Bimini

Cricket doesn't look happy but she was
purring thoughout the life jacket fitting

After nearly two weeks waiting for the weather at Dinner Key we followed Kathy & Dan on their boat Majiks over to Key Biscayne.  It was out of the wind and waves which would be really nice for a change.  The plan was, weather permitting we would leave in the morning.

We set 3 alarms so we wouldn’t oversleep and were both awake well before they went off.  The anchor was up and we were on our way before 6:30.  There were four of us crossing together and we checked in by radio every hour on the hour.

The sun was just starting to come up as we made our way into the Atlantic.  We watched our depth change and as we went from the hundreds to thousands of feet the water changed from emerald to sapphire.  It was really beautiful. 
We were heading directly into the wind so we didn’t have a chance to sail.  We ended up motoring all the way across.  Right from the time we headed out the channel there were good sized rollers which made for a bumpy ride.  At times the waves would break over the bow but we stayed dry although not very comfortable.  We were making jokes between the boats about how everyone’s kidneys were holding up.

I noticed what I thought were tons of plastic water bottles.  They were actually hundreds of Portuguese Man O War.  They look like an iridescent panzarotti floating on the surface.

As the day progressed we kept getting weather updates from the other boats.  Thursday looked good but a cold front was expected on Friday.  Once to Bimini we still had to make it through the banks and that wasn’t going to be a good place to be during a blow.  A group decision was made to find a marina to wait out the front. 



our first view of South Bimini







our Bahamas courtesy flag is up

Majiks was the first boat into Bimini Sands Marina and secured slips for all of us.  It’s very nice here, well protected and relatively inexpensive.  There are two pools, showers, laundry and a nice beach to explore.  We haven’t spent a night at a dock in two months so it was a big treat for us.  The water is crystal clear and there's lots of marine life to see right around the boat.  Starfish and sea urchins and all kinds of fish.

After a good night’s sleep all the guys went into customs and got us cleared in.  We now have a 4 month cruising permit for the Bahamas. 



our group are the 4 sailboats on the right

This afternoon we took our snorkel gear and headed down the beach.  Brian and Dan checked out the underwater scenery and Kathy and I floated in the waves.  It was wonderful.



it's Dory from finding Nemo

As the afternoon wore on more and more boats pulled into the marina to hide out from the weather.  We had a squall pass through earlier and right now it’s really blowing even in the marina where it is almost totally enclosed.  I think we made a good call to not move on.

We shared a happy hour potluck at the pool tonight with about 10 other couples who are staying here.  It was a good time to meet other cruisers and see where they have been and where they are going.

Tomorrow we’re heading out to explore some more.



it really is this colour
it's amazing

Friends

by Brian
While on the water we have met a lot of people who live on boats full time and some who will be as soon as they can make it happen.  We have yet to meet anyone who is selfish only caring and willing to share and help. Our first experience was with a couple in St. Petersburg Florida. While sitting on our boat in a marina a wonderful couple came to visit us and in a very short time we had found some new friends.  Like us they want to live life to the fullest and want to share that experience with other friends and family. They took us under their wing, invited us into their home for Thanksgiving after only knowing us a few hours. They have shared everything they could with us along the way. We have been friends for 14 months now and even though we are on the water on the other side of Florida we still keep in touch.    




 

We also have a friend who is a professional captain and teaches sailing for a living.  He has gone out of his way time after time to help make our dream come true.  From teaching us how to sail, get off sand bars and delivering us parts for our boat clear across the state of Florida with out any concern or payment.  Every time we meet up it is comforting to know he is only an email or phone call away. He would be the (call a friend) guy on Who Wants to be a Millionaire.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Then you meet up with people like the owner of our favorite marina in Florida.  Pasadena Marina.  The owner and her head dock master are two very wonderful people.  Their mission is to have you as a guest and if you choose, as friends.  This was again a great place to be.  Never did we have a bad experience.  It started with the owner while we were looking for a marina to live in.  When we called her she was prompt and professional. The dock master the same.  Very clear with all they had to offer and left us with a feeling that we really wanted to live there.  For a pair of people who clearly have a lot to do in their day they both would stop whatever they had been doing and give you the time it takes to help you. The marina is smaller and very well kept.  Of all the places we have stayed this is one of the best.

During our stay at Pasadena Marina we have met some wonderful friends.  We shared happy hours, dinners, boat fix consults and fun around the pool.                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Now we find ourselves in Miami, a very big and sometimes scary place.  Way too busy, dirty and the marina is not well run.  However the people around us again are amazing.  All types of people on all types of boats from all walks of life.  We would have been on our way with two others boats who wanted share experiences and friendship as well in the Bahamas.  As you know our plans changed when we had to stay back to do repairs. 
A new group has arrived and over the course of a week or so we have seen  boats with flags from all over.  Most are from the United states and Canada some as far away as the United Kingdom.  I doesn’t matter what people did for a living only where they have sailed what they have in the way of plans.  It seems we all have one common goal, to get out on the water and make it happen.  Be happy see the world and live life. This is not like when you go to a resort for a week it’s a way of life. 
I find it amazing how a total stranger will invite you onto their boat for a drink and even offer to feed you.   It doesn’t matter the condition of the boat.  It could be a very large ultra new yacht or an older sometimes very well used and worn little boat.  You always get the same result.  Happy to meet you, keep in touch, here is my boat card.  Yes a boat card or business card with all the information you need to keep in touch.  It’s also very handy for remembering names when you meet a bunch of people the same day.                                                   

         Thanks to the great friends we have and the family who wish us well.

from Sally
Wouldn’t it be great to have a sailing family reunion.  I’m thinking a potluck/bonfire/jam session/catch up on a beach somewhere fun.  Everyone’s invited!

Bits & Pieces from Dinner Key

First thing Wednesday we were off to the dentist for Brian’s crown.  Not having asked about price when we made the appointment, it was a little intimidating to see the staff cars were Lexus, BMW’s and Land Rovers.  True to their word the whole procedure took 90 minutes.  At home a crown would take about 3 weeks and at least a couple of appointments.  The inside of Brian’s mouth was all mapped out using a wireless USB stick.  The old filling was removed and a platform made for the crown.  Then his mouth was remapped.  A square cube of porcelain was shaped by computer to perfectly fit the space as a new tooth.  It was then glazed and baked using UV to make it ultra hard.  Final fit, glued on, all done.  Brian got to watch all this on big screen TV’s.  The bill although expensive was no more than it would have been at home even after insurance paid their 50%. 
Throughout this I lounged in the waiting room on a leather couch reading my book.  It would have been great if the air conditioning had not been set to flash freeze.  Even with my jacket on I had to keep going outside every 15 minutes to thaw my feet.  Another guy waiting with me kept pulling his arms inside his T-shirt.

We rented a car for a couple of days because it would have cost nearly as much for a day as a taxi just to get to the dentist and back.  We were given a brand new Chevy Sonic with only 8 miles on the odometer.  I liked it.  It was small, great on gas and fit all our supplies in the trunk, propane tanks and cat litter included. 

During our stay here there have been lots of sailboat races.  Every morning they would all file out of the bay.  I like to watch them weave through the mooring field with their sails snapping.  They race all day then file back like hundreds of ants.


We have been experiencing a strong east winds for a few days now which makes for chop on the bay.  It’s surprising how we get used to the motion in the boat.  Mostly I don’t even feel it any more.  The boat rocks front to back and even sleeping in the aft cabin where it’s most noticeable we sleep well.  If you watch a goose fly, it’s head never moves.  Brian says that’s the way I pour coffee.  The pot stays level and my body absorbs the rock.  I rarely spill a drop.  Only when we get a sideways wake from a passing fishing boat does it throw us off.  More often than not this happens at the worst moments.  Like when we’re trying to climb from dinghy to boat.  The boat goes up, the dinghy goes down and an arm or leg get stretched farther than you thought possible.  We all have good sea legs until we reach shore.  In the shower I don’t dare close my eyes without bracing against a wall because I’m likely to fall over.  When standing still on shore I wonder if I am actually bobbing up and down or if it’s just my head.  It must be my head because nobody has been giving me funny looks like I’m doing a bobble head dance.

We have 2 outboards, a 2.5HP which is light and uses very little gas and a 15HP which weighs a ton and uses a lot more gas.  We are using the 2.5 right now just for convenience but it doesn’t move us very fast.  The wind blows directly into shore so the ride is easy that way.   About every 5th wave will catch up to us and we surf at double the speed.  Coming back to the boat is a different story.  Once out of the marina the farther out you get, the choppier the waves.  Brian navigates a zig zag and tries to miss the big ones but by the time you see them coming it’s too late.  I play blocker for him being in the front and usually get the worst of it.  I hear an “Uh oh” from him and a wave breaks over the front of the dinghy and into my lap.  The waves are warm but it makes a shower on shore kind of pointless.



Kitty number 3 was camera shy

Inside the marina one of the piers is full of commercial fishing boats.  Mostly grubby, smelly working boats.  Yesterday while walking the pier we saw a cat on one of these boats.  Me and cats, well I just had to go say hi.  Not one kitty, triplets.  One of the neighboring fishermen told us the owner was in jail and the boat had been found abandoned, loose and had been towed in.  He had been feeding them but was sure the boat was going to be demolished.


Like the stance? 

Poor kitties!  I asked Cricket if she wanted to adopt some orphans but she said Nooooooo!  Some cats that we know don’t know how spoiled they are to have regular meals, snacks and a comfy place to sleep.



 

we thought this was a Barracuda (or is it a Wahoo?)

our Canadian flag now has a permanent mount
on the rail around our solar panels

So now we are just waiting (again) for our weather window to cross to Bimini.  We have several other boats to travel with and it’s looking like Wednesday’s the day.

and that’s the kind of day it’s been

We have been cooling our heels here now for another week. 
Brian spent Saturday removing the old heat exchanger and salvaging the mounting brackets to be used again.  Sunday night, as promised, CJ (thank you, thank you, thank you!) brought us our new heat exchanger and gaskets.  I think Brian would have installed it right then and there, but it was dark and we had company so he had to wait until morning.  Bright and early Monday morning he was at it, and I will admit there was very little swearing going on. 



the new one

Two  hours later we fired the engine and she was purring like a….well, like a Blue Moose.










For anyone who has been following us, you will know of our boat related issues.  Don’t for a moment think we bought a hunk of junk.  Our Morgan is solid and capable, and that is why we chose her.  She is comfortable to sail and also comfortable to live on which is really important to us because this is now our home.   We have room to entertain about 10 in the cockpit and can sleep 6, although 4 and a fat cat is better.  We believe that in her past history she was mostly well maintained.   But, it is the nature of a boat, or car or house for that matter to have systems wear out, break down and malfunction.  More so with a boat I think because of the harsh environment.  Salt is not friendly to anything.  Sit in a pair of soggy shorts for a couple of hours and you will know what I’m talking about.  So although we visit other boats and admire some of their features, we are always happy to come home to The Moose.
I have to give Brian a lot of credit.  He is no slouch when it comes to fixing.  He knows every system on this boat inside and out now.  There has not been one thing he has not repaired, replaced, oiled, lubed, wired, tweaked, washed, waxed… and the list goes on.  Before this adventure he had never worked on a diesel engine, a solar panel, a wind generator.  With general know how and a manual he has not been stumped by anything yet.
So for all of this effort he gets a reward.  A crown! Nope, he’s not royalty.  While having an appetizer of smoked fish spread and Tostitos (highly recommend!) the other day he broke a filling.

This was late on Friday and all the dentists had closed.  I did however get a call back from one Monday morning and we were able to get an appointment for today.  After a peek and an x-ray they informed us that they couldn’t fix it and it would need a crown and that would take about 2 weeks.

We can’t wait 2 weeks!  This being Miami there had to be a quickie dentist who could look after us.  After a few minutes in the waiting room on Google searching cosmetic dentists, the assistant came out with a name and phone number for us.  She said Dr. Javier might be able to help.  I called and explained our situation with the assistant listening.  When she discovered who I was talking to she asked for my cell phone.  She then had a good chit chat with the new receptionist in Spanish.  The only part I caught was “Happy New Year”.  So, Brian has an appointment for tomorrow morning.

This is the time when the commercial goes:
Ten days in the mooring field $230, heat exchanger $1296, porcelain crown $1500 (not sure how much exactly) living the dream, priceless!

Things are looking promising. There is another weather window approaching and we met another fun couple to travel with.

So as Lloyd Robertson used to say at the end of every CTV news broadcast “and that’s the kind of day it’s been”

Waiting again

After discovering what could have been a huge disaster, Brian spent the evening and was able to do a temporary repair so we could get back to the mooring ball.

this was the Atlantic the morning we were
going to leave

It’s too bad because the conditions really were great for us to leave.  Looking out to the Atlantic it was smooth as glass.




we feel really small beside these guys

We slowly made our way back to Dinner Key checking the heat exchanger for leaks every few minutes.  Remember this name: JB Weld.  It held just fine.  There was a lot more traffic on our way back to the mooring field.  Big container ships that must have come in during the night.
 






We tracked down a Yanmar dealer in Miami and were assured they could get the part for us.  We were first given a price of $896 which considering we are talking boat parts seeming pretty reasonable.  We waited most of Tuesday for a call back, then Wednesday.  We finally called them back Wednesday afternoon and were told that they would call back in ten minutes.  An hour and a half later when we called the person we had talked to had gone for lunch.  By 4pm the price had changed to $2696 and a week delivery.  When we questioned where it had to ship from, we were told Tampa.  We called the dealer in Tampa (who we have dealt with before) and got a price of $1823.  However they would not ship to us.  I’m pretty sure a rental car would not cost $600, even the distance we would have to drive.  Problem solved, after a call to our friend CJ to wish him a Happy Birthday, he offered to pick up our part and bring it to us on Sunday.  Yay!

his name's "Ray"

So here we sit.  There has been some interesting marine life to see.  Look down from the boat and there are always tons of little fish and a few bigger ones.  Yesterday we saw a couple of turtles (just like in Finding Nemo) but I couldn’t grab my camera fast enough.  We also had a spotted ray swimming around the boat.  It’s like floating in an aquarium.

a manatee at the dinghy dock this morning

At least the weather is good and the sun is warm.  There isn’t much point in getting impatient (although we have…a lot) because it isn’t going to speed anything up.  

Crick doesn't mind napping while we wait
(Oh, sorry she doesn't mind napping any time)

False Start

No, we're not in Bimini. Just after dinner last night Brian discovered a problem with the heat exchanger on our engine. It's bad enough that we delayed our departure until it's repaired. Better to be stuck back at Dinner Key than to be in the Atlantic with no engine and no wind. We're pretty disappointed. Today would have been perfect.

Fisher Island

Miami (where the big boats hang out)



more Miami

Today we left Dinner Key Marina and we are anchored at Fisher Island.  It was short trip, just an hour and a half but we’re now at our jump off point for Bimini.  

sunset view from our anchorage

We are planning on leaving at 3:30 tomorrow morning with Blue Blaze and Cloud Messenger.  It’s 47 miles and this should get us there around noon.  The weather looks good with light winds and calm seas.  If we don’t have wind to sail we can always fish.  Brian’s counting on it.