Es-Ska-Pay (Dory from Nemo) or Escape

January 19, 2006

Saturday, January 14, 2006 - Kids Cove, George Town, Exumas
By Tom

The anticipated front arrived late last evening. Team Dream Catcher being all about the comfort, decided to move the mother ship across the harbour in order to get protection from the impending westerlies. A fringe benefit of this move is that we are also able to "borrow" free internet (wireless) from a local real estate store. Sweeeeeeeeeeet.

Speaking of internet, if you do not know how to use a wi-fi connection, learn. Also, if you want really reliable access, consider getting an external wi-fi antenna. If you can afford it, a powered unit would be best. I've seen the powered variety pick up wi-fi signals from over 3 miles away.

The front is expected to pass tomorrow and the winds should return to their easterly pattern by noon. While we are on this side of the tracks, we plan on taking on 80 gallons of water and probably 30 gallons of fuel. The fuel part sucks because there is no easy way to get it. The local marina doesn't have gas on the docks, so one must walk to the gas station and do the jerry jug routine. Oh well, the perils of outboard powered catamaran I guess.

Sunday, January 15, 2006 - Volley Ball Beach, George Town, Exumas
By Tom

We did the water and gas hauling today. It took us 8 trips by dinghy and used up the entire morning. Amy hit the grocery (store) while they were opened and the ferrets watched the water cans to ensure they didn't go anywhere. It was a team effort.

Afterwards, we upped anchor and crossed back over to Volley Ball beach. Two days without volleyball is too much. Actually, I would have dinghied over to play the last two days, but we canceled the 2 on 2's because of the thirty knot winds we were having. Trust me, it's hard enough to play 2 on 2, but it becomes extremely challenging with 30 knots pushing the ball around. We may not be ready for ESPN.

By the way, Amy wants to know if there is like a Volley Ball Anonymous (VBA ?) ? She thinks I might be an addict or perhaps just a dick. Hmmm. (Editor - I added the a dick part, but it's pretty funny eh?)

After re-anchoring we listened to the Pittsburgh Steelers try and give away the game to Indianapolis. Fortunately despite of themselves they won on a last second field goal miss. Go Pittsburgh.

It appears that a weather window may open up for us to leave Georgetown. We'll have firmer details in the morning, but I suspect Amy and the ferrets will force us to take it. Damn! My volley ball game may suffer

Monday, January 16, 2006 - Volley Ball Beach, George Town, Exumas
By Tom

Chris Parker, the weather dude, says that a front will stall Tuesday giving us favorable winds Wednesday for heading south. The Anam Cara's (Don and Sandi) and Rob off of Honi Hanta are probably heading out with us.

We are planning on sailing over to Long Island some 25 miles east of here. It's one of the places that Columbus landed first. A lot of my friends here have been saying its a neat place to see, so we're thinking of giving it a try.

Amy spent the morning getting final provisioning done and dropping off laundry. I played volley ball, first 4 on 4 at 9 am, followed by 2 on 2 at 1 pm, and finally 4 on 4 at 3 pm. A very busy day indeed.

I don't know if I mentioned it or not, but Amy has graduated from fun volley ball to the afternoon 4 on 4 session. Gold star for her. Actually it's fun to get to play together, but don't tell her I said that.

In other news, I fixed my tenth or eleventh computer for cruisers today. This time it was for our friends Dave and Beth on Greatful Latitudes, a Lagoon 410 catamaran. Dave's computer refused to boot, so I had to show it my AUTHORITAY! (Cartman) and reload an OS.

I only mention this because Dave paid me with a case of beer (Bud) and his wife made me a palm frond beer cosy. Notice said beer cosy at right. I've been on Amy for 2 years to learn how to make these. The cosy is custom fit, features 3 palm insulation, and has a computer laser leveled bottom with enhanced frost retention mechanisms.

All in all, its pretty sweet. I had it on board for less then 13 minutes before Milo stole it and tried to make it his own. He recognizes quality construction. We love my new cosy.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - Volley Ball Beach, George Town, Exumas
By Tom

Last night, over too many rum and cokes, the Anam Cara's talked of leaving today, but I think the 25 knots right on the nose may have discouraged them. Good call in my opinion. Especially since it took Sandy all day to even pop her head out into the cockpit of their boat. She was mega hung over, but you didn't hear it from me.

Don came by (also hung over) for the 6:30 am weather report. We listened and it sounds like we are still on for tomorrow, so I guess we'll see.

It was a pretty slow day around here. I worked on a few boat projects that I have been putting off and Amy did some inside cleaning. In the afternoon we went in for volley ball, followed by beers at the Chat and Chill.

We spent a quite evening on board and I made Caribbean Jerk Lamb chops for dinner on the grill with rice on the side. Quite tasty. With our two pet vacuum cleaners (Milo and Mila), there were no left overs. Early to bed in anticipation of an early departure

Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - Joe's Sound, , Long Island
By Tom

We finally broke free of Georgetown. I don't know what it is about that place, but it's awfully tough for us to leave. I already miss my volley ball.

We upped anchor at 7 am and headed over to town to make a quick dash in for our now cleaned laundry and some emergency vegetables. I cannot seem to find the emergency that required said veggies, but I am assured by the resident herbivores that it existed.

Whilst Amy was in town, I made final preparations for blue water. Hatches battened, check! Computers secured, check! Ferret flotation devices properly installed and armed, uh yeah right. You get the idea.

Amy returned and we stowed her supplies and then broke down the dinghy. Dinghy properly stowed, we joined the procession of boats that seemed to be taking this opportunity to escape. I counted 9 boats heading out the south east reef entrance. All but 4 turned further south and I can only guess they were going to the Juementos or Cuba.

Clear of the cut through the reef, we switched to sail power and zoomed along at a stately 3 knots. The wind was too far up on the nose to hold our course, so we ended up alternately motor sailing and sailing.

In was an uneventful trip except for an unauthorized boarding by a small flying fish. I returned him to the sea and we continued along our way arriving off of Joe's Sound by 2 pm. The entrance to Joe's is listed as extremely intricate and the description fits perfectly. We barely squeezed our boats bulbous ass through the cut.

Once inside, however, we found ourselves in a beautiful anchorage. I think its one of the nicest we have seen in the Bahamas and it was definitely worth coming through the entrance to get here. As an FYI, if you intend to come through the cut here at Joe's, wait until slack high or just after. There is quite a bit of current running and if it is behind you, it is virtually impossible to come through the cut in a slow, controlled manner.

Just my two cents worth. Your milage may vary. Objects in the rear view.......

The Anam Cara's and the Honi Hanta's arrived 2 hours behind us and I called them on the radio and advised them that I would not come through the cut at this time. They instead chose to anchor just outside for tonight and come through on the tide tomorrow.

So, here we are. Anchored amongst some really cool looking tidal sand islands in an almost completely protected little creek. Dinner tonight is scheduled as Buffalo Wings, medium spicy with the possibility of an accompanying side salad. Please place your orders before 4 pm. As is custom here, gratuity will be added for your convenience.

Thursday, January 19, 2006 - Joe's Sound, Long Island
By Amy

What a long, strange day it's been. It all started this morning, as it usually does. I was sitting in the salon enjoying my mandatory caffeine infusion when the scenery outside began to rotate really fast. It was like the morning version of the bed spins, and I hadn't even been drinking last evening! We dashed into the cockpit and watched as the wind and the current fought for control of our boat and we turned 360s in DreamCatcher's best imitation of a spinning top.

After about 30 disconcerting minutes, the boat settled down as if nothing had happened and we went about our business. For me, this was bleaching the headliner to rid ourselves of pin mold. For Thomas, it was spearfishing. Not sure how I got the short end of that stick.

In our respective battles, I beat back the mold in what I hope was a decisive victory, while Thomas speared a lobster and a fish...and somehow talked Rob on Hone Hunta out of a slipper lobster. The latter is one ugly beast (see photographic evidence), almost too ugly to eat. That is until we checked our onboard seafood manuals and found it rated as better eating than the spiny lobster. Kick ass!

The final objective for the day was to check out the Last Stop Bar. Someone who will remain nameless was sure that the chart was exaggerating when it said that Joe's Creek north of here goes "dry at low water." Surely they mean the sand bars on the side, he said.

So we set out at an hour or so before low tide with Rob in tow. We'd made it about half way when both dinghies ran aground.

Turn back? No way! There is a bar off yonder!

Determined it was only a shallow patch, we continued on, poling and pulling the dinghies for about half an hour through shallows that just kept getting shallower.

Believe it or not, there are some lengths we will not go for a beer, and we finally decided to turn back. Only problem was, the tide had actually dropped further. Places we had motored on the way in were now impassable! The sun was dropping fast, and took another hour of poling and pulling to get back home.

Needless to say, after such a disastrous journey, a few drinks were in order. Rob joined us for a couple and headed out after dark. About ten minutes later we got a call on the VHF. "So, uh, can I stay with you?" He couldn't find his boat.

To be fair, it wasn't the drink. It was a dark night, with no moon, and he didn't have the power necessary to run his anchor light. With only a flashlight, it was nearly impossible to get out of Joe's Sound, dodge reefs, and get to where he'd anchored. At least he had the good sense to turn back rather than be lost at sea.

Thus we had our first overnight guest in nearly a year. Overjoyed, the ferrets offered to sleep with him, but Rob said no.