GOING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

ROYAL BAHAMIAN POLICE BAND


12/19/06


WE FINALLY MADE THE CROSSING TO THE BAHAMAS ON 12/2.WE WERE KEEPING UP ON THE WEATHER WITH THE OTHER BOATS SOME HAVING SPECIAL WEATHER FORCASTS FROM SAT. WE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM SUE ON ODDESSY @2:30 AM TO SAY ALL WAS A GO. WE WERE GOING TO BUDDY BOAT WITH PETER & CAROLYN ON SUMMER TILT ( THEY ARE FROM CANADA & WE ONLY MEET ON THE PHONE, SUE SET US UP TOGETHER KNOWING WE TRAVEL @ ABOUT THE SAME SPEED & WE WERE BOTH GOING TO WEST END), SO AT 6AM WE STARTED OUT THE INLET ( WE WERE GOING TO LEAVE AT 5AM BUT DECIDED TO WAIT AN EXTRA HOUR FOR THE SEAS TO CALM DOWN A LITTLE MORE ( SUE LEFT @ 4AM & RADIOED BACK THAT THE SEAS WERE NOT AS CALM AS FORCASTED YET). THE INLET WAS SLOPPY BUT OK, WE ARRIVED AT WEST END AT 3PM & CHECKED IN & PAID OUR $300 FOR OUR BAHAMIAN CRUISING PERMIT. THE MARINA WAS BEAUTIFUL , WITH OUR RMHYC DISCOUNT THE RATE WAS $1.25 A FT, $.50 A FT FOR ELECT , & THE $10 WATER CHARGE WAS WAIVED. JOHN TRAVOLTTA HAS A HOUSE AT THE MARINA.
THE NEXT DAY WE DEPARTED AT 7AM & WENT THRU THE PASS AT HIGH TIDE FOLLOWING SUMMER TILT. WE ARRIVED AT GREAT SALE CAY IN EARLY AFTERNOON WITH PLENTY OF TIME FOR A SWIM AFTER ANCHORING. VERY BEAUTIFUL UNINHABITED AREA.
THE FOLLOWING MORN WE DEPARTED @ 8AM FOR GREEN TURTLE, TIMING THE TIDE FOR 4PM TO BE RISING @ THE ENTRANCE. THE MARINA THERE LETS YOU APPLY YOUR MARINA BILL TOWARDS YOUR DINNER & DRINKS BILL ( I LIKE THIS ). MIRIAM HAD A KIDNEY INFECTION & NEEDED SOME CRANBERRY JUICE. WE RODE OUR BIKES A HALF HOUR TO TOWN TO FIND ONLY 1 1/2 GAL THAT SOLD FOR $8 ( NOT CHEAP LIKE IN THE STATES). I HAD TO GO TO DINNER WITHOUT MIRIAM & USE OUR CREDIT UP ON DRINKS (O WELL). DINNER WAS GREAT , WITH ENTERNAINMENT.
THE NEXT DAY THE WEATHER WAS BLOWING & WE WENT THRU DON'T ROCK PASS @ 8AM WITH A MOON TIDE WITH 2 OTHER BOATS ( VERY SKINNY WATER). VERY ROUGH. 4FT SEAS HITTING US ON THE BEAM. A SAIL BOAT WHO WANTED TO FOLLOW US THROUGH DECIDED TO GO AROUND THRU THE WHALE PASS INSTEAD & REPORTED BACK TO ME WHEN I CALLED THEM ON THE RADIO THAT IT WAS VERY EXCITING- 20 FOOTERS. I LIKE EXCITING IN THE MOVIES NOT ON THE BOAT. WE ARRIVED IN MARSH HARBOUR BY NOON & WENT LOOKING FOR MORE CRANBERRY JUICE FOR MIRIAM. WE ONLY FOUND MIXED JUICES & BOUGHT 6 OF THEM.
THE FOLLOWING EVENING WE WENT TO THE JIB ROOM WITH A BUNCH OF OTHERS FOR THEIR RIB NITE, YOU HAVE TO CALL IN ADVANCE SO THEY KNOW HOW MUCH TO COOK. WE TOOK A CAB THERE WITH PAUL & SUE, & PAUL & CONNIE. AFTER DINNER WE WALKED BACK , ABOUT 1 MILE.
ON 12/8 SOME STORES NEAR OUR MARINA HAD A CHRISTMAS PARTY WITH FREE FOOD , DRINKS, & ENTERTAINMENT.
THE FOLLOWING DAY THERE WAS A CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL IN TOWN WITH ENTERNAINMENT ( INCLUDING THE ROYAL BAHAMIAN POLICE MARCHING BAND ). PLENTY OF LOCAL FOOD TO PURCHASE & BEER. A SMALL MOTORCYCLE PARADE BY THE SCURVEY FEW.
THE NEXT DAY WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM KAREN & DAVE WHOM WE HAD MEET ON THE ICW A FEW TIMES , ASKING IF WE HAD ARRIVED YET. WE MEET UP WITH THEM AND HAD DINNER THE FOLLOWING EVENING ON THEIR BOAT SUMMER SALT.
THE NEXT EVENING WAS THE RMHYC CHRISTMAS PARTY UNDER THE TENT AT BOAT HARBOUR WHERE WE ARE STAYING. WE INVITED DAVE & KAREN AS OUR GUESTS & WE ALL HAD A GREAT TIME.
WE HAVE HAD POT LUCK DINNERS HERE, WERE WE ALL GET TOGETHER. THE MARINA GIVES US A FREE HAPPY HOUR ON MONDAYS WITH FOOD, VERY NICE OF THEM. AND WE HAVE HAD SOME OF GEORGE'S CONCH SALAD THAT HE MAKES RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU ON THE BEACH, VERY GOOD.
WE ARE FLYING HOME TOMMORROW 12/20 FOR CHRISTMAS & WILL RETURN ON 1/4.
WILL WRITE AGAIN AFTER OUR RETURN.