It IS better in the Bahamas!

We've been on Grand Bahama Island for 6 days now....the last two days the weather has been crazy with gale force winds (45mph+). Even at the docks boats are blowing around, except for "Cloud Nine", Tom has her tied up like a mummy. We've taken the opportunity of bad weather to explore this island...we've made several trips in to town on the city bus, which is actually an enlarged van. On the way home on Saturday, there were 16 of us jam-packed in the van...there were groceries under seats, tied to the top of the van, kids on every available lap, 4 people in the front seat...you get the picture...As the 25 mile trip progressed more people flagged down the van from the road and somehow we made room for one more...at each stop, the bus driver helped ladies to their doors with their groceries, people on the bus carried each others children and everyone helped each other. The chatter on the bus was fun to listen to. Tom mentioned that he wanted to buy fresh conch to try his hand at Bahamian conch salad...so when the bus was empty, the bus driver drove us to the bay where a conch diver was standing in shallow water surronded by mounds of conch. They taught us how to extract the conch from the shell by cutting a slit in the back of the shell that releases the conch...when the diver pulled the conch out, there was a silvery transparent membrane that looked like a rice noodle...he said "eat it, it'll put lead in your pencil"...so we did! Just like fear factor. One of the people on the bus invited us to church on Sunday and we accepted, so we were picked up by the bus and off we went to St James Baptist Church in West End, Grand Bahama. Everyone in the church was dressed to the nines...the women in beautiful dresses with big bright colored hats, the men in suits and ties...we were hugged by everyone and made to feel so welcome. The service was 2.5 hours long...there was alot of rousing singing and dancing in the aisles...and a great sermon about "love"...usually after church the people in the village cook out on their lawns and you can buy jerk chicken, ribs and fresh steamed conch...but the weather was too windy. We loved the last two days, and once again realized that if you're open to the possibilities you can have wonderful, unforgettable experiences, even in a storm!

Bahama Mama

WE ARE IN THE BAHAMAS!!!!!!!We crossed on Wednesday, February 14th, and had a real bobsled ride across the gulf stream! There were 6-8' rollers behind us all the way across and when we saw the radio tower (first landmark) at West End we cheered! This is a beautiful marina in a gorgeous resort called Old Bahama Bay. There are boats here from all over the world, and once again we are one of the smaller boats...as Tom and I always say to each other "do you think the people in the big boats are having any more fun than we are?" No way!!!! Today we will take the city bus to Freeport about 25 miles away. From here we'll be island hopping to the Abacos...some of the islands are little more than pieces of dirt peeking out from the gorgeous tourquise Bahamas bank, but they offer good shelter for anchoring.

Boating is really a study in contrasts...on our way north to Palm Beach, we saw a helicopter coming at us right up the intracoastal waterway...I thought it was the coast guard until it landed on a private yacht right next to us!!!! It was a full sized helicopter and 4 people got out of it!!!! Contrast this with the boats we saw in the Keys that were just 1 step above floating homeless shelters!!! You see it all out here, just like on land I guess.

Marathon Pictorial

Bad News Bears!

Okay...they lost. But at least they provided some big thrills. How about that opening play!!!!Tom and I rode in our dinghy to a restaurant in a howling rain storm and 25 mph winds, to watch the game. So, like the Bears, we took a beating!
We are still anchored in Boot Key Harbor in Marathon and cannot leave because of small craft advisories and big seas and winds. We are learning patience along with many other things on this journey.We want to get to either Ft Lauderdale or Lake Worth (Palm Beach) to cross over to the Bahamas...other Loopers have been waiting in Lake Worth for 3 weeks for the winds to moderate to be able to cross to West End , Bahama. At this time of year it's hard to get a calm day and south winds for this Atlantic crossing. In order to get to the Bahamas you must cross the "Gulf Stream" which is actually a river in the ocean.This river moves north at 4 knots and can be very trecherous if there is any component of "north" in the wind. It's only about 60 miles from the main land to West End, but its a 60 mile passage that needs to be taken seriously. So, we will enjoy the moment..time to do laundry and pay bills I guess....

more pictures

Loop Pictures

At anchor in Boot key Harbor, Marathon

Hello Loyal Readers!
GO BEARS!!!!!!!!!
We are in Marathon, Florida, after a wonderful cruise to the Keys via Everglade City. What an outpost that little town, tucked into the Everglades, is...We docked the boat at the Rod and Gun Club which is up a river, through mangroves 8 miles off the Gulf Coast. The Rod and Gun Club is a large, white clapboard building with yellow and white stripped awnings and a huge wrap-around screened porch overlooking the dock and river. Its reminiscent of a northern Wisconsin lodge (without the cheese curds).
There are game fish mounted on the walls and dark, pecky cypress panelling throughout.The bar has the feel of an old club, and it overlooks an ancient looking swimming pool.In the lobby are articles, some of them yellowed with age, about the 5 US presidents who have visited the club...also many articles about the drug smugglers who hide out in the mangrove islands surronding the little town...this only adds to the mystique of the place. Alligator alley, the main road through the "glades" and across the state of Florida is nearby, and it's estimated that one in six cars traversing the state via this road is carrying drugs!!!
The town is charming ,in an old Florida kind of way. There is a town square with several interesting historic buildings around the perimeter. Smack dab in the middle of that square is a huge cell tower, once again giving credence to the fact that Florida is such a dicotomy between beauty and quirkiness.
We're currently anchored in the beautiful Keys, and will explore this area for several days before moving toward Miami. In the distance we see the flashing lights of three huge radio towers...most locals don't even know this, but we do...these are the towers of "radio Marti"...the radio free Cuba station that beams to that island 24/7...the installation is surronded by fencing and no tresspassing signs everywhere...we went past it in our dinghy yesterday....
If any of you reading this have any questions or any suggestions for this site...please e-mail me. If you use this site please leave your e-mail address. You can also reach me at pamfrech@ameritech.net
Adios and once again...GO BEARS