The Crossing and Beyond

#10

Sun going down in Biscayne Bay

After a week of being anchored of the Venetian Causeway between Miami and South Beach, we finally moved to Biscayne Bay to anchor for the night to stage for our crossing. It was Saturday so we knew we would find the weekenders anchored on the shoal off of the entrance to Hurricane Hole. We were correct. The powerboats with twenty-something people were there drinking and blaring their music which tended to have a Hispanic beat. As sunset approached boats prepared to leave. Most of the smaller boats left at dark and finally it quieted down. 

Then we were entertained by the local boat club's boat parade with a stream of all sorts of boats decorated for the holidays. It was a nice surprise and they eventually went by just in front of us so that we could really see them. 

Not many sailboats in the parade

This was a Hawaiian Christmas boat

Sunrise heading across.

 Mershons on Sequence, Mary Jo and Mike on Serenity and another boat called Last Flight Out who asked if they could join us on the crossing and ourselves hauled anchor at 6am to leave for the Bahamas. It was a pretty sunrise and we were pleasantly surprised that the seas were only 3 feet and the 18 knot winds out of the southeast was perfect for a great sail across. There were many boats crossing. Al threw out his fishing line and caught and landed a 28 inch wahoo. Yahoo for wahoo! 

 

The lights of the armada coming across.

The night was nice sailing because it was near a full moon and so you could see quite well. When we looked in back of us there were numerous light from the armada of cruisers crossing. 

Around 4am the wind lightened so we turned on the engine to motor sail. Wow, we sailed for 22 hours. That is a record for us.

We made it to Nassau Harbor Club marina around 9am. We washed the boat, got our Bahamian cell phone working, as well as time for the computer and ipad. Showers were a must and afterward we headed to Cafe Villa for a good Chinese dinner. Dave and Toni, Mary Jo and Mike, us, and Sue and Dave from a boat named San Cle' who we had met previously in St. Augustines all went. 

 

Enjoying dinner out and celebrating the crossing!

An enjoyable night was had by all. But bed looked mighty inviting after that over night sail across.

We left Nassau the next day because some windy conditions were coming and if we did not leave, we would be there probably for three or more days. The group headed out an across to Norman's Cay. Not just our group but many others who had crossed, did likewise. It was not a pleasant night with a lot of bouncing due to north winds which we hoped were going NE and never did. After all the hobby horsing, we had to get off the boat, so we dinghied ashore to walk a bit. Where we came in, was a small landing strip and just after we crossed a small plane took off. 

 We walked to the other side where it was quite shallow so the water was a beautiful light turquoise.

The walkers on the other side.

Al and I decided after lunch to move to Hawk's Bill Cay because the conditions were still the same off of Norman's Cay. The other two boats wanted to hunt lobsters so they stayed because Hawk's Bill Cay is in the Exuma Land and Sea Park which is a “no take zone.” We were so glad we moved! It is just beautiful and the best part, quite calm! 

There was only one other boat here. Once again we went ashore to hike over to the ocean side. 

The area in the middle is flooded at high tide.

It was near low tide which you needed, to be able to cross, because at high tide you would have to wade through some pretty deep streams.  You might wonder how we know where to go.  Cairins have been built by previous cruisers and park personnel.

A cairin which is a pile of rocks formed by humans.

 It was a long, picture perfect beach, but the beaches on the sound side where we were anchored off consisted of that very fine soft white sand. So they were great too. There are several of them that we can visit which was great because we were going to be here for several days due to high winds so it was a perfect spot to be.

Coming back from shore we stopped at the other boat, Carina. They invited us over for happy hour so we got to know the owners, Mark and Kathy from Connecticut. We had actually met them at the phone store in Nassau.
We radioed Sequence and Serenity to tell them the wonderful conditions where we were anchored so they came down the next day. Not without some problems however on Serenity. Their gear shift broke so they sailed into the anchorage and dropped their anchor. Now the men had something to work on.

Serenity sailing in to drop their anchor.

Kayaking the area that was dry during low tide.

The next morning Dave, Mark, Kathy and I kayaked into the inside pond that Al and I hiked the day before at low tide. It was fun exploring through the mangroves. We stopped and hiked to the beach and walked the gorgeous white sands. We made sure to get back in the kayaks in time to return before low tide took the water out.
Due to a wind shift we decided to move around the corner to another beach where there wasn't as much roll. Unfortunately, Serenity still had not gotten their gear shift working yet and had to stay put. On top of it all, they were having a problem with their head (toilet for you non-boaters.)
We hiked the new trails off of the beach trying to reach some ruins that are on the island. Unfortunately, we got to the part of the trail that looked too dangerous along a cliff, so we turned back to hike the beach.

Poison wood- don't touch!

While hiking you have to be very careful of not touching or brushing up against the Poison Wood Tree. Al was our scout warning us when he saw any along the trail. It has five shiny leaves, and the bark is mottled on older trees. They say it is worse than any of the poisons we have in the states, such as poison ivy, sumac, or oak. I don't want to find out!
We ended the day at Mershon's boat playing Mexican Train Dominoes with Mark and Kathy beating us all.

The mottled bark on larger trees is easy to identify.