Crossing Home

 All good things must come to an end.  This end came a little sooner than I would have liked but adulting with all it’s responsibilities needs to happen sometime.  With weeks between reasonable weather windows to cross over the gulf stream there was no way to pass up a 4 day window. Calm winds mean motoring the entire way, but it also means calm seas. We only needed two and a half days to make it to St. Mary’s inlet, which means we can go straight there and not muck about with the ICW.

Since we had not fully set up to be prepared for this weather window we needed to make it back though Whale Cay passage before we could head west across the Bahama banks.  With some questional reports on the Whale Cay status and much indecision we headed up to have a look at it, there were boats going through, and although not completely calm it looked passable, so we gave it a try.  It was indeed passable if not a little exciting, with a few 7’ waves and some breaking waves not too far away we were happy to arrive on the other side and back into calm water. Set up and ready to head back to the US first thing in the morning.

The rest of the trip was uneventful, there was not enough wind to sail, so we had to hear the engine thrumming along the entire trip. Not nearly as peaceful as silently slicing through the ocean driven by wind alone, but much better than being beaten and tossed about in high winds and rough seas. Sometimes you just take what you can get. The Gulf Stream gives us a nice push northward, so we spent as much time in it as we could, as we neared Cape Canaveral the stream was starting to get a bit uncomfortable as we were heading into the waves.  We gave up the extra push of the current to go closer to shore and get into calmer water.

Lyra finally has gotten her sea legs, just in time to return to land life. She never once had a potty mistake, no sea sickenss, ate full meals and wandered around the boat, even requesting play time every evening. She helped me out on night watches and cuddled when it was time to sleep.

We spent the weekend at Fernandina Beach resting, cleaning up the boat and begining to pack up. The first of the week we will haul the boat out for storage on land during hurricane season and return home to contine construction on our house.

Lyra has finally adjusted to life at sea and is perfectly comfortable hanging out in the cockpit while under way.

Sunrise at sea

Sunset at sea

Seven Weeks

Seven weeks in the Bahamas goes quickly. The Abacos are a very easy place to hang out on a boat, although there are often cold fronts that move through the area frequently in the winter months, there are many anchorages very short distances apart that make it easy to find protection from different wind directions without moving far. There are islands with towns and restaurants and more remote anchorages with empty islands, mangroves and blue holes. We spent our time exploring, relaxing, hanging out with old friends, making new friends, and spear fishing. The princess Lyra needs her lobster after all.

Hiking around an island, Lyra quickly got hot and tired. She was more than happy to be carried.

Needing a little sun and spray protection for a day of lobster hunting, it's a good thing the dingy chaps convert to a cat tent well.

The hunting grounds.

One days catch. Everyone eats good this day.

Passport at sunset.

Sunset over the island.

Lyra anxiously looks ahead.

Sometimes a pool day is just what is needed. 

An open cabinet is an open invitation.

Meeting the locals.

Out and about in the dingy, little bit of wind in the fur.

Lyra got a little seasick and had a little potty accident, so she got to wear the 'panties of shame' until we dropped anchor in calmer water.

The windward side of the island.

IB patiently waiting for us to catch up on our beach walk.

The little lioness.

Just a lizard on the beach.

Sailing in the clear waters of the Abacos.

Calm clear days are the best.

Lyra decided she rather enjoys a bit of snorkeling, provided she has reliable transportation.