Nassau...
24 January 2013
MAP
We were on Bimini Sunday afternoon and evening, walking the path of Hemingway. We stayed at Blue waterMarina, which was his choice marina, and walked to the Big Game Club for a light dinner, which was his choice place to eat (and drink) while on the island. Of course much has changed since he was there, but his presence is still felt. (We were able to watch the Patriots get beat too!) We left early Monday morning and had a beautiful, calm day crossing the banks (only @17 feet deep). We dropped anchor on the banks just past Mackie Shoal and Davis light, near North Pass. It was a very calm and smooth night. Tuesday started out to be another smooth day as we started across the tongue of the ocean (the really deep ocean) but as we approached Nassau in the late afternoon, the wind started to kick up. As we were entering the harbor the wind had reached 33kts (Gale force is 35kts) so we were very happy to be in the harbor. We knew there was a strong front arriving, and our timing was very good. The yacht club that we usually stay in was full, so we took second choice, Nassau Yacht Haven, where we have stayed before. It has been fine. We kicked around town today, breakfast at Starbucks (wifi), Plaza shopping, visit to grocery store (old store gone, new Fresh Market replaced it, GREAT STORE). We walked to the first bridge for a late lunch at Potter's Key, under the bridge, where the locals bring their fresh catch and produce to sell. We shared a good lunch at TWIN Brothers..Cracked Lobster. We are staying a second night (Wednesday) as the winds are still high and we found Van and Lauren on Gratitude at the other marina with Sanity II. They are getting an alternator fixed and we may be traveling together when we leave here. I did a load of laundry and we tinkered at the boat this evening. Starbucks again for breakfast, quick trip through the grocery and we'll probably be off.
We left a trail of pistachio nut shells to follow to find our away home, but you know they don't float!
P. S. Met with Van and Laren for coffee. We are going out to Rose Island for the rest of today and tomorrow. They will join us tomorrow and we will stay over until Saturday Morning then both boats will move on to Eleuthera, a new island for us all.