TRAVELS of "HELIOPAUSE"

Cold front after cold front. Rain, wind, clouds, sun. It’s a mash of weather this year as we try to move on from Bimini to the interior of the islands. We make the best of it while we hold up on the first stop here in Bimini. Heather and Joe go for water. In The Bahamas not all water is potable. Here we go to a filter station while taking our own bottles to fill at $1.00 a gallon. Riding the bikes with our wagon in tow Heather and Joe head off to the station while Scott and I go through some stock items in our closet. It’s a lazy day with pool time and bike rides to the old Sunshine Inn that was damaged by a hurricane a while ago. Built in 2003 and now left in ruin but fun to explore. We also went to the airport where a plane was taking passengers back to the mainland.

Watching weather Scott determines we can leave on the 22nd to head to Chub Cay in the Berry Islands. Super excited to be moving on. We set up for some laundry and last checks on February 21st. Scott plots our route across the Bahama bank toward the private island. We will be leaving at daybreak and travel for about 100 miles or 170 km. Remember we travel at around 8 knots or 10 mph so it’s a long day. We will be staying 3 nights before moving onto Nassau, Bahamas. I book our space for both areas.

Always a great day in The Bahamas even with forecasted heavy rains and high winds. Heather and Joe take the bikes for a quick tour of South Bimini before the weather changes. They did get caught in some rain but the worst is still to come. Scott tries to get Daytona 500 set up on the TV and update our accounting, and I catch up on laundry, tidying, and this blog. I have fallen into island time.

The rains and winds are holding off til dinner where they will pack a punch with at least 1 inch of rain in an hour with high winds and a cold front to follow. Heather and Joe head off to see the rest of North Bimini and hopefully make it back before it gets too bad out.

Timing is everything. Heather and Joe made it back with minutes to spare before the big drops started. We were filled in on their adventures of rum punches, Kalik beers, and making it to World’s Resort on the north end. About half way they stopped at Stuart’s Conch Shack which had sting rays and conch cleaning right at the seaside bar area. Several spotted rays about 5 feet plus the barb were eating the remnants of the cleaned conch that they threw in the water. They enjoyed the shark passing by for it’s rounds of thrown conch. After a bevy they continued the short trek to the cruiseline area where no ships were in port so it was very quiet. That and also being a Sunday a lot was closed.

Although they walked the 5 km or so from the ferry to the World Resort they decided to take a taxi back. Hailing a local on a golf cart they jump on and tour the way back to the ferry. At the ferry the golf cart quits and the guy can’t get it restarted. His girl jumps off, climbs in a friend’s car and heads out. Heather and Joe get a giggle as they walk away. On the way from the ferry goes is a small bar called the Thirsty Turtle. Off they go for a look inside the only bar/restaurant on South Bimini. Snagging a rum drink and a Kalik beer they sit in the snug bar watching the storm get closer. It’s only a 5 minute walk to the marina and make it back minutes before the downpour.

One more check of weather, breakfast, pull the anchor and we’re off. A beautiful sunrise with forecasted 2-3 foot rollers with 8 seconds intervals. A bit of a rock but nothing severe. We see lots of boats crossing with sailors and trawlers having left overnight. We pass them with our speedy 8 knots or 10 mph. It should take us about 6 hours to Bimini Cove Marina where we will stay for a week due to weather. A hardy blow is coming in on Sunday to Thursday. We’ll have time to explore both north and south islands of Bimini. Scott and I were here in 2021 and know the islands very well. Heather and Joe will have their first time enjoying Bimini.

It is an easy crossing with blue skies and water. The royal blue of the ocean is so deep in colour. No dolphins or whale sightings on this crossing. Although passing sailors and trawlers in abundance knowing they have still a journey ahead of them after so many hours spent already makes us happy to have the opportunity to cruise at 8 knots. We can do over 30 mph but it’s just blowing dollars out the exhaust to save a few hours so we use our consumption sweet spot for most travel. Pulling in closer to the island we can see the crystal blue waters that are associated with The Bahamas. 🇧🇸

Bimini Cove Marina and Resort is a quaint spot to rest. Bimini is considered the gateway to the Bahamas because of the proximity to Florida only 100 km away. Go fast boats can be here in a couple hours. The busy season is summer with Americans looking for a quick getaway. The resort boats a ouple restaurant s, poolside bar and entertainment, an infinity pool, new docks, condos for rent or owned, and a ferry to North Bimini for a cost of $3.00/per. The airport is on South Bimini Island along with this resort. Not much else on the south side since a hurricane wiped out half the island many years ago.

After settling in our slip we wander around the resort and head to the beach. It’s about 23 degrees so a bit chilly. The sun is shining and a warm breeze is cooling. We pick up garbage along our beach walk and check out the many shells. Spending the remainder of the afternoon on the beach our bellies tell us it’s dinnertime. We will spend the warm evening on the deck with the feral cats who live here and the crazy amount of noseeums while toasting our Atlantic crossing and arrival in the Bahamas.

Heather and Joe joined us for provisioning and prepping for The Bahamas on the 11th. Scott has been preparing so many upgrades to our elecrical and battery systems hat he didn’t get everything complete. Joe helped Scott get all those little things buttoned up and ready. Heather and I kept them fed, and did the prepping for a month’s stay over in the islands.

Watching weather and dodging fronts seems like a full time job. We have reservations to stay in Marlin Bay in Marathon til the 15th but the weather is promising for a leave the USA on Friday the 16th. With 2 day travel north in Florida to the crossing point mens we will leave on the 14th with 2 nights Anchorage.

We timed the tides to travel the ICW on the gulf side to Butternut Anchorage, just south of Key Largo for our 1st night. Heather and I headed out to pick up a filter at West Marine, grab a key lime pie for Valentines Day, and take back their rental car. The boys rinsed the boat off of salt, fueled up the mothership, and prepped last minute items. We were off at 9:45 heading north. Passing by countless crab and lobster pots, skinny waters, beautiful seas, and a few dolphins we anchored by 4:30. Catching the sunset and enjoying 1 of the few days of 80 degrees Joe and Heather, brave they are, jumped in the 70 degree waters for a swim.

Easy dinner and hopefully getting a stream to wat h a Nascar race tonight we settle in for a gorgeous night and exciting new adventure.