We MADE it! (by CSM)

PETE MOUNTING THE BAHAMAS "COURTESY FLAG" (So the Bohemians will like us!)

Destination:  Bahamas.  Took us a long time, but we're finally HERE!  For nearly 10 months when (seems like) a billion people we've met would ask us where we're going, we'd always say "The Bahamas", with many stops along the way!

Mary and John

So yesterday afternoon (I think??), having thoroughly provisioned and prepared, our Buddy Boat Marylee (our new friends John and Mary from Wisconsin) and HD set sail exactly as planned when we first met them in Marathon.  Had favorable winds and a great sail up to 8 knots for the first four or five hours and then wind died and we motored through the Gulf Stream and on into Bimini.  It was really nice having Marylee ahead of us all the way...they've been doing this crossing since 2007, so they knew the best way, where to check in with customs, etc...  Here they are with Marylee

Marilee

OK, so I'm trying to get used to this new Mac and blogging with iPhoto all at once.  Just don't even ask about the underlining and the blue above!  I have no clue-tried to fix it, but I think it's because of moving pictures around trying to get them in the right spot.  I'll get there eventually! 

Back to the crossing...

Cruise ships on the horizon...probably 30 boats showing up on radar through the night-several HUGE ones made me a little nervous in all that darkness. Again, thank Goodness our buddy boat's captain, John, had a working AIS system so he could talk to the ships by name and ask for a pass by.  HD has AIS although we haven't really needed it until last night so it is on the list to get connected correctly and for the crew to learn how to use. AIS (automated identification system) uses the signal from ships VHF transmission to identify them by name and location so you can then call them to arrange passing in the night.

Believe it or not the photo above (taken with my iPhone from the helm about 1am) is the Oasis of the Seas -Royal Caribbean ship next to me (looks more like a bad ultrasound or some kind of UFO)  I tried iPhoto fixing, but...well you get the idea.  And below pics are just outside our boat here at the marina standing on the dock, watching all the sharks and fish and "whatever these are?"...O 'mon you can see all the way to the bottom in the most polluted part of the island!  Can't wait til the rain stops tomorrow and we can go out to in the dinghy to and see the "gin clear" waters , according to John.  Tomorrow Pete wants to dive and I'll snorkel "Atlantis" which is only 15 feet down, just off Bimini shores.  More about that later.

What is that??? It had a bright red tongue!

Looks like a prehistoric water bird!

These move around all over the rocks

We arrived to check in with customs at Alice Town, South Bimini and found our marina to be quite lovely, modern; needless to say, the water beautiful crystal clear blue.  Here's a shot from the pool looking toward the "activities center"-Bimini Sands Resort and Marina.

This is supposed to be up top under the flag, but honestly I don't want to even try to move it and have more "issues", so I'm just gonna POST!

PS...You'll notice I put my initials by the blog heading.  I've been hearing my high school english teacher (yes, I can still remember her!)  SCREAMING at our blog postings because of all the switching around from first person, to third person,
and getting the pronouns all mixed up within the same blog. So for those of you who have noticed (Tyler and Marj  I'm sure!)...we will be writing in the first person (best we can) from now on with the author's initials at the top!

We have sporadic internet here at the marina, where we'll probably be until Wednesday or Thursday, so I'll try to post again while we have it.  This one's taken me all day, the internet is so slow!! Good project for a rainy day anyway.

Fun in Marathon

Hey everybody...trying to get this post in before we get too far out of the harbor today on our way to Bimini-another BIG overnighter!  Prayers for our crossing the Gulf-stream would be appreciated if you get this before dark tonight (or even after, since we'll probably be in it most of the night)...
Not sure if this picture got on the last blog post of us in Key West at the Southermost point-just in case...

Also,  Cin has joined the Mac world with a new MacBook pro from the Captain for her birthday.  So I'm practicing on it now how to do this blog!  Funzies!

Left Key West on Cin's birthday and had a beautiful sail to Marathon.
Only one problem...all 200 of the mooring balls in the main Harbor were taken and there was a waiting list of 8 boats ahead of us. No worries, mon...(practicing our new laid back lingo for the Bahamas) we just anchored right outside the mooring field and waited for our turn as groups of boaters would get together and head on out over the next few days, leaving an open ball for us.  Wish we had gotten a pic of the harbor with over 200 sailboats in it, but at least we got this shot of the marina and dinghy docks where all those boats go to get landside.

and this is only 1/3 of the dinghys-2 other docks on the other side!

It was quite a long dingy ride for us, but so much going on once you got there.  They actually have such an organized boating "community" in Marathon, they have yoga classes, meet and greets and all kinds of activities-a huge "reading and tv" building with tables set up for computers, etc.  We met these friends (Jan and Tom from Indiana) and joined them for dinner and to watch the playoff games at a nearby restaraunt we dinghy'd to.

We still had stuff to do to get prepared for our "crossing" (referrIng to the Gulf Stream crossing between Florida and the Bahamas, which can be difficult unless you catch the right weather window).

Like getting all the laundry caught up with my lizard friend-Geico?


and


Here's a shot of the Captain (master multi-tasker) eating lunch while driving the dinghy back to the boat after his 30th trip to West Marine, Home Depot, Publix, etc. getting all supplied up for the journey.

HD's First Christmas

This is bloody terribly LATE blogging!  Guess who was in charge of getting the Christmas blog out??  Suffice to say,  it was NOT Captain "Get 'r Done".

VERY LATE NEWS FLASH...Cin's son, Tyler, called just before Christmas to announce he had proposed to the love of his life (Camille Chang) the night before she left to fly to California to see her family for Christmas.   He jokingly wrapped up this ring for a stocking gift (since she had always expressed that she would want to pick out her ring herself whenever the time came) but it seemed to go right over her sweet little Harvard head what was going on,  politely saying her "Thank You's" to Tyler for the adorable ring (she really DID think it was cute) ...until he finally asked her to marry him.  Ahhhh.  Now she got it!
We are all THRILLED for them and can't wait to see the real ring and hear more about their plans!

Happy Destiny had a Happy Christmas and New Year in Florida, complete with a real time visit from Santa himself to the Span house on Christmas Eve!

Two days before Christmas, the first mate tried to recruit her family as crew members, but some of them were more interested in getting hold of a "sea bag" while the rest of us stuffed our faces. Even our seasoned crew member, Cin's mom, Mary didn't do well out  in the Gulf.  Those who didn't get sick had a wonderful  time aboard, especially the guys and the "little sailors" took to the water just fine-Cin's grand neices Providence and Autumn...aren't they adorable??

While on the day sail, the Captain received a surprise phone call from our Pastor Tom in Terre Haute, who was happy to pray with the fam and officially "Christened" HD for her upcoming voyage out of the country.  We had wanted to do that from the beginning, but better late than never, and the timing was right to do it  over the phone with Cin's family at Christmas.  Wish the Mathias' could have been there as well, especially would have loved to see that new grand baby's FIRST CHRISTMAS!

After an enjoyable Holiday in St. Pete HD sailed (actually motored) overnight to Naples making the trip in one day instead of the three it took to go North.
Lots of maintenance  required for both the crew and ship: Dentists, Chiropractor, SSB (Single side band Radio) further installation and instruction, Weather primer from a weather relayer, generator repair all in anticipation of going to the Bahamas for the winter.  Still had time for a nice dinner out for our ONE YEAR anniversary at a lovely little French Restaurant on Madeira Beach.

Spent a loaded 9 days getting it all put together with the help of the Harley out of storage and a visit from Tara. Cin had home coming week at the 24 Hour Club and then we were off to Key West.
Forecasted North winds turned out to be nil so again HD motored the overnight trip to Key West.
The wind did kick up the day after we arrived and stayed strong for four days.

Our 6 day stay has been fun and productive.  The mooring field in Key West where we stayed was full of boats, many that haven't been anywhere in years (you can tell by no sails and the barnacles growing at the waterline).  We found out today, the locals (called "Conchs") call those people living on the boats "Hobo-ters".  Guess we better be movin' on before we fall into that classification, now that we're homeless.

Cin's computer has been to the doctor (another reason this is late!) and the crew applied for and were issued LBO Customs cards which will make reentry to the US a matter of just a phone call to check in.

The wind for the trip back up to Marathon is expected to be light and on the nose. Just 43NM to Marathon where HD will have her generator's valves adjusted Friday morning. The crew hopes to pick up some local knowledge for the crossing to Bimini  through the gulf stream when the weather is right . So far found lots of people going to the same place for the winter.  Looks like we'll be in good company.
Please pray for safe sailing across the Gulf Stream.
Love to all,
(Mostly) the First Mate this time.