Bahamas Anyone?

Gentlemen, this is a bit rude, don't you think? Haven't you noticed the many recent threads and posts about the miserable weather in most of the world?

I kind of envy you guys, but I sure wish you the best. Everybody's Talkin' at me all the time, and off you go living the good lines of the song. Have fun and please keep us posted every chance you get. It really does help, you know.
 
James TXSD

We also have no schedule and no reservations. Hope the weather breaks soon for you. It would be great if we can spend some cruising time together. High yesterday was 80 and the low this morning is 70. We may stay around Naples one more day. Made contact with Mike from WhalerGoFar last night, and we are meeting him today. We spend most nights on the hook, but we will check in whenever we can.

TyBoo,

I know all about winters in crappy weather. I built bridges for 30 years, most of the time in miserable weather. When Dixie gets enough written, she will post a log of the winters trip, so you all an be cruising through the Keys.
 
All:
Got to meet Brent and Dixie, admittedly on the fly at the boat ramp. Nice couple and nice boat. No chance to bum around but its always a pleasure to run into another "Brat". There doing what we're working towards and we have no doubt they'll have a good time.
 
James/Molly Brown... WOW... You are alive!! Thought about you today when convoys of power trucks were attempting to get thru trafic around Nashville TN today headed East on I-24.

Keeping my eyes on this link.
 
Alive? Yes but busy as heck. Tried to hook up with Discovery but it was 1600h on Saturday before I could get out on the water and they must have been anxious to get going as they were just barely within VHF range. 2+ years since "Charley" and we are still dealing with it's remnants. Would love to do the Bahamas thing and logistically it would be possible but I'm slated to travel to Scotland to see my daughter and Switzerland to visit my Mom and friends at the end of March so that leaves precious little vacation time or money. Been following things on the site as a guest when I can. God Bless and the best to you and yours and all the Brats.
P.S. I'm really glad I live in the way South as restoration of utilities is tough enough without the cold,sleet and the associated mess it brings with it. At least with hurricanes it's not cold :)
 
Here's an update on our plans for the Bahamas in 2007.

Alma's Only will leave for Florida on May 18, and absent trailering problems, will arrive at Lake Worth the afternoon of the 19th, take on fuel and water, and launch. Parking remains an issue, but will be resolved one way or another. Final provisioning, and establishing contact with other vessels awaiting crossing, will take place on May 20 and 21.

The first of four crews will arrive on the 21st, and we'll spend a little time going over procedures, equipment, charts, etc. while we wait for a satisfactory weather window across the Gulf Stream.

The first crew will be my brother, who will remain on board for two weeks, to allow sufficient time to get the right crossing window, and to then head southeasterly, toward the Marsh Harbor area. We have cruised together on several prior occasions, including a trip out to the Dry Tortugas. The second crew will be my brother in law, and his son, who will be on summer vacation from college. They have canoed together, and I'm counting on them to man the dinghy. Third crew will be a long-time friend I first met in college, whose son we were blessed to have sponsored while he attended the U.S. Air Force Academy, in Colorado. We have cruised together before, but this time, we'll actually get to drive the boat, cook the food, and wash the dishes. Basically, the only similarity to our prior cruise will be the bar service at the end of the day. Well, maybe not the service, but certainly the bar. Fourth crew will be my wife, who will be on board as we head back to Florida. We have made numerous trips together over the years, and she continues to be the best of sports about the whole thing, and am able First Mate.

Although several airports in the Bahamas will be used for crew changes, arrivals and departures on any given day will be from the same location, so it won't be necessary to move the boat from one island to another on changeover and reprovisioning days.

The plan is for most nights to be spent at anchor, and for fish to constitute the mainstay of our meal planning. If we can't make that happen in the Bahamas, it's time to throw the gear overboard!

All charts are on hand, and waypoints and routes loaded. Paradoxically, the "to do" list for the boat seems to grow with each item completed.

I'm looking forward to getting some good information from those who are going earlier in the year, and will make arrangements for periodic posting of our adventures.
 
Discovery, Alma's Only, and other Bahama traveler's:

We're still monitoring the thread, but thing's on this end have taken a bit of a turn.

Enroute to Key West we (I...) managed to total the travel trailer and damage the truck on an icy patch up in Illinois. All's well. The trailer has been replaced and we'll be off to KW as soon as the truck is out of the shop (early Feb?). After that, we're still thinking about whether or not we want to return to AZ to get Naknek and return to KW for the summer, and maybe the Bahama's Cruise.

The Admiral still makes Very favorable comments re Bahama's, so there is still a possibility I'll be told to just "make it happen, Number One" Stay tuned.

(Alma's Only: Thanks for the GREAT satellite photos of Bahama's. I'd give my left ...aah, little finger to see that view.)

We're not out of the Game yet.

Casey and Admiral Sandy (aka "The Queen")
C-Dory Naknek
...currently in Panama City Beach, FL
 
Casey:

OUCH. Sorry to learn of your vehicle problems. That must have been frightening, and is something with which most of us can identify. How many close calls do we get in this business? I'm having trouble counting.

So glad to hear that noone was injured, and will keep you posted on Bahamas planning.

Glad you enjoyed the photography. I have lots of fun going back and forth between Garmin's Blue Chart, and satellite photos.

david
 
Just finished talking to the dog and our plans are:

Leave Camarillo Cal. last week of March
5 day drive to Florida
Arrive Florida March 1 (or close to it)
Spend April in Florida/Bahama's
Return home first week of May.

I think we will hang around the keys and if a group decides to go across to the Bahama's we will go... Sue will fly over sometime in April to spend a week aboard (she still has a job)


Joel and Roxie the dog
SEA3PO
 
Just looked at that schedule....it's arrive around April 1 and spend the month in Florida/Bahama's....return home first week of May.

Joel
SEA3PO
 
Joel,
For some reason, I thought that Susan was going along with my suggestion that you purchase another C-Dory for placement on the East coast so you wouldn't have to trailer your boat across country.........or did I mis-interpret her actions after I mentioned it.......(I thought when she smacked me in the shoulder that meant "great idea", but in reality did it mean "shut up"?.... :roll:)
 
You were lucky.... I got the whole fist !!

Yes I think it's a GREAT idea.... keep a boat in Florida for the winter and a boat here in California for the summer... I actually got our financial planner to talk to her....but that didn't fly either... she thinks he as full of BS as I am... (at least he makes money)....
 
We've firmed up our plans for Leg III of our Great Loop cruise, and will be heading out of Cape Coral, Florida, on February 24 for a day on Sanibel before heading across to Stuart and then down to West Palm Beach. We should probably be in West Palm Beach by February 28. The Admiral is now a little hesitant about crossing to the Bahamas without company, and so we might decide not to go unless we can find a buddy boat. I know that a group is planning a Bahamas trip later in the Spring, but are there any boats considering an earlier trip? I would appreciate hearing from anyone who might like to visit the Bahamas in early march. Thanks.

Patrick & Mary Fowles
25-ft C Dory Cosmic C
Currently moored in Cape Coral, FL
www.the-fowles.com
 
There is a good cruising guide titled "The Cruising Guide to Abaco Bahamas 2006" by Steve Dodge. It is updated yearly so the 2007 guide should be out. You can get it off Amazon.com. The guide has up to date waypoints and routes from the Florida east coast and though out the Abacos. It has a lot of local knowledge for boating in the Sea of Abaco. It also is packed with information on marinas, grocery stores, and all the other things you might need. I stayed at a house on the north side of Elbow Key this last New Years. It doesn’t get any better then the Junkanoo Parade in Hope Town on New Years Eve. Have fun in the Abacos. I can’t wait until I can get back. Oh, don't miss the beach on Great Guana, the Hope Town light house 'tour', Cracker P's on Lubers Key, and Pete's Pub at Little Harbor.
 
when we went to the bahama's on our 25-c-dory,we hooked up with the bahama tourist board..it cost $75.00 and they furnished two parties of food and drinks.one in the bahama's and one in fort lauderdale where we left from..we also docked at the sundance marina on the intercoastal,who also sponsor's trips to the bahama's. they just sent me a new notice on there trips to the bahama's...tucker
 
Alma's Only is still on for May 18 departure for Florida, and the Bahamas. Anyone have ideas on parking? Phil Foster State Park turned out to be unavailable for extended parking, and I'm ready to see if I can throw some $$$ at locating something in the general West Palm Beach/Lake Worth area.

Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 
A lma's Only, you may get some ideas from calling the Bahama tourist board. They have an office in fla.We used they when we went last year.
I'am not sure if you can go to the Bahamas without a court battle ?
Tucker
 
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