Allure 16/17

[Frank]

So....
I'm in town...if Ya can call an island with 381 people "town'....today, having a beer, looking out over the marina and Allure anchored and suddenly remembered  Craig off Faith (long term member here) telling me the story of picking up a rat at Grand Cay while tied to the dock. I remember the humour  as he went into detail on how the battle to find and kill said rat became very personal as the rat chewed on his favourite "treat" supplies.
Craig....if you're out there....chime in and tell the story. It really was TOO funny....as long as it wasn't your boat 😄😄
Thinking of that Craig...Geez...musta been tight getting in with 6ft draft!!
This is a shallow entrance and harbour!
Anyhoot....good memories of story telling in the cockpit of the boat Craig was cruising in a few years back.
No rats on Allure....anchors make EM swim 😄😄
BUT....lotsa sharks at the fish cleaning station!
Don't slip getting in your dingy 😄

[Frank]

Those that have cruised over here know what I mean....
Why does the &@#% wind seem to pick up so much at night?
Geez !!!
Calm breeze all day and now, ready to hit the bunk, about a 90 degree shift and wind is up to mid-high teens and gusting higher!
Normally not a big deal but it's relativelt tight in here and a way grassier bottom than I feel comfortable on.
One of those times where you surrender trust to your anchor!

[CharlieJ]

Don't know about always ( I found that also at night) but there are some MASSIVE strong systems moving across the bottom half of the US right now, Tornados, VERY strong winds, like 70 MPH straight line.  and as they move east, they have a huge impact on Bahamas weather

One reason I use the anchors and chain I do :)

[Frank]

Well.....
It was in the exact place this morning it was last night.
Funny.....I've anchored out in much higher winds but this grassy bottom had/has me spooked. Every time the dreaded anchor talk cones up I always say "use the one you know from experience you can trust and go to sleep with".  Guess that was my problem....never did this much grass before. (We're talking bottom conditions here people!! 😄)
Now I trust it more than ever.

Think that the best part of this sailing-cruising thing
Ya just never stop learning!

You can see from the picture there isn't much room.
Coral one side, boats the other
Grassy bottom in between

[Frank]

Will be heading back to Allens Pensacola tomorrow.
Jeff's 60th and I want to be there. (He lives aboard and cruises a 28)
Stopped at the mini bakery yesterday to order some small pies to take for a surprise. Went this afternoon to get them. My goodness!!! The smells coming out of that little shed 75ft away were heavenly!! The baker is a sweet black women with a huge smile and good heart! I put the pies, still warm, in my travel bag and got a fresh bread to go as well.
Special little bakery
Special baker
Great products!
Awesome smiles

[CharlieJ]

Hey Frank PHTTTTTTTTTTTTT :(  Wishing I was there

[Frank]

I wish you were here too CJ
Have a few wobbly pops and swap stories 😄😄

Fell asleep about 8:30pm best I can figure, then woke up at 12:45am feeling way too awake. I knew it would be a "toss n turn" event trying to get back to sleep so, I did what any sailor would do on a moon lit night, I hauled anchor to get an ealy start on delivering those birthday pies 😄

Currently about 5 miles into a 38 mile trip, clear sky's, full stars, light seas on the banks and LOVING IT!!

One of those "great to be alive" times...

Edit:about 10 miles in...forgot how much I enjoy night sailing'

[Frank]

Anchor down at 8:45am

Beautiful night!
Went from sailing to motor sailing to motoring
Sunrise at sea is always special

This mornings...

[s/v Faith]

It's been almost two years since we last sailed together Frank, have the 'authorities' stopped asking questions about that 'thing' you talked me into?

[Frank]

Gotta PM me Craig ....

I'm lost as to the "thing" 😄😄

[Frank]

Unreal sunset tonight!!

Some locals call these an "Aztec sunset"

Simply beautiful. Even the water looked red!!

[Jim_ME]

Some locals call these an "Aztec sunset"

Spectacular, Frank!

[Frank]

After an extended period of higher than desired seas, last Weds onward has been good crossing weather so all the folks that were waiting in Florida had an Exellent window to come over late this week. With high winds coming late Sunday to Weds, I sailed down to Green Turtle yesterday and felt like I was in a flotilla as we pulled "onto the highway" of boats arriving and heading SE.
Nice to see the activity.
Gotta luv the water colour!

[Frank]

Woke up to another beautiful morning.
Geez the dew was heavy last night.

The calm before the storm.
35-40+ on Monday!

[w00dy]

Every year I read your posts I get a little closer to saying, "screw it", and turning the boat south. Maybe next winter we will join you for rum drinks down there...Would be great to meet someone who knows the lay of the land/water as well as yourself.

[Frank]

Get your boat to West Palm (Lake Worth inlet) or Ft Lauderdale.
A decent window and your across in 12-14hrs.
Then the island hopping starts 😄😄
After you've done it once you'll wonder why you didn't sooner.

Ocean side today

[CharlieJ]

Got that right. would LOVE to get back

[Frank]

After 3 days of high winds and occasional driving rain, awoke to "calm" this morming. I guess you need the bad days to truly appreciate the good ones.

[Frank]

Nice day for a sail to Treasure Cay for water/fuel/provisions.
BBQ on a friend's trawler at sunset.
Great day!

[jotruk]

Dang I need to be there. Tired of the cold already