HAPPY IN THE BAHAMAS (Dec.23, 2013 - Feb.1, 2014)

BIMINI, BAHAMAS

Between December 2013 and February 2014, we've been to Fort Lauderdale, Key Biscayne, Hurricane Hole, Bimini & Nassau in the Bahamas and several Cays and Islands along the Exumas.

IRENE, SUSAN & TIM at IRENE's CONDO in POMPANO BEACH

While in Fort Lauderdale, we visited my cousin Irene and her husband Jacques in Pompano beach.  They are originally from Shediac, New Brunswick, where my mother grew up. 

We all went to see a Panther's hockey game which was awesome since I haven't seen a live game in years !

Over 100 boats participated in the parade

Fort Lauderdale has a yearly Christmas boat parade that went right by our boat.






FORT LAUDERDALE

Every place we stopped had a different feel and there was alway much to explore. The water in the Bahamas is extremely clear so you can see the bottom in about 30 to 40 feet of water. The weather has been mostly dry and it's just getting warmer and warmer, so much so that the water is starting to feel like bath water. Snorkeling occurs on most days where we've seen Nurse sharks, Reef fish, turtles, Southern Stingrays, Spotted stingrays, Conch, Slimy large wormlike looking things, Lion fish, Barracuda, Dolphins, Lobster, Squid and more. The most wonderful experience I had was when I saw a single dolphin around our boat. I jumped in with my snorkeling gear and we mimicked each other for about 20 minutes until she took off at the speed of light. 



Arrived in the Bahamas where Brown's marina invites all Quebecers & Canadians

XMAS pot luck with Quebecers



BIMINI, BAHAMAS

Both Tim & I aren't fishermen so even though we have tried very hard, we have yet to catch a fish. We often hear of people catching Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Snapper & Mackerel. Cruisers are extremely generous with their fish, so at pot lucks, we'd often eat sushi and baked fish.

We've had lots of great days of sailing and we try to take advantage of the favorable winds as much as possible. Our two day sail from Bimini to Nassau was outstanding. We anchored for one night in what's called the Bahama banks which is an area of very shallow water, 10-20 feet deep and 50 miles across. It was a weird feeling anchoring in the middle of nowhere with no land in sight. Sailing down the Exuma Cays was possible on some days, and on other days, unfortunately, we had to motor. We haven't had any bad weather while sailing and the winds were mostly from the South East at an average of 15 knots.





NEW YEARS at PARADISE ISLAND RESORT



PARADISE ISLAND RESORT



New Year's Eve JUNKANOO parade in NASSAU

JUNKANOO started at 2:30am until about 2:00pm the next day

 Our boat is holding up well. Along the way, we found several anchorages where we were the only boat so it was like having an island all to ourselves. That was a real treat. However, in Georgetown, we have about 250 neighbors. We've enjoyed both being on our own and socializing with new & old friends in Georgetown. Georgetown has almost all the amenities a cruiser would need. For example, the local hair salon also sells seafood & lobster, go figure ! There's a good deli, grocery store, bakery, laundromat, restaurants & bars and so on.   

CLEAR WATER OF THE EXUMAS

Fresh water in the Bahamas is expensive. They charge anywhere from 40 to 80 cents a gallon. However, in Georgetown, you can tie up at the city dinghy dock where you can fill up your jerry cans for free. However, you have to make several trips to fill up your tanks, and each jerry can, when full, weighs about 50 pounds. 

On Stocking Island across from Georgetown, there is a small restaurant/bar called "Chat N' Chill" that plays killer music some nights and where many people dance the night away. It is an absolute blast. Near the bar is a stand where you can order conch salad which is made fresh right in front of you.

My friend Natalie from Montreal visited us then Tim's parents. We had a fantastic time with them. It was like Christmas when they arrived with treats and things we needed for the boat. But now, it's time for us to move on. We will be heading south to the Jumentos, Long Island and Conception Cay with our buddy boat "Angel Eyes", Rick & Nancy from Ontario. 

NATALIE OF MONTREAL, STOCKING ISLAND

SAND DOLLAR BEACH

PAT & DAVE TIEFENBACH

CATCHING SPINY LOBSTER

Commissioned by David Copperfield, the grand illusionist, "THE MUSICIAN" was submerged in clearn, warm shallow waters on the private island of Musha Cay, part of the Islands of Copperfield Bay, Bahamas.