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.