Brunswick, GA

     In celebration of our reunion with Ken & Cindy (S/V Meant To Be), Mother Nature provided us with a spectacular "event" over Brunswick, GA.

Cumberland Island, GA

Sunset at.....

The Waccamaw River

Sunset on...........

Bahamas Crazy

     Twenty six hours and thirty minutes.  Non-stop.  That's how long it took us to exit the Bahamas and back to Florida. Forget about the previous 10 days while the transmission was being repaired.  Our departure was Saturday at 7a.m.  This time we left Nassau with a buddy boat, M/V Esperanza.  Just in case.  The buddy boat scenario was beneficial for both boats, Big Run had the transmissions issues, the other boat also had mechanical issues while in the Bahamas.  They had their repairs done in Highbourne Cay and traveled to Nassau before getting held up waiting for a weather window.  By Saturday mid-afternoon, both boats had crossed the Tongue of the Ocean to the waypoint, NW Channel.  Here, we parted company as the other boat went onto Bimini.  We on the other hand made our way to Mackie Shoal, also on the Great Bahama Bank.  By 11:30p.m. we were at our last waypoint in the Bahamas, Hens and Chickens.  From there, we made the final push across the Straits of Florida to Palm Beach on Lake Worth.  Twenty six hours and thirty minutes.  At times the seas were calm, and there were times the sea reminded us she was in charge.  There were two occasions the sea was a "little" bumpy, first, they were a beamy sea for awhile when we left Nassau, and the second time was around 3 a.m. as we crossed the straits and it continued to be bumpy until we entered Lake Worth Inlet on Sunday at 9 a.m..  The slow moving cold front that was to make its slow trek across Florida on Sunday afternoon arrived Sunday morning bring stout winds over the seas from the SW.  So much for weather predictions.  Twenty six hours and thirty minutes.  All the time we were making the crossing, one million different things ran through my mind.  The transmission.  The engine.  The transmission.  The navigation computer.  The transmission.  Prior to our departure, I had gone over most of the systems.  I replaced the raw water impeller for the engine because it was missing 2 vanes.  I load tested the transmission one more time for fifteen minutes while we were in the slip.  I replaced a fuel filter for the fuel polishing system because it seemed like a good idea.  Many things were checked and double checked.  Twenty six hours and thirty minutes.  And now we're counting the hours and minutes until we return.  Yes, we're Bahamas crazy!

The Event at Mackie Shoal

We're Hooked

     So much for the hidey hole for the last blow that came through the Exumas!  We anchored in an anchorage we used last year, between the Majors, just for the latest cold front to pass through.  The anchorage, it's just north of Staniel Cay between Big Major Spot and Little Major Spot.  Both Spots are Cays (islands).  We arrived on Thursday and anchored just south of  between the Majors.  Then on Friday, we moved up to between the Majors.  The blow never developed like the previous one. Was King Neptune watching over us?  The anchorage, between the Majors,  tormented us with surge on the beam, which causes the boat to get a little rolly from side to side as the seas surged in through Big Rock Cut.  Tuesday morning, bright and early, and without prompting or hesitation, we departed at 6:45a.m. for an anchorage recommended by our very good friend, Rick on M/V Broulee.

      Our arrival at Pipe Cay was late in the morning but allowed us time to go explore the old Decca Navigation Station.  Not much to see but a beautiful harbor protected from all but the NW.  We need to explore the harbor some more to see if we can use it in a pinch as a hidey hole.  It'll take some creative anchoring and some long lines, but I think we're up to tthe challenge.

      Wednesday, was an absolutely perfect day for snorkeling, read magical.  The winds were almost gone.  The sky was cloudless, and we stumbled on the best snorkeling we have done so far.  Our timing was impeccable.  We left Big Run just before slack tide.  We did some preliminary snorkeling at the Decca Harbour but quickly left for a small unnamed cay to the west of the anchorage where the snorkeling left us speechless.  Sorry, no pictures.  Note - If someone would like to donate an underwater camera......I guess I'll have better luck asking Santa Claus for one.  Our good fortune did not stop with our first location.  We then dinghy'd over to the SW corner of Pipe Cay and discovered yet another bonanza of tropical fish, coral and sea fans.  Next stop when we get back to civilization,  Nassau, we'll get more snorkeling gear.  We're hooked.

Pipe Cay Anchorage

Pipe Cay Sunset

Salt Pond Sunset

    There was a green flash last night but not tonight and we never tired of watching the sunset (aka "The Event").

Salt Pond Sunset

Sunset Over Miami

     Finally, after 10 windy but glorious days in South Beach, our weather window to cross over to the Bahamas is only hours away.  Our 2011/2012 Bahamas adventure starts very early Thursday morning.  This afternoon the winds died down to a very light breeze, and the seas should be settling down overnight to manageable 2 foot waves for tomorrow.  That's better than the 20 MPH winds gusting to 25 MPH and 5'-7' seas with an occasional 9' thrown in to get your attention.  On the eve of our departure we were given one final beautiful sunset over Miami.

Cool And Comfortable

  Point No Point Lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay

   It wasn't barnacles growing on the anchor rode, but there was some kind of grass or something growing on the chain.  It had been 11 days since we dropped anchor, and today was the day to move on.  Our plan was to go to the Patuxent  (Pat) River and anchor overnight at Mill Creek  We did have a contingency plan if we made good time getting to the Pat River, we would push on to the Potomac River.  We arrived at the Pat River and decided to make the run to the Potomac and anchor in Smith Creek.  We had anchored in Smith Creek back in October 2010 while we waited out a blow.  The last time we were here, we had anchored on the west side.  However, there was a great private and secluded hole on the east side of the creek.  The east anchorage had enough room for one boat.  We had very slowly sounded our way in watching the depth sounder register 7 feet.  Big Run needs 4.5 feet.  Sharon gets very attentive when the sounder registers 6 feet.  We had 7 feet all the way in, and that was 2 hours after low tide.   As I said, this anchorage had enough room for 1 boat.  The north and south shore were about 250 feet away.  The cove continued to the east for about 500 feet, and to the west was the entrance.  The center was 7 feet, which quickly got skinny to the north and south, and at about  250 feet to the east the 7 foot depth was lost to 2 feet of depth.  So, here we are nicely tucked in our private cove.   We have gone from a 1 mile by 2 mile wide anchorage on the Little Choptank River to a 10 acre hurricane hole. Yes, hurricane hole, there was absolutely no air (breeze) to be had to cool off the boat.  This is a beautiful private cove that would be a great hidey hole from a hurricane, but not on a hot summer night.  So tomorrow it's back to the wide open, not so private, wind blown anchorages that we find cool and comfortable.  

  View of sunset from our not so cool and comfortable anchorage!

    

Key Largo Sunset

Sunrise Or Sunset?

Salt Pond Sunset

   Above Photo - Last night's sunset at Salt Pond, Long Island, Bahamas

If you have to ask.....

.....you would not understand

Scratch That Idea

       The above photo was taken at Mill Creek the night before we departed Solomons, MD.  Although it was a beatirful sunset we still wanted to get out of there.  Oh yea, the watermaker, scratch that idea. 

 

I'll Do This For Free

     Enjoying the event at Cacaway Island, Langford Creek.  Seriously....I'll do this for free.

Common Addiction

     If you find yourself being bored with sunsets, forget about the notion of being a serious cruiser. As we enjoy the close of the day, we notice others on their boats also being captivated by the event.

Comegys Bight

      Comegys Bight could be called a "bay" on the Chester River and also a anchorage that no one uses. This past weekend Sharon and I enjoyed a spectacular 3 days there. Although the anchorage may not provide protection from storms, it does offer an openness that most cruisers will pass up.

Double Feature

      Every sunset has its merits. This sunset in the above photo would not make the top one hundred. So what made this evening's sunset so memorable? How about a mirror image of the sun in the east!

      As the sun was setting in the west, the above photo captures a full moon rising in the east. Impossible to view at the same time (east vs. west - unless you have eyes in the back of your head) but still a moment to behold. These 2 photos were taken just moments apart from each other. The contrast of colors is accomplished by using different settings on the digital camera, sunset scene vs. night scene.

The Event

Sunset at Shaw Bay, Wye River

First Impressions are Wrong

     What appears to be just a photo of a beautiful sunset taken from the pilothouse is more than that. If you look closely at the water you will see that we were experiencing a very heavy downpour. This photo was taken on Saturday evening after we got caught in this deluge while touring the area with the new dinghy. Yes, Sharon and I got soaked but we laughed it off, Sky on the other hand did not find it amusing.

Empty Slips

      Winter sunsets can be just as spectacular as those of summer - with less crowds.