Monday, May 25. I am beginning to think that the East Coast of Florida doesn't like me and I'm quite sure I don't like it. When we sailed North from Key Biscayne to Ft. Lauderdale the prediction was for 10-15 from the SW (perfect), what we got was 6-25 from the NE (lousy). When we sailed South from Ft. Lauderdale to Key Biscayne the prediction was for 10-15 from the E (perfect) what we got was 10-25 from the SE (lousy). So today we are planning to cross the Gulf Stream and predictions are for flat seas and no wind - motor all the way, boring but easy. We get up @ 5:00 AM (yes, Deb, 5:00 still comes twice a day) to find lightening to the SE (our projected course) and 10-15 kt winds. We waited until 6:00 for more light and for the storms to move further W and headed out. By the time we made it out the channel toward Fowey Rocks, we had 15-23 kts of wind from the SE. Too tight to sail, but with one reef we could motor sail with just the main. Slowly the wind faded and shifted S so that by the time we were 10 nm off shore, we could raise full sail and turn off the engines - a delightful surprise. This persisted for most of the morning. I had done the navigation exercise and knew that we would need to point 20* S of our desired course to compensate for the Gulf Stream N push, but with the wind, this increased to 30* - really quite amazing to see your COG 30* N of your heading! To add to our delight, I caught a nice 30" dolphin fish (Mahi mahi) which I filleted into two nice meals' worth of meat before releasing the remains. As the day wore on, the wind faded and we ended up motor sailing and then just motoring to get to Bimini. Waves were a whopping 6-18 INCHES! Approaching Bimini we were amazed to see the entire sky lit up a beautiful green. I had seen the color of the water reflected on the bottom of the clouds before, but never filling up the entire sky from sea to clouds - truly amazing. Arriving in Bimini, we motored in to Nixon Harbor on S. Bimini and anchored in 6' of gin clear water. Reminded us both of Turneff atoll in Belize. I collected all our ship's papers and embarked on what turned out to be a 3+ hour ordeal of checking in. First the barmaid at the Beach Club told me I could just go to the airport and clear in there. After taking a taxi out to the airport, they said, "No" I needed to get the proper paper work first from the Bimini Sands marina and I also had to bring the original documentation papers, not a copy. So back to Bimini Sands to get the forms, then back to the boat to fill them out and get the original documentation paper. Then back to the airport where for only $300 we were finally officially cleared into the country. Upon returning to the boat, I collapsed into the water and then revived, made Gin & Tonics to celebrate our arrival. Mahi mahi in beer batter for dinner and all is well with the world!