We have been blessed with gorgeous weather since before Christmas and last night there was no wind at all (a rare occurrence here). However, the moored boats around us tended to come close enough to walk on and I was a little nervous. Bill just pushed them aside and then went to sleep! He was right, we woke up in the morning with no problems with the other boats.
There seems to be lots of activities that occur here in Hopetown. We spent Christmas Eve having cocktails on another boat and we were invited to Jim and Nancy's boat for Christmas Day Dinner. She is Italian and put together a wonderful dinner. Jim's daughter was here and we ate and laughed and had a great time. Bill and I took the dinghy out for my first snorkel practice. It was successful so we all went on Jim's boat to "Mermaid Reef". This is a safe, easy reef to practice and I loved it. We saw many different kinds of fish and I felt like I was in an aquarium. I won't show any photos of me in the wet suit, but I did take a few photos with my camera. I will email the site of the photo album.
Many more families with children have arrived here and the atmosphere has certainly changed. The beach is a little more crowded and you can see people walking around. I think this will again change after the New Year. However, there will be a pulse of boats coming over (if the weather permits) and we hope to see some boaters we got to know in Vero Beach.
Last night was a golf cart parade - 10 golf carts decorated for the holidays and today was a Chili Cookout competition to raise money for the police and fire department. Tomorrow there will be a "Rage" fundraiser for? I'm not sure what it's for. There will be fireworks on New Years Eve and a Junkanoo Parade (more on that for another time). I am also going to volunteer at the local museum one day a week. We are beginning to settle in nicely, continue meeting new people, and even having happy hour on 'Interim' with two other couples. The excitement, anxiety and challenges seem to be disappearing and replaced by daily routines. For example, I have yet to get to the laundry and must schedule it in (although I'm waiting for a day when the weather isn't great). Look for an email linking to the photo albums.
WISHING ALL A HEALTHY, HAPPY AND JOYOUS NEW YEAR.
'Interim'
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Hopetown, our winter home
You can see slideshow of photos at: just copy and paste in the above URL address
http://picasaweb.google.com/cdichter3/JourneyAlbum702?authkey=L_hFcaWPhHQ
We left Green Turtle Cay on Wednesday morning at dawn with our new friends Jim and Nancy leading the way through "The Whale". This was another passage that must be done with fair winds, tide and current since we go through a narrow cut into the Atlantic Ocean. We decided to give it a try knowing that if the water was too angry we could always turn back. Well, the passage was OK, lots of rolling and seas from 1 -3 feet with a few 4 footers that rocked us some. Simon did get seasick again but then did just fine. The weather turned out lovely and our trip was, thankfully, uneventful. We picked up a mooring in Hopetown a little after noon. Then we went into town to check it out. Well, it's a small place with lots of charm, a lovely beach and Vernon the baker who was just taking out sourdough bread from the oven when we got there. While walking around we heard that there was going to be "caroling" that evening. We stayed ashore, met a family that we knew from Vero Beach on the beach, and then about 70 people including Bill and I, with handouts of the words, walked around the area singing to various folks at their homes. Unfortunately, before the caroling ended we felt a few raindrops and since we left the boat with all portholes and hatches open we decided to head back. Once onboard we realized how exhausted we were from the trip and missed out on a free dinner of souse and sweets.
Our friends Nancy and Jim came on Thursday and we have been having a wonderful time with them. Jim and Bill are wonderful together and Nancy and I get along just fine. They will be here til the second week in Jan. and I know I will really miss them.
Today, Bill and I went to Marsh Harbor (about 1 1/2 hours away) to check it out. It is a "city like" place with hardware stores (Bill is in love), restaurants and groceries. The day was beautiful with light winds so we motor sailed all the way there. On the way home we were surrounded by rain clouds, we got some wind but no rain and at all times we were in about 12 ft. of water.
http://picasaweb.google.com/cdichter3/JourneyAlbum702?authkey=L_hFcaWPhHQ
We left Green Turtle Cay on Wednesday morning at dawn with our new friends Jim and Nancy leading the way through "The Whale". This was another passage that must be done with fair winds, tide and current since we go through a narrow cut into the Atlantic Ocean. We decided to give it a try knowing that if the water was too angry we could always turn back. Well, the passage was OK, lots of rolling and seas from 1 -3 feet with a few 4 footers that rocked us some. Simon did get seasick again but then did just fine. The weather turned out lovely and our trip was, thankfully, uneventful. We picked up a mooring in Hopetown a little after noon. Then we went into town to check it out. Well, it's a small place with lots of charm, a lovely beach and Vernon the baker who was just taking out sourdough bread from the oven when we got there. While walking around we heard that there was going to be "caroling" that evening. We stayed ashore, met a family that we knew from Vero Beach on the beach, and then about 70 people including Bill and I, with handouts of the words, walked around the area singing to various folks at their homes. Unfortunately, before the caroling ended we felt a few raindrops and since we left the boat with all portholes and hatches open we decided to head back. Once onboard we realized how exhausted we were from the trip and missed out on a free dinner of souse and sweets.
Our friends Nancy and Jim came on Thursday and we have been having a wonderful time with them. Jim and Bill are wonderful together and Nancy and I get along just fine. They will be here til the second week in Jan. and I know I will really miss them.
Today, Bill and I went to Marsh Harbor (about 1 1/2 hours away) to check it out. It is a "city like" place with hardware stores (Bill is in love), restaurants and groceries. The day was beautiful with light winds so we motor sailed all the way there. On the way home we were surrounded by rain clouds, we got some wind but no rain and at all times we were in about 12 ft. of water.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
I am trying to make photo additions a little easier. Select this address and paste in the URL bar.
http://picasaweb.google.com/cdichter3/JourneyAlbum5Edited?authkey=ucHUGgLAnQg
OK, as of 1:00 today Bill seems to have fixed the motor and it is running without smoke or steam pouring out. As much as I have watched him solve mechanical problems this one was one of the most difficult. After receiving all the parts he had to modify, modify, modify in order that the 2007 models fit in the 1973 housings. This took all day yesterday and most of today. Now we just have to wait for a weather window to head towards Hopetown. The winds are piping up, fronts are coming through and the window may come towards the end of the week. We have to go through "The Whale", a particulary nasty, but brief, ocean crossing.
I am trying to make photo additions a little easier. Select this address and paste in the URL bar.
http://picasaweb.google.com/cdichter3/JourneyAlbum5Edited?authkey=ucHUGgLAnQg
So a little bit about Green Turtle Cay. It is made up of White Sound (fancy resorts) , Black Sound (where we are -boatyards and considered a hurricane harbor), and New Plymouth settlement. There are a little over 450 people living on the island and most can trace their ancestry to loyalists who fled New York during the American Revolution. Then lots more came from states along the eastern corridor , primarily farmers. However, poor soil - many left. It was then the wrecking capital of the Abacos. With the fading of sponges, pinapple growing, and sharking what the islanders now have are tourists and crawfish (rock lobster). However, the town of New Plymouth has had 80 structures landmarked for historical significance and according to one resident the look completely changed when an enterprising businessman started bringing in a variety of paint colors to enhance their houses.
New Plymouth has shops, groceries (mostly very expensive), a liquor store, bread baked daily, and restaurants. There is also a museum that was restored by Alton Lowe, a well known Abaco artist whose father also made ships models. There is a sculpture garden where there is a life size sculpture of two women, one black and one white with busts of Bahamian citizens around them.
We have met many people who come here to rent houses and stay for a week or more. The beaches are gorgeous, both on the sound and on the ocean. Golf carts are the main form of transportation (we might rent one to explore the entire island).
We have also participated is a few island events. First, everywhere we go a 'hello' is said to anyone passing you by. Then on Friday evening we went to the "Tree lighting" festivities. I thought all 400 people would be there for such a joyous occasion but not so. I think it was either to political or to religious but there were less than 100. When Bill and I were walking the site we passed a house that had la nice display of Xmas lights. I took one photo and after the second one everything went black. The entire island was without electricity. We kept walking and waited a bit until the emergency generator kicked in (this happens alot here). Before the lighting there were speeches by administrators (one opened his remarks by talking about the increase in crime and murder!!!!), and a sermon by a man of God who had us all seeing the light. A couple of church groups sang (I heard there was going to be a choir but only 5-6 were in the groups that sang) one was especially wonderful - gospel/Xmas. And then after Santa arrived we were all invited for a free boxed dinner. Bill and I took ours back to the boat and the food was fabulous. We haven't eaten in any of the restaurants yet but I'm sure this fare was far outstanding (and a lot cheaper). I have to learn how to make dirty rice.
Last night we went to a fundraiser for the 6th grade class. The money was to be used for a 3 day trip to the resort Atlantis in Nassau. It was on the basketball court and again, dinner (this time for a minimal cost) was provided, the children played, the boom box rang out all kinds of Xmas music (some I even recognized) Bahamian style. We went with new friends and had a wonderful time. Bill even joined in the "Cake Walk" where for $1.00 you got a number on a piece of cardboard and walked around a circle until the music stopped. Then a number was drawn and if you were on it you won a cake. Thankfully, Bill only did this once and we didn't win. He wasn't the only adult but he was adorable with the other kids.
Oh, there are only 12 children in the 6th grade and I'm sure they raised a fair amount of money for the trip. The kids,from 2 years old to teens played musical chairs, limbo, and I've never seen so many variations of play with hula hoops. I also had my first Goombay Smash - it's delicious and I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
The weather right now is deteriorating so we are going ashore for a little while.
Til later.....
http://picasaweb.google.com/cdichter3/JourneyAlbum5Edited?authkey=ucHUGgLAnQg
OK, as of 1:00 today Bill seems to have fixed the motor and it is running without smoke or steam pouring out. As much as I have watched him solve mechanical problems this one was one of the most difficult. After receiving all the parts he had to modify, modify, modify in order that the 2007 models fit in the 1973 housings. This took all day yesterday and most of today. Now we just have to wait for a weather window to head towards Hopetown. The winds are piping up, fronts are coming through and the window may come towards the end of the week. We have to go through "The Whale", a particulary nasty, but brief, ocean crossing.
I am trying to make photo additions a little easier. Select this address and paste in the URL bar.
http://picasaweb.google.com/cdichter3/JourneyAlbum5Edited?authkey=ucHUGgLAnQg
So a little bit about Green Turtle Cay. It is made up of White Sound (fancy resorts) , Black Sound (where we are -boatyards and considered a hurricane harbor), and New Plymouth settlement. There are a little over 450 people living on the island and most can trace their ancestry to loyalists who fled New York during the American Revolution. Then lots more came from states along the eastern corridor , primarily farmers. However, poor soil - many left. It was then the wrecking capital of the Abacos. With the fading of sponges, pinapple growing, and sharking what the islanders now have are tourists and crawfish (rock lobster). However, the town of New Plymouth has had 80 structures landmarked for historical significance and according to one resident the look completely changed when an enterprising businessman started bringing in a variety of paint colors to enhance their houses.
New Plymouth has shops, groceries (mostly very expensive), a liquor store, bread baked daily, and restaurants. There is also a museum that was restored by Alton Lowe, a well known Abaco artist whose father also made ships models. There is a sculpture garden where there is a life size sculpture of two women, one black and one white with busts of Bahamian citizens around them.
We have met many people who come here to rent houses and stay for a week or more. The beaches are gorgeous, both on the sound and on the ocean. Golf carts are the main form of transportation (we might rent one to explore the entire island).
We have also participated is a few island events. First, everywhere we go a 'hello' is said to anyone passing you by. Then on Friday evening we went to the "Tree lighting" festivities. I thought all 400 people would be there for such a joyous occasion but not so. I think it was either to political or to religious but there were less than 100. When Bill and I were walking the site we passed a house that had la nice display of Xmas lights. I took one photo and after the second one everything went black. The entire island was without electricity. We kept walking and waited a bit until the emergency generator kicked in (this happens alot here). Before the lighting there were speeches by administrators (one opened his remarks by talking about the increase in crime and murder!!!!), and a sermon by a man of God who had us all seeing the light. A couple of church groups sang (I heard there was going to be a choir but only 5-6 were in the groups that sang) one was especially wonderful - gospel/Xmas. And then after Santa arrived we were all invited for a free boxed dinner. Bill and I took ours back to the boat and the food was fabulous. We haven't eaten in any of the restaurants yet but I'm sure this fare was far outstanding (and a lot cheaper). I have to learn how to make dirty rice.
Last night we went to a fundraiser for the 6th grade class. The money was to be used for a 3 day trip to the resort Atlantis in Nassau. It was on the basketball court and again, dinner (this time for a minimal cost) was provided, the children played, the boom box rang out all kinds of Xmas music (some I even recognized) Bahamian style. We went with new friends and had a wonderful time. Bill even joined in the "Cake Walk" where for $1.00 you got a number on a piece of cardboard and walked around a circle until the music stopped. Then a number was drawn and if you were on it you won a cake. Thankfully, Bill only did this once and we didn't win. He wasn't the only adult but he was adorable with the other kids.
Oh, there are only 12 children in the 6th grade and I'm sure they raised a fair amount of money for the trip. The kids,from 2 years old to teens played musical chairs, limbo, and I've never seen so many variations of play with hula hoops. I also had my first Goombay Smash - it's delicious and I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
The weather right now is deteriorating so we are going ashore for a little while.
Til later.....
Sunday, December 9, 2007
I know it's been a long time since I last wrote but the stay in Vero Beach became just an ordinary routine. I woke up and counted how many boats arrived and/or left, tooled around on Interim for awhile, took Simon for a walk, went to town either on the free bus or car, maybe enjoyed a happy hour on one boat or another, nothing really exciting. Lots of talk time with people I may or may not run into while in the Bahamas. The only excitement I had was being bitten by every little see ums or no see ums. The itching became so bad I went to a walk in clinic and got a pill and ointment to help. I wasn't the only one affected but it was pretty awful. Every day the major talk was "when do we leave" and "where is that perfect weather window"?
We were going to cross the GulfStream with a boat called "Salty Dog", a couple with two Shelties on board. We met them way back in Annapolis when Bill was cruising around in the whaler and saw their boat, it was a Gulfstar Sailmaster and Bill's father almost bought the very same style. We hung out with them again in Wrightsville, Virginia and saw them in Georgetown and Charlestown. All these meetings were by chance. It was also their first time heading to the Bahamas. So when they showed up in Vero Beach it was a good sign. We watched, listened to the radio weather report and lo and behold there was a good weather window coming.
We then left Vero Beach, traveling through a frustrating 7 bridges that needed to open to a staging point in Lake Worth (near Palm Beach). Then at 4:00 Friday morning we went out the inlet to the Atlantic Ocean and the famous Gulfstream. The water wasn't flat but the motion was OK for us but not for Salty Dog, so we turned back. Traveling the Gulfstream with a buddy was highly recommended by most everyone so we were in a quandary as to what to do. We worked it out, Salty Dog would wait a while longer and Bill and I would go it alone. But since we then left at around 10 am which meant we would get to a safe place to anchor at 2 am in the morning. Not fun for me. I don't like the dark, especially on the water but Bill promised it would be the last time we would have to do this. I pretty much stayed below, helped out when Bill needed to rest (which was not much at all) and when we got to Great Sale Cay there were several anchor lights showing. Anchor down and sleep.
The next morning was amazing. Waking up in the Bahamas and traveling on the gorgeous water, shallow enough to see the bottom. We even put the sail up and motor sailed most of the way.
Lovely way to start or voyage in the Bahamas until as we were almost at our anchoring place the motor overheated. What looked like smoke but was actually steam poured out from the cabin. There was no fire but the motor was not to be used so Bill towed us with the Whaler and we anchored in a safe spot. Needless to say we were both emotionally spent but Bill then worked in the engine room to puzzle out what was wrong. The good news was that after the engine cooled down it still worked which meant something else was the cause. After several hours Bill thinks the thermostat broke and needs to be replaced.
OK next morning, gorgeous Bahama day and we motor sailed to Green Turtle Cay, were able to get a mooring in an incredibly snug harbor (Black Sound) and crashed for most of the day.
Tomorrow Bill needs to go to customs so we can legally sail in the Bahamas and then try to find the part to be shipped here. Here is not a bad place to be. Although in the book it says there are only about 450 people who live here there is a town, restaurants, bakery, post office, and marinas where Bill might be able to get some assistance (i.e. mail drop).
I have signed up for wi fi that will allow me to use my computer throughout the Abaco's. Our cell phone doesn't work but I have SKYPE. A computer phone that allows me to call anywhere in the world. By accident as I was installing it and trying it out I mistakenly dialed a number in Switzerland. The cost, however, for these calls is quite low. So I can still be in touch. If you need to speak to me just email me and I'll call back.
Also, I have a web site for photos that I am trying to insert, but not today.
We were going to cross the GulfStream with a boat called "Salty Dog", a couple with two Shelties on board. We met them way back in Annapolis when Bill was cruising around in the whaler and saw their boat, it was a Gulfstar Sailmaster and Bill's father almost bought the very same style. We hung out with them again in Wrightsville, Virginia and saw them in Georgetown and Charlestown. All these meetings were by chance. It was also their first time heading to the Bahamas. So when they showed up in Vero Beach it was a good sign. We watched, listened to the radio weather report and lo and behold there was a good weather window coming.
We then left Vero Beach, traveling through a frustrating 7 bridges that needed to open to a staging point in Lake Worth (near Palm Beach). Then at 4:00 Friday morning we went out the inlet to the Atlantic Ocean and the famous Gulfstream. The water wasn't flat but the motion was OK for us but not for Salty Dog, so we turned back. Traveling the Gulfstream with a buddy was highly recommended by most everyone so we were in a quandary as to what to do. We worked it out, Salty Dog would wait a while longer and Bill and I would go it alone. But since we then left at around 10 am which meant we would get to a safe place to anchor at 2 am in the morning. Not fun for me. I don't like the dark, especially on the water but Bill promised it would be the last time we would have to do this. I pretty much stayed below, helped out when Bill needed to rest (which was not much at all) and when we got to Great Sale Cay there were several anchor lights showing. Anchor down and sleep.
The next morning was amazing. Waking up in the Bahamas and traveling on the gorgeous water, shallow enough to see the bottom. We even put the sail up and motor sailed most of the way.
Lovely way to start or voyage in the Bahamas until as we were almost at our anchoring place the motor overheated. What looked like smoke but was actually steam poured out from the cabin. There was no fire but the motor was not to be used so Bill towed us with the Whaler and we anchored in a safe spot. Needless to say we were both emotionally spent but Bill then worked in the engine room to puzzle out what was wrong. The good news was that after the engine cooled down it still worked which meant something else was the cause. After several hours Bill thinks the thermostat broke and needs to be replaced.
OK next morning, gorgeous Bahama day and we motor sailed to Green Turtle Cay, were able to get a mooring in an incredibly snug harbor (Black Sound) and crashed for most of the day.
Tomorrow Bill needs to go to customs so we can legally sail in the Bahamas and then try to find the part to be shipped here. Here is not a bad place to be. Although in the book it says there are only about 450 people who live here there is a town, restaurants, bakery, post office, and marinas where Bill might be able to get some assistance (i.e. mail drop).
I have signed up for wi fi that will allow me to use my computer throughout the Abaco's. Our cell phone doesn't work but I have SKYPE. A computer phone that allows me to call anywhere in the world. By accident as I was installing it and trying it out I mistakenly dialed a number in Switzerland. The cost, however, for these calls is quite low. So I can still be in touch. If you need to speak to me just email me and I'll call back.
Also, I have a web site for photos that I am trying to insert, but not today.
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