The night at anchor was uneventful thankfully and we up-anchored at 5:47a.m. The first part of our cruise down the ICW to the Gulf was in the dark and Jeff drove outside in the cold in order to see better. It was a little nerve wracking being out on the ICW in the dark alone but we did just fine. By 6a.m. and first light we were underway. The seas were not bad 2-3 foot rollers with light winds. Let me back up, the seas were not bad for Jeff and I. For the newly boarded cousins this was a big change from the ICW. The boat was rocking and pitching a bit. Bruce was the first one up and although he said he felt okay nobody wanted to eat anything in these conditions. Zach was next up and sat in the pilot house with the three of us. Poor Rosie wasn't feeling so red hot (as Joan Pollak likes to say) and she too piled in the seat of the pilot house with us. After several hours the seas dissipated to 1-2 footers and the cousins were much happier.
Downtown Miami
Boats on ICW
Early A.M. on ICW
Entering the Gulf
Jeff and Cousins in Pilot House
When we arrived in the Bahamas at the West End we were all so happy and excited to be there. Jeff and I were proud of ourselves for getting the boat there and I think the cousins were happy to finally have arrived. This was their first time cruising for 10 straight hours. As soon as we cleared customs they lept off the boat to be on land. We had some celebratory drinks and dinner at the marina restaurant and we all crashed out pretty early. Jeff and I were exhausted from our early departure and the cousins were just wiped out from the cruise. The next morning we went to the beach. Zach stand up paddle boarded while Bruce, Rosie, Jeff and I played shuffle board. Around 1pm the cousins hopped into a shuttle and headed for Port Lucaya (Freeport) to check into their hotel. After 11 days with people on the Tidings Jeff and I were happy for a quiet night alone and would meet up with everyone the next day.
Around 9a.m. the next day we pulled out of West End and made the four hour journey to Port Lucaya where we would meet up with the cousins. The cruise was nice and uneventful and we were happy to be in Port Lucaya. Our marina was directly across from the cousin's hotel so it was really easy to all get together. We had a great first night together. We went to a nice dinner (the best one we had there) at their hotel's restaurant where they made us a special table overlooking the marina by the pool. Every enjoyed their food and just being all together. After dinner there was dancing in the town square with a live band playing island music. We all danced.
The next day cousin Zach got some bad news that his baby was home sick and wouldn't be well enough to make the trip with his wife Maria to meet us in the Bahamas. After much contemplation Zach decided he needed to go home and be with his sick baby and wife. We were all a bit bummed but understood. Zach took Jeff and I to lunch to say thanks for the hospitality and boat ride then Cousin Bruce took us to dinner. Very nice and thoughtful of both cousins. Several days later it was the Super Bowl and we found a great bar right in the square that had the game one so Bruce, Rosie, Jeff and I bellied up to the bar for the duration. We had a cool bartender named Reds who took care of us. Unfortunately the wrong team won (F*** You Tom Brady) but nonetheless we had a good time.
The next day Bruce and Rosie were heading home and it would be just Jeff and I in Port Lucaya. Little did we know winds and weather were coming in and we would end up spending 9 days total there. We were less then thrilled.
Finally on February 12th we were able to be on our way and head back to West End where we would then make our way around the island and south. We anchored out and couldn't believe it when we saw our friends Scott and Karen on Last Call heading in. They were just crossing that day and we hadn't seen them since before the new year. They cleared customs and then came out to anchor with us. Unfortunately that was the roughest night either of us have been on the hook and none of us got much sleep. The boat was rocking and rolling from the current and we were all swinging all over the place. We all got out of there at 7a.m. just to avoid the motion. We headed around the Grand Bahama Island for another anchorage called Great Sale Cay. It was a nice 7 hour cruise and we were glad to be in a better protected anchorage for the night. There were several other boats anchored with us one being Hard Dock Cafe with Gerald and Barb. After some drinks on Scott and Karen's boat we decided we would buddy boat with Hard Dock Cafe the following day to Green Turtle Cay. There was a cold front heading in which meant big winds and cool temperatures so we wanted to make sure we were securely tied up at a marina. Fortunately the marina had a nice restaurant and a good place for us to have our Valentine's dinner. It's no Ole Trieste but it was good and nice to eat off the boat.
The next five days while waiting out the weather we toured the island and hung out with Gerald and Barb. We went snorkeling, saw the famous Abaco swimming pigs and went to local bar via dinghy to hear Bahamian music.
Great Room- Green Turtle Resort & Marina
Bar-Green Turtle Resort & Marina
Downtown New Plymouth -Green Turtle Cay
Main Street New Plymouth- Green Turtle Cay
House Downtown New Plymouth
Swimming Pigs of the Abacos
Gerald & Barb with Swimming Pigs
Me, Barb and Gerald at Pineapples Bar
Local making Conch Salad at Pineapples
After 5 days of waiting out the wind and the weather we decided that we were ready to move on. It was Sunday February 19th and also Gerald's birthday. They told us they were going to Great Guana Cay to the famous Nippers bar to celebrate and that we should come. It didn't take any convincing at all so we all left Green Turtle for Guana. It was a short two hour ride and when we arrived so did 6 other boats. Fortunately we were the first one in line to come into the marina. The winds were howling and we quickly got tied up and secure. Apparently Sunday is the day to go to Nippers. There is a hog roast and d.j. It rained shortly after we pulled into the marina but then stopped in time for the four of us to walk to Nippers. Boy we had no idea what we were getting into. The bar overlooked the Atlantic ocean and had it's own swimming pool, gift shop and restaurant. We have never been to a place like this.
Nippers
With Gerald and Barb at Nippers
Nippers
Nippers
Nippers
Other Loopers at Nippers
Sign Outside of Nippers with Gerald and Barb
Nippers
After another wind gush and Thunderstorm we were back underway.This time we were on our own. Gerald and Barb were in a bit of time crunch to get to Nassau to pick up their daughter so we parted ways and Jeff and I headed to Treasure Cay to anchor out for a couple of days. We were told there was a beautiful beach there but we had no idea it was going to be this gorgeous. Apparently it's one of the top 10 beaches in the world and after seeing it I don't dispute that. Much to our surprise we ran into some other looper friends of ours Rod & Susie from Bee-Haven. We hadn't seen them since we went to Chattanooga with them in October. It was great to see them and to catch up after so long. Susie told us that each morning the bakery at Treasure Cay makes fresh hot cinnamon rolls and we must get one. This became our morning routine before going to the beach each day. We also joined everyone in the bar for pizza night which the entire marina and town comes to. Lots of fun.
Coco Beach at Treasure Cay
Lumps
After three days at Treasure we were ready to keep on boating. From Treasure Cay we headed over to Man-O-War Cay. It is a quite peaceful place which is known for it's wood boat making history. When we arrived it was Sunday and the entire town was closed down because it's a spiritual place. We walked around the island which took 5 minutes and got an eerie feeling since we didn't see another person. We felt like we were the only ones on the island. Monday morning that all changed. Suddenly the island came alive again. We walked main street which consisted of some boat making shops, gift shops and a sail shop where older ladies sat in the back sewing bags made out of sails. It was really interesting.
Moored Boats in Man-O-War Harbor
Wood Boat Made in Man-O-War
Wood Boat Making Shop
House on Man-O-War Harbor
Two days at Man-O-War was plenty of time to see and do everything and cruise 40 minutes to Hope Town Cay. We had no idea how nice it was at Hope Town. When we arrived at the marina we were pleasantly surprised to see the boat Karma docked in front of us. We had cruised down some of the rivers and docked right behind Karma at St. Pete, Florida and haven't seen them since. Funny how that happens on the loop and all the way in the Bahamas. We went over and said hello and made a plan for the next day to have lunch. Our friends Scott and Karen were also coming to Hope Town and would be moored outside the marina. The first night we went to Firefly restaurant with Scott and Karen which was recommended to us by Bee-Haven and we were told to go and see the sunset there as well. The recommendation did not disappoint and the sunset, the restaurant and the company were just perfect.
Outside Firefly
Sunset from Firefly
With Scott and Karen at Firefly
Sunset at Firefly
The next day in Hope Town we toured the famous lighthouse and climbed the 101 steps to the top where we had an amazing view. We launched out bikes and took them across the island on the free marina water taxi to bike ride to lunch with Mike and Claiborne from Karma. They knew some local spot right on the Atlantic where the view was spectacular. After lunch we cruised our bikes around town then got back on the water taxi for the boat. The third and final day at Hope Town we went to Tahiti Beach which can only be accessed by dinghy. Us, Last Call and another looper boat called Trawler Life all hopped in our dinghies and headed for the beach. The beach was a long sandbar which extended way out into the water. We all snorkeled, ate a picnic lunch and played bacci ball which Jeff was the victor. After several hours in the sun we decided it was time to head back. This would be our final night in Hope Town. Scott and Karen came over for happy hour and we all said our goodbyes.
Once again a cold front was heading in bringing with it big winds 20-30mph, rain and cool temperatures. So Friday morning we left Hope Town at 8:30a.m. for the short one hour cruise to Marsh Harbor. We have been looking forward to this stop because we joined the Marsh Harbor Yacht club and this is where they are based out of. We are at a nice resort with two pools, a gym, restaurant and bar and huge 100 foot plus boats. We feel quite luxurious here. We again will wait out the winds until hopefully Wednesday then start making our way south. We will head to Little Harbor to anchor then cross to Spanish Wells on Eluthra Cay then onto The Exumas. We plan to buddy boat with another boat called Have Another Day with a young couple and their two little girls. They are waiting out the winds like us and then we will all be on our way.
