Monday Morning: Today we had the motors on all day. Normally it was both engines to move the boat at a steady 5.8 knots. I didn’t push hard, arrival time didn’t require it. Except for about 2 hours before we reached Nassau there was little to no wind and 2′ seas in our face. When the wind picked up it was South enough to give us some sail power. We hit 7 knots several times, the blows were intermittent so I left one engine running to keep the boatspeed up while it slacked. Once we got close to the harbor entrance the sails came down and we motored in comfortably.
We anchored out on the North side of the harbor, past the twin bridges going to Atlantis, past Hurricane Hole marina where the harbor widens a bit. Given the late hours we have been keeping, we decided to run the AC all night, we went to bed early and got up late, a well deserved rest. Today our goal is to find a Batelco office and get Bahamian service on one of our phones. After that we can decide where we want to wait out the rest of the week as an approaching Norther will provide us with rain and high winds.
We are here though… here in the heart of the Bahamas. It’s only 35 miles to the top of the Exumas so for all intents and purposes we have accomplished the transit from Florida, now it’s time to slow down and enjoy. Nassau isn’t our favorite hang out, but we did enjoy the memories of past trips as we came in yesterday. We went by the Ashram where Erin took her Yoga training. We will probably go to the straw market and hit the highlights here in Nassau before it rains. The approaching weather is due in about midnight.
There are several high end properties for sale here in the harbor. I wonder what’s causing the trend? It might be like our lake property, mostly older people buy vacation homes, then when the owners can no longer use the property they sell it. Holiday locations probably change hands every few years here like they do around our lake home in Texas.
Linda just about has our breakfast made so I’ll wrap this up. The water taxis and dolphin adventure excursion boats have begun their constant treks thru the harbor. The march has begun and will last until dark….. that’s why we love Nassau…. not.
6PM: I went to Batelco, twice…. the first time I got my phone hooked up on Batelco service, the next time I got Linda’s Ipad on a data plan so we can pick up the internet wherever there is a Batelco tower for $30/mo. Pretty sweet actually. Most marinas charge $5 a day for internet, one dollar is much better and we don’t have to be in a marina.
SYL is in a comfy slip at the Nassau Yacht Haven. It’s $2 a foot here, not bad, thats $66 a night. Atlantis across the way gets $250 a night. unless your over 45′, then it goes up. We will stay here tonight and tomorrow night while the weather blows thru then stage out for a Thursday trip across the Yellow Banks to the Exumas. I met another couple today that intends to head out for the Exumas Thursday. Maybe we can hook up and go together.
Linda threw down another excellent dinner. We just finished and Linda jumped on the net, I have a word file I’m typing in. We will upload it when we get a chance. Today it got hot! Luckily Mark and Julie made us a sun fly, I put upthe starboard side section and it made a nice difference in the cabin. Before dark I’ll add a couple spring lines in case it gets as bad as we hear it might be tonight. Linda is smiling over there looking at facebook and reconnecting with the virtual world. I guess I better get those extra lines on before it get’s dark.
Sea Yawl Later !! Rusty