Sunday we waited, anchored at Pumpkin Key, searching for any
sign that one of the forecast models was right.
We were looking for winds to diminish later in the day and remain in a
more southeasterly direction. What we
knew is if we could not call it today, there was a significant probability that
it would be days before another decent crossing day would come. Finally about 4:30 we turned our stern to
Angelfish creek and headed out to sea as the sun set behind us. Hurray!!
We are really going!!
Although the winds had diminished a bit the seas were choppy
and sandwiches were in order for dinner.
Since this was going to be a half an overnighter I went to bed expecting
to wake up around 12 or so to help with the anchoring. Around 11:30 I was tired of trying to sleep
while being flopped around and slammed like a rag doll being played with by a
dog. As we approached Bimini, the seas
calmed and we entered Nixon
Harbor
Monday morning I awoke in time to see the sun rise over the
clear blue water. There is something
about that color! We hurried to get into
town so that we could check in and leave for Morgan’s Bluff. Winds were forecast to pick up sometime later
and blow right on the nose for several days so we wanted to make the shelter of
Morgan’s Bluff, preferring to be stuck there instead of Bimini. I was tense about the check-in with customs
and immigration. The permit for the cat
had not arrived in time and I was fearful of what delays and costs would
result. Turns out there was a small
delay and Samantha had to pay another $10, then, much relieved and thankful, we
were on our way.
Winds were still calm when we left Alice Town but it was
right on the nose and we didn’t even bother putting up the sails. We even broiled a port loin on the grill and
had a decent dinner. However, soon after
I settled into bed, the rocking, rolling and slamming began. With currents and winds against us, we first planned
to arrive at Morgan’s bluff at 2am then 4am then whenever. I somehow slept but didn’t rest and I was
tired of it all by 1am so I got up to discover we were still 5 or 6 hours
away. I drank some caffeine and let
Bill have the fun of trying to sleep.
There was no moon until about a quarter to four so it was pitch dark and
none of the marker beacons along the way were working—even at the entrance to
the harbor the markers were gone and we navigated the channel by GPS in the
first light of sunrise. Anchoring was
straightforward but I had caffeine at 5 or so and was unable to sleep right
away so I watched the sun come up and piddled around a bit and finally crashed
out.
There were 4 other boats in the harbor and one of them
looked a bit familiar. Soon after we
woke up around noon we heard someone hailing us from his dingy. It was Keith and his boat, Dolphin
Leap!! Last year this same time, Keith
had sailed into this same harbor announcing over the radio that he had caught a
large Mahi and needed help with eating it.
We had also seen him in Georgetown
but he left before we did. We invited
him aboard and caught up on what had happened over the past summer and fall,
then made plans to meet him on his boat for drinks.
Now it was snorkel time.
The cool water woke me right up and my gills were feeling pretty good as
I reacquainted with the critters and fish.
Just as I was about to get out I noticed an area where a channel had
been cut out of the hardbottom. Large
rocks were strewn along side of this channel and…..what did I see but a couple
of pair of antennae poking out from under one.
I quickly surfaced, got bearings and returned to the boat to get lobster
catching equipment. The two I caught
gave me a run around but my luck won out and we shared fresh lobster and drank
martinis on Dolphin Leap while watching the sun set.
And THAT”s why we think this is FUN!
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