Are We There Yet? Scooting Through The Bahamas

May 19 - 26, 2015

21 - Turks and Caicos,  22 - Mayaguana,  23 - Acklins Island,  24 - Long Island,  25 - Prime Cut Cay,
26 - Highbourne Cay,  27 - Chub Cay,  28 - Cat Cay,  29 - Ft Lauderdale, Florida

Since we left Puerto Rico, we are like race horses that can’t wait to get back to the barn!  Except for our two day layover in Provo, Turks and Caicos we are pushing for maximum distance every day. This is the last segment of our two year adventure.  We are looking forward to being back in the States with all of the wonderful conveniences it offers: cell phone coverage, wifi, television, regular chats with family and friends, huge groceries with everything imaginable, Costco, multiple marine stores, Home Depot and the list goes on.  Yes, we are shallow people, but it’s the truth.  Things that were a minor inconvenience while we were exploring the Caribbean will now be a luxury to regularly enjoy.  

We found some beautiful isolated anchorages. 

And, Brian found time to do a little
bright work.

Our 8 day trip through the Bahamas starts daily around 6.  We travel  70 - 100 miles which brings us to an anchorage between 3 and 6:30.  Since we are coming back in the Spring for three months to explore the area, we aren’t making stops at islands of interest.  Consequently, the scenery gets a little monotonous:  water, water, water with an occasional island in the distance.  The only time we get near land is to anchor.  After talking to the Bahamian Customs and Immigration, we learned that we could save the $350 cruising fee by anchoring and not going ashore.  Our hope was to anchor our way through so this was great news. 

Veda L

Thursday afternoon we had no more than dropped our anchor at Clarence Town on Long Island, when we heard a familiar voice on the radio.  OMG, it was Bob and Linda on their 48 Krogen, Veda L!  Linda and I have known each other for 28 years and for ten years we shared a finger dock in Bayport, Minnesota.  We have been trying to rendezvous since November 2013.  They LOVE Eleuthera and once they get there it is almost impossible to coax them out of their cozy marina. They invited us over for a delicious dinner and none of us could stop talking. They are expert fishermen catching Mahi like other people run to the convenience store for a loaf of bread!  We headed back to Gotta Smile with enough fish for four meals, an Eleutheran pineapple (sweeter and juicier than Hawaiian) and a new lure guaranteed to catch Mahi like the pros.  Christmas in May…..!

First, we are snubbed by Kenny Chesney in
St Thomas and now Tim and Faith ignore us as
we sit in their bay!   

Where do super stars go for perfect seclusion?  They buy an island in the Bahamas, build a fabulous house and enjoy life out of the spotlight.  We spent the night in Faith Hill and Tim McGraw’s bay and played some of their music in hopes of an invitation to stop by.  No invite——-guess no one was home.   

On May 26th we entered the intracoastal waterway at Ft Lauderdale, Florida. What a great feeling of accomplishment to complete this trip.  And, the joy of being back in U.S. water!  Gotta Smile carried us 5225 miles between November 2013 and May 2015.  It was a fabulous trip that challenged us occasionally and rewarded us with memories that will last until our dying days.  We have been blessed with safe passage, many new friends and some of the best days we have ever spent on the water.  Loved the trip and love being home!

Gotta smile -- We're lovin the ride!