Readying for the Bahamas...We are so Excited to be Going There! March 12-13

Friday Scott and Brigitte invited us out to dinner.  We picked Morado Bay.  Julie and I had been there 10 years ago for their monthly  full moon party. The food and company were excellent! The fresh catch (mahi-mahi) was the best I have ever had.

The view from our table.

 

We have spent the last couple days readying things for our two month trip to the Bahamas.  I cannot remember a grocery bill over $400 but the Winn Dixie in Islamorada was the recipient of same!  Needed lots of stock up supplies....and to you all thinking liquor...NOT a bottle was in that total.  OK so that was done earlier in Marathon.....
Anyways, groceries are stocked (freezer is full, have lots of canned fruits, cereal, crackers, etc all stowed away).  Lots of laundry was done as well.  At $4 a load for washing and another $4 for drying, we certainly wanted to "get ahead" of some of the wash. 
On Saturday DeVere and Carole aboard Job Site got to the marina for a night.  So Julie planned a dinghy excursion with them and Scott and Brigitte from Putz'n Around over to the Lorelei for dinner, discussion of our travels together to the Bahamas and to listen to the first set of music. It was again a wet trip but a good band (lot's of 70's stuff) and a great chance to discuss our crossing to Bimini on Tuesday.  Sunset was occluded by clouds so not as nice as last week's trip home though. 

 

 

DeVere trying out the new Rigid Boat/ 30HP 2 stroke Evinrude dinghy rig with four passengers.  Works great!

Trying to beat the darkness! Glad we have a fast dinghy!



All sea strainers were cleaned of weeds and barnacles, oil levels checked, coolant checked, etc. Found a small crack in a crankcase breather hose on the generator, but it was too late to find a mechanic so hopefully the "rescue tape" job will suffice until we can replace it.  Judging by the oily film around the break it has been there a while so we should be fine. The generator is very important when anchoring out! 
Fueled up the dinghy on Sunday and stowed it on the bridge and left the crane hooked up for a quick launch if necessary.  Set up travel alerts with all our credit cards.  Set up phone for international service "just in case" the SIM card we bought for Julie's phone doesn't work as advertised.  Readied yellow "quarantine" flag for entry to Bimini.  (Have to fly this flag until cleared by customs, then replace it with a Bahamian courtesy flag).  Set up some new favorite websites for Bahamas weather.  Pulled out passports and all other documentation needed to enter.  Stowed, stowed, stowed.  Inventoried things.  Pumped holding tank.  Topped off water tanks (water is likely 50+ cents a gallon in the Bahamas!) The list goes on but I won't bore you!

Scott and Brigitte have a vet appointment for their dog on Monday morning so we will likely continue on to our planned anchorage at Pumpkin Key alone in the morning and they will hopefully catch up later in the day.  DeVere and Carole will be at the Ocean Reef Club on Monday night.  So we will all rendezvous outside Angelfish Creek for our 60+ mile crossing Tuesday morning.  We have reservations at Bimini Blue Water Resort for Tuesday night so we can check in with customs, etc. 

We got a nice 45+ minute brisk walk in each of these days as well.  It is a very nice park here at the marina with nice walking trails, an Olympic size pool, nice laundry facilities, etc.  The only issue is it is really too far to bicycle to groceries (about 5.5 miles each way).  Otherwise, the monthly rate here is very competitive and the other boaters here are all very friendly.  A nice view as well!
We'll try to drop a quick post when we arrive in Bimini!!  The adventure should get really interesting now as this is one of the highlights we have been looking forward to!....weather looks great for our crossing.....