Friday, May 31, 2013

Cat Island to the Abacos

After a fun time exploring our first Out Island, Cat Island, with S/V Pixie Dust (Joe and Dawn) and S/V Serena (George and Terry) we cruised three days North to the Abacos to meet up with Rob and Eric who spent eight fun days exploring and playing at some of our favorite spots. They spent the first day here in Marsh Harbor getting the fifty cent tour, relaxing in the pool and a night of fun with music by Rake and Scrape. Saturday, we headed out to Fishers Bay and anchored off the beach at Grabbers. We spent the day playing at Grabbers as a warm up for Nippers. Sunday, we headed into Grabbers for our first rum punch of the day, then it was off to NIPPERS with Rob, Eric, and two other couples we met in Marsh Harbour on Latitude Adjustment. The young (well, young to us) couple, Rose and Daniel, visiting on Latitude Adjustment had never been to Nippers. It's always fun to take newbies to the all famous Nippers and they weren't disappointed. They got nipped (well, I think we all did) and can't wait to come back. What's not to love about the Sunday pig roast at Nippers.
Monday, we needed a little relax time, so we headed to one of our favorite anchorages off Tilloo, played on the beach, and did a little diving for shells and muffin sand dollars.
Tuesday, we headed to Hope Town and the Hope Town Marina next to the Elbow Reef Lighthouse. We explored Hope Town, enjoyed the beautiful marina, and the best was going to the lighthouse with the Lighthouse Keeper, who is also the Dock Master at our marina, and lighting the kerosene lamp. More about that with the pictures.
After two days in Hope Town, we were going to take September Song to an anchorage at Man-O-War, but the winds were predicted to pick up, so we decided to go back to Marsh Harbour and take the ferry to Man-O-War and some more play time in Marsh Harbor.
We are still in Marsh Harbour with S/V Pixie Dust (Joe and Dawn) waiting for a weather window to head back to the States. Pixie Dust is a sailboat and needs the wind, so they are leaving for a 120 hour straight through cruise to Norfolk, Va on Saturday. They have another person flying in today to help with the trip. We will leave Sunday with less wind for a not so long 24 hour straight through to Ft. Pierce, Fl. While waiting for our window it doesn't mean we can't play. Tonight, we are going to get crazy with Rake and Scrape.

September Song (waiting for the window to open) out
Bob


The beautiful, gin clear water as we left our anchorage at Egg Island on our way back to Marsh Harbor.
 

Our view from the bow at our anchorage at Egg Island.

Yes, more mahi!
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On our cruise to the Abacos, we spotted a pod of Whales.

Also, on the way, we had a huge pod of dolphins join us. Some of them decided to play for awhile on our bow.



Sleeping while underway. How long do you think it will take for Godiva to notice her mid-morning treat on her nose?
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Relaxing around the pool.

Fun night with Rake and Scrape.

Claudia, S/V Door Into Summer, dancing with Brown Tip.
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Beautiful day for a cruise to Fishers Bay.

Relaxing fun afternoon at Grabbers.

Another rum punch, Eric?

Hold on to him Rob so he doesn't fall out again.
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A warm up at Grabbers before heading to Nippers.

On the way!

Along the way! For you, Joe.

Rose and Daniel. Nippers newbies.
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Eating the PIG with a Nippers punch to wash it down.

The view from Nippers of the beach.

Photo op.

The view of Nippers from the beach.
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The fearsome threesome!

Chillin' in the pool at Nippers.

Enjoying Nippers punch in the pool.

Dancing at the pool at Nippers.
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Wild and crazy at the pool at Nippers. Do you see a trend here?

The deck at Nippers

I think the Newbies,  Eric, Rob, and Rose are having fun! Another rum punch, Rose?
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The beach at Hope Town.

Elbow Reef Lighthouse at Hope Town.

The view form the lighthouse.

That's Stephanie looking up at us on top of the lighthouse.
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View of the Hope Town Harbor.

Long way up....and down.

The entrance to the lighthouse.

I think it's time to get a new captain on our neighbors boat.
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Built in 1864, 125,000 candle power, and visible from 17 miles.

110 steps to the lantern.

The pressurized kerosene for the light.

The Lighthouse Keeper, Sam, cranking up the weights that turn the light. He needs to do this every two hours. The equipment is the same that was installed in 1864. Hard to believe that it has lasted all these years.
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