Marsh Harbour 2nd time

    We left for a couple of days to sail to Great Guana Cay. A safe little harbour near to a beach with great snorkeling, and a famous bar called Nippers. We had a great sail, something we haven't done too much of since leaving. The silence almost made us nervous. There are so many small Cays here, you just pick one that gets your interest, and set out. As we got near our destination it was tempting to turn out and keep going, but instead sailed right into the harbour. All our friends had left earlier and were already there.
  Soon after anchoring and stowing away gear we got a call from Corsair, a Beneteau 50, sailed by Dana and Matt Pichon inviting us for Sundown Happy Hour. We have more of a social life here than home. So we hurried to make an Appetizer to take over then joined 4 other couples having Sundowners.

One of the traditions is to blow the Conch shell as the sun goes down, so with the help from Karl on Ishmael, I gave it a try. Every cruising sailor should have one, caught by his own hands, cleaned, ate for dinner, then make his own trumpet. Guess that's why I can't even get this thing to squeak. Actually, I can, a high squeal, instead of a horn which is the way it should sound. Karl has had his from previous trips, and is very good at it , sounding for close to a minute. Getting my own shell is now high on my priority list.

  
 We spent the next day walking along the beach, a little to rough to swim but great just the same. And of course we had to have drink at the bar. House specialty.....Frozen Nipper. If brain freeze didn't get you the 1/2 and 1/2 rum would.

On the way back to where our dinghy was pulled up on the beach we came across a interesting tree. Nobody should ever stands under it, even worse in a rain storm. Imagine that,  on the way back from a bar. Who would plant it there.

After spending 2 days, we sailed back to Marsh Harbour. When we had  left, you know me, I feed everything, we were happy to see that our pet fish recognized us and swam up to Mistress. These guys usually cling onto sharks and wait for a hand out. Wonder what the hell they think we are. After meals we have feeding frenzy around our boat. Hope neither one of us fall in.

  

I've even stopped fishing around the boat cause I don't want to catch our pets.

Marsh Harbour, Abacos, Bahamas

 

 We left Vero Beach on New years Eve heading for Fort Worth, Florida. We followed our friends Pat and Karl, on Ishmael, a trimaran, that we had met during Hurricane Sandy. The grib files, a weather outlook told us that it was going to be ideal to cross the gulfstream on the Wednesday.

So with out to much hesitation we moved down to the inlet to the ocean. Along the way we had a chance to get to use our Tow boat US card, we ran aground in the waterway. Only pride was hurt. Then in the morning on leaving the anchorage where we had spent the night, we did it again. Not being able to find deeper water, we sat and waited for high tide before continuing.
  We arose at 2:30am with anchors up an hour later and started across the gulfstream. The sky was full of stars, a half moon with very little wind. Ideal.
As the sun came up we put up the sail and had a very enjoyable time till we were 15 miles from the banks. Confused waves bounced us around, but couldn't wipe the smiles off our faces. Ahead we could see bright aquamarine colored water.

                                                    Land Ho!!!!!


We made our way between Memory Rock and a shoal to the south, and got onto the Bahamas bank where the seas settled down and continued on to Mangrove Cay where we anchored for the night. We arrived 1 hour after sundown. A long day.
Upon leaving the next morning, after pulling the anchor, Muriel was on deck tying it down when she looked down and seen 6 ft. Nurse shark in the clear water. Lucky we didn't go for a swim, which we were both thinking of doing.

 Then moved on to Great Sal Cay, where we spent 2 relaxing days, then stopped at Treasure Cay, to check in and get the immigration stuff taken care of. Soon as that was done we sailed to Marsh Harbour where we are now.

Again we are waiting for favourable winds to carry us down to the Exumas.