Drifting Towards America

March 10, 2005

Friday, March 04, 2005 - Pipe Creek, Rat Cay, Exumas
By Tom

The weather today sucked. Some time around 3 am the predicted front rolled in and the wind started howling. By first light, we had 30 knots sustained with gusts even higher.

Our anchorage offered decent protection and we spent the entire day reading books and playing on the internet. The weather didn't let up until 5 pm, so we stayed on the boat all day. Tomorrow we're supposed to have much more settled weather so we plan on leaving Pipe Creek for points north.

For dinner we made spaghetti and garlic bread. Not too much more to report on today.

Saturday, March 05, 2005 - Normans Key, , Exumas
By Tom

We got underway early from Pipe Creek. We had the main up and were flying the spinnaker as well because the wind was 10 knots from behind us. We managed to sail for about 4 hours at a whopping 3.5 to 4.5 knots. The auto pilot drove while we read books.

Around 1 in the afternoon the wind want flat and we were forced to turn the motors on to finish the last 10 miles. We arrived at the anchorage at the south end of Norman's Cay and dropped the hook in 4 feet of water.

We've been here before and it's a decent anchorage in anything except strong south winds, so we should be ok. There is a little island in this anchorage that looks like something out of a Far Side comic.

There is one palm tree on the island and nothing else. When you think of the guy stranded on a deserted island, this is the island you think of.

There were several other boats here and we went next door to Magic Frog and invited Jeff over for happy hour. He is from South Africa and works as crew on a 150 foot sailing schooner in the Mediterranean. He is taking some time off and sailing his own boat around the Bahamas.

We traded stories well into the night and a good time was had by all

Sunday, March 06, 2005 - Normans Key, , Exumas
By Tom

The wind kicked up some last night, but by this morning it was pretty calm.

This morning Maggie and I worked on the computer some while Amy read. Around lunch time I talked Amy into making chocolate chip cookies. We also had our requisite weekly shower today. Around 1 or so, we headed into McDuff's which is a lame little bar/restaurant here on Normans.

This place kind of sucks, but it's the only place in town and we haven't been off the boat in like a week, so we went in anyway. We met a couple of other boats there and we made plans with two other couples to come over to our boat for happy hour.

Back on the boat, we picked up the two conch that we have had in our holding pen for the last three days and took them into the beach to clean them.

In a word, conch cleaning both sucks and blows. You basically have to get this large snot covered slug out of his shell using a knife and some pliers. One of the guys on the beach gave me a few pointers and I was able to beat them into submission in about 10 minutes. They look absolutely disgusting, but they taste pretty good.

Anyway, back on the boat we cleaned up a little and made quesadillas for happy hour. The two couples we invited came over and everyone had a good time although I can't remember what anybody's name was. We should start making people write it down in a Recipes or something.

Monday, March 07, 2005 - Normans Key, , Exumas
By Tom

We awoke to mill pond flat conditions. Perfect weather for stalking the wiley and cunning lobster.

The two couples from last night stopped by early this morning to ask if we would take them hunting. We said sure and agreed to meet at our boat at 10:30 am. I still have no idea what their names are. I am lame.

The group assembled on time and we set out with Amy and I on point. We hadn't hunted here before, so we were basically just looking for a lobster likely location. Amy and I dove in first to reconnoiter and while we were in, Amy quickly spotted a lobster. She pointed him out and I was sent in to attack. Needless to say that lobster paid the ultimate prices for his transgressions.

WHAMMO ! A nice and clean head shot. Two points.

The group decided that this area was too deep however (25+ feet) and so we moved over to the kiddie side of the pool to continue. I'll save you the play by play, but when all was said and done I had 2 lobster, 1 - 3 pound Bar Jack and the biggest White Margate I have ever seen. He was over 6 pounds and about 34 inches in length. A good 4 meals for two.

The rest of said team slacked off a little. But no matter, as Amy and I have a fridge full of fish, we were more than happy to give away our fishy friends and keep the lobster instead. Everyone went home happy.

Our hunting team parted ways as the 2 couples on the little Mcgregor were heading east and we are heading west. Back at the beach near the mother ship, I cleaned the lobster and pounded tender some conch from the other day. We also ran into Ron and Liz from Undine2 on shore and sort of hung out with them while we were processing today's catch.

Later we were hanging out on the boat reading when these completely assanine jackass's parked their 10+ million dollar, 135+ feet mega yacht right on top of one of the 35 foot sailboats in our anchorage. They then proceeded to open up the garage (no kidding) door on the back of this behemoth and take out a 25 foot rigid inflatable jet boat which they then used to water ski through the anchorage. 2.5 million acres of water here and they have to ski right on top of us.

Suffice it to say, no one was pleased with the constant wake motion of the jet skiing dickweeds and I was first to show my displeasure by telling the hired crew of said mega yacht that they were in fact Number 1 (you know, the bird?)

It's one thing to have that kind of money and I'm sure its cool, but to think it entitles you to be a complete jackass in another country? I'll get off my soap box, but to the Nanceseabee (mega yacht) and her crew, you are ball licking, ass munches (Sorry mom).

The day ended with the jackass crowd serenading us with cheesy Barry Mantilow hits until 9. In protest, Maggie farted in their general direction. Tomorrow we head for Nassau.

Tuesday, March 08, 2005 - Nassau, , Grand Bahama
By Tom

The weather kicked up something wicked last night. We had 20 - 25 by first light and it got stronger from there. Our anchorage was untenable, so we had to up anchor and move.

We decided to rig for blue water and with one reef in the main and 85% of the head sail we took off out across the banks aimed at Nassau 45 miles a way. Our fall back plan was to hit Allens Cay if it got too rough, but once we were under way the boat was screaming along comfortably between 6.5 and 8.5 knots.

I deployed the fish whackers and within 30 minutes had to put them away because all we could catch were barracuda. We are not a barracuda family.

The trip to Nassau was long but uneventful. At some point we were out of sight of land, so we pumped our holding tank out. Remember, we are sensitive to sewage. About half way there, this large mega yacht approached us from behind and I was ready to give them the bird again, but it turned out to be a different mega yacht, so I just waved instead.

The weather is suppose to get evil tonight, so we decided to break down and get a slip at the Nassau Yacht Haven. Their prices seemed reasonable and several other cruisers recommended them to us. Apparently, crime is so bad in Nassau that no on is safe anchored out. I cannot confirm or deny this currently, but we figured why risk it.

We haven't been in a marina in over 4 months, so the novelty of being here is way cool. From what we've seen so far, Nassau is a regular U.S. sized city and we are in shock and awe after 7 months away from home. We actually went to a convenience store and bought country style french fries and 3 for 5 dollar Kalik's. Life is good.

Wednesday, March 09, 2005 - Nassau, , Grand Bahama
By Tom

Another day in the relative tranquility of the marina slip. Team Dream Catcher could really get used to this.

Today started off slowly as we both had to recover from the culture shock of seeing a city after 7 months abroad. I think the ferret suffered the worst as she had a tough time dealing with all of the new smells here in Nassau.

After a small breakfast, the running of the ferrets, and a quick incarnation of the last rights of the bread (catholic sounding term for making a loaf of bread, remember, we fear the catholics) we loaded up our camera and walking shoes and headed out for Where the Wild Things Are.

Paradise Island is the tourist haven for the sad,sun week worshipping, American tourists who flock here for their one week a year break with reality. Did you know it costs $5,000 a week for a normal room at the Atlantis hotel now? We haven't spent that amount in any four consecutive months in the last year and a half.

Go figure.

My disdain aside, we too went and toured the Atlantis mega dome complex. Personally, we were interested in the massive under ground aquarium complex that Atlantis has. Unfortunately, Atlantic wanted $30 US a piece for the privilege of touring their fish aquarium. As I spent most of my time answering fish related questions from the over weight, under tanned American tourists, I kind of thought maybe Atlantis should have comped me and the Amy unit, but it was not to be,

Wow, I really am a cheap ass.

Besides the over priced aquarium, I scored mega beer points today when I found a corner store that offers Kalik beers at the rate of 3 for 5$ U.S. !!!!! Ex-squeeze me? Can you say YES? I think you can !

9 dollars lighter and 10 minutes older I returned to the boat armed with the cheapest beer the Bahamas has to offer. Several of the cruisers here at the marina asked if I could do a brief Wi-Fi seminar and I spent the early evening reviewing how this works.

Nassau reminds us both of a big city that is trying too hard to grow up and we are anxious to move on. The weather will conspire to keep us here at least until Saturday.

Thursday, March 10, 2005 - Nassau, , Grand Bahama
By Tom

Today we spent several hours getting the boat ready for the trip back to the U.S.

In a completely non-related story, I remember one time when I was a child, my dad and I were going to mow the lawn. We had a moderate sized house that required the use of a riding lawn mower as well as a push mower and two weed eaters.

This one time, dad tried to start one of the push mowers and when it didn't start after the 3rd pull or so, he took a 15 pound sledge hammer and beat the machine into dust and then flung said lawn mower out into the weeds of the neighbors yard where it languished for 10 years.

Same story, different day. This morning I spent a few hours replacing and rewiring our external VHF radio. It has been giving us problems off and on for the last 3 months and as such it had to pay the ultimate price for it's transgressions.

Given the circumstances, I had no choice but to smash the offending piece of equipment to dust on the dock here at Nassau Yacht Haven. Problem solved.

The weather has been shitty the last several days and I heard today that several boats anchored out ended up on the beach last night. I am glad we are hiding here in the marina. We are planning on leaving for points north on Sunday