD they do not hurt humans.   Don't plan on being the one they didn't like the looks of, so stay far away from where they are swimming.

After a couple nights, we took off for Warderick Wells.  This is part of the Exuma National Sea Park system.  Our FIRST mooring ball experience.   With the help of our fellow boaters we secured a ball and had a beautiful view of this beautiful area  (plus only $30 a night on a ball)...a LOT less than the marinas charge.  Here, once again, our foreign friends next to us, striped down naked and swam and sunbathed.....this crew was NOT young....not nearly enjoyable as last time👴 👎.  This is were Johnny Depp owns an island....he apparently forgets who makes him famous, as his signs on beach are NOT at all welcoming.....and does not have a friendly reputation here either.  Someone said he lost the island in his last divorce...and no one is sad!

On 3/27 we left our mooring ball to anchor out in a nearby cove...should have stayed on the ball...It was VERY windy all night.  Capt Bob was concerned that a nearby sail boat was getting closer as the night progressed.   Early the next morning the sailboat woke up and got out of there quickly as they almost were part of our crew.   He did find us at the next marina and apologized.  I guess that is why we sleep better when we know we are secure to a dock.

3/28....We arrive at Compass Cay.....after the wind storm we are happy to get here......HA, tongue in cheek....This is a natural harbor that is very secure....with HUGE boats....They tell us to come IN BETWEEN 2 very large YACHTS....VERY large.   Thankfully we were pulling our dinghy which made for a great bumper between the BRAND new one on our port side....the Captain of that SHIP was glad also and was very gracious to help us NOT hit his boat.   It was quite an experience, but Capt Bob pulled it off once again!!  You are packed in like Sardines here and the only thing here is their shack which they sell burgers (when THEY feel like cooking) for $20 Each.   I do have to say, they were delicious!...think we had them both days for lunch.  Here also is where dozens of tour boats bring people in (they pay a fee of $10 each to step foot on island, in addition to tour fee)….and then they SWIM WITH THE SHARKS.   Not me (once again).  Our docking fees were $750 for 2 nights....with a additional electric fee of $85 per day!....plus water, by the usage.  I thought this was a fun place to watch tourist, and hob nob with the  big boat CAPTAINS....(you rarely see the owners of these large ships)   but been there, done that, as far as I am concerned about a repeat visit.

We anchored outside of Staniel Cay, our next destination for a night (save $$) and dinghy in to the grocery store....(a nice word for a room about the size of a walk in closet) with available items....AND, as I was deciding if I needed bread, someone takes the LAST loaf off the shelve in front of me.   Thank goodness for the bread machine on board....and I have discovered that you can use regular flour as trying to buy bread flour here is a lost cause....(along with bean sprouts in a can----so much for chop suey until we get back to USA)...oh well, will stick with Lobster and Mahi!

NOW.....here's an exciting event......we go into Staniel Cay Marina.....another expensive marina, but at least they have a town and a bar.  We spend considerable amount of time in the bar....watching the Final Four basketball on TV......WHO comes in, wearing old T shirt, shorts, not shaved, etc....looks like the rest of us (maybe worse)...but GOV CHRIS CHRISTIE (former gov of New Jersey)......We holler out, "hey gov" and he comes over and shakes our hands, poses for pics, chats with us (we tell him about our "republican" son in Michigan ❤😁)   Very gracious....apparently better manners than Johnny Depp!

So now, all of a sudden, it is April.....we take off for anchorage at Black Point.  I liked this anchorage very much.   Shallow waters, calm, town close, good eats.....and EVERYONE was at funeral in Naussau…(not sure who died, but figured the eulogy was cut short, because all the boaters were waiting for "Lorainne" to come back)  She makes her famous coconut bread....out of her house and people line up for it  (just like in US, ya, haha....she would be so regulated that we couldn't afford it)  Anyway, bright and early (think she was baking all night) we arrive in her kitchen and pick the loaves we want off the counter.  It IS delicious....think I am going to try to duplicate in my bread machine.  Lorainne is in her bathrobe and hairnet....Gotta love this life.

On we go to Farmers Cay.....Our boat buddies love this place....I thought it was gastly!...for only $350 a night to dock our boat on some worn out dock with rusted junk all around....It was then that I had flash backs of the river ride a year ago!  However there was a town...we had a beer, swam with turtles and put in an order for conch salad to be delivered "tomorrow"......this is a reoccurring theme here, as we have ordered conch salad almost every day, and it never gets delivered.....think it is easier for them to promise, just in case they do decide to make some!!  I have had a craving since the BEST EVER way back in Feb in Treasure Cay...but so far, nothing to compare it to!  The HIGHLIGHT of this island was the beach bar opposite side of Cay from marina.....the owner (?) bartender "enjoys" his own bar very much, as he was quite the entertainment (think we could probably bought anything we needed from him in way of illegal items!?)...we just opted for rum punch, which he proceeded to "TIGHTEN"....."need a tightening?" he asked....???...so we say sure, to which he brings out the bottle sets it on the table and we pour more booze into the punch.  we now use the  term "tightening" whenever we decide to pour a cocktail at our roving happy hours on our boats.🎉  Its times like this that will be forever in our memories.

From here we go on to anchor out for 3 nights at Williams Cay.  The water is rougher than we would like and something is wrong with our batteries that will not be fixed till USA.....but we can run generator for power.....off and on.  I don't like the idea of turning all off for several hours.....but that's boat life.  We attempted to dinghy to see the sunken piano that David Copperfield sunk about 15 miles from here.....but never had a day calm enough for that long a dinghy trip, so will just marvel at the pictures in the guide book!   We hiked the lands behind the beaches and are seeing sites that we could only imagine before.   Sharp cliffs, wide open ocean, caves and always beautiful sandy beaches.  We see sharks and turtles and numerous fish....

Once again, we are off, into the wide open ocean.....to Georgetown.  The trip was a little rocky but only 10 miles, but still happy to get to marina here.   It is a nice place....beautiful beaches (getting tired of them?......no way!!!) beach bars, etc.   We rent a car and go into town....not as much as we expected, but more than we have seen....(IE:  beauty shop/fish store all in one....why didn't I think of that!...not sure what smelled worse....the fish or the perms!)  The people here are SO friendly and so happy to have you visit.  We bought a day pass to a nearby Sandals Resort....spent Sunday laying in a pool cabana, eating and drinking.  We have never been to an all inclusive, this gave us a one day pass to experience it....we enjoyed it and met a lot of people who were there for the week.  We, of course, got our monies worth and ate way too much!  But it was good to get off the boat for a day.  Will probably NEVER take another vacation after we get down with this trip, but if so, might consider a Sandals.

So all caught up as far as time now....will attempt to post pics....from here we go to Long Island....good news there is we pick up Rob and Jennifer for a few days.  We are so glad they decided to come visit.....will drop them off at Cat Island after Easter.....then start heading  back.  It has been and continues to be the trip of a lifetime!

How Much Better Can It Get?...

We left the Abacos and caught up with our buddy boats....Puttzing Around and Job Site...they were waiting in Lynard Cay at a beautiful anchorage.   We spent the night here and early the next morning headed out for Spanish Wells in Eluthera.  We were familiar with this marina as we spent some time here last year and really enjoyed it.  This is where you buy the GIANT crab claws and Lobster tails in the hardware store.....Yup, they still have the cooler full....prices have gone up in a year, but still a bargain.  We rented a 6 person golf cart and proceeded to the grocery store, department store (or as close to one as you get here) for clothing, bathing suits and all kinds of stuff we didn't need.  Bob even found a birthday card for me in there....  And of course we had to go to all the favorite eating places.  The night before my birthday we went out and they served me dessert with candles and sang the traditional happy birthday song.  Of course on my big day we celebrated on our boat with happy hour goodies and drinks.  I received very nice homemade gifts and a beautiful bouquet of flowers.  It was great.

We spent 3 nights in Spanish Wells as the winds blew a little more than we like, but it is such a nice place, I didn't mind at all that we spent one more night than "planned".   The flies tried to eat us alive here, but we fought them off with candles, spray and screens.  After a fuel stop to take advantage of cheap diesel ($3.89 per gal)..we were off again to the next beautiful anchorage at Egg Island, (still Eluthera)  It is great to be with boats that have been here before, they know all the great places.....we just follow along.  We spent 2 nights here and dinghied all over the place  …….Little "Nightmare" worked just great for us.....better than she ever has....we are almost happy with her. Haha.   We drove over to Royal Island and viewed (from afar) a beautiful retreat with 5 cabins, pools, 2 main buildings, etc....it was not in use at this time....we did look it up on google and found it rents for $19,000 per night.....more "in season".   It is trying to make a come back after the financial crash and perhaps one day will be the huge resort with golf course and marina that was originally planned.

Every day the weather is warm and sunny and the water gets more beautiful the further south we venture.....where is was a beautiful aqua, I know think it is a darker, almost turquoise color and you can see the bottom and think you can reach over and touch it, but, of course, it is way deeper than you think.....no need to snorkel here....you can just look over the side of boat.

This post was started in mid March.....here it is April already and I never finished this one or shared pictures.....so I will post this late and try to continue on in a new post.  

We are having the time of our lives.....and seems no time to write....just enjoying this beautiful place.

BOB BEATS THE DINGHY ----we hope

Dinghy update..... we took "Nightmare" out for a ride and all seems to be well!  We can go faster than before, and even get it up on plane!   something we have never been able to do since the day she came home!  Like previous mentioned, apparently the Bahama service man knows more than the guy who built her!  We are very happy.    Of course, she still won't be able to keep up with "the big dogs" (40 hps) BUT at least we can bring up the rear.   She will be tested out this afternoon after we join up with our buddy boats and take her over to Pete's Pub.

So we will bid farewell to Abaco Beach Resort....this is a beautiful marina (and they know it! $$$).  We have enjoyed our couple nights here and got a little experience of what a few months here (next time???) would be like.   This is home to the Royal Marsh Harbour Yacht Club...of which we are members.  We joined to get the discounts the membership gets you, but there is actually an active club and this is their home port.  ( They have "happy hour" EVERY day at 5pm!  Honest...we only went once)  You get a discounted slip if you stay long term, prepay, etc etc.....it is still considerably more than we paid at Treasure Cay for a month,  but more offered.  We have learned that we don't plan that far in advance anymore.   So we will see what summer brings and if it is even possible to come over again next year......But not so fast.....we STILL have a month here this year and I understand the best is yet to come.

Bob is off to pick up his $$$ engine part...that has been delivered to  the CAT dealership, so we are told.  A lady from "the club" has offered him a ride over to pick it up. (another a benefit of belonging to RMHYC...such nice helpful people...."all in the same boat", actually all in different boats from different places and different walks of life)...  we will then head out to the anchorage where Job Site and Puttzing Around spent the night.  Then on to Pete's Pub......a great waterfront bar, probably mentioned previously as we have been there a few weeks ago.  Then tomorrow onward to Exumas, with a few stops in between.  The sun shines every day, the water is beautiful,...and Bob is starting to complain about the heat!....".hey mon, slow down.....you're in the Bahamas"!  Life is good!

Bob vs the Dinghy!

MARCH 4TH.. the score is Bob 0  Dinghy 5 !!

Yesterday morning Capt. Bob caught a car ride to Marsh Harbor.  His "plan" was to pick up repaired dinghy and motor it the 15 miles back to Treasure Cay.  I asked if he wanted me to go along.....mostly to weigh down the bow!   (since not being able to get it up on plane has been a problem since day one)…..probably should have paid more attention to THAT problem immediately.....But Bob was so busy mourning the fact that his "real dinghy" (with a 40 HP, stored in Michigan) wouldn't fit on top of LeReve....that he just assumed the "nightmare" dinghy would never meet his expectations....I regress....anyway...

He told me he would be back by noon, and I should use VHS radio to contact him and by 11:30 he should probably be within ear shot.   So about 11:30 I get a cryptic email message from someone I don't know, saying Bob is on his way back to dinghy repair shop and is looking for a car ride back to Treasure Cay.  Well thru a series of emails etc....we (back here on the docks) determine that Bob is indeed back at repair shop and does indeed need a car ride back.  Luckily, our friends that dropped him off, still had their rental car and were already back here.....but off they went to pick him up.  Seems the dinghy was launched and off he went....for about 1/2 the trip, all went well.....then the motor quit #@%&^!   and Bob now knows that rowing it anywhere is out of the question because it has a center console steering wheel and there is no where to sit to row....He is out in the Sea of Abaco, floating free (he did not take the anchor with him...or water....or Pepsi.....or.... boyscout??? Good thing I WASN'T with him)  anyway, he hails a sail boat underway, who graciously agrees to tow him back to Marsh Harbor.  That is who he got to email me with his whereabouts.  Nice boaters who wanted nothing from him, but a "pay it forward" for any boater we may find in distress someday....Aren't boaters great!....guess that's because we are all "in the same boat".....pun intended!

So, back at repair shop they figure that all that problem was that the hose connecting the gas tank to the motor came loose and hence no fuel.....BUT, the seemingly capable repair guy takes it our for a spin and says ….there is something very wrong with the fact that it won't get up on plane!  (duh, we knew that, but blamed the dinghy)…..his opinion is that the prop isn't sized correctly for the motor.  We are beginning to realize that we should have done a little more research 19 months ago, when we purchased the "cute little thing" from someone we knew little about....and are now finding out, obviously knew very little about dinghys and  motors, etc)  But that is in the past....so now the issue is finding a proper prop and attempting to fix the "Nightmare" to the point of just being able to get to shore and the nearest beach bar, when anchored out!  We have more confidence in our new friend, the Marsh Harbor repairman, than they guy we bought it from  …….on to the next issue

Capt Bob has ordered a part we must have to make the boat run  (so cost cannot be an option!)  but the bigger problem is how to get it HERE......he has more confidence than I do that the $1200 part will arrive from Miami as promised....(and you thought the US Postal service is bad!) It would have ONLY cost $850 if we were in US....anyone coming from Miami??  alas, we have placed the order and will now wait!

I cannot stress to him that it could be worse, as he feels totally beaten down at this point....he even missed our regularly scheduled "happy hour" last eve.   We have gotten back into the schedule of the "roving happy hour" now that our 3rd boat has joined up with us for the future travel.  I think he needs a relaxing day at the beach  (always works for me).

MARCH 9   UPDATE...    BOB 2 (maybe 3)  DINGHY 5
Today I will give Bob a 2 or 3.....he will probably get a 4 or 5 by days end.   Yesterday we made the move into Marsh Harbor for 2 reasons.  First the dinghy was ready for pick up.  This involved dropping an anchor in the harbor, the guy coming out to get Bob in "Nightmare", showing him how great it is working, and Bob then taking him back to pier....  All this was happening while I am standing on bow, praying anchor will hold (no reason for it not, other than my terror)  as I don't think I have ever been on LeReve with engines running, anchor out.....with others very close to striking distance (!) ALONE.... of course, it all worked out,  The captain returned and we towed dinghy to Abaco Beach Resort....the marina on other side of island.  Good News here, fuel is cheap $4.19 plus 12% tax.....YES that is a deal here in the islands...but that cost is offset by the high cost of the slip.  Very nice marina here in Marsh Harbor, the largest city in the Abacos.  Lots to see, do, shop, etc...but I have to say I prefer the quaintness of Treasure Cay, and the incomparable beach!  It was a great 5 weeks spent there....and better rates.   We are now getting into the "season" so prices will be going up.  It is strange to think that their busy season is now thru the summer.   Lots of people from Florida come here to escape the humidity, as there is always a trade wind blowing here.  It truly is paradise …at least in my eyes....I STILL marvel at the water color and clearness.  I am forever reminded of a friend in Colorado who barely knew me and said, "Jane, you affect me as someone who could be happy living on an island with a beach, somewhere warm" … she sure had that correct...I just didn't think it was that obvious!

            I will update Bob's score after he cleans the "Nightmare" up and takes me out for a ride😎…. (and 2nd reason for Marsh Harbor....we understand our $$ part is enroute...the shop is here where we will pick it up and hopefully be on our way to Exumas, I am still skeptical)  Other boaters tell us we "ain't seen nothing yet, until we see the water in the Exumas!"  Can't wait...just pinch me!

Where did February Go?

Can't believe we have been here a month.....just loving the Bahama Live.  Today for breakfast I had conch salad and beer....(note it is a Bud, friend Deb!)   Usually we drink Sands or Kalick...the beers of the Bahamas, but happened to come across this Bud that was left on board back in the states.

We have visited a few more out islands...anchored out on some small cay....(there are so many, I can't remember which is which) with buddy boat, Job Site.   I do remember that this is where we went to Pete's Pub, another happening beach bar where most come by boat!  And I do remember that we had a great time and great food.  This Cay is where Bob discovered his passion for snorkeling.....I was surprised he would even put his whole body underwater.....but he did and loved it.  This is also was where we discovered the dinghy motor would not start and that we would have to get it to Marsh Harbor for repairs.  We decided in addition to making that trip we would also (again) visit the world famous beach bar....Nippers!.. on Great Guana Cay.  It is such a fun place, especially on Sundays for the pig roast. (after a few/several rum punches, you then proceed to "Grabbers"...another beach bar, for pizza and beer and  the party continues there.  After so much partying,(actually we also discovered we are way too old to hang with the young kids and left earlier than most) we spent the night at Orchid Bay Marina and witnessed a beach wedding....complete with fireworks.   Got this ole mind working about how beautiful that would be for a couple I know and passed the word on!  Only hope I get an invitation if this were to happen there.  It was a beautiful celebration in a beautiful place.

Then it was off to drop the dinghy at the repair shop which involved finding somewhere to "park" while we unloaded if off the roof.  Not an easy feat, but we pulled it off.😎....we have received word that they fixed it (already!) and now have to come up with logistics to pick it up.  Capt Bob is toying with idea of driving it all the way back to Treasure Cay (in water)….the winds and waves will determine if that is an option.

   

So for now, we just enjoy the beauty of the beach and the beautiful turquoise waters....Jane goes to beach everyday, Bob golfs and finds projects to do on boat!  Last night the Marsh Harbor Yacht Club had a party on the docks following a golf outing.  Bob's team won first place!  (golf balls and a bottle of wine, great prize!)  and we met many new friends and joined the club.  Perhaps NEXT year we will spend more time there, where a lot of the people we met stay for the winter months.....But like I told someone last eve, we don't plan too far ahead anymore....just take it as it comes and enjoy a day at a time.....or one month at a time.