A Period of Mourning

Officially back on US waters makes us really appreciate and miss the Bahamas. We miss the crystal clear and gorgeous waters, clean air, island attitude, lack of development, the people working on island time and the feeling of being in paradise. I guess the trade-offs are having everything you might need at your fingertips, fresh produce and good coffee. Leaving the Bahamas we feel that we only got a tiny taste of it and it makes us more determined than ever to find a way to get back sometime down the road.

Our baby step into civilization was spending a few days in Bimini, a bustling city compared to the peace and solitude of the Berry Islands. After we caught up on sleep from our crossing of the banks we took a walk around this island where we spent a considerable amount of time after our arrival to the Bahamas. Things haven’t changed much in three weeks. Still the same comings and goings – a man selling ‘fresh fish’ from his bicycle, school children dressed in uniform playing outside at lunch hour, the ice cream truck making it’s daily rounds sometime in the afternoon, or the whoosh of the golf carts passing you along the street always just a little too close for comfort. The only real difference was a few more tourists on the islands and the marinas had a few more boats as the peak tourist season nears.

(Ice cream truck making it's rounds)

(Only Bank in Bimini - the Royal Bank of Canada)

We stayed in Bimini for 4 nights while we waited for a weather window to cross back over to the States. Sal was still in Canada working away on his application process. We had a windy 24 hours in there but our last day was gorgeous and we took advantage to do the things that we love. After our usual coffee time on Chautauqua (11:00) with delicious fresh cookies from the local bakery we grabbed our swim and snorkel gear, a book and some sunscreen. I walked to one of the many restaurants and got a take-out meal, brought it to the beach and enjoyed some of the most delicious food – shredded lobster, rice, coleslaw, fried plantain and mac and cheese as I watched the waves coming in. After I managed to eat only about half of the food (had the rest for dinner) I read, then cooled off with a swim in the water. The day finished off with an ice cream before heading back to the boat and preparing it for the next days travel back across the Gulf Stream.

We were up by 6 and waited for enough light to navigate our way out of Bimini. Mom came with me and dad was alone but with his auto helm. Very light winds, but we raised the sails in hopes of catching a puff here and there. We used the Gulf Stream to our advantage taking us north back to Lake Worth (where our first attempt to cross from was). Only excitement was a US Coastguard helicopter circled close by to check us out. The Stream was calm except for the slow ocean roll. At about 4pm we finally got the wind that was forecasted, well a little bit more. A SSW wind behind us that created some nice sized waves. We were surfing down them at breakneck speed – I think I saw 9 knots on the GPS!!! The boat was rolling around quite a bit and mom and I hung on the last hour or so when it got windier and wavier. We were joking that we might need to tie ourselves down so we don’t roll out. I was happy once we sailed around the breakwater and into Lake Worth. We did a record of about 82 miles in 13 hours. It was dusk when we arrived but was lots of activity in the inlet. We had a rolly night until the wind died down.

The following day, after having met up with Sal (I hardly recognized him with his clean-shaven face and short haircut!) I attempted to get through customs. It was almost more of a struggle than the actual crossing trying to get through the bureaucracy of ‘entering the US’. After numerous trips between the second and third floor and almost 3 hours I finally emerged with a cruising permit, with a feeling like I was some sort of criminal and a desperate longing to be back in the Bahamas. Welcome to the USA! We moved to North Lake Worth where we have spent the past few days getting used to everything including indulging in some fine American cuisine.

(Portuguese man-o-war)

Saturday we decided to do some maintenance on the motor as Sal was able to buy some parts while in Canada. We’ve tried to get parts for our motor in various places but even Yamaha dealers rarely carry the spares we need because our 6 hp is not a very common motor size. Before we left the states about 2 months ago a part of the motor broke that was needed for charging the battery (called the voltage regulator).

So we had to rely solely on our solar panel for any sort of energy need. We were very frugal with electricity, only using the depth sounder when entering an anchorage and using our cabin lights minimally. Sal ordered this part while in Canada along with a replacement anode. So Saturday we decided to change the oils, and replace these parts. An hour and a half task at the most – WRONG! Once we got everything done (included a trip to the mothership to get some wire connection parts and search for the right sized bolt as the old one did not fit into the new part) we were then unable to pull the starting cord, once that was sorted we couldn’t get it to turn over, after changing the spark plugs, draining the carburetor (oil had somehow gotten in there) the motor finally started and yes, it now charges the battery J. This little project took about six hours to complete. Sal mistakenly thought that he would be coming back to holidaying.

My parents have made arrangements to get their boat hauled and stored in Indian Town next week. We are all heading that way, where we will probably part ways in Stuart. My dad’s major concern now is that the snow will be gone in Canada for when he gets back.