Date: 1-26-10
Position: 24 14.046'n:76 29.399'w
Location: Pipe Creek, Exumas
Well the time came to make the move south a touch, as the winds had clocked around to the north, and Allen's has little to no protection from that direction. So off to Pipe Creek we went.
It was a nice sail down to the Compass Cay entrance to the Pipe Creek area. It is so calm and beautiful here. It has all around protection so it will be home until all the fronts pass through.
On the way down we were eavesdropping on the radio, cruiser past time, and heard a person requesting help with his direct TV system. Well naturally I chimed in to see if I could help. He lives on Chicken Cay, and after a few futile suggestions, I could not talk him through the set up process. He ask if it would be possible for me to come to his island, as he owns the island, and try to get it up and running. I said if he could come down and pick us up, I would try to get it up and running.
So after getting the anchor down, I called and let him know that we were at his service. He came down and picked us up in his "flats boat", and off we went. Well after chatting a bit we find out he is living alone on the island, with his dog "Chemo". He has stage four throat cancer, and flies to Miami for his treatments. A very nice guy, probably late forties, but says he has watched all the DVDs possible, and is desperate for television.
Well after a tour of his island on a small wagon, pulled behind his four wheeler, we were able to get it up and running. It was not the usual set up as the dish is mounted on a piece of rock!!!!!!!! But with due diligence it is now up and running. And Norman is one happy camper. He said if the end comes soon at least he will have been able to watch TV until the end. He has a great attitude and is happy living on his island. All his supplies are flown in on his own 800 ft. runway. He says you just need to hit the brakes REALLY QUICK, AS SOON AS THE WHEELS HIT THE RUNWAY!!!!!!!!!
Well we will be here for awhile, and will up date as possible. So until then, be well and hugs and kisses!!!!!!!!!
| 2010 Season |
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Comments [4]
Trip Report: 1-23-10
Position: N24 44.800 W76 50.500
Location: Allen's Cay, Exumas
As much as we hated to leave Morgan's Bluff it was time to go, due to the upcoming fronts. We met some wonderful people while out exploring the island. And saw just a sample of the great reefs, which make up the barrier reef that runs the entire east coast of Andros Island. It the third largest reef in the world, following the Great Barrier Reef, and the Belize barrier reef. We were only able to do a little diving but it is extremely beautiful.
We are now east of Nassau, about 35 miles. The group, S/V Cat Tales, S/V Kokopelli are all anchored in between the two islands that make up Allen's Cay. And it gives us protection from the 20 knts. of wind. So we are all tucked in and doing chores and kicking back. We were able to make water on the five hour sail from Nassau, so hot showers were the luxury of the day.
The sail over was a nice 40 mile sail to Nassau. When we entered the harbor, the Oasis of the Sea was at the dock. WOW that is one GIANT cruise ship. It is hailed as the largest in the world. And next to it, and real close, the people still look like miniatures.
But it was a quick run to the fishing supply store, dive shop, and grocery, and then we left the next morning for here.
The hunting/fishing here is good, the photo is of our first lobster from Allens, it weighed about four pounds !!!!!!!!!!!!
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Trip Report 1-20-10
Position 25 10.333N 78 01.620
Morgan's Bluff, Andros Island
The Trip Across
We left Lettuce Lake, north of Commercial Avenue, anchorage at 0830 heading south for the first of the last four bridges we still had to negotiate. We are heading south, hooray.
The plan is to leave from Port Everglades and steer for Moselle Bank, N25 56.790 W79 12.583, north of Bimini, and then continue on across the banks with our first landfall being Morgan's Bluff. It will be an overnight trip as it is approximately 135 NM from Port Everglades to Morgan's, Or 144 nm from Lettuce Lake. We plan on being within radio range of "Kokopelli", our good friends and cruising partners around midnight on the banks. They are leaving from Snake Creek in the Keys at the same time as we are leaving from Everglades. So that is the plan, but we all know about plans!!!!
So after fueling and bridges, we hit the inlet at 1100. There is little to no wind so it will be a motor cruise for now. The forecast is for light winds from the west northwest, and 2-4 foot seas. Our vector is to steer 125 degrees, and with the set of the Gulf Stream we should end up hitting the bank at Hens and Chickens/ Mossele shoal.
Well the wind forecast is correct and the ocean is pretty much calm. But as we get near the middle of the GS, 27 miles, the seas have picked up with a northern swell of 4-6 feet, but it is somewhat behind us, so a bit rolly but not bad. The northern swell continues until we get about on to the bank, at around 2030 hrs, or 8:30 pm.
It is surely nice to finally not to be rolling around like a cork. Now that we are on the bank, no waves but still no wind. Diane takes the helm for a few hours, and now Sissy can finally go to the front for a needed bathroom break!!!
At around midnight I take the helm and Diane gets some sleep. It is very dark, but I have a BILLION stars to steer by and watch, a truly gorgeous night. The only exciting incidence of the bank is being passed by a motor tanker, and avoiding some one who decided to anchor directly on our course line.
We finally make radio contact with Kokopelli around 0200 hrs. They are 30 miles from the Russell Beacon waypoint and we are 30 miles for the point also. When plotted out, we are approx. 30 miles north of them. It is 0700 when we hit the NW passage to get on the Tongue of the Ocean, and back in deep water. We turn south and make the final miles down to Morgan's, with an arrival at 1130 hrs. We head in to clear customs, and after three hours, they ran out of the required forms, we are legally in the Bahamas.
Morgan's Bluff is a nice little town at the north end of Andros Island, with a small cove to anchor in. It is calm and we are EXTREMELY tired and sleep starved. So after a nice supper we bed down for a good nights sleep, and deserved rest, as it was 144 miles and 27 hrs from point to point.
| 2010 Season |
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