Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Our friends who worked the Annapolis Boat show with us last year Pat and Bob from "Changes in Latitude" arrived yesterday.  They had been down in the Keys and are now up here to do some cruising.  Another boat with friends should be arriving today.  Been seeing plenty of dolphins here in the mooring fields recently - they sure are fun. 

Just when you think you've seen everything you look out the back door and see a house coming down the canal!  Don't know where it was going but it sure did attract a lot of attention.

                                                           House being moved on a barge down the canal!

Had Ray and Mary Jane Halsted, sailing friends from Mystic, over this afternoon.  They're staying at a condo in Marco.  Spent the afternoon visiting aboard Mystic Jitney, going for a dinghy ride and then having dinner aboard.  A great day and nice visit with friends.

Alan taking Mary Jane and Ray back to the dock after dinner

BAHAMAS CHARTER - March 19 - March 25

Saturday, March 18, 2006

Drove over to Fort Lauderdale airport to catch our 1:50 pm plane to Marsh Harbor.  Got there two hours early so we'd have time for lunch before our flight.  Our plane was delayed an hour and a half, along with all the other Continental flights to the Abacos, because the radar in Nassau was out.  Guess we didn't have to get there so early.  Spent the afternoon sitting in the airport and reading.  Didn't arrive in Marsh Harbor until 4:30pm.  Had our taxi cab driver make a couple of stops on the way in so we could start getting supplies for the boat.  Many stores are not open on Sunday or have very limited hours.

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Shopped for groceries in the morning.  Had to go to two markets but we were surprised to find just about everything on our list.  The freighters that bring food in to re-supply the markets come on Monday so Sunday is not a good day to shop, especially for fresh produce.  Got everything back to the boat and stored away.  Our guests,  Joan and John  and Linda and Ken, arrived right on time around 3:00 pm.  Loaded their bags on the boat and by 3:30 pm we were leaving the dock.  We motored to Man O War Cay and found a quiet spot to anchor for the night.  We served drinks and appetizers and then a dinner of parmesan encrusted chicken, caesar salad and wild rice mix.

John, Joan, Linda and Ken

Monday, March 20, 2006

Served Bahamian toast and fruit for breakfast and then sailed to Foul Cay.  Anchored and Alan dinghied our guests out to the reef on the Atlantic side of the Cay  for some snorkeling.  I stayed aboard "Island Girl" and prepared lunch.  After lunch we motored a short distance up to Settlement Harbor on Great Guana Cay and took a mooring.  By now the crew was on "Island Time"!  Took a walk around the Great Guana and stopped at Nipper's Bar on the beach for refreshments.  Our guests went ashore to the Blue Water Grill for dinner.  Alan and I had dinner aboard.

Relaxing aboard "Island Girl" on the Sea of Abaco

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Very windy 20-25 knots out of the south - right where we wanted to go.  A front was coming in so after discussing options with the crew we decided to sail to Hope Town and pick up a mooring.  We reefed the main and sailed out of Settlement Harbor.  Tacked our way toward Hope Town and made up to 7.5 knots in 20-25 knots wind.  After we picked up our mooring at Hope Town we all went ashore to the tiki bar overlooking the beach at the Hope Town Harbor Lodge for lunch.  Alan and I went back to the boat while guests walked the beach and explored Hope Town.  At 5:30 Alan went ashore to pick up our guests while I prepared appetizers and a dinner of shrimp, fettuccini alfredo, and salad.

Lunch at the tiki bar

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Our guests spent the morning ashore snorkeling, and walking the beach.  Alan and I went ashore to the fish market to buy fresh fish(wahoo)  for dinner and made a stop at the market for more fresh Bahamian bread and homemade cookies.   We decided to head down to Tahiti beach in the afternoon with the possibility of spending the night there.  But because of the fronts that were predicted to come through we paid for another two nights on the mooring in Hope Town just in case we decided to come back.  After lunch aboard we left the mooring and headed town to Tahiti beach.  As it turned out it was not a good place to spend the night so we headed back to Hope Town and picked up our mooring.  We enjoyed shrimp cocktail and a dinner of pan seared wahoo with rice and vegetables.  After dinner we introduced our guests to dominos - fun all around.!

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Front was coming through with winds predicted to be 25+ through the night so we all decided to continue to enjoy Hope Town.  It was another beautiful day in Hope Town harbor - very quiet and warm.  After relaxing and reading aboard, our guests decided to go into town to do some shopping.  Alan and I also went ashore to walk the beach and make another stop at  the market for more groceries.  Enjoyed dinner at  the Harbor Edge Restaurant and after we got back to the boat we had another rousing game of dominoes - played until midnight!

Friday, March 24, 2006

Had rain and strong winds (up to 30knots) during the night.  Another rain squall came in around 9:00 am this morning.  After the rain stopped Joan and Linda went ashore to do some  shopping and John and Ken went to tour the lighthouse.  Around 11:00 am we left the mooring and headed back to Marsh Harbor.  Because of the weather predictions we all agreed it best to make our way back early in the day - another front was coming through with more strong winds.  Arrived at the dock in Marsh Harbor around 12:30.  Our guests spent the afternoon walking around Marsh Harbor and shopping.  Alan and I started to get the boat ready and pack because we all have to be off the boat by 10:00 am tomorrow. 

Saturday, March 25, 2006

Had breakfast at Curly Tails Restaurant on the dock, packed, unloaded the boat and spent some time doing last minute shopping.  Joan and John and Ken and Linda said their vacation aboard "Island Girl" was exactly what they had hoped for - lots of down time to decompress, good food, great boat, terrific weather, and the beautiful Sea of Abaco - couldn't have been better!  Alan and I truly enjoyed having them aboard, getting to know them, and sharing our piece of paradise with them - a win/win all around!