April 15, 2019 The End of 2019 Bahama Adventure

April 15, 2019

It is the end of me writing this year's blog since we have returned to Fort Pierce and are getting our boat ready to put on the hard.  Looks like the boat will not be coming out for another week.
We've had another wonderful year where we discovered many new places and hopefully will return if all goes well. Our hope is to continue down to Turks and Caicos.

We would like to thank all those who were interested in our blog and who have been following and  supporting us.  Send me a comment if you liked it or any suggestions for next year.

Much peace, love and bright light to all.
Lise and Steve
   

April 13-14, 2019 Heading to Florida

April 13, 2019 - Heading to White Sand Ridge

 



The plan was to anchor here but too many swells

Anchors were lifted at 8am and heading for Little Bahama Banks at White Sand Ridge.  When we arrived around 5ish and anchored, we realized the swells where too huge to stay. 


 Good thing we have the dishes tucked into a cupboard otherwise they would be all over the place.  We raised our anchor and decided to head to Fort Pierce and motored sailed all night.  As we were heading out, a group of dolphins swam and played around our boats.  It was so exciting.  It was almost as if they were saying goodbye.  Bitter sweet. 

 

April 14, 2019  Arrived in Florida






The moon lit the water as we night sailed



Our last sunset in the Bahamas this year

We saw the most beautiful sunset and really realized it will be the last one we see this year in the Bahamas.  We covered 109  miles and made it to Fort Pierce around 5am and anchored outside Fort Pierce marina.  We made it for the flooding tide as we came in the cut.  The bright moon guided us all the way.  Now it is time to get a few hours of sleep. 





Anchored at Fort Pierce for the night

11:00am-  We managed to get a spot at the Fort Pierce marina for at least a couple of nights depending on how soon we get our boat lifted out.  The work now  begins.  




We already called and reserved a storage bin nearby Riverside Marina where we store our boat.  We won' t be able to get our truck keys until tomorrow since the office is closed on Sunday.   


April 12, 2019 Great Sails

April 12, 2019 Leaving Powell Cay to Great Sails



Not good enough to keep

Woke up to a beautiful morning and preparing to leave for Great Sails at 9 am with Orkan.  Along the way Steve caught a fish but he released it since it wasn't edible.

Both sails up

  It was a beautiful sail.  Both sails were up.




















 We arrived at Great Sails around 4:30pm.  We had an early dinner and then went for a dinghy ride.  We dropped by Orkan and talked to Sharon and Rick about our plan for departure tomorrow. Wasn't much to explore.  Came back and had a swim. It will be the last swim we have in the Bahamas before heading to Florida. 

Steve and I played cards and watch a movie before going to bed.  

April 11, 2019 Powell Cay

April 11, 2019

Leaving with Orkan

Blue Runner fish

At  4am, I woke up to strong winds and rain for about half an hour.  Funny how it comes and goes.

Orkan and GaYa lifted their anchor at 8am and heading towards Powell Cay.  There was no wind and the seas were calm.  Steve caught a Blue Runner fish but released it. 
We arrived before 10am and covered 8kn miles.  Now we anchor and explore island.




Crab on the beach

When I first got on the beach, this little guy sort of scared me when I almost walked on him.  Some of the trails where thick and it was hard to walk on some of the man made bridge or woods laid down so that you don't walk in water.            

We followed the marked trails

 We made it to the ocean side and it was beautiful.  I managed to get shells and fan coral.  There were all kinds of buoys which indicated the trails.  Steve and Rick later went to Spanish Cay to get water and fuel.  They said it was very expensive.  While they were away, I did my three laps around the pool to get exercise.


Some of the trails had manmade bridges

Sharon, Steve and Rick cooling down in the ocean

When Steve got back to the boat, he went diving for sea urchins.  At 4pm, Rick and Sharon came over for appetizers and dinner.  We had lobster, steak and salad.  It down poured for half an hour before dinner but then every cleared up, just in time to eat.

Rick trying out the conch



Sharon blowing the conch

After Rick and Sharon left around 10pm, we did the dishes and then went to bed.  Tomorrow we continue on.
What a gorgeous day!

April 8-10, 2019 Manjack

April 8, 2019 Leaving Great Guana

Looks like we are fishing Orkan

Said goodbye to Alizaron

We raised the anchor before 9am and left Alizarin behind at Great Guana while Orkan trailed behind us.










Rick shared his water with Steve

 

 

Raining so hard

We covered 15 miles to Manjack and arrived before lunchtime.  GaYa even got to sail.  What a nice anchorage.  We really like this place.  We met Sharon and Rick at the beach and walked along gorgeous trails to the ocean side.  Steve found a couple of air plants on the trail and now Sharon and I will each be bringing one home. 
When we got back to the boat, I did some painting while Steve read.  Shortly afterwards, we both went snorkeling.  We couldn't believe all the living sea biscuits, urchins, sea cucumber, and star fish underneath our boat.  It was quite entertaining.  Seeing that I have too many sea biscuits on board, Steve got me a few dead sea urchins to bring home.
It rained so hard we hardly could see Orkan.

After dinner, we watched a movie before going to bed.

April 9, 2019 Exploring more of Manjack (used to be Nunjack)
We decided to stay at Manjack seeing that we love it here and also a front is suppose to hit us tomorrow.  After breakfast, we took the dinghy  towards the one of the beaches and were surprised by a pig who surprisingly greeted us.  We then went in the mangrove area where we saw so many turtles. I never realized how fast they could swim.  The water was so clear and we could see some sort of jellyfish pulsating at the bottom of the water bed.  


This pig surprised & greeted us at the beach

We saw a lot of turtles amongst the mangroves

We really enjoyed driving around



The water was so clear



 

It was really enjoyable to drive around however I wish I would have brought my Go Pro camera where I could have videotaped the turtles underwater.  Maybe tomorrow if the weather cooperates.  I did a little painting when we got back while Steve read.

Around 2pm, Sharon and Rick came over for drinks.  We are trying to figure out where we will be anchoring next.  A front is suppose to hit us but then clear up by the weekend. 

 

Not much of a sunset but the clouds painted a gorgeous scene



After dinner, we watched a movie before going to bed. 

 

April 10, 2019

Sun trying to peep thru

Woke up to a dreary day.  The poor sun tried to shine thru the heavy clouds.We ran the engine to boost up our batteries since the sun will not be out to recharge the solar panels.  It poured most of the days.  I kind of like these days once in a while to catch up on all my hobbies. 
Around 11am, it stopped raining and we decided to go dinghy around the mangroves to see if we can see turtles.  I brought my Gopro this time and managed to capture not only turtles but stingray. 
When we got back, I made chili for tonight's dinner.
At 3pm, we went to Sharon and Rick's boat for appetizers and drinks.  It was nice to have dinner already cooked once we got back to the boat. 

The sky was red tonight as the sun was hiding behind the clouds.  We watch a movie before going to bed.

We plan on leaving Manjack and head towards Powell Cay in the morning.



April 7, 2019 - Great Guana

April 7, 2019


Great Guana Beach

We lifted the anchor after a great bacon, eggs and potatoes breakfast.  We crossed 6 miles to Great Guana to meet with Orkan.
Steve and I went for a great walk on the beach and found buoys.  I just love bringing them home to  paint. 



Found these buoys on the beach










Sharon and Rick met us there and we went for drinks and lunch at Nippers.   Brad and Julia showed up a couple of hours afterwards. We had a great time listening to music & dancing.

Having drinks with Rick, Sharon, Julia and Brad

 We came back to the boat and went swimming.  This is when Steve surprised me with a sea urchin and more sea biscuits.  I did a little painting afterwards while Steve had a nap.


My painting of Orkan

Steve surprised me with a sea urchin

 After a late dinner, Sharon and Rick invited us all to their boat for drinks.  It was a nice way to say goodbye to Brad and Julia since they will not be crossing the whale with us tomorrow morning. What a great day!

April 6, 2019 - Man O War

April 6, 2019
After breakfast, Steve and I spontaneously decided to go 6 miles to Man O War to anchor outside the bay.  We like it there when it is calm.  What a gorgeous day with no wind. 


Flag hung by a mast

Arrived before 11am.  Alizarin surprised us and showed up later..  They planned on going to Hopetown but they changed their mind. 
Steve went to the marina with the dinghy and made a few trip to fill up the boat with diesel. He then went diving for sea biscuits and then showered.





Women sewing bags

Later we went to town for ice cream and Julia and Brad joined us with Sagamore, their dog.  Julia and I went thru a few shops where woman sewed bags.

We later came back to the boat to make water.  I went swimming 3 times around the boat and then showered. 


Steve getting the fish ready for dinner

Had a great Ciro Mackerel dinner with sweet potatoes and asparagus. Steve made such a potent Maguarita that I don't remember some of the moments. 

Sunset at MOW

One happy guy

We had a great meal.  Watched TV before going to bed.


April 2-5, 2019 _Hello Marsh Harbour

April 2, 2019 - Leaving Eleuthera


Notice the moon and Venus as we woke up to leave

We left Royal Harbour at 6:15am as the moon was setting and the sun was rising.  We motored sail the whole way.  Not lucky at all with the fishing today.  We covered 62 kn miles and arrived in Marsh Harbour at 5pm.

Sunrise as we were leaving Royal Harbour



This barge almost ran into us

 As we were entering the Marsh Harbour a barge came behind us and wanted to cross and if we wouldn't of stopped and turned around, he would have hit us. 



Reunited with Brad, Julia, Sharon & Rick

Gorgeous sunset



After we anchored, we noticed Orkan and Alizura anchored behind us.  We texted each other and decided to go out and eat  at Color By the Sea.  It was sure nice to see them again. Came back to the boat around 9ish. We were sure tired.




April 3, 2019
Today was a grey and rainy day.  Lots of wind and no sun.  After breakfast, we took the dinghy to go do groceries at Maxwell.  Weird to be in a grocery store that resembles Publix.  We have to go back tomorrow since all their stock will be available.  I can't wait to have bananas again.  We then went to the bakery to get their famous cinnamon buns.  Back at the boat, I painted a card for Alizarin while Steve read.

Later I cut his hair.   He then went back in town to get beer. 
Spaghetti and meatball for dinner along with a glass of wine. 
Watched TV before going to bed.

April 4, 2019


Al & Bev on Dagny

After breakfast, Steve and I went to town for a walk.  We stopped in Blue Hole  Marina to look at boats and  noticed Al & Bev on sitting on their boat Dagny. We met them 3 years ago when we first motored down the ICW.  They bring their boat back and forth from Canada to Bahamas every two years.  It was nice catching up.

As we were walking to the grocery store, we heard a whistle and it was Brad and Julia getting off their dinghy.  We walked together to the grocery store. 
I did a little painting while Steve read.

 

At 3pm, Julia and Brad came to our boat to play a game of Euchre.  After dinner, Steve & I watched TV until bedtime.

April 5, 2019
Woke up this morning and realized we were very close to a boat so we moved up a bit and re- anchored.  For some reason our furling was working properly so Steve decided to bring down the front sail and check it out.  As we were manually unfurling the jib, the wind picked up and the sail was very hard to manage.  A couple on Phase II boat came over to help since they were scared we would get hurt.  We managed to get the sail down and in examining it, it looks like some of the bearings might be wearing. 
We got a surprise visit from John on Primera Vista boat.  They stay in Hopetown most of the winter so we have not seen them since we first arrived.


Cotton flower

Cotton bud and cotton

Steve went into town to see if he could get some kind of silicone in order to get it working.  He cleaned the furler with the silicone.  Michel from Montreal on boat Anakena came to help put the sail back up.  It worked beautifully.  Sure nice when someone volunteers to help.  We went to the hardware store to pick up crazy glue.  We then went for a walk.  We saw a cotton tree flower, buds and cotton.

Shark garbage bin

We also stopped in to Don's Artwork store where he showed us all the carvings and jewelry he made.
Later we went to Mermaid Island where it is suppose to be a great place to snorkel but the wind picked up and we ended up going back to the boat.

Don Carving Artwork Store

Enjoyed Wally Restaurant

Nice atmosphere

Came back to the boat for the afternoon to read and paint.  Around 6pm, we went out to Wally's Restaurant which Brad recommended.  What a great place to eat.  Steve had Seafood platter which consisted Blackened shrimp, grouper and blackened shrimp.  I had fried grouper with mash potatoes. 


We had to try fried cheesecake

We even tried fried cheesecake.  SO GOOD!

 We stopped in to Snappa's restaurant for a drink but it was too noisy and busy.  We decided to go back to the boat. 

Watched a movie and then I practiced my guitar before going to bed.