Saturday January 8th
Got Ira off early to South Bimini by water taxi and then to the airport (total cost $5.00!). Weather is beautiful and sunny & 80 degrees, but the wind is still strong. We may go and anchor out tomorrow to save marina fees. Had our usual Saturday breakfast. Washing up, grocery shopping (not too much fresh stuff apart from bananas and eggs – but that’s O.K.), write up blog then it’s supper time! Had the last of the veggies in a stir fry with fried tilapia. Very good.
Sunday January 9th
After breakfast, had a meeting with a few other boaters to decide the best time to leave Bimini. Three or four of the boaters have decided to leave at 1:00 p.m. to anchor at North Rock and take off from there and do a straight 22 hours to Nassau. We have decided, with Bilbo, just to move out of the marina to an anchorage a bit further north from here and see what the forecast says. There is supposed to be another front coming Weds./Thurs./Fri. The anchorage is very nice. There is a large housing development on shore. It is a typical American-style gated community – very well manicured. A casino is supposed to be going up shortly.
Our new (Italian) friends from ‘Jancris’
were there and in the afternoon we all went over to have an espresso coffee with Alfredo and Nicoletta. 
They have circumnavigated the world in their beautiful boat but are visiting The Bahamas for the first time.
There will possibly be a window to cross ‘the Banks’ tomorrow.
Monday January 10th
It’s a go! Weather looks favourable for a crossing. We said goodbye to Alice Town which is where we were actually docked.
It actually looks a little more impressive in the photos than reality. It’s very third worldy. Though the customs house is impressive.
We left the anchorage in Bimini to anchor south of North Rock at East Wells from where we took off for the crossing at 6:30 p.m. We said goodbye to Alfredo and Nicoletta as they were also anchored there but leaving later with their much faster boat. We should arrive at Chub Cay around 10:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.
Tuesday January 11th
It was a long and (happily) uneventful journey. The water was relatively smooth. Lynton and I both stayed up in the cockpit along with Buddy, snatching sleep every now and then. We decided to anchor at Frazer’s Hog Cay, just beyond Chub Cay. We ate at a little restaurant at the Berry Island Club where we subsequently spent quite a bit of time as they administer the mooring balls and dispense the Internet at $10/hr
– no wine though at $7.00 a glass! Then back to the boat for an early night and catch up on sleep.
Wednesday January 12th
It was a very calm night and we slept for 12 hours. The weather is lovely, but another front will start coming through today. As the holding is not very good in the anchorage, Lynton has decided to take a mooring can.
Much conch is consumed here – the beach near the anchorage has the evidence.
Thursday January 13th
The wind is still relentless. After dragging their anchor, John and Rejeanne decided to take a mooring can.
Friday January 14th
The wind is still strong. One of the locals sold us some fresh grouper fillets. Had a pleasant, relaxing day.
Saturday January 15th
Decided it was time to try my hand at making (Bunkey’s) English muffins as we are running out of bread. They turned out pretty well.
We had another go at anchoring, but failed after three attempts. So, back to the mooring can!!
Sunday January 16th
We had English muffins for breakfast. Very tasty. Thank you Bunkey.
Went out to anchor again, this time successfully.
A wild sunset.
According to the forecast, it looks like Tuesday will be the day to head to Nassau.
Monday January 17th
The wind picked up as forecast and howled relentlessly the whole day. Finally it was too much for our anchors. Had to give in and go back to the mooring can. It was impossible to get up one of the anchors, so we had to drag it back with us to the can. Just after we got into bed, a storm came up with thunder and lightning and lashings of rain. Once again, the Budster ended up in bed with us!!
Tuesday January 18th
The anchor roller required repairs after yesterday’s escapade. So we will not be setting out for Nassau today. Back to reading and Sudoku. It is a beautiful calm, sunny day. As the sun went down the moon came up for an eerie effect.
Wednesday January 19th
Up early to finally set off for Nassau.
The wind has come up a bit and the water is a tad choppy. I decide to take a precautionary Dramamine.
Here’s Bilbo carving along under full sail.
It was a good crossing – motor sailing until the last 10 miles before Nassau Harbour entrance when we actually sailed with NO MOTOR for a couple of hours. The entry into the harbor went without a hitch. We passed three large cruise ships and ended up in a slip in the Nassau Yacht Haven Marina around 2:00 p.m. I staggered off to do 2 loads of washing. After a supper of fried tilapia, mushroom rice, beans with snap peas accompanied by a bottle of Korbel ‘fizzy’, I crawled into bed at 8:30 p.m. followed by Lynton at 9:00 p.m.
Thursday January 20th
Nassau is probably our last chance to buy odd items – like a Canadian flag. After 10 years on the back of the boat through squalls and high winds our flag (and flagpole) disappeared off the back of the boat in Frasers Hog. Went grocery shopping at the City Market supermarket. John and Rejeanne came over with the rest of the lobster tails we’d bought in Bimini and had a great supper outside in the cockpit under a full moon.
Friday January 21st
We are staying in our slip at the marina as there is supposed to be some ‘weather’ tomorrow. This marina charges a flat daily rate for water, so it is wonderful to splurge and have more than 1 inch in the bowl for washing up. Lynton washed down the boat already and we have filled all our plastic containers.
This afternoon, we all went sight-seeing to see the canyon carved out by slaves for the ruling governor for his escape route.
When Queen Victoria brought in a law abolishing slavery, the freedmen carved a staircase from the bottom up of the canyon floor to show their gratitude to the queen.
It is called (naturally) the Queen’s Staircase.
Once at the top of the steps you get to see the old fort which the the Governor fancifully had made shaped like a ship.
There is a commanding view from the high point with cruise ships in the distance.
This is not a hotel complex, just another cruise ship.
Back to the boat and supper.
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