If you look close, you can see Stephen and Pam on the lighthouse.

The beautiful streets of Hope Town.

Sunset cruise in the family cars. (tenders)

William and Judy, picking up a mooring ball in Hope Town Harbour.

Headed out for our sunset cruise.

Fun evening!

Jay, with the old lady cart loaded.

Got some huge stone crab claws from a local fisherman for dinner. YUM! Saved some for you Patti.

On to the Abacos!

We spent a week in Nassau at the Nassau Harbor Club, waiting out the nasty weather. It was blowing 20 to 30 and we got eleven inches of rain. It was good to be tied to a dock! They don't get that much in a hurricane! Well, you can't keep cruisers down. We found lots of things to do, and lots of happy hours at the Poop Deck. You know you have been here a long time when the bartenders recognize you when you walk in, we knew all theirs, and their children's names, and they gave us extra free apps, and a few free drinks. We didn't spend all our time in the bar, really! We made trips to downtown, the straw market, had a movie night on Tides In, trips to the grocery store to reprovision, the bakery, (you know me) got Jay's alternator fixed, rode lots of funky buses, met lots of fun people, and had a good time finishing out the last days of Jesse and Brittany's vacation with them.
The sun came out, the weather calmed, and we headed out on our first leg on Friday to the Abacos.
Our first stop was Rose Island, about five miles out of Nassau. This would give us an early start on Saturday morning on our second leg, and what a beautiful place to anchor. We put the tender in the water and had a fun afternoon, playing with the girls (Cassie and Godiva) on a beautiful beach.
We left at first light to a perfect day on the water, and headed for Egg Island. Fish on, FISH ON! Yes, it was also a good fishing day for dolphin.
We spent a quiet evening at anchor, watched a beautiful sunset over the water, then turned around and watched the supermoon come up over Egg Island. WOW, what a moon that was!
We weighed the anchor (still weighs 88 pounds) at first light on Sunday, and headed out into another perfect, beautiful day on the water. Fish on, FISH ON! Yes, it was another good fishing day. We arrived at Little Harbour at the South end of the Abacos late afternoon, dropped the hook, cleaned the fish, then Steph and I had fresh mahi on the grill for dinner. It doesn't get any fresher than that. Swimming in the ocean, and a few hours later, it's on the plate.
Monday, yesterday, election day here in the Bahamas, we put the tenders in the water, and hit the beach. We were going to go to Pete's Pub, but on election day, no liquor can be sold, and we didn't want to miss Pete's yummy rum punches. That evening, all the Bahama Bums came over to September Song for mahi on the grill, and lots of fun and laughs.
Today is Pete's Pub, sunset on the beach, then on to Hope Town tomorrow.

September Song (in the Abacos playground) out
Bob


What a fun place for happy hour (s)

This person doesn't know who they want to vote for, so they put all the election flags on their car.

Can't leave Nassau without a rum cake or two....Well OK, five.

The Queen is big here in the Islands. All of the UK is celebrating her Diamond Jubilee.

 

Honest, I didn't see the sign! You're still getting a ticket!

That's our next bus, #11. The buses are a hoot here in Nassau. The one bus we rode had to have an extra person on board just to hold the door closed. The driver also had a little, well, alot of trouble finding the gears. Every time the bus stalled, we held our breath until he got it started again.

This is one of our favorite bartenders at the Poop Deck. He has a wife,three children, six aunts and uncles, both his parents are still living, and he hopes to be a doctor some day. We have been here way too long.

One that didn't make it.

The beach at Rose Island.

Godiva, after a roll in the sand. Happy Girl!

Now that's a place to hang out and take a nap.

Fish on, FISH ON!

What a fight!

Now that's what I call a beautiful day on the Ocean. 

The sunset at Egg Island.

 

The moon rising over Egg Island.

 

William and Judy arriving at September Song for cocktails and dinner

And Stephen and Pam.

And Jay, with beer in hand, and Nancy. 

The family cars, parked behind September Song. What a fun night!

Fish on, FISH ON! another good fishing day on our way to the Abacos.

Fish on the plate, FISH ON THE PLATE! Do we cruisers eat well or what?

Another Gorgeous night, great food, and a fun time.

Change in plans

Our plan was to be in Staniel Cay until Jesse and Brittany arrive on the 20th, spend a couple more days playing with them in the Staniel Cay area, then head down to Black Point for a couple of days. At that point, Serendipity was going to head back to Nassau, and Tides In and September Song would head to Georgetown for the Family Regatta, then on to explore the Out Islands, then into the Abacos, where we would meet up with Serendipity again. After playing in the Staniel Cay area for a couple of days, strong winds picked up out of the West (no protection in our anchorage from the West) and we were bouncing for two days. The decision was made to head to the North mooring field (good protection) in the Land and Sea Park. We played in the Land and Sea Park for a couple of days, then on to Normans Cay for a day, then into Nassau on Friday, because the weather wasn't going to be good for the next several days. The wind and rain started, and it isn't suppose to let up until tomorrow. (Wednesday)
You would think, with all this bad weather, we weren't having any fun. NOT! In cruising, you learn to adjust for the weather. Yes, we are sad that we didn't get to Georgetown and the Out Islands, but with the change in plans, the Bahama Bums got to enjoy the whole ten days with Jesse and Brittany while they were here in the Islands. We had great fun in spite of the change in plans and bad weather. "No bad days", just some are better than others on a boat in Paradise.

September Song ("no bad days") out
Bob


Staniel Cay Yacht Club. The group is inside waiting for Jesse and Brittany (AKA our adopted children) to arrive.

Brittany, with her first Island drink, at The Yacht Club.

I think Stephanie is happy to see Jesse. 

Brittany and Jesse, adding their names and date to the Serendipity's burgee that hangs in the Yacht Club.

View of the ocean side of Rachel's Bubble Bath. 

The Bahama Bums took Jesse and Brittany to Rachel's Bubble Bath.

Cassie and Godiva got to go this time, and they love playing with Dad in the bubble bath pool.