Here we are!!
In the Bahamas at last. We had a wondrous crossing from Fort Lauderdale. The weather was right on, the sun & the moon & the stars were at their best, the waters were gentle and Bob took to it like a pro. He was a constant source of amusement. We cannot believe how he just seems to know what to do. He loves to feel the wind in his face while sitting in a perch he found as soon as he put his paws onboard.

We sailed through the day arriving at Moselle Bank north of Bimini with just enough light left to see the change in water color and depth....a beautiful sapphire when we went from 3,000 ft of depth to 30 ft. We stopped the engine and sailed into the night - just a dream.

At first light we were just entering North West Channel which we motored through (wind died as sun came up) and into deep waters surrounding the Berry Islands. Chub Cay was first in our sites with that gorgeous turquoise then we edged into the channel for Fraser's Hogg Cay. The water underneath our keel was a little skinny in spots but by Bahamas standards it was rich. We have to get used to the skinny. We also heard a few gunshots right behind us but just proceeded.

First boat we see at the moorings in from Canada and then we realize we recognize it......Doug & Marlene Ridgewell of Halifax in their Island Packet. We've been trying to get in touch with them since we left N.S. and just did so a week ago in Fort Lauderdale. They have been a wealth of knowledge about travelling in the Bahamas.

Alex went ashore to try and find transportation to the wee airport to clear Customs. He was gone a long time and had quite a story to tell. He got a drive from a Bahamian that had been in the bar.....a long time! Turns out he owns a large chunk of the island and has a fair bit of excavating equipment. They left the clubhouse in a golf cart but he took Alex to his place to switch to a vehicle that could better manage the rough roads.....a stubby school bus with a half-door made out of plywood. The guy asked Alex if he heard the gunshots earlier (they saw our boat & I think waited for us to pass safely out of range). He said, "Oh that was just us shooting a shark that we lured close to shore. We use them for food to feed our dogs!" Alex could see that they were finishing the filleting as he spoke. All that was left was the shark's head in the water.....only in the islands! So off they went in the stubby bus to do the 3 mile drive that takes half an hour. Right down the airstrip he drove and waited for Alex to deal with the Customs Officer while he argued vociferously with another local. Eight pounds of paperwork later Alex got back on the bus with our stamped passports and clearance for Bob. What a relief since we did not have the necessary papers for him. Alex arrived back to the boat with the clear smirk of success and a good story to tell.

During all this I was clipping Bob. The groomers I Ft Lauderdale couldn't take him on because he had stitches. He's like a highland sheep.......I cut off a grocery bag full of hair and more needs to come off. He just sat there the whole time. This dog is unreal.

Nice evening of eating shared hors d'oeuvres & having a good drink on the porch of the little Berry Island Club house/bar. I actually made some low country hush puppies (little corn meal balls fried) to share. Good group of people to gather information and to arrange some meetings on other islands.

Beautiful, restful sleep after being next to the 7th St Bridge the past month.
This morning we went ashore to take Bob for a walk and to wander a bit. We found a little beach with no one around and very shallow water. We thought we would just introduce Bob to the water making no big deal about trying to make him swim or get wet (he still has stitches from the neutering thing so supposedly he's to take it easy for 2 weeks). As we edged into that warm, warm water he trots right in and lays down - cool on the belly.......Okay. We decide to wade a bit and a minute later he's walking beside us....all good. Alex walks out deeper and the next thing Bob swims out to him, does three circles around him and keeps on going.......amazing! He swims to a depth where he can put his feet down and proceeds to run wildly through the water then goes like a crazed animal running figure 8's in the sand..........where did this dog come from????!!!! I think the expression is..."like a duck to water"....OMG!

We're heading into shore shortly to see if we can get some internet time ($10/hr here!!) to post this.

Then back for a chicken BBQ......this feels good!!