Had wonderful day in Bimini

Despite the problems with the engine, we are having a wonderful time.  Saw a beautiful sunrise from the boat.  Walked to the beach and had our own private beach for the entire time.  McKenna and Terry went snorkeling.   We all found beautiful pirate glass, sea shells and so many conchs we could carry them all!!

After a wondeful day at the beach we spent time at the pool and relaxing on the hammocks at the resort. 

We walked to the beach again to watch the most beautiful sunset I think I have ever seen.

Later that evening everyone helped prepare a delicious dinner of fresh caught lobster.  This was the best dinner we have had on the boat - hands down!!

No telling what we will do on Monday!!

No Worry Mon

7:15am cast off lines from Hall of Fame Marina in Ft. Lauderdale

8am leaving Port Everglades Inlet headed East towards Bimini, Bahamas.  Weather beautiful, calm seas, slight wind East Southeast

10:00 am Spot a huge North Atlantic Right Whale off the port side

12:00noon  Land Ho! 8 miles away

12:35pm Starboard engine alarm goes off.

12:35 and 5 seconds Terry bolts down into engine room.  A hose has busted loose and water is coming in the engine room.

12:35 and 10 seconds McKenna and Maureen put on life jackets

12:35 and 45 seconds Terry shuts down starboard engine.  Water stops coming in.

12:40 pm 3 miles from Bimini and Terry realizes that we get even better fuel mileage on only one engine.

12:41pm Cathy and Maureen crack open beers and light up cigarettes

1:30pm entering Alice Town North Bimini Channel. McKenna says  “I’ve never seen water so beautiful in all my life!  I’m never going to miss home!.” 

1:45pm Make it to the docks at Guy Harvey Big Game Club Marina in Alice Town, N. Bimini, Bahamas.  Boat is now quarantined – only Terry can leave the boat until we pass customs.

1:46pm Terry walks to Customs officer and on the way debates whether to stop at a bar and drink a few hours in peace…

2:30pm Clear customs and everyone exits the boat to the bar!

More later tonight . . .

Traditional Thanksgiving

Had a quiet day of watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and just hanging out on the boat.  After listening to the VHF we were glad that we had decided to cross on Saturday morning instead of Thursday.  There were 4 distress calls to the Coast Guard yesterday!!

For our Thanksgiving dinner we went to "Bierbrunnen Beer Garden Sports Bar and Fine Food".  Terry and I had Jager Schnitzel and Weiner Schnitzel and Goulash.  McKenna had Huhn Fingers (translated Chicken Fingers).  This is what the Indians made for the Pilgrims on the first Thanksgiving right?!?  I guess the main thing is that we were all together and thankful for our family as untraditional as we may be!! :-)  After eating, McKenna and mommy played a mean game of billiards.  McKenna did a great job and beat her mommy!

This morning McKenna is singing "Lou Lou Skip to my Lou" for the hundredth time.  I cannot wait to see Grandma this afternoon!!  Maureen flies in today and will cross over with us.  Terry and I will be sooooooo thankful for someone else to help entertain McKenna.

Cheapest Boat Fix Ever

We got our generator fixed and it only cost us $105!  This will go down in the books as the cheapest boat fix ever. 

Just sitting on the boat in 80+ degrees, drinking beer, listening to Alan Jackson and wishing we had a babysitter!!  Thought the boat was a little bigger but when you have an active 5 year old 24/7 the QEII would not be big enough!

Terry swears he heard McKenna cough!  He is insisting on giving her Nyquil. LOL

Waiting to cross

Just hanging out in Ft. Lauderdale wating for the best weather we can get to cross over to the Bahamas!  We are planning on going in at Bimini.  It could be a Thanksgiving Day crossing but definately by Saturday.

Had a wonderful dinner at Big City Tavern with my cousin Mary Francis and Mike.  Terry had the sea scallops and I had the grilled tuna steak.  Sure beats my hamburger helper dinner!  :-)

Yesterday had a busy day of laundry!  Yes folks - laundry!  Traveling by boat may be romantic but there is always laundry to do!!

Today McKenna has her list of what she wants to do:
1) Have muffin at cute little pastry shop on the beach
2) Get a tattoo
3) Play pool at the German Beer Garden
4) Go swimming in the ocean

There is a tattoo parlor across the street for the marina we are staying at and she has decided she wants a mermaid tattoo.  Last night she said she wanted a heart that said "daddy" but this morning she has changed that to a mermaid tat!  I guess once she realizes they use needles to put on tattoos she'll change her mind (or at least I hope!!)

After the tattoo McKenna wants her mommy to show her how to play pool.  I am sure the teachers at St. Joseph's will be so proud of what McKenna has learned on this trip!!

Well off to breakfast.  More later . . .

Finally in Ft Lauderdale

Sorry I have not been keeping up with the daily posts but we have been running hard trying to get to Ft. Lauderdale.  We were able to get our oil leak fixed in Cocoa Beach, FL but not the generator.  Thankfully the boat's battery runs the frig and freezer when we are underway and then when we get to the marina we just switch to shore power.

Left Cocoa Beach at 7:30 am on Saturday Nov 20th.  Made it to Stuart, FL around 4pm.  Traveled around 85 miles on the ICW.  Water is getting more clear the further we go South.  The water around Ft Pierce was blue/green in color.  Had a family of dolphins surfing our wake in Ft. Pierce.  So cool.  They are so beautiful to watch play and jump!!  They seemed to be performing for us!

Left Stuart, FL at 7:40am on Sunday Nov 21st.  Traveling the ICW to Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  Only going 80 some miles so we should be there around 4pm, right?!?!?!  NO!!!!!  The boat traffic was unbelievable when we got into West Palm Beach and Delray - along with the no wake zones - and then the draw bridges!!  The @*&$!@&  draw bridges!!  There were 28 bridges to go under from West Palm to Ft. Lauderdale.  10 of which we were too big to squeeze under.  And guess what they don't open on your request.  They open on different schedules - some on the hour and half hour and others on the quarter and 3/4 quarter hour!  It was 6:30pm - PITCH DARK, WINDY and RAINING - before we got to our marina Bahia Mar.  Terry and I were very stressed out trying to find the marina in the rain and dark but we DID!!  I was starting to feel like the Griswalds from Vacation!! :-) Terry did an amazing job docking the boat and getting us safely in our slip.

I fixed another awesome meal on the boat (if I might say).  I made homemade Jambalya and served cold beer.  It was a meal fit for tired, weiry travelers!!  We all started watching Shrek and fell fast asleep by 8:45pm!!

Terry woke up this morning at 5:30am and therefore woke me up at 5:30AM!  Luckily I can fall back asleep without any trouble!  Finally came to at 7:30am.  So glad we are at the marina for a few days.  It is nice to stop moving on the boat.  Took McKenna to the beach early but a storm moved in off the ocean.  Quick little storm and now at 11am it is beautiful.  Sunny, light  breeze and blue skies with 75 F.  This is the beautiful Florida weather we were looking for!!

Looking forward to seeing my cousin Mary Francis and Mike for dinner tonight.  Gonna hang out in Ft. Lauderdale for a few days and figure out when to cross to the Bahamas.  I'll keep everyone posted.

Day Three - Home Sweet Home

Great night at St. Augustine.  Went on a rainy, spooky ghost tour in downtown St. Augustine historic district.  McKenna loved it!!

This morning Terry (a completely bald Terry since he shaved his head!!!) and McKenna went to play Putt Putt.  It was a tight game but Monkey pulled out a win only to fall along the dock back to the boat.  Terry said it was his guardian angel tripping her for singing "I am the Champion" down the dock!!

Left St. Augustine at 11:15am and went on the outside to New Srymna Beach.  McKenna is keeping up with her school work nicely.  She doesn't like her new teacher as much as Mrs. Kinsey at St. Joseph's. :-)

Got in touch with the mechanic and hopefully we can resolve the oil leak and generator sometime tomorrow.  Will keep all informed as we know.

HOLY COW we have cable TV!  We may never leave New Srymna!  Everything going well. 

OMG

Terry just came back to the boat with a SHAVED HEAD!!!!! OMG he looks great.  Thank goodness I love bald men.  This is gonna be a WILD VACATION. 

OK back to reality

Had a great night at Fernandina Beach.  Woke up early with intent to set sail by 9am.  Fueled up and generator would not run!  Also realized that engines used up a quart and half of oil.  We have an oil leak and wind is picking up.  Decide to run on the inside (IntraCoastal Waterway).

At 10am we finally set sail.  Lots of traffic - it appears that everyone decided to go the ICW!  We get to St. Augustine City Marina at 3pm. 

Cathy makes a delicious meal of salad, fresh broccoli and Hamburger Helper!  This is the first time she has ever made dinner on the boat.  Not a bad dinner.  Monkey gave it two thumbs up (McKenna says 5 thumbs up and 5 toes up) and Terry was so tired and hungry he had 3 helpings!!

Getting ready to go for a Ghost Tour through the city of St. Augustine.  Tomorrow we are going to try to make it to Cocoa Beach to meet a mechanic to look at the oil leak and generator.  Hopefully our plans of making it all the way to the Bahamas will not be cut short!!

Day One - Nov 15, 2010

Casted off lines at 8:30am from Charleston Harbor Marina.  Sean, Corina, Tripp, Jenn, Ashley and Savanna were there to wave goodbye.  Gorgeous weather.  Went on the outside of the coast.  Made it all the way to Fernandina Beach, Florida.   Could not have asked for a better beginning to our Bahamas Bound adventure!

Terry and McKenna saw 3 North American Right Whales and a giant sea turtle.  Cathy was napping at the time so she missed out!!