The Sailing Coopers: 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!