January 11, 2018
Hello Folks,
I have not been blogging
lately in case you hadn't noticed...not because we have been SO busy doing
exciting things, but because we have NOT done anything exciting.
My grandson is the
epitome of consideration and empathy. He will NOT admit that he is having a
rotten time. The weather sucks!!! It was stinking hot in Florida for about a
week, and he was devoured by no-see-ums and mosquitoes. Nothing we put on him
made a difference...until the temperature dropped by 30 degrees and they all
froze to death ...along with the rest of us.
We finally go into the
water, had a spectacular crossing from Florida to the Banks, and arrived two
days before Christmas, as we had hoped for . He had fun with the adults around
us, all of whom made him feel special and part of the group. For that I am
eternally grateful.
That week was great. Except
the water temperature dropped 4 degrees from 21 to 17. 15C degrees = 59F so you
can imagine how cold the ocean is...check out the stories about frozen sharks
and manatees huddling in creeks near hydro plants!!
After Christmas we went
to Great Guana Cay. He got to meet his
"Nipper's family and spent New Year's there. We went back the enxt day and
spent the Junkanoo with our friend again and enjoyed the festivities.
We left Green Turtle and
headed to Marsh Harbour on January 5. Beguiler followed us and it was a
pleasant if slightly rough crossing. We actually sailed for about 6 miles. We made it in and spent the evening with Beguiler,
enjoying Greek food and playing games. C-Soul followed the next day.
We were in Marsh Harbour
for 7 days and spent time with Modaki, C-Soul, Beguiler, and met up with
Sandy's Way and Wingspread, both of them Ontario boats!!
It was fun but Rick
was getting restless...he wants to spend time beach combing and there aren't
any beaches there that he can get to easily...like take the dinghy in. He hates
being in towns. So we started planning to leave. For 2 days.
Yesterday we were
preparing to leave the harbour when the windlass decided to stop working. So
Rick and Todd and Mark spent the morning and most of the afternoon repairing
it. Beguiler had left in the morning and by mid-afternoon called back to say
that they were caught in a storm and travelling by radar...not to follow. We couldn't
anyway but...
This morning, having spent the week trying to
find a weather window to take us across the North-East Channel from Abacos to
Eleuthera, we decided to leave the harbour and head for Lynyard Cay...the
jumping off spot.
First of all, you have to
understand that at no time has there been a window of opportunity to ANYTHING, much
less travel open water. Mother Nature is in a right pissy mood this year. So when all the markers showed that this
Saturday 13th is the ONLY day for a couple more weeks, we decided that we had
to try it. C-Soul was going to follow but they have some business to attend to
and I fear that they will miss the window...if, in fact, a window does actually
open.
This morning there were
clouds but also sun and a beautiful rainbow...good sign, right? NOT!! We
managed to get out of the harbour and down to Turtle Creek on the back side of Great Abaco, when She
raised her head. We were going to anchor but the windlass wouldn't work, so we
kept going. We managed to dodge the rain squalls three times, but then one
looked like it was coming towards us so we moved over to Tilloo Cay and we
dropped anchor. We started off with the wind coming off the ocean from the
east. So we were facing the shore in 10 feet of water. There were two boats on
either side of us with at least a quarter mile between us. A few minute later, another cat hove into
view, but we were parked in the good spot so he kept going.
Then all hell broke loose!!
The biggest damned thunderstorm rolled over us and then back over us. Like
Thunder Bay, it is just rolling around, swinging us! At one point we couldn't
even see the rocks behind us and the boats disappeared from sight. Lightning
and thunder on top of us. Poor Todd put on earmuffs so he couldn't hear
it. I think he was scared...I know I
was!!
So here we sit. The storm
has passed...sort of... we can see clear sky to the southwest but there is
another bank of cloud sitting on the horizon...in the direction we wish to
go... the rain is spitting right now but we are facing the wrong direction! The
wind is coming from the north. AGGHHHH!!
If the weather window
doesn't work, we will be sitting at Cherokee Point for a week or two until one
comes again. I just hope that I can get internet so I can keep checking on them. It's 2:30 and we are watching the sky lighten
in the southwest and the huge black cloud is sliding slowly over us to the
north east. Still lightning and thunder. The water is flat now with a slight
swell, but we will probably sit here until morning. We can see that we will get hit again with
wind and rain in a few minutes.
We are exactly half-way
between the anchorage at Lynyard Cay and our anchor spot at Marsh Harbour.
Point of no return.
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