This Seasons last post

Well I'm alittle late with this post since it's almost the end of  June but better late than never. We had a great trip from Miami to Panama City. We even made it in record time for us. We did two overnights and were on the water a total of seven days. We caught alot of fish and even something else besides Barracuda. We had  Grouper and Mahi Mahi for breakfast,lunch and dinner.  Chance Burleson from Deadwood cooked all of the fish and he knows how to cook. Horace Warren my next door boat neighbor in PC was our navigator and kept us on the straight and narrow. He's the reason we made such good time. 

We spent two extra days in Clearwater, one to see the Clearwater Marine Aquarium where Dolphin Tale was filmed and the other to go to the Island Packet boat factory where True North was born. Both days were exceptional. We walked to the aquarium from the marina and the IP factory was only 10 miles away. While there we met up with our friends  Ryan, Melody and kids on Southern Cross an IP 460. We have run into them alot along the way and guess what they're from Panama City.

Chance holding a nice Grouper



Me with a nice Mahi Mahi    

We did really have a great time fishing but all fun things come to an end.



We have had quite a season. Debi and I finally did a crossing just the two of us and we are actually becoming cruisers. This year was much more comfortable on the boat and we are really looking forwart to next year when we plan on doing the southern Bahamas once again and then travel the East Coast of the US with our friends Larry and Cindy Stickweh. So one last parting photo!!







Update

Debi left for South Dakota for mothers day and to go to the grandkids dance recital yesterday. Chance Burleson from Deadwood will be here this evening and my friend Horace will come in on Monday.

 I realize how blessed Debi and I are to have done what we have. Now I look forward to the Black Hills and all its beauty. Already I miss Debi and wish that we could have made the last leg of the journey together. Another time!!

Lake Worth to Miami

When we arrived in the US at Lake Worth we had quite a surprise. It was Cinco Demyo and the natives were restless. We came through the Lake Worth cut and into the Intercoastal Waterway to get to our marina. Right in the middle of a narrow part of the ICW was a police boat that had pulled over a party barge full of Bikinis. Anyway I had no where to go except around them, Wrong, Hard aground less than 200 yards from the Marina.  It was my lucky day since there was a rising tide so we only had to sit there for about 20 min before we got loose and into the marina.


The Carnival Cruise Ship coming out of Port of Miami called the Sail boat that was crossing the shipping lane. He just missed him! What was that guy thinking.



The next day we were on our way again to Miami and the Coconut Grove Sailing Club which actually took us 13hrs to cover the 80 miles because of a head wind. After four Days of travel and close to 300 miles we were ready for a break.

Just to prove that I can catch fish even though they are Barracuda that you can't eat!!

Marsh Harbour to the US

My Able Crew Off Shift

Well we finally left the Abaco's with two other boats, CasaDee & Missing Link. We spent the night together at Great Sale Key and then we left for West End, they went to the northern edge of Little Bahama Bank to stage for their Crossing. When we got to Old Bahama Marina at West End and were about 10' from the slip I discovered that I had lost forward and reverse. Debi threw a perfect line toss to the dock hand and he pulled True North into her slip. Quite a tense moment but we were thankful that it didn't happen anywhere else as it could have been much more of a problem. One of the motor mounts had loosened and that wiggled all four bolts coupling the transmission to the prop. After about three hours of aligning the engine and putting the bolts together we were ready to make the crossing of the gulf stream the next day. We had a great crossing, which was our first one with just Debi and me. Oh I forgot that Lucy our First Mate boat dog was with us as well.



Lucy has her eyes on the controls during her watch!



Our Plans

While I have a good internet connection since it is alittle later at night I decided to try one more blog.

Although not on my diet this is a cheeseburger in Paradise

Anyway we will be leaving this paradise with some other boats on Thursday 5/3/12 and heading back to the states. We have enjoyed our time and the people in this part of the world. We really feel at home here and are amazed at how easy it is to meet people and become quick friends. We are ready to start the trip home as are all of the other cruisers that are ending their season south. At dinner tonight the owner of the restaurant said to all of us "Hope you're having a great vacation" it made us realize how great it is to have the vacation be our life for the moment. I will add some more blogs when we get to West End when we have service again.

Guests



This is the beach on Guana Island



Our last guests were Lynn and Lecia Delameter from South Dakota. They left a few days ago and we had a great time showing them the islands. We went to Hope Town, Man O War, Guana, Treasure Key, and of course Marsh Harbour.



This is having a Toddy at Abaco Inn with the Atlantic Ocean in the Background

We had such a great time walking the beaches looking for shells. I finally knew Lynn was in relax mode when he joined Lecia in me collecting shells.

More Interesting People

We met Glenda at a steak night dinner at Marsh Harbour Marina. She then invited us over to the boat that she crews on at another marina in Marsh Harbour for a going away party for Mary. Anyway she spends the winters crewing on various boats and the summer in France where she owns property that she rents out to vacationers. She is quite the chef,first mate, and stewardess on a 75' Hattaras yacht. We have gotten to know her quite well and she has been all over the world on various boats. She lives quite a life but as she explains it's alot of work catering to the rich and famous.


 





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Top part of the meal that she prepared and bottom rt is the boat that she crews on.

 

Interesting Sailors

We've met some interesting sailors on our trip so I thought I would introduce some. We met a couple from Ireland, Sean and Mary. Sean just finished medical school and decided to fulfill his dream of sailing across the Atlantic. His father was the producer for two of Sean Connery's James Bond movies Thunderball (parts filmed in the Bahamas) and Never say Never Again. We asked Sean if he was named after Sean Connery and he wasn't sure but his father was good friends with him so who knows. Mary is a professional singer /song writer and along with her three sisters (the Brennan Sisters) are quite well known in  Ireland. Mary and Debi have become close friends in a short period of time, so much so that they have invited us to Dublin to visit. We definately now have a reason to visit Europe.

Sean and his friend Norman are taking Sean's Cape Dory 30' sailboat from Marsh Harbour to Bermuda,740 miles, then to the Azores 1,800 miles and finally to Ireland another 1,200 miles. The trip will take them 35-45days of open ocean sailing. We and alot of people in the marina have been helping Sean and Mary get the boat ready. The boat is 30 years old and needed some work. He purchased it in New York and spend some time bringing it to the Bahamas so he has put some miles on it already.

Sean and Norman left today on their voyage 5/1/2012. We will keep track of them via their spot positioning system, Mary left a few days ago. She said nothing goes to weather like a 747. She is already in Dublin waiting for Sean and Norman. We all wished them a safe journey!!!

It's 5 oclock somewhere!

Debi came back to the boat after water aerobics and said we're having people over in a few minutes for a 5 oclock somewhere get together. We fit 13 people in our cockpit and Debi was the bartender. They were all there for most of the evening.

One of our guests decided to reinact the Titanic upsidedown. Yes he had a few of Debi's Goombay Smashes!

We all retired to the Bar just in time to watch Jasmine do his famous Limbo! This guy is just amazing! Anyway needless to say this was a memorable evening!

Home





We thought you might like to see some pictures of our living quarters since I've retired. This is a regular bed with the feet end alittle pinched. Good thing we are short but this is half the size of our bed at our townhouse. We live in about 500 sq feet with a outside cockpit area of another 100 sq feet!

This is the u-shaped kitchen with four burner stove and oven under cover to left of center. Also there is a top loading freezer and refigerator that we are able to store a couple months of food in as sometimes we're not able to find much of a grocery store, especially in the Exumas. The Abacos"s has been well stocked with food but we didn't know!

This is the equivalent to our living room. We have a 32" TV which we watch movies on and cable when we are in a Marina. We've been watching cable alot in the Abacos's but didn't watch it at all in the Exumas last year. Also we have a desk with our computer on it and the table on the left of the TV folds down and opens up to serve up to 8 people. There's also another bed and two toilets in the boat but didn't show the pictures as I felt I was pushing my luck just to get these three on. Anyway that's where Debi and I live for months on end. The price you pay for living in the warm climates

Diving

Yesterday we went diving with a charter company out of Hope Town. We rode the ferry from Marsh Harbour over in the morning so that added to the experience. We dove at Sandy Key which is a national park and the reef was alive  and well. Only down side was the dive was only 28'deep so we really could have snorkeled it. Then last night we had dinner with 9 other people who own Island Packet Sail boats. We have done this on numerous occasions since meeting them in Marathon. It is always great to get together with friends. Most of them will soon be heading back to the states.
I have been working on this blog for the better part of three hours and the most frustrating part of this Bahamas trip and last year as well is the Bahamas internet. Downloading pictures takes forever because we keep going in and out of service. Just when you think you have it done it stops and you loose it all.
Anyway it's not my fault when these posts have big pictures smaller ones with the wrong captions etc. But I'm determined to keep trying so bear with me.

"Debi Turns 60"

Well it happened in the Bahamas on April fools day that Debi Turned 60. She played the saw with the band and did the limbo just to prove she still could. She said that the limbo made her dizzy but I think it was the wine.

Update Marsh Harbour

We have finally made it to Marsh Harbour for the second time. I have been frustrated with the internet service since I spent $150 for service and it is real spotty. Really only have reliable service in Marsh Harbour where we are now located. Also I somehow deleted most of our pictures with our friends Steve and Sandy Brockhouse from Pierre just after they left today. Anyway life goes on in Paradise. We had such a good time with all of the people visiting, Karen and Horace from Panama City and also Steve and Sandy.
We have been traveling with another Island Packet 460 by the name of Southern CrossII. They live in Panama City as well and we've been traveling together off and on since crossing from Miami. They will move on to the Southern Bahamas this weekend and we will be in the Abacos for another 6 weeks. Anyway here are a few of the pictures that I've been able to save since the last post.


Looks like Lucy and Sandy are Relaxing



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I had to add this since I ran into Miss Abaco & Miss Bahama and you know me I had to have a picture of some great smiles!



Tour of Green Turtle Cay

Hi Everyone,

Yesterday our friend Horace rented a golf cart so that we could tour this beautiful little island,  the golf cart was really interesting to ride in as the roads are not too good here!  And..... the golf cart was pink, we called it our Mary Kay cadillac.  The island has a beautiful beach that we found on our travels and a quaint little town, called Plymouth.  Most of the stores were closed since it was Sunday, but we did find a little ice cream shop that sold homemade ice  cream, yummmm!  We also found a little beach bar called Pineapple's that served great Pineapple smashes.  Karen was the only one brave enough to try one.  When we got to the bar she had a backache, but by the time we left she was healed!  It was a miracle!!!!!!!!!! Since Karen is a pharmacist we thought she should get the recipe and sell the drink as an elixer for aches and pains when she gets home.  Anyway, we've enjoyed our time here and look forward to our next destination.  Nipper's here we come.............

our Mary Kay cadillac

West End to Green Turtle Cay

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Dinner at a cost of $30 for 5 lobsters!

Well we pidked up Karen (Horace's wife) at Freeport and after waiting a day for weather started out on the 50+ mile crossing of the Bahama Bank to Great Sale Cay. This island is just at stopping over anchorage so we and 5 other boats spent the night. Kind of reminded me of Anchoring up at Mission on Lake Oahe. After a good nights sleep we left at dawn to make the 58mile trip to Green Turtle Cay Club where we are currently at the marina. They have a deal that your dock price of $1.95./ft is credited towards your eating at the restaurant. Anyway we had a great meal and had $80+ subtracted from it, so it works. Haven't taken any pictures of this place yet so will include some taken since West End!

This is a picture of a Mega Yacht called Lady Katheryn V off of West End Bahamas. It is 200' long and rents for $360,000 a week. Google it.

Taking Lucy to the restroom at Great Sale Cay. Not too bad now but later that night it wasn't as much fun!
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Now this is a burger. Horace ate the whole thing

Pete the Pelican at West End

 

West End Abaco's Bahamas

Marina At West End Abaco's





For Our friends Steve & Kitty who have a Tartan   31 named Avalon who were our neighbors at Lake Oahe this is our neighbor at West End!                                                        

We had an excellent time crossing the Gulf Stream from Coconut Grove. Both Debi and Lucy had a comfortable crossing. We are now here waiting for our friend Horace's (he was our sailmate on the trip) wife to come into Freeport on Wednesday. Then the Abaco's Adventure Begins!! In case you want to reach us we only have e-mail since after a $1,100 monthly bill last year our phones are shut off.

Coconut Grove

Coconut Grove Mooring Field (from the top of the mast)

Lucy ( Our Now Experienced Boat Dog) on her way to
the restroom!!

True North In Coconut Grove





 

Miami Bound

Bob & Sara Hartford from Pierre among others were there to see us off from Harbour Cay Club in Marathon

Dinner on True North on my nephew's (David Mills) mooring ball off of Key Largo. Present Left >Rt Capn Jim Stengle, Keith & Blanca Lindholm, Cathy& David Mills, & Debi, with Lucy under the table waiting for dinner

Miami in the distance from outside of Biscayne bay

Biscayne Bay point light house

Nice Sailing on the Bay

Where we've been staying for the past month

We thought we should put some pictures of where we have been living for the past month on our blog so you could relate.

This is True North tied up in her slip with the club house on the left.

This is the shuffel board court..Yea we are really old but it's fun

Where we had the Valentines Day Party outside

Our transportation while at Marathon. Try to haul  gorceries on a bicycycle.

True North looking out to the Gulf of Mexico with the orange Dinghy on her stern.

This is the Club House with the Guest apartment upstairs.

This the Tiki Hut where we have our nightly it's 5 oclock somewhere.

Well I have more pictures but must stop for now. I'm still trying to figure this out. We are going to dinner with Bob and Sara Hartford from Pierre. Small World..