5/7/14 Left Bahama Bay after talking to Shelly Gardner, a manager there who had befriended my sister Charlene and brother-in-law Cliff back in 2004? After being asked about available church services, Shelley picked them up, took them to her church, and to dinner with her family. I told her my sister still tells of the wonderful Christian woman whom they met at Old Bahama Bay in West End. Not enough good words are told to the people who deserve them.

Got on to the shallow Little Bahama Bank and raised sails. Guess I tempted the devil because the wind changed enough that I ended up lowering sails and motoring. Then the wind and waves picked up and little fat Serenity just plowed into the choppy waves and almost sat still. The 20 miles to Mangrove Cay took 6 hours. Mangrove is just that, an island ½ mile by a 1/8 mile in the middle of the Little Bahama Bank. Due to the wind and waves we have about 10 sailboats seeking shelter on the East side of the island.

The fun thing is that I met Chris and Carol Edwards who have 36 Catalina. They had the slip next to me in Old Bahamas Bay and we met again at Mangrove Cay and then again at Great Sale Cay. They crossed to the Bahamas with Terry and Jeannette Roslie who have a Catalina 34 and the three Catalinas have been together every since.

Terry and Jeanette left Mangrove before me and I didn't see them again until I got to Great Sale. Chris and Carol left about an hour after me and passed me after about 8 miles and marched on ahead. The waves were 2-3 feet and Serenity went up and down and into. The longer Catalinas bridged the waves better and did a lot better. They were at Great Sale long before Serenity trudged in.

Great Sale was just a stop and we all got going earlier on Friday the 9th. Out of Great Sale the course was 90 degrees to the wind and we flew our jib with the motor running and were seeing 7.2 knots. Then we turned on the 19-mile course to Foxtown and it was all motor and 3 to 4 knots. The waves weren't as bad and we made decent time to Foxtown where I wanted to get close enough to use my international cell phone to call Karen. Wouldn't you know the phone would not pick up the Bahama's network? It did at West End but not at Foxtown. So I went into Foxtown, anchored, took the dinghy off the deck, put the motor on and braved the 1-2ft waves. At the bar with a dock, the bartender let me use her phone. Sweet lady with a cute granddaughter. Had a quick beer and a big tip.

Of course Karen didn't answer so left a voice mail telling of phone trouble and I'd call from Green Turtle on Tuesday. Also relay a message to Carol Edward's mom that all was well and they would call Tuesday also. Took motor off dinghy, up anchor and off the 7 miles to Allens-Pensacola Cay. Right into the wind and we were down to 2.7 knots. Finally got to Allens about 5:20, shot the bull with Terry and Jeannette and back to Serenity for dinner and rest.

Poor Serenity has been beating into rough seas for weeks now. A quick rinse at West End helped but she really needs a bath. Everything, and I mean everything is covered with a film of salt. Wipe off a seat and the rag is crystal salt white. Then at night, the dew and salt mix and she is slush covered in salt. She'll get a bath at Green Turtle on Tuesday. We need to be at a dock on Tuesday due to forecast squalls with winds over 35 on Tuesday and Wednesday. There is a lot more wind this trip and all on the nose as usual.

Saturday morning the 10th, walked the beach at Allens-Pensacola and looked at the sign tree. The 2007 Puff sign and the 2010 Serenity sign are gone, as are a lot of the ones I saw then. Think one of the hurricanes did them in. The ones left from years back were nailed or screwed in place or really well tied to the big branches. Went over to Skip and Carol's boat, Rhapsody, for cocktails and treats. Made an olive and feta cheese plate and had some olive tapanade to put on the last of the sourdough bread. Came back to the boat for a greek seasoned pork shop and a real greek salad. Yum.

Sunday was a short trip to Powell Cay to see if I could find any conch. Found five but after getting them back to the boat, I tossed two back as they were a bit on the small size. The shelling on Powell was not half as productive as last trip. Don't think I'll even bring any back. The beach is still beautiful and not another person on the island the whole time I was there. Spent the night at Powell and left in the morning for Green Turtle Cay.

Chris Parker, the Caribbean weather expert, said to expect squalls starting Monday but on Monday he changed that to late Tuesday. He is talking about winds over 35 knots in the squalls so we all decided to take a dock space for 4 days until the weather is supposed to improve.

Monday the 12th we motored into 2-3 seas the 12 miles to Green Turtle. Left at 8:15 and got to the Leeward Island Yacht Club at 12:15, averaging 3 knots using enough power for 5.5 knots in calm weather. Tied up Serenity and washed her down good. Wednesday will be laundry day. Took a swim in the pool and had a couple of Mango Tangos, before sitting at the computer to update the blog. Still can't get the international phone to work so Karen and I have been texting over wifi.

Tuesday the 13th, the Catalina gang and I rented a golf cart and did the island. Went to New Plymouth (the quaint little town), round to the north end of the island to walk the beach, to the Bluff House for lunch and a swim, to Pineapples for a drink and back to the Leeward Island Club.

Couple of gusty rain showers but nothing worse. Friends Skip and Carol love to snorkle and snorkled off the Bluff House. I still have a problem swimming and breathing. Just don't like to put my head underwater any more. They keep trying to get me to go to the reefs and snorkle but after watching them today, they would get me in trouble. Carol just took off where she wanted and all by herself--made me nervous just watching from a dock.
Wednesday the 14th was a preparation day. Prepared to leave Green Turtle or at least the dock. Did laundry, put water in the tanks, fixed a few things or at least tried. Rode the bike to New Plymouth to get a few grocery items. It was good exercise and it really is a cute little town. It only gets supplies on Thursdays so Wednesday shopping isn't the best.

The weather forecast for the rest of the week is still winds and possible thunderstorms until Friday when the winds should drop but the rains chance continues. Once you leave Green Turtle going south, you have to go out into the Atlantic Ocean for a few miles which can be really rough depending on the winds. So we will likely wait until Friday to go south.

Friday we left Green Turtle in a rain squall and motor sailed to Marsh Harbor. Funny my cell phone works here but no one could say why. No cheap phones available so we will stick to wifi. Dock here at Marsh Harbor Marina has lousy wifi.

Our friends Skip and Carol had motor problems and turned back to Green Turtle. A recurring issue that happens when he is full of fuel. Not the best place to troubleshoot a fuel problem but a good boat yard just up the road from the marina.

5/17/14 Went grocery shopping and am sitting at the bar typing this, doing laundry and having a bilge burner, rum drink. Not a bad life. Wind still supposed to be an issue tomorrow so don't know if I'll leave or not. Not quite as fearless in my old age.

Will stay here until Sunday when the weather is supposed to improve.