BIMINI

We anchored off Pumpkin Key, at the entrance to Angelfish Creek.  Ed listened to the forecast, and decided the Gulf Stream needed another day to calm down before we left. So we used the time to go out Angelfish and sail to the outside marker, beyond the reefs.  This would give us a "tick line" on the chart plotter to follow when we did leave.  It was a great idea, because there were so many crab pots to navigate around and we were leaving at night.  On the return to our anchorage we hooked a nice size mackerel! Yay! Dinner tonight!

We weighed anchor Tuesday morning at 0115. The winds were out of the east southeast and higher than forecast (of course!). Ed stayed on the bow, with his harness and tether attached to the boat, and used the spotlight to watch for those pesty crab pots and the channel markers. My job was to keep Manatee on the tick line of the chart plotter, as best I could. It felt like a computer game, and I wasn't very good at it. The auto pilot worked way better. It was pretty rough out and we were bashing right into the wind.  Ed had to really hang on! By 0330 we had made it through the channel and past the last shallow areas without hitting any pots. Whew!  We raised the mainsail, Ed took the helm and I proceeded to take a nap. Ed plotted the course, aiming for Cat Cay further south than Bimini to allow the current of the Gulf Stream to carry us North.  He was a bit concerned because he wanted to head the same direction as the wind was coming from, but we needed the sail out to mellow the boat out some.  After a couple hours nap,  upon sitting up, Ed says very calmly, "we may miss Bimini".   I'm like "What???". He says, "but it'll be close".  I thought "close doesn't help", but what Ed was saying was if we overshoot Bimini because of the current in the stream, we would just have to turn around and make a jog back. He continued to monitor the wind direction, which never had much south to it like we wanted and expected.  We had nice weather, it was a touch cool in the breeze, but no rain, and the Gulf Stream was fairly tame. Seas were choppy but only about 2 ft.  Clouds covered the horizon so we were not able to witness a gorgeous sunrise.

We were approximately 20 miles from our destination and Ed was ready to put out a couple of fishing lines. Within 20 minutes we hooked a Mahi Mahi!  It was so exciting watching Ed haul it in, as we watched the bull jump several times. Our first Mahi! We got him in the boat and Ed had quite a time cleaning and filleting it on the stern deck in the choppy seas. But he did fine and the beautiful fillets got into the freezer quickly.

We brought the fishing lines in and Ed studied the charts again.  We were right on track for Bimini! Capt. Ed hit the mark right on the bullseye! We found the channel that led to Brown's Marina and docked in a slip without issue.  There was a super strong current, but we got in fine.  We arrived at 11:30 am. The water is absolutely gorgeous. Clear and aqua blue in color.  The breeze was awesome, and the sun was shining. There were only about 4 other boats at this Marina when we arrived, but as the day wore on, more boats were coming in, mostly sailboats.  The tide was going out so fast that one boat didn't quite get into the slip and ended up broadside, giving us quite a show of what NOT to do!

BROADSIDE! OOPS!

We have been here 3 days now, and having a blast!  We are meeting lots of great folks and enjoying the small town atmosphere.  

A wall along the roadside topped with Conch Shells

Walking along the beach road, only minutes from the marina

Great snorkeling beach, lots of sea glass and pretty shells

The name on the building caught me by surprise!

Ed went fishing with a neighbor and came back with at 30 decent sized red and yellow tail snappers.  The guys filleted them up at the dock and as the skin and bones of the fish were tossed overboard we received an awesome show of fish coming to grab a bite, including one very large shark that we were told hangs out around the marinas for an opportunity like this.

Snapper!

A 10' Bull Shark!

WAITING FOR A WEATHER WINDOW

Our view from Manatee in Key Largo

We returned to Key Largo after a great Thanksgiving weekend with the family.  Thank you, Casey and Edward, for being great hosts, and making it all happen!

Casey and her mom Mary, a super yummy Italian Thanksgiving!

On our return to Manatee the wind we were experiencing before Thanksgiving gave way to rain.  It has been raining with occasional downpours everyday.  It rained so much and so often that the cockpit was as wet as if there was no dodger/bimini overhead. Ugh.  

On a following still morning we tossed the kayaks in the water to go for a paddle around the mangrove swamps.  It was very quiet.  We enjoyed viewing the foliage and wildlife going on in these eery looking swamps.

Heading into the mangrove channel

A tunnel!

Deeper in the mangroves, mosquitos!

We also continued the never ending improvements to Manatee.  I wanted shades to go around the cockpit to keep the afternoon sun beaming in and keeping it hot.  Since we don't have power while at anchor, I brought my roll of Sunbrella into Georgeanne's and cut out what I needed using the hot knife.  (keeps the material from fraying at the cut edges).  I used the sewing machine manually aboard Manatee, with Ed helping by turning the crankshaft.  They turned out pretty good!

Stern Cockpit shade 

From the outside

We are excited to get be getting ready for the next leg of our cruising season, crossing the gulf stream and getting to Bimini.  We need a few days of nice weather, with winds from any direction but North.  Any north will make the gulf stream choppy and rough.  So far, still waiting.

We have been so fortunate to have family here and to be able to use the car to run into town for the little miscellaneous things we keep thinking we need.  We spent an entire day provisioning Manatee, including a trip to BJ's wholesale.

Uh, this is a boat. Filled with the provisioning 

Canned goods locker aboard Manatee.

Out with the knick-knacks, in with the food/snacks!

It took a couple of days to stow the amount of food we bought.  We are trying to provision for at least 4 months.  We don't want to grocery shop if it can be avoided!  

The bilge- filled with 5 large bottles each of Rum and Scotch, 2 large and 2 small bottles of Gin, 7 boxes of wine and 7 cases of beer, that SHOULD be enough for a while!! (Beer is stowed under the sink in the head and various other spaces on the boat)

We got the propane outboard motor for LilBit fixed.  (yes, again). This time it was the fitting for the small campstove size propane tanks.  Since the engine is still under warranty we had to call the company and have them send us the parts and Ed fixed it. 

Yesterday we were given a life raft by one of the boat residents at Gilbert's anchorage, who is a long time friend of Georgeanne's. Its old but looks fine and should work.  Hopefully we will never have to use it, but glad to have it!  Thank you Dennis!

Sunday 12/13/15

We left wonderful Key Largo, headed for an anchorage outside Angelfish Creek and then for the open sea around midnight tonight.  The weather looks great for the next week or so, winds out of the South and Southeast, 15-20 kts.  Should blow us right across the gulf stream to Bimini!!

Saying "so long" to Gilbert's Resort.  Key Largo is always very good to us.

Stay tuned for updates as we come into areas of internet signal and I take time to post!