Allure to the Abacos/15

CharlieJ · February 02, 2015, 10:37:06 PM

AH- put the dish soap on the scrubby, Wash from that, wetting as needed, THEN rinse. Uses almost no water. I still do it here in the house sink :D

I often use the pump shower to rinse by the way. And DON'T stack dishes- gets the bottoms dirty ;D

Not bad usage though

Frank · February 03, 2015, 08:05:40 AM

CJ....that number is "solo". Put a good looking mate aboard and both water and TP usage quadruple !! :) :o ??? ::)

CharlieJ · February 03, 2015, 11:47:28 AM

LOL

toilet paper in particular.

Single hand, my MSD will go 14-15 days between pump outs. With a second aboard, 6-7 days max. And it NEVER gets liquid in it except coincidentally.

Now if I found that "good looking mate" I certainly would not complain ::)

Cyric30 · February 03, 2015, 08:20:21 PM

This is poop subject no way you look at it.......Ba-dump Bump ...Ching.....

Frank · February 03, 2015, 11:48:41 PM

The small town harbor at GTC, met friends from Nova Scotia at "Miss Emily's Blue Bee Bar"....where the "Gum Bay Smash" originated...great time, and their boat in close by Black Sound.
I'm getting "antsie"...will head N or S soon once the S winds are finished blowin hard..

Frank · February 05, 2015, 09:35:47 AM

I'm still anchored in Black Sound in Green Turtle Cay. The winds keep clocking south with up to 30 knots+...front after front. South winds are the worst here as there are no good anchorages for protection so ya "hide out" near town.
The Abacos are what I call "the real Bahamas". Fairly unaffected by USA influence. No McDonalds or USA stores etc. Tourist places like Nassau and Freeport are far more "touristy" and have more crime. The little hamlet of New Plymouth is the town here. About 350 people..it feels like home. There is no begging, no theft and it is perfectly safe. You can walk the sleepy streets at 2am without worry. The streets are narrow, very clean and not busy. Its a funky lil place. Pics are the small town harbour (tide is out), the streets and the public dock (with conch salad vendor) It was beautiful yesterday! Overcast and wind is up today. I'm getting "antsie"...time to head N or S...but hope to move soon. That's the beauty of cruising...ya get to see lots

Bob J (ex-misfits) · February 05, 2015, 05:53:39 PM

Thanks Frank for putting stuff up here about your trip, glad your having a good time with the new boat.
I'll take being stuck somewhere warm because of a 30 knot southerly wind.
Enjoy, going to get -15 here tonight.

Bob

Frank · February 08, 2015, 07:46:33 AM

Just had an amazing evening. An unplanned beach bon fire with some old cruising buddy's and a few new ones. Jeff brought his little generator ashore, put it in the woods and ran the cord out to the beach for his amp and speakers. Here we are...middle of no where, bonfire on, rum flowing, listening to everything from Don Mclean "American pie" to Pink Floyd "just 2 lost souls living in a fish bowl...year after year"....all done with amazing electric guitar and good vocals. It was surreal really. All agreed that life just doesn't get any better.

Jim_ME · February 10, 2015, 03:37:28 AM

But February made me shiver
Ev'ry blizzard nature delivered
Snowdrifts on the doorstep
I couldn't take one more step

I can't remember why I tried
To shovel out my buried drive
Something ached in my backside
The day this cruise hick sighed...

So bye-bye, frigid Canadian highs
Drove my Volvo down to SoHo, snow was up to my thighs
While them far-off sailin' boys were drinkin' rum an' fish fry
Singin' "Come on down its just like July...
Come dance under the Island sky..."

Frank · February 10, 2015, 07:07:21 AM

Grog for the lyrics!!! Ya missed your calling....shoulda been a song writer!!!

Hunkered down for another blow today, then heading S to Elbow Cay tomorrow. Looking forward to a change of scenery. Hope Town is SO pretty. I'll try to get a few good pics of the light house.

s/v Faith · February 10, 2015, 03:18:28 PM

I LOVE HopeTown! So glad you are out there Frank! Thanks for the updates.

Frank · February 10, 2015, 03:41:33 PM

Forecast changed...this blow will last another day or so. Gusting 35+...white caps in Black Sound. Hope to get there by the end of the week. The Whale Passage would be a total mess with the NNW for now.

Yep....it is SO pretty there!!! Looking forward to it.

Bob J (ex-misfits) · February 10, 2015, 05:01:31 PM

Quote from: Frank on February 10, 2015, 07:07:21 AM
Grog for the lyrics!!! Ya missed your calling....shoulda been a song writer!!!

That's a second on that, pretty dam cool.

Frank, it my be gusting where you at but it's a dry heat LOL

Jim_ME · February 13, 2015, 09:42:56 PM

Thanks Frank and Bob. :) Another blizzard is forecast to start tomorrow... ::)

Continuing to enjoy your photos and reports. Grog to you. It's looking better there every day, Frank!

Looking for a map or chart to follow your adventures, discovered something that I didn't realize...that this NOAA chart includes the Bahamas...
http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/11013.shtml

Interesting to see the large areas of shallow water.

Fair winds, Frank! :)

SeaHusky · February 14, 2015, 06:34:53 AM

Interesting!
Are the depth figures in meters or feet?

jotruk · February 14, 2015, 09:41:52 AM

depth is in fathoms

SeaHusky · February 14, 2015, 11:04:41 AM

Quote from: jotruk on February 14, 2015, 09:41:52 AM
depth is in fathoms

Thanks! That leaves plenty of room under the keel! :)

Frank · February 15, 2015, 12:10:12 PM

To pass from the northern Abacos to the south-eastern Abacos, you must pass a very shallow bank. Deeper draft boats must go on the "outside" around Whale Cay. There is a very shallow route you pass by aligning 2 small islands called "Don't Rock Passage". I assume, as it is only 3ft at low tide, that means "don't pass if it's rocking" as and swells will surely put you aground. If passed at high tide on calm days it's fine with over 5ft of water. When a strong wind has been blowing for several days in just about anything in the NW to E range...the sea around the Whale turns into what the locals call a "rage sea".
I've been trying for several days to pass. The blurry picture is of "the Whale"... in a decreasing rage. I returned and anchored in tiny "Bluff Bay" to wait. It's entrance has the cutest lil island!

Frank · February 15, 2015, 12:17:42 PM

2 days later...getting impatient to move (a bad thing) I tried again as the rage was falling. I took "Don't Rock passage" rather than risk outside. Huge confused ocean swells rolled over a bank just before the entrance but it seemed doable. Well...several white knuckle minutes later and I was through. It continued to roll even tho the water was deepening but I knew I was OK and ended up being treated to a fast broad reach all the way to Marsh Harbour. The Jib Room has a steak BBQ every Saturday and is attended by tons of cruisers. No camera batteries last night...but it was a hoot. A lil hung over...I'm upstairs at Curly tails having a "clear my head" glass of wine to get wifi. More later.....
Pics are from where I'm sitting right now.

s/v Emerald Tide · February 15, 2015, 12:56:18 PM

Quote from: Frank on February 05, 2015, 09:35:47 AM
Pics are the small town harbour (tide is out), the streets and the public dock (with conch salad vendor) It was beautiful yesterday!

I have all those same pics! Have been looking at your cruise, wistfully thinking of being there last year. Thanks for posting. I hope to make it out there again someday. Enjoy!! Sheila

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Allure to the Abacos/15