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We left Fort Lauderdale at 0500 (bridge opening) on March 12 and had to wait for a few cruiseships to get into the harbor before we could finally depart. It took too long for our taste. Then the swell greeted us - not fun if you have not been sailing for about six months. After about five nautical miles, we were "greeted" by the gulf stream - with higher and rather uneven seas. It did not take long before I felt nautious... so I took a little bit of vitam C every so often. I should not have taken the first pill but waited till later to take bits and pieces. I felt miserable. But Juergen, who had to go down to burb the propseller shaft, did not feel so great either. We thought we could go at about 7 knots of speed. Instead, we were slowed often enough by strange waves. After a while, Juergen checked whether going to West End would be shorter than going to Port Lucayan. It was by about 15 nautical miles. So we changed course for this new destination. A Coast Guard helicopter came by twice to check us out. I waved. They did not respond. But then they disappeared. We saw another container ship and a fishing boat at a distance. That was pretty much all for the entire day. We arrived at West End - Old Bahama Bay marina - around 1700, had lots of help to tie up at the dock - the wind was pushing us too hard against it - signed some marina papers and were permitted to roam around the property. We just could not leave the property as we missed the custom /immigration officials by a few minutes. No problem. The TIKI bar was open, the drinks - two for one - delicious, the company interesting - Andy told us lots of things about the various harbors, particularly in the Abacos Islands. The conch fritters were delicious. What else did we want. We were quite tired after two drinks and lots of fritters and talk, went to bed early to read, did not even manage that much. Well, we had gotten up at 0400. No wonder. Today, March 13, we got up late. Actually, I got up around 0800 to walk on the beach - somewhat disallowed as we had not checked in yet, but I considered it part of the "property". When I got back to the boat, Juergen had already a weather forecast from a dockhand. I made breakfast - served in the cockpit. After a few games of backgammon, we both started working - Juergen on the dinghy, I don the deck and the stainless steel. Both needed a good washdown and some polishing. The stainless got polished, the deck will be tomorrow, I hope. Last night, I took some pictures - our first impressions of West End Harbor on Grand Bahama Island... Click on photos to enlarge!
March 15 - we attended a "Junkanoo" festival at the beach, hosted by the hotel manager, Howard: Click on photos to enlarge!
Below are pictures of the conch cracking "session" as well as of our bus trip to Freeport and Port Lucaya Click on photos to enlarge!
Juergen's haircut - my first! He even likes it. Do you??? Click on photos to enlarge!
Click on photos to enlarge!
A few pictures of Old Bahama Bay - taken of the fishermen who sold us six lobster tails of spiny lobster and, on March 25, of the band near the TIKI bar where we had drinks, listened to the band (young people turn old, old people turn cold) and took pictures of the water and the beach in the wind. Click on photos to enlarge!
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