Friday, May 29, 2015

Bahama Bob is here!

Bob arrived on the 4:00 ferry, so we took a quick walk about town since he'll be here less than 24 hours.......we're setting sail at 6:00 am and heading north!

I know I've taken this photo before, but it's a pretty boat

Different boat at the museum 
Meow.

Gee, do you think they're brothers??

Checking the clouds to our east (Atlantic Ocean)

Brothers!

Coral rock and sand

Rain in the distance

Pretty

Might have been an old power house by the looks of what's inside

Whatever it is/was, it's photogenic

Tropical colors

Our walkabout

Meow.  That is all.

Baby pineapple

Barracuda patiently waiting for dinner to swim by

Our final happy hour in the Bahamas.....Dark and Stormies

Thursday, May 28, 2015

We're baaaaaack!

Well, yesterday was a long day, but 12 hours after we woke up in Cincinnati, we were back home aboard Virginia Dare at Edwin's Boar Yard on Man O War Cay in the Bahamas.  We were happy to see that no critters (insect or mammal) had moved on board while we were away for three weeks.  That was a huge relief!

So today, we got down to business and started working on our To Do Lists and preparing to depart for the U.S. in the coming days.  We're excited that Bob's flying in to sail with us (and sad that Jodi can't come)!  David spent the day on mechanical and technical checklists.  I spent the day grocery shopping and preparing meals for our passage (several days at sea).  We're hoping to get a decent weather window to sail due north from Man O War and arrive near Beaufort, NC later this week (approximately 485 nm).  David is in close contact with Chris Parker re: weather.

Can't say that I love flying in propeller planes

Looking straight down where the deep water (dark blue) gets very shallow (turquoise) on the Bahama Bank

Arrived back home at 6:15 pm -- 12 hours after we woke up
I walked up to the Man O War Grocery this morning and did a fair amount of provisioning.  We pretty much emptied our refrigerator and freezer before we left and kept very little food well-sealed in cupboards.  So, it was a large haul this morning and they gave me a ride back to our boat in a golf cart, a happy surprise!  I was advised by the nice ladies in the store to come back at 4:00 when the fresh produce and meats were stocked (the supply boat came in today).  So back I went and bought fruits, vegetables, and a few packages of various meats.

Walking straight uphill to the grocery store
We now have a decent selection of easy to grab breakfast foods (yogurt, granola, dried fruits, nuts, hard-boiled eggs, KIND bars [from the U.S.], bagels/cream cheese/salmon [no lox available here]).  Lunches will be cold cuts/cheese sandwiches with lots of vegetables and/or Mediterranean couscous salad with veggies and feta.  Dinner options are black beans/pork/rice, white chicken chili/rice, and possibly spicy Asian peanut noodles with chicken if I have time to make it.  There's a cupboard full of cookies and several pounds of Peet's House Blend beans in the galley.  Our stainless steel French press makes SERIOUS coffee.  It's out of this world.  I know I've raved about it before, but this press is quite possibly my favorite galley "gadget" -- and I don't think we could live without it!

Virginia Dare has been snugged up to this dock at Edwin's Boat Yard for the month of May
David's getting all the fishing gear ready for the deep sea
Enjoying a Dark & Stormy in the cockpit after a productive day!
This evening's sunset, Northern Harbour, Man O War Cay


Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Snug as a bug in a rug....

.....well, hopefully there will be no bugs in our rugs when we return.

We're secured to a dock, the boat is clean and tidy, and we're excited to go visit the kids!  It's raining cats and dogs right now, so we're relaxing and packing.....and looking forward to seeing our kids!  Oh my.....hugs for all and all for hugs!  Can't wait!

Rainy view from salon hatch
We'll be back and blogging at the end of May.  Enjoy the month, friends! :)