The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind......

One thing about the Bahamas, you truly are at the mercy of the ever blowing trade winds.  Most of the time they are a welcome breeze.   Sometimes not so much......

We left Abaco Beach Resort and Marina in Marsh Harbor (on Great Abaco) on the 10th.  Capt Bob had PLANNED to leave on the 9th.....but 1st mate Jane said "no way" to the choppy waters outside the harbor.   The next day proved to be a good one to move to Treasure Cay and the charming marina there.  We reconnected with some loopers (on Decisions) that we hadn't seen since docking beside them last fall....so a lot of catching up, laughs and drinks were shared....until the winds whipped up and blew everything away (umbrellas, tablewear, etc) at the beach bar we were visiting.   The next morning, another looper boat (from Ludington) who we met there last summer, and have crossed paths with over here, decided that this was the day to cross "whale cay channel".   We had heard horror stories of the rollers in the channel and liked the idea of traveling with another boater thru the mile or so that you have to go out in the ocean to get around to the next series of cays.....So I reluctantly packed up and we headed out.....Treasure Cay will definitely be on the list to stay longer the "next time".

Off we went following "True North".....the channel was a piece of cake, not bad at all (as planned).  We were also towing the dinghy, which we have named "Nightmare" (vs. LeReve, " the dream") as Capt thought it would be better than the extra weight on top of boat in rollers.   Once through whale channel and back into Sea of Abaco, the winds really picked up and it was another "challenging" ride into Green Turtle Cay.   True North got in and docked and then in we came.....winds were registering at 35 mph, and Capt Bob had to stern into a slip while dragging props on bottom of shallow inlet, and mate Jane was on swim platform attempting to tie dinghy to back of boat.  With the help of about 10-12 people on dock and one dock hand who leaped onto boat to help mate Jane with lines, now that dinghy was loose, Capt. Bob did his magic and turned the boat from a 180 turn going the wrong way down the channel....and backed in from the opposite direction, and it looked just like he had intended to do it that way!   All on dock praised his expertise. He said he hoped no one had a video of our landing!  The dinghy took a beating, and so did Jane, but the Capt kept his cool!  (sometimes he really amazes me!)  Like my mom says,  "all this from a guy who never liked the water, until he met us".....and something about us  "trying to drown him while attempting to teach him to water ski"... but that's another story.   Now, 40 YEARS later, you would think he was an ole sea captain......(or at least looks like one!)

So here we are at Bluff House Marina in Green Turtle Cay.  We rented a golf cart to see "town"....it didn't take too long and the main attraction seems to be a liquor store/restaurant....that sells T shirts that say...  "I had breakfast at the liquor store".  Someone in there asked us about boating.  I asked him how he knew we were boaters....he said, because we looked so relaxed!...(he didn't witness the landing!")  I think that " look" had something to do with the liquor store.....so happy to find Titos Vodka on this Island....also more Pepsi, at $12 a pack! Have decided that "next time" we need to bring way more Pepsi(and Titos) with us from the states.....we will use it as ballast! The other theory is to bring half as much clothes...and twice as much money! We can vouch for that.

We now "plan" to leave here with a couple of buddy boats we have been "socializing" with across the dock....one from Mich, one from Minn....We will head for West End (of Grand Bahama) early next week, and then cross back over to Florida on the 20th....that is IF the winds continue to be as predicted.  So when asked "when".....I say..."the answer is blowing in the wind".