Friday, April 20, 2012

UPDATE: Our "Lazy Do Nothing 2012 Bahamas Cruise Recap (for now)"


What a spot to think about absolutely nothing. 
Well we have been here in Hope Town for a week and are prepping to move on to another of our favorite spots here in the Abacos, Treasure Cay. So it’s time to share a little of our adventure here in Hope Town and recap what we did in the Exumas and Eleuthera.


Let's see, where do we begin? Well let’s start by sharing how much fun we have had buddy boating with Sandy and Ray on s/v Megerin. These guys have been awesome to cruise with. It started in Brunswick, GA back in November, 2011 and has continued off and on throughout this season. 


There were a couple of breakaways, Megerin in Ft. Pierce for the Holidays while we were in Vero Beach and then Ft Lauderdale for Christmas and New Years. Since Megerin rendezvoused with us in Miami, we have been joined at the hip so to speak. We go our own ways when we get to an area, but have made all the major crossings together. It's good to look out and see a buddy boat when you are making a crossing or sitting out nasty weather on the hook. These guys have been great company and friends and we are fortunate to have had this experience with them.  


We were also blessed to have had other buddy boats along as well for parts of this years adventure. Old friends Mike and Barb on s/v "Goose Bumps"; Art and Ann on s/v "Discretion"; Bill on s/v Memento Mori; new friends Ward and Richard on m/v "Baggerra"; John and Marilyn on m/v "Carolina" ; Russ and Carol on s/v "Zivelli"; Rick on s/v "Feral Cat".  It's been a good year so far. How can one complain having some of the most beautiful water on earth as your backyard for 7 months of the year.


Anyway a short recap of our basic "Sorry-Ass Do Nothing 2012 Bahamas Cruise" has gone something like this: Miami; - Nassau; - Highbourne Cay, Exuma - Hawksbill Cay, Exuma; -Warderick Wells Land and Sea Park, Exuma; - Sampson Cay, Exuma; Black Point, Exuma; - White Point, Exuma; Little Farmers Cay, Exuma; Big Majors Cay, Exuma; Rock Sound, Eleuthera; Governors Harbour; Eleuthera; Alabaster Bay, Eleuthera; Hatchet Bay, Eleuthera; Royal Island, Eleuthera; Spanish Wells, Eleuthera; Lynyard Cay, Abaco and Hope Town, Abaco. There will be a few more stops before we head back to the US and we will keep you posted on our "Do Nothing Adventure". In the meantime here are some of the wonderful things we have seen here in the Bahamas.


Hope Town, Elbow Cay, Abaco

Hope Town, Elbow Cay, Abaco

Hope Town, Elbow Cay, Abaco

Hope Town, Elbow Cay, Abaco


Hope Town, Elbow Cay, Abaco


Hope Town, Elbow Cay, Abaco


Hope Town Inn and Marina, Elbow Cay, Abaco
      
Hope Town Inn and Marina, Elbow Cay, Abaco

Hope Town Inn and Marina, Elbow Cay, Abaco


Spanish Wells, Eleuthera


Ginny walking the line in Spanish Wells.


Spanish Wells, Eleuthera

Spanish Wells, Eleuthera

What's de porpoise?

Spanish Wells, Eleuthera

Spanish Wells, Eleuthera




Some People Have all the toys. A three story water slide in the middle of Rock Sound Eleuthera.

Rock Sound, Eleuthera


Rock Sound, Eleuthera

Ginny and JP getting ready for Thunderball. Look out 007.









Fresh Bahamian Lobster - OMG is it good. No we didn't eat Chicken Noodle with the Lobster. It's to show size of the Lobster Tail.



Stone Crab off the boat in Spanish Wells. Thanks Terrance.



OK Miss Ginny where's my treat.



Barb and Mike on "Goose Bumps" (on the Left)

Capt. JP's Stuffed Acorn Squash Recipe.


Rocky wanting to know "Where are all the chicks?"

Porky and Hoof looking for a handout.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

UPDATE: My 1st Mahi-mahi


Well it finally came to pass. After dragging lures of every size and description and being skunked time after time Capt. JP finally caught his 1st Mahi. Yep he's no longer a Mahi virgin. It was a good size fish, measuring 48” from the tip of the tail to the tip of the nose. 

Ginny and I will never forget the color of the Mahi in the water as we reeled it in. The color contrast between the royal blue color of the crystal clear ocean and the neon greenish blue of the Mahi as the sunlight reflected off of it created a surreal moment and image.

We caught the Mahi about 15 nm south of Little Harbor Abaco in the deep waters of Northeast Providence Channel. As I pulled the Mahi close enough I could gaff it we could see several others swimming close by.Once I gaffed the fish and pulled it over the rail onto the deck that’s when the fun began. The Mahi was far from done. When it was all over it looked like several murders had taken place on the deck of Wind Dust. Blood was everywhere. As we got back underway I used a bucket to do a quick wash down of the deck and place the Mahi in the shade wrapped in a cool wet towel. 

That’s when it hit me that this was a pretty big Mahi. I decided I should measure it’s length. Wow 48 inches of fish. By far the biggest I have ever caught. We didn’t have a way of measuring the weight so I had to guess maybe 20 to 25 lbs. We were making the crossing with 3 other boats and we of course boasted of our catch and offered up fresh Mahi to our buddies once on anchor.

At the anchorage off Lynyard Cay we filleted and cleaned our catch. There were two big fillets and enough meat to feed our friends (5 sailors), ourselves and have enough frozen fish for 3 or 4 additional meals.

This was the first fresh - never frozen Mahi we had ever eaten and man was it good. We seasoned it and cooked it on the grill. Yep, add a glass wine and sit back and enjoy. Needless to say I will be deploying my secret weapon the next time we hit the high seas. Stay tuned to see how big this fish really gets by this time next year. 

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Update: Spanish Wells, Eleuthera, The Bahamas.

Here are a few photo’s from our stay here on Eleuthera. We visited Rock Sound, Governor’s Harbour, Alabaster Bay, Hatchet Bay, Royal Island, Harbour Island and Spanish Wells.  It’s been great and we are hanging out in Spanish Wells, one of our favorite spots in the Bahamas. We will follow up with the details later. 
Rainbow off the Town of Rock Sound, Eleuthera
Lot's of Boats anchored in Rock Sound

View From Four Points Bar Rock Sound
CocoDiMama Resort Alabaster Bay
CocoDiMama Resort Alabaster Bay
Twin Brothers Restaurant, Hatchet Bay
Sip Sip Restaurant, Harbour Island
North Side Beach, Spanish Wells
West Side Beach, Spanish Wells
West Side, Spanish Wells