Making some Junkanoo Instruments

Up at 0830.  Slept well last night with calm seas again.  Weather has been great today as well.  Met up with some of the locals and made these tambourine-type things from bits of driftwood, shells, and flattened bottle caps.  Painted with the bahamian black blue and yellow, they'll be ready for Junkanoo. They are being sold for a local charity, Every Child Counts, who work to educate children with autism.

Few boats outside anchored near me, love that feeling like my neighborhood is constantly moving around and changing.  I get to meet new folks daily.  Kids have been trowing firecrackers all day and little festivals and gaherings continue today.

Developing a bit of a sore throat, so I'll take it easy at the bar for a couple of days and see how it goes.  Should have the meds I need just in case. 

All is well!

New Yarrs

Been sleeping in a little bit more for the last couple of days in order to recover.  Long nights at the local watering holes have taken their toll.  I've continued to help out for a few hours during the day at Sundowners.  Brian and Caroline, their friends Bruce and Janet along with a handful of others have treated me to numerous meals and drinks and I'm very grateful.  

The sea has been calm for the last couple of days ( apart from increasing wake traffic) making trips into the sounds and sleeping pleasent. Locals are preapring for Junkanoo, their version of New Years.  Drummers marching around starting in the late evening continue until 0600 or so.  There have been huge public gatherings every day now with food and drink, music, fireworks etc.

Ive been invited for New Years Eve festivities with the owner of The Green Turtle Club and his family.  That's sure to be quite a good time.  

Glad to see more cruising boats showing up in Abaco.  Everyone seems to be in a big hurry and they aren't anchoring here for very long, but good to see them anyway.  

Alll is well!  Will try to continue posting daily.

Crazy Couple of Days...and Nights.

First of all, sorry for not posting last night.  I remember trying to but it didn't work out apparently.  

Yesterday up late in the morning, headed north about 45min to Cocoa Bay and dropped the hook in soft sand.  Wind was a bit uncomfortable where I was being SW 10-15, but the bay offered good protection.  Took the dinghy into a nearby cut into the Atlantic and picked up some conch to bring to dinner that night.  Fried them up in coconut oil with a curry-based batter.  Delicious.

  

Had a few cocktails with folks in Cocoa Bay and then headed to Sundowners of course.  A few hours passed by, and the details are now too blurry to make out.

Today I sailed back to New Plymouth for Christmas dinner at another friends' house.  Had a bit of an issue with this 4ft long flag at the masthead getting wrapped up.  Long story short, I had to tear down and destroy my Christmas lights in order to somewhat free the flag.  Bummer.

Dinner was amazing, and I'm not just saying this because I generally eat like crap on the boat.  There was an absolute feast of turkey, wine, stuffing, potatoes, casseroles, pies and salads.  I'm immeasurably grateful fore hospitality I have been given over the last two days.  After dinner, I took the dinghy over to sundowners.  I bought 1 out of 6 beers I drank tonight.  There are at least four groups of  families and friends here inviting me for New Years Eve festivities and it is quite the luxury having to pick and choose which ones to attend.  

Weather is now calm and very comfortable at Green Turtle Cay, and the forecast leaves me optimistic for the next few days.  Starting to look like I'll be here for New Years Eve and I'm already looking forward to it.

Christmas Plans in the Making

Up at 0800, headed straight for Sundowners again to continue working on the vinyl enclosure. Got all of them up today, now just need to install pully systems so they can be rolled up to the ceiling.  Weather is still perfect and boats continueto come in during this wonderful crossing window from Florida.  May get a bit breezy tomorrow, but I should be protected where I'll be.

The now enclosed area I've been working on at Sundowners (The deck now has a roof and clear vinyl walls).   Will finish things up tomorrow.

I've been invited back to Cocoa Bay for a Christmas Eve party...then to a Christmas party back in the settlement.  I will probably take the boat up to Cocoa Bay tomorrow just to make the trip to and from easier.  I've had good luck finding conch in a nearby cut there, so I'll take advantage of that.  Other than that, just the regular hangin around on the hook.

All is well in Abaco.

Work and free drinks at Sundowners

Up at 0900ish to a very calm sea.  The forecasted "possible thunderstorms" never came.   Enjjoyed a few cups of coffee and  took the dinghy into White Sound (Green Turtle Cay still) and topped up fuel and water tanks.  Gave a couple local falks a ride back into the main settlement at New Plymouth and headed back out to the anchorage to chat with some of the neighboring boats.  Then back to the boat for an hour or so for lunch.

Stopped by Sundowners in the early afternoon as I had heard Brian the owner was needing some help putting in some clear vinyl walls around the outdoor deck.  Got about half the job done and should finish up tomorrow.  In return I got dinner and a few beers later in the evening which is more than fair.  

I've heard a few cruisers complaining about a " bad front" passing through starting christmas day, but all of my sources say it doesn't really exist...not quite sure what to think of that.  Oh well, the anchor is set deep and I've got all the room in the world to swing around.  

Surprise Invite to Coco Bay

Slept in until about 0930, and again, glassy conditions on the sea.  The water is getting clearer and clearer without any waves to stir up the bottom.

Water is about 10ft deep in this picture.

Had  a big breakfast and went ashore to walk around a bit.  Made it about a mile or so down the road when a couple I met last night pulled up and offered me a ride.  We ended up at their house on the north end of the island at Coco Bay.  Had a few beers and caught a ride back into town and back to the boat.  Spent a couple of hours at Sundowners shooting pool and catching up with some folks.  

Another great day.  Will probably stay tomorrow as well.  Hopefully thunderstorms tomorrow wont be so bad ;)  

Glassy passage to Green Turtle

Up at 0800.  Glassy in Fishers Bay.  Made a cup of coffee and picked up the anchor to head towards Green Turtle Cay.  The Sea of Abaco was smooth during the 3 hour trip north (even the infamous Whale Cay cut was tame). 

Drropped the hook in some soft sand at about noon.  Dove down and retrieved a few items that went overboard weeks ago during a norther.  Right where I left them on the bottom!  Other than that I've just been eating, laying around and waching others go by.  

Here after a while I'll be going to see some friends at Sundowners, the best bar I've found yet in Abaco.

Weather is expected to be nice for a day or two, then maybe thunderstorms.  I'll know more soon enough.  Will likely stay here for a few days at least.

Diving off Delias Cay

Woke up at about 0400 due to choppy conditions at north Man O War.  Wind has been a comfortable 5-10mph from the NW throughout the day.  Thankfully the sea calmed down around 0700 and I got a couple hours of sleep in the cockpit and awoke the same perfect weather I have been experiencing since I've been back.

                                              Anchorage at Man O War

It doesn't look like I will get the SE tail wind I was hoping for to help me up to Green Turtle Cay tomorrow...as a matter of fact, it doesn't look like there will be any wind at all.  I figured I'll just motor up there and why not start today.  Motored up to Fisher's Bay at Great Guana Cay at about 5kts will smooth conditions the entire way.

After arriving at Guana, I took a little dinghy trip to a nearby rock sticking out of the water f of Delias Cay.  Did a little snorkeling and was surprised to see a variety of critters down there.  Plenty of Angelfish, Lionfish and Queen Triggerfish.  I was also lucky enough to find a couple good sized conch for dinner.  Tasty.

Tonight I'll get a drink at Grabbers or Nippers and get some rest for tomorrow.  Will probably be at Green Turtle mid-afternoon.

Cruisers are Sheep

Slept in until about....oh....1130 or so (still catching up from lack of sleep during travel).  Last night the gentle WNW winds produced a comfortable 1-2ft chop until about 0300 when the Sea of Abaco became glassy smooth.

Today the sun shined throughout the day and Meadowlark sat near a warm sandy beach at north Man O War.  Did a few chores around the boat and took the dinghy into the harbour to bullshit with a few of the locals and pick up some rum mixers.  Apart from that I sat in the cockpit and watched curiously as other cruising boats followed each other around the island looking for places to anchor.  One thing I'm beginning to learn:  Cruisers (at least many of them) herd like sheep.  When they see one boat anchored all by itself, they tend to flock to it.  Why this is I'm not exactly sure, but it happens all too often without regard to weather conditions, holding, or proximity to other boats.  Meadowlark and I tend to prefer keeping our distance.  It's not that we aren't sociable, we just don't like overcrowded areas. 

Weather should continue to be beautiful tonight and tomorrow, and I will be planning for a big day of sailing on Saturday.  Red beans and rice with Rum and Rain for dinner later so this is bound to be a good night.  

Back in the Sea of Abaco and ready for more!

Just got back from a 10-day trip in Kansas.  Felt nice to eat all of the wonderful food and take virtually endless hot showers.  It is also great to have such a supportive group of family and friends to come home to and spend time with, and I enjoyed every minute of it.  Also got to renew my visa on the way back and bring some much needed supplies to the boat. 

Meadowlark was right where I left her on her mooring at Man O War Cay, boredly swinging around and waiting for me to return.  For one reason or another the main outbored is not staring electrcally as she was when I left her, but fortunately, it is just as easy to pull-start.  It will give me something to ponder for a few days.  To save a little bit of money, I left the mooring for the north end of the Island where we sit now broadcasting our position with an array of christmas lights.  

The weather is nearly perfect tonight with winds NW at 5-10mph with a 1-2ft chop on the Sea of Abaco, and the forecast is favorable for more of the same for the forseeable future.  There are more cruisers here now than there were when I left for the states and I'm looking forward to meeting many of them.  My tentative itinerary involves moving NNE on Saturday towards my new favorite spot at Green Turtle Cay.  Until then, Meadowlark and I will enjoy the warm sun and calm, protected seas.