I think my heart is in the Bahamas. I've been doing a lot of preparation with the boats. My plans are to tow the 19' Whaler behind the Nordic Tug 37 Mercy.
I've renewed my passport, received my customs decal, registered with the CBP in the local boater option... and am awaiting the Bahamian import papers for Mercy the dog. I've been looking at charts, and books, and am interested in exploring areas in the Bahamas that I've never been to. Although I've spent over 6 months cruising/diving in the Bahamas, I've never been to Grand Bahama or to Abaco. I plan to fix that! I'm looking forward to visiting some of the churches I've heard so much about, and visiting with some of the pastors I've already become acquainted with over the years. I also want to show Allen some great spots I've already been.
My cousin Allen, who is 14, and has spent the past several summers with me, is going to spend the summer in the Bahamas with me. We're looking forward to exploring all that God has in store for us, above and below water.
I'm slowing packing items, with a careful inventory, trying to figure out how best to carry groceries and ship's stores for the summer.
Friday, April 6, 2012
So what do you do when you're not cruising
During February and March, I've spent a LOT of time working on the house, the property, and the boat. I don't know how many days I spent with a chain saw, cleaning out vegetation. You've got to love Florida weather, where everything grows year round. I hope I have the premises trimmed up enough to make it until next winter!
Yard maintenance, house maintenance, boat maintenance x I think I have too many vessels, vehicle maintenance.... Fortunately, although unseasonably warm, we've had enough wind to keep me someone content trying to work around the premises. Oh yes, jury duty, haircuts, dental visit, vet visit, doctors visits x too many, church services, multiple trips to Miami/Fort Lauderdale...
My friend Casey came down, and we went to the Miami Boat Show for a day. That is always a lot of fun. As soon as we walked in the door, I heard someone call out "Linda and Mercy" and turned to see Jan and Rusty from the CBay entering the foyer. I had met them in Marco Island, and listened to some of their Great Loop adventures. They were slowing heading north, but, I think were enjoying Florida too much to go north too fast.
I entered the boat show with my shopping list, and promptly hunted up the Defender booth to order a couple of high ticket items, like a new water heater (which had a catastrophic failure in the Everglades), a heater (which had failed on the trip down from Annapolis, and I by-passed to eliminate leaking engine coolant) and a few other things.
When those items arrived a week later, I installed the water heater, but decided to wait until fall to install the heater, and replace my engine coolant hoses at the same time. Thanks to Craig for the he-man strength helping me remove, and replace the old unit.
My parents came to visit for a while in March, and Casey returned to chauffer me for a day to Miami for hand surgery. Its been a week now, that the surgeon opened a tenden sheath on the pointer finger of my right hand.
Note: I'm not sure how much I can blame my hand problems on not blogging, writing, or running the wiring that I'm adding to the Mercy, but, I submit that as an excuse.
I've done several couple hour trips, and one over nighter to keep everything running. I've changed the zincs on the engines, and on the vessel, installed a marine stereo/mp3/ipad/sd/usb digital player, replaced the cabin G-4 halogen bulbs with LED, and LED in the reading lamps as well. I'm glad the vessel is much brighter now, with a lower power draw.
This next week I have more friends coming, and I'm looking forward to seeing Mike and Vicki and Connor.
Yard maintenance, house maintenance, boat maintenance x I think I have too many vessels, vehicle maintenance.... Fortunately, although unseasonably warm, we've had enough wind to keep me someone content trying to work around the premises. Oh yes, jury duty, haircuts, dental visit, vet visit, doctors visits x too many, church services, multiple trips to Miami/Fort Lauderdale...
My friend Casey came down, and we went to the Miami Boat Show for a day. That is always a lot of fun. As soon as we walked in the door, I heard someone call out "Linda and Mercy" and turned to see Jan and Rusty from the CBay entering the foyer. I had met them in Marco Island, and listened to some of their Great Loop adventures. They were slowing heading north, but, I think were enjoying Florida too much to go north too fast.
I entered the boat show with my shopping list, and promptly hunted up the Defender booth to order a couple of high ticket items, like a new water heater (which had a catastrophic failure in the Everglades), a heater (which had failed on the trip down from Annapolis, and I by-passed to eliminate leaking engine coolant) and a few other things.
When those items arrived a week later, I installed the water heater, but decided to wait until fall to install the heater, and replace my engine coolant hoses at the same time. Thanks to Craig for the he-man strength helping me remove, and replace the old unit.
My parents came to visit for a while in March, and Casey returned to chauffer me for a day to Miami for hand surgery. Its been a week now, that the surgeon opened a tenden sheath on the pointer finger of my right hand.
Note: I'm not sure how much I can blame my hand problems on not blogging, writing, or running the wiring that I'm adding to the Mercy, but, I submit that as an excuse.
I've done several couple hour trips, and one over nighter to keep everything running. I've changed the zincs on the engines, and on the vessel, installed a marine stereo/mp3/ipad/sd/usb digital player, replaced the cabin G-4 halogen bulbs with LED, and LED in the reading lamps as well. I'm glad the vessel is much brighter now, with a lower power draw.
This next week I have more friends coming, and I'm looking forward to seeing Mike and Vicki and Connor.
Returning from the Everglades trip in February
I suppose I need to put a post on the blog, for all of my friends who are calling and asking where I am, and why I'm not yet in the Bahamas...
I returned from my Everglades/Marco island adventure on February 2nd. My good friend Ellen had joined me in Marco Island, and we spent a few days in Ten Thousand Island, and on the inside up Little Shark River, the Shark River, Tarpon Bay, and the Everglades. The weather forcast called for continued high winds, and at some point we decided to bring the trawler to the house, and later drive back up to Marco to re-unite Ellen with her vehicle.
On the way home, we cut down towards Marathon, and ran the inside waterway to Bahia Honda, where we anchored on the north side of the bridge, in a nook out of the current, and protected from the hefty east winds. In the morning, we left early, to catch the tide running with the wind, and arrived in Newfound Harbor in early morning. We anchored once again, awaiting a higher tide to get into my home canal, and ran home in the Whaler, opening the house up, and doing a few errands before returning to the Mercy. We brought her in on the high tide, and spent the day cleaning up the boat and unloading a few items into the house.
Just a note here: if you are going to anchor off Bahia Honda, and the wind is blowing, and you can get under the bridge to the north, do it. Then you can find an area with less current, where your vessel can lay with the wind. It makes for a much more comfortable night. I'm amazed at all the folks who anchor in the heavy current in the cut at Bahia Honda.
Later, Ellen and I drove to Marco, and spent the night with Craig and Donna. In the morning, I drove across the State to meet Jeff and Izzy on their trawler in Fort Lauderdale for an enjoyable visit over lunch. I had to spend a little bit of time in Fort Lauderdale at the huge West Marine before driving home.
I returned from my Everglades/Marco island adventure on February 2nd. My good friend Ellen had joined me in Marco Island, and we spent a few days in Ten Thousand Island, and on the inside up Little Shark River, the Shark River, Tarpon Bay, and the Everglades. The weather forcast called for continued high winds, and at some point we decided to bring the trawler to the house, and later drive back up to Marco to re-unite Ellen with her vehicle.
On the way home, we cut down towards Marathon, and ran the inside waterway to Bahia Honda, where we anchored on the north side of the bridge, in a nook out of the current, and protected from the hefty east winds. In the morning, we left early, to catch the tide running with the wind, and arrived in Newfound Harbor in early morning. We anchored once again, awaiting a higher tide to get into my home canal, and ran home in the Whaler, opening the house up, and doing a few errands before returning to the Mercy. We brought her in on the high tide, and spent the day cleaning up the boat and unloading a few items into the house.
Just a note here: if you are going to anchor off Bahia Honda, and the wind is blowing, and you can get under the bridge to the north, do it. Then you can find an area with less current, where your vessel can lay with the wind. It makes for a much more comfortable night. I'm amazed at all the folks who anchor in the heavy current in the cut at Bahia Honda.
Later, Ellen and I drove to Marco, and spent the night with Craig and Donna. In the morning, I drove across the State to meet Jeff and Izzy on their trawler in Fort Lauderdale for an enjoyable visit over lunch. I had to spend a little bit of time in Fort Lauderdale at the huge West Marine before driving home.
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