The End Is Near

It has been an enjoyable cruising season, but all good things must come to an end. The parties are over, many of our friends have already left, and we have begun our trek north and back to the US.

We stopped over in Green Turtle Cay to visit friends at Leeward YC, and to have some minor work performed on Sea Island Girl at Abaco Yacht Services. With a freshly painted bottom, we expect to gain some speed and it was good to have a chance to check all of the systems while the boat was out of the water. AYS did a marvelous job and had us back in the water on the third day.

It was 7am the day we left Black Sound heading north. We made every effort to maintain 9.5 kts, but the tides caught up to us as we neared Great Sale Cay. In total it was a 93 nm trip, and we arrived at Old Bahama Bay Resort at West End, Grand Bahama Island at high tide and before sunset.

Old Bahama Bay is one of our favortie stop-overs. The facilities are the best, and the food is marvelous. Carolyn enjoys daily walks along the beach and finds it to be a treasure trove of sea glass, sea beans and remnants from the old Jack Tar resort that was once a thriving get away.

While she was on the beach I rode down to Freeport to complete my updates for the Bahamas edition of the Waterway Guide. The bus ride was rather predictable- long, hot, and slow - but at least it was cheap. Each evening when I returned to the resort, I emersed myself in water colors, and am particularly pleased with the fifth rendition of Coco, our 3yr. old Border Collie/Chow mix.

The winds have been extremely high, and the seas equally as foreboding this week. Expect it will be a few days before we are able to make the crossing back to the US, but the sun is shining, we have a beautiful beach and lots of company.

We trust you have enjoyed our updates this season, and look forward to hearing from you once we are back home safe and sound.

Until then,