Beach finds

I've noticed, the past 2 years, a decline in the hermit crab population but am happy to report that this year they are thriving.  Take a good look at the one dressed in black.

One has taken a marker cap as his home!

A good look at what a crab's other end looks like

The business end of the crab

Below is the beach we used to frequent, named Truck Beach because there's the remains of a truck buried in the sand (further down the coast is Airplane Beach, Stinky Beach and Picnic Beach). We haven't been here for a while and were quite disappointed in how much trash has been washed up on shore, and the truck isn't visible any more. Every conceivable type of plastic container is decomposing here.  The beach is always changing though and I expect the next big storm will wash all this away and maybe expose the truck again.

There are treasures to be found:

rope from a fishing boat

Took 3 of us to drag it up to the jeep

Chris rode home on the center console and I was squeezed into the back seat with the rope. The plan is to place the rope along the seawall to protect the lines from chafing.

Sailing

November 23 the sun was shining and winds were tolerable for sailing, and waves were 3 to 5 feet.

At Wildwood more than 1 sailboat is a common sight but such is not the case off Port Lucaya. We saw not one but 2 other sailboats enjoying the day just sailing back and forth.

and the fun continues.....

Chris and Les have finally arrived and of course we've put them to work.

Installing Lowrance behind the hatch

Domestic goddess trapped in the galley

I didn't get out of painting the dinghy this year, Anita wouldn't come down to do it for me.

I don't think I really needed 2 supervisors

And for added fun I cleaned the dock box that had been stored in the dinghy. Apparently the dinghy was just as dirty but the boys didn't take photos to prove it so we'll have to take their word that they had cleaned it.

Experimented with cleaners, used toilet bowl cleaner on the left

bleach on the right

Bleach turned out to be the best option

Just before we launched the dinghy the boys thought it best to install better bunks.

Time to launch the dinghy

launching with me at the wheel - yikes

We don't have too many flat tires but when we do they're a bitch. Last time we were miles away and couldn't get the tire off. This time we weren't nearly as far and called Gary for help. He brought more tools but it wasn't enough and he had to drive us home.

tire was totally slashed by a sharp branch

Les, Gerry, Gary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While all this was going on Chris and I abandoned them and walked to the beach

Les and Gerry gathered more tools and went back to wrestle it off. It took most of the afternoon! Never Seize will be put on the lug nuts so hopefully this will not happen again.

Ice box and Lowrance

After a few decades the insulation around the ice box on Ramblynn has deteriorated greatly. Gerry drilled 7 holes and filled them with expanding foam. After mixing the 2 parts together it's supposed to grow 27 times.  Hopefully this will double the time food will keep cold.

Mixing the 2 part foam

This is under the sink - seems to have expanded where it's not supposed to be.

Apparently one must completely destroy the inside of the boat to run a wire from the V berth to the the navigation station (and electrical panel) at the back of the boat.

A mess to properly install Lowrance.

Seahorse

I don't think I've ever seen a seahorse in the 'wild' so today was a red letter day. A lone seahorse was swimming around the boat. I got a few pics and then attempted to touch it, not easy reaching down that far but managed to. Felt rather tough and rough. I also discovered they don't like to be picked up (I only held it for a few seconds, and not out of the water), it quickly disappeared under the dock.

Its back to me, hanging onto the rope

Trick of the camera, it really does have a longer tail

Vacation

Definition: leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure

Some claim I'm always on vacation. Do you see the words laundry, cooking, cleaning, washing dishes, scrubbing decks, scrubbing and or painting hulls anywhere in the definition? The answer is no.

Last year Gerry gifted me a vacation which we are now taking at an all inclusive resort 10 minutes away. Some how he missed the part that it was to be somewhere I haven't been , i.e., another country. Oh well.

So here we are, checked in yesterday and until this afternoon we hadn't done too much. At 3:07 we checked out a Hobie cat and when they asked if we knew what we were doing, we nodded our heads, Gerry signed the waiver and we took off. Things went well at first, we were just whizzing over the water, which was much warmer than the air as the winds were around 28 km and a bit chilly when you're wet. We got jibing down pretty good, tacking didn't work, but suddenly there was a gust and a big wave and we turtled! There's a float on top so she came back up, Gerry climbed on a hull, I leaned on the bow and up she popped. We hoped nobody noticed. We were off again, Captain Gerry announced we've got it now and once again we were soon in the drink! This time an instructor out with students noticed and came over to see if we were OK. I told him we were having way too much fun and he took off. Our time was up by this time so Gerry didn't have a third opportunity to dump me in the ocean. The guy handing out the equipment didn't  notice that we had torn the sail and tangled the main sheet and he sent the boat right back out again. That's how we do it in the Bahamas. I mentioned to Gerry, too bad we didn't have a camera and he said, that's OK we'll do it again tomorrow. Right.

Fortunately (depending on your point of view) it was too windy for Hobie cats so we spent the next few days just relaxing and spending time with a lovely couple from New Jersey, Al and Daria. Good company and if we're ever in New Jersey we will definitely drop in on them. Yes, we have been invited.

We attended every show the staff put on but unfortunately they didn't get any better. Not entirely their fault, they are in charge of various activities during the day and are not professional entertainers. At least I hope they're not. The common areas were all quite nice but the rooms need a bit TLC. Some walkway bricks and outdoor lighting are broken or entirely missing, food was OK, some desserts really good. All the staff were friendly and accommodating. They do have one thing that other resorts don't - a trapeze. You can swing and hang upside down, we didn't. There was supposed to be some sort of trapeze show but we didn't see it, if it happened.

view from our room

Poured one day but we got a rainbow

Abacos Oct 26 - 27 Big Cave/Moores/home

Saturday, October 26 Allan's to Big Cave Cay (19 NM) to Moore's Island (39 NM)    

Woke at 6, boat and wind absolutely quiet. Checked engine oil - needed a bit, probably due to all the manipulating it took to get out of the hurricane hole. Needed to tighten the alternator belt. When we get back will have to make some adjustments and investigate the black water in the bilge. 

Left before 8:30, wind had picked up, full sails, wing on wing what a beautiful sight and no one around to see it. Unfortunately it was short lived.  Yesterday's forecast  for today (2 sources) was 15-20 mph. How could they be so wrong? Since the wind was negligible we headed right to Spence Rock instead of stopping at Big Cave Cay. Two men in a tiny skiff raced by and one cormorant. The sea is deserted once again. 

what the course looks like when Otto loses it

On the way Otto kept losing the nut we slid in to tighten the patched belt. When it falls out we go way off course. He needed something bigger, so we tried an old rubber plug but he kept losing his plug too. Finally found a miscellaneous piece of rubber which did the trick for a while. 

When we got to the Spence Rock channel we switched places. Gerry barked out directions and I pushed the buttons, was a lot less stressful (for me). The old depth sounder gave up after half an hour and Lowrance kept on flashing which means he knows nothing. We were barely above idle (for steering), no sails but the current pushed us along at 4.2 knots! Suddenly we bumped the bottom, twice, and the old depth sounder sprang into life showing a depth of 3.8. Small wonder we hit. I'd like to note that when I was piloting through here we hit nothing.  Since I was just pushing buttons I could take pictures.

Spence Rock SPOT

Once again vast emptiness over shallow water

Spence Rock

Took about an hour to get through and then the most amazing thing happened. I had just taken a picture of Spence Rock when a dolphin jumped out of the water right in front of me. Had to scramble to the bow to see him again. There were 3 of them, frolicking across and around and under our bow. Unfortunately they didn't stay long and the sea was once again desolate except for a small bird that rested on the bow before leaving for who knows where since there wasn't any land nearby. 

Arrived at Moores at 8, motoring sailing with the jib. Early to bed since we've got an early start and a long sail tomorrow.

Sunset approaching Moore's

 SPOT

Sunday, October 27  Moores Island to Port Lucaya (60 NM)

Up at 6:15, hauled anchor 6:45. Winds are fair, almost a beam reach, engine off averaged 5.5 for most of the day but often dropping to barely above 4.

I have apologized to Lowrance. Gerry discovered that he had come loose so had a valid excuse for acting up. He temporarily hung him from the ladder where he works just fine. Not enough wiring to leave the screen where it was so we taped him in.  We anxiously watched his depth display to see what would happen when we reached the really deep part of the ocean (over 4,000'). We were disappointed when he wouldn't register anything over 184' but at least he's working well now.  

Lowrance's sonar screen

Lowrance's chart screen

Otto kept losing his grip and eventually we had to put 3 things under his belt and keep a close eye on him, every once in a while putting him on standby and adjusting his adornments.

At 3:30 I finally spied something in the vast emptiness of the ocean - a cruise ship leaving Freeport and off to starboard there was land! Shortly after that the wind really picked up and we averaged 6.5 with Lowrance topping out at 7.8!  Ramblynn was like a horse heading home to her stable.

Port Lucaya in the background

Last sunset of this trip, no green flash.

Made it to the Bell Channel markers in exactly 12 hours, then another half hour puttering through the canal, taking down the main, getting lines ready, etc etc.  It was dark by this time but our green flashing marker light guided us into the dock, home.  SPOT

Here's the song:

Hello Mudda, hello Fadda;  Here I am, out on da watta
Life is good here, on the ocean; But can you please stop all of this damn motion?

The wind's a screamin', the captain's beamin'; The boat is weaving, my stomach's heavin'
The sun is scorching, my skin is salty;  Mudda, Fadda I hope this boat has nothing faulty.

Take me back to Grand Bahama; Take me back or there'll be drama
Don't leave me here, where I just might disappear.

Wait a minute, it's stopped waving; and the ocean, it is behaving
We are a'swimming, we are a'sailing; I really think that I can stop my wailing.

We've done reach, we're on the beach; The water's fine, it's just sublime
We take the dinghy all 'round the shore; Who can ask for anything much more?

We watch the dolphins, we swim with stingrays; No more tan lines, and sunny days
Life is good now, all is betta, Mudda, Fadda kindly disregard this letter!