We made the crossing from Bimini back to the USA at Biscayne Bay on Friday, the 8th after a very nice several days in Bimini. This time we crossed with a "buddy boat"--Jerel and Tammy Roe of Kokomo, Ind. aboard their center cockpit, Pearson 385, "Osprey". Again, we crossed on advice from the weather guru, Chris Parker, and encountered very benign conditions. Thanks Chris!!!
We had departed Chub Cay on Sat, April 2nd and motored, with a very light following wind, westward, across the Bahama Banks, toward Bimini, again, spending the night on the hook about 25 miles east of Bimini. This time we bounced and rolled all night long--very uncomfortable ---and couldn't wait to get back underway Sun. morning. We pulled up the anchor at 5 AM Sunday and continued on to Bimini, arriving at the Bimini Blue Water Marina at around 11 AM--tied up--turned on the A/C, took a nap and spent the afternoon watching Phil win the Houston Open (We could pick up the three networks out of Miami on our powered TV antenna at the top of our mast----And Diane calls this "roughing it"??) Once again we were waiting in port for a good crossing weather pattern so we ended up staying 5 nights in Bimini. This time we really enjoyed this quiet and quaint island. We met other cruising couples--Gerald and Tammy, from Indiana; Bob and Sally from St Augustine Florida and others including a young couple on a sail cat who have been out for the past 10 years. We enjoyed a $10 seafood platter dinner at a little local dive run by Aaron, a bimini native and enjoyed the company of other locals who kept us entertained with their descriptions of all the celebrities that frequent the island (including Tiger Woods, who the locals do not like at all because of his arrogance.) Of course, the $10 per person dinner turned into a $50 dinner for Diane and me after partaking of several ice cold Kalik's. We dined another night at the Bimini Big Game Club where the photo of the 6 of us was taken. After dinner, we walked over to the beach side to watch yet another sunset (and enjoy some more ice cold Kalik). I guess the difference this time is that we enjoyed what this island has to offer in the company of some very nice and fun people. We're learning to "come out of our shells" more and more on this trip and opening ourselves to new acquaintances even when we know that the relationship will probably be short lived--although it's our plan to keep in touch in the hope that we'll link up some time on a future trip
. Oh yeah!!!! Finally!!! I found the d%^##%% fluxgate compass while in Bimini and was able to recalibrate it so that we had the aid of our auto pilot on the way back across the stream. What a difference!!! But then---we sprung a raw water (cooling system) leak in the engine on the way over. A small leak that didn't effect operation--no overheating at all--but it has to be repaired and I've called in a mechanic to make sure it's done right. Considering that we've motored over 200 engine hours on this trip and about 75% of the miles we don't want to take a chance that the engine might fail at some critical juncture.
We arrived at Biscayne Bay and anchored off of Key Biscayne at around 4 PM on Friday and spent the night at anchor in a beautiful lee with a view of the Key and the Miami skyline beyond---BUT--Saturday we motored across to the Dinner Key Marina where we could plug in and watch the Masters in A/C'd comfort. It is finally starting to get hot here, and a bit humid, so we'll take our pleasures where we can, while we can. This marina is in the Coconut Grove section of Miami and is a huge municipal marina with 500+ slips and a 250 boat mooring field. I called cousin Jane who is home sick with a cold and couldn't make it down to see us again--perhaps back in Punta Gorda---but we also arrived to some terrible news about a very good and dear friend
Our friend and Vail neighbor, who lived here in Coral Gables, died unexpectedly and very quickly after a cancer diagnosis. Marvin and Anne Sheldon were our duplex neighbors in Vail with whom we have maintained a very close friendship. Marvin apparently had experienced some symptoms in his throat and medical attention resulted in a thyroid cancer diagnosis. 7 days later, before any meaningfull treatment had started, he passed away at the age of 76. We hope to see Anne while we are here. Marvin was one of my favorite people. I am not alone as he had a huge circle of good friends because he is just one of those people that you can't help but love. I know his family is devastated as he was truly a good and loving patriarch. Diane and I, needless to say, were completely floored by the news. I really hate to end this post on this note but felt it needed to be mentioned here.
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