Last Days in Paradise

During the next 2 weeks we leisurely headed west--gradually making our way towards the Gulf Stream and a crossing back to the states. And it was good to be able to revisit some of our favourite anchorages along the way. After leaving Hopetown, we headed back to Matt Lowes Cay for a last chance to enjoy the incredible water and views and the next day sailed away to the Fishers Bay anchorage at Great Iguana. We arrived here on a Sunday, just in time for the weekly “pig roast” at “Nippers.” After gorging ourselves at the buffet I went for a stroll down the beach looking for a suitable place to LEAVE some shells (for a change) that I had discovered (while on the boat) still had living sea creatures inside. Sometimes I’ll gather up shells that seem uninhabited but once back onboard, discover that they are still home to small hermit crabs, “snails” and tiny lobsters. Unlike some collectors, I refuse to take a shell--no matter how rare or beautiful--that is being used by one of the sea creatures who NEED it for survival. But It’s important to return these shells not just to the beach, but to the SAME habitat from which they were taken. I find it very satisfying to search for and actually find such places and enjoy placing such a shell in amongst its “fellows.”

After our buffet lunch at “Nippers” and my successful re-settlement of the shells, we made our way down to the harbour for an ice cream at “Pirates Cove.” As we approached we were surprised to see a group of familiar faces and voices calling us over to join them. It was a group of 8 friends from the RMHYC--among them our boat buddies Tally Ho and Diva--who had come over from Boat Harbour for the day. It was a wonderful unexpected surprise and we had a good visit before we all headed back to our various boats.

The next day we revisited “Shell Island” which once again lived up to it’s name. I gathered a final jar of “American Augers” (making SURE they were uninhabited this time) which I use for “arms” on the little shell dolls I’ve been making this season. This Cay was also the designated rendezvous point for meeting up with Tally Ho who were going join us on our journey back to the USA. They arrived right on schedule shortly after lunch and together on April 18th, we rounded the “Whale Passage” together--out into the Atlantic and back--and westward to Manjack Cay. In no great hurry to get back to Canada, which was experiencing a cold, wet, dreary “spring”, we were planning to stay in this part of the Bahamas just a little bit longer and look for a weather window to cross the Gulf Stream at the end of the month. But Tally Ho was eager to get back--with places to go to and things to do in Florida--and so, when a window opened while we were at Manjack, they decided to push on alone. We spent a final day together at another favourite place--Powell Cay--and then said good-bye. We were very sorry to see them go. We had some really good times together and they are wonderful friends. But we promised to keep in touch with email, perhaps visit over the summer, and look for each other on the way to the Bahamas again next year. Que sera!

After saying farewell to Tally Ho we headed back to Bluff House on Green Turtle Cay which we had decided to use as our “base” until the end of the month. Once there it was not long before we found ourselves amongst new friends who had the same “time-line” that we had and with whom we spend a wonderful last week. “Bluff House” was offering a “special” that we all decided to take advantage of--free “dining” at their restaurant while paying for dockage at one of their slips. We met friends for dinners/lunches and drinks, during this time. Spent afternoons together playing marathon rounds of “Mexican Train Dominoes,” and evenings visiting aboard each others boats and sharing experiences we had enjoyed this winter in the Abacos and beyond. On Sat. April 29th we all got up early for a “wedding breakfast” in the Bluff House lounge where we watched the royal wedding of William and Kate over food and drink. This was also a fitting celebration for our last day at Green Turtle Cay because the next day we headed off with a new boat buddy--”Sea Hawk”--two Canadians from Kingston, towards Westend where we hoped to catch an opening weather window to the states.

We spent two days getting to Westend. We spent the Ist night anchored off Manjack (in a thunderstorm) and the next in the lovely safe anchorage at Great Sale Cay, along with more than 30 other boats also waiting to cross over. On the 3rd day we had the most wonderful actual “sail” of our lives on our way to Westend. There was no need to turn on the motor and we had 25knots of wind and 7 knots of boat speed on a beam reach most of the way! Really exhilarating!! Not only was this last day in the Bahamas the best sailing day ever, but when we arrived at Westend, we discovered that it was (for us) the best Bahamian stopover ever! The marina was small and exquisite. The site was beautifully landscaped around immaculate architecturally designed villa/condos. There was a gorgeous pool, surrounded with bougainvilla and palmtrees, which also featured a waterfall and two restaurants--one beachside and the other more formal. The turquoise water was warm and shallow. There were shells and comfortable loungers on the beach and the entire “feel” of the place was like that of a resort. And so we decided to spoil ourselves and stay an extra day.

Early on the morning of Monday, May 2nd we FINALLY left this island paradise and crossed the gulf stream. Our buddy boat “Sea Hawk” accompanied us all the way, along with 6 other boats we made both visual and audio contact with throughout the day. We left Westend at 7:00 am and arrived at West Palm Beach 5:00 pm. It was a rolly ride over with 3-4 foot waves quartering on the stern, but a safe and sunny passage. The next morning we dinghied into “customs,” received a new cruising permit and then headed up the ICW with “Sea Hawk” to Hobe Sound where we anchored out for the evening. The next day we were in Vero Beach. Then it was on to Cocoa Beach and our final destination of Titusville where the boat was hauled for summer storage.

Today is Tuesday June 7th, and since we left Florida we have spent a week with our daughter and grandchildren in Michigan, opened our swimming pool at home on Weekswood Farm, cut the grass at least half a dozen times! put the gardens into shape, cleaned house, cleaned barn, and scheduled a few needed repairs with contractors for the house and grounds. We have visited Vince’s 100 year old father many times, my mother in her retirement home several times, and enjoyed numerous breakfasts, lunches, and dinners with friends. We have also been to the doctor for our annual check-ups and have had ultra sounds on both Vinces foot and my shoulder which we had injured back in January and February of this year. Neither have healed. And now we know why: I have a torn rotator-cuff and Vince has a torn Achilles tendon. Both of these injuries may require surgeries. We are scheduled to see specialists later this month. But although uncomfortable, neither of us is in actual pain. And we can still get around doing all the things we like to do. The summer looks good. The house and grounds are in shape and we’re looking forward to the next few months enjoying life here in Canada just as much as we will be looking forward to leaving again come fall for the Bahamas.