Ah…the Abacos! It is great to be back in the Bahamas again. We had a nice crossing, anchored on The Little Bahama Bank just north of Memory Rock and then headed up the next day to Double-Breasted Cays. There aren’t any settlements up here so it is all nature. We decided that this was a good place to spend a few days while Ed’s cold improved. Barbara…thanks for the parting gift! And, it wouldn’t be quite right if you couldn’t share so Ed re-gifted the cold to me! The cold was mainly a nagging cough and a desire to sleep quite a bit. During the two weeks it took to recuperate we read, and read, and read! ***Our new favorite author is Stieg Larsson!
Double Breasted is exactly as it sounds. It is two Cays that are intertwined with a couple narrow anchorages in between. This is the first time that we actually had to Med-Moor (put two anchors out, bow and stern). We got settled in with around 7’ under our keel. We were quite proud of our anchoring job, keeping us in a narrow cut of deep water while to either side were the shallows. That is until we woke around midnight with everyone lying to starboard. When the tide went out we ended up on the bottom, nothing to do but wait for the tide to come back in and float the boat again. Needless to say, we moved our position the next morning!
After Double Breasted we popped down to Allens-Pensacola. They used to be two separate Cays until a hurricane pushed sand between them until they joined. We went to the beach (don’t tell immigration because we haven’t checked in yet!) and a short dingy ride but mainly read and slept! It is a good thing that we don’t have any other boats anchored near us because we were quite the barking duo when we went to bed at night. Why do coughs seem to really tickle just when you want to sleep?!
After a few nights we made the quick trip down to Green Turtle Cay where they have a Customs and Immigration office so we can check in and officially ‘get off the boat’! We anchored in White Sound and other than a couple of chartered boats we don’t see many cruisers yet. The charter boat that spent one night in the anchorage had crew from Kemah, Texas on board. We again compared notes to see what we had in common! They have a boat at Waterford Marina so we sent a note along with them for our friends Susan and Bruce (did you get it?). Green Turtle is lovely with a nice historic settlement. They have even kept the gallows in place from a time when it seems that sentences were a bit stiffer!
After a couple days we decided to make our way to Hope Town. It is nearing Halloween and we hear it is a big celebration here. We also brought along treat-sized bags of Skittles for the kids so want to get to a more populated area to hand out treats! Hope Town is lovely. It is very historic with most of the homes, in the main settlement being original or constructed similarly. There is also a light house (that you can tour) and a church that plays hymns (chimes only) at noon and 6pm every day.
There are two small bars and we soon discovered that Halloween appears to be more of an adult event. Everyone really knocks themselves out to outdo each other with nice prizes for the winners. We didn’t have any costumes so we donned our ‘Boto’ sunglasses. Our first stop was Sip Sip and all of the locals really made us feel welcome. Afterwards it was on to Cap’n Jack’s before calling it a night at midnight. That is really late considering we are usually in bed by 8:30-9:00pm since it gets dark at 5:30pm!
The weather is nice so we decided to go to White Sound and anchor out for a few nights. There is a beautiful beach area just south of our anchorage (where it is to shallow to anchor). We took out our putt-putt (our 3.3 hp Mariner) engine which we are happy to have along as backup since the big one is currently kaput! Our dogs are in heaven chasing the ball on this amazing beach!
Next it is off to Marsh Harbor. We entered the harbor, took a look around and decided to leave. We were looking for a good place to spend a few days as the wind was forecast to really pick up. This was not a place to spend a great deal of time so we continued up to Treasure Cay. There is a nice protected harbor and you are right across from a spectacular beach. You can also get internet, showers and water all for only $10/day which is a bargain in the Bahamas!
Our friends aboard “Eclipse” told us to look up Natalie and Eric on “Dream Ketcher” when we got there. They live on their boat, in the anchorage, year round. Eric actually works from the boat and ON the boat when he has spare time. They are preparing the boat for their charter business that will teach you how to sail (Eric has his Captains License) and to scuba dive (Natalie is Dive Master). They plan on marketing the fact that they offer gourmet cuisine so had us over for dinner to try out a recipe. Indeed…very gourmet. Natalie is from France and Eric is from Quebec and proudly announced that they carry about 600 bottles of wine on board so the wine was also first class!
Pizza Night at the Tipsy Seagull, we met a nice couple from London. We told them that we wanted to take the ferry over to Green Turtle Cay for their Guy Fawkes celebration. They had a car and also wanted to go so we had a date. It was a typical Bahamian get-together where there is usually a fund-raiser for the school. There was food and then raffles for the cake walk. You buy a number and then walk in circles around the numbers. When the music stops a number is drawn and the winner gets ‘takes the cake’! It was a very breezy night so the burning of the effigies had to be moved to the end of the pier to prevent the settlement from burning down! ***Hairy...kinda reminded us of the annual Christmas Tree Burning party! Guy Fawkes was one of numerous conspirators’ who sometime in the 17th century attempted to blowup Parliament with black powder. The attempt was foiled and Guy Fawkes was hung, drawn and quartered (the Brit’s do not mess about, see the gallows). Ever since there is an annual remembrance/celebration lest anyone forget the attempted treason.
Next, on to Guana Cay. NOTE: Most of these jaunts are only 5-10 miles away from each other! Neat, neat, neat! We always try to decide where we would want to buy a home (not that we will but it is fun!) We both agree that Guana made the list! We got there in time to make it to Nipper’s Sunday Pig Roast. Lots of people and good food! Nippers rates high as the view is great and the girls were welcome too, they really enjoyed the pig! This is a big deal because we rarely give them people food. Nippers has a nice view of the Atlantic so we could watch the swells roll in. The last few days had unprecedented swells (12-15 foot) so the passages to the Atlantic weren’t even passable. Unfortunately a boat tried to come into Little Harbor (south end of Great Abaco Island) at 8pm in the swell. They ended up on a reef, got into their life boat and then it capsized with one of the four crew members still missing. (11-14, #1343)
Guana Cay also offered us an opportunity to hunt lobster, so we donned our wetsuits (yes, the water is getting chilly) and tried our luck at getting lobster. No such luck so looks like Mac n’ Cheese for dinner!
We are having difficulties with our dinghy outboard motor so we decided to bring it into the Mercury dealer in Marsh Harbor. OK, so we may have been a little hard on Marsh Harbor from our first assessment. It is a fine place to go if you want to provision, find parts and/or have repairs done. Yes, things continue to need repair! We replaced our bilge pump (1 year old only!) and fixed a hinge that broke on the toilet seat. We also celebrated Vicky’s birthday while in Marsh Harbor. Even in Marsh Harbor you can still see a beautiful rainbow! (11-16, #1348)
Next up, Man-of-War. This is a ‘family oriented’ island meaning that almost everyone on the island is related. Of the 300 or so permanent residents 200+ are related! There is nice protection so we had a few comfortable nights as the winds were quite strong. The island is also very historic, settled in 1778 and quaint (no alcohol is sold on the island). M-O-W is renowned for their boat building, the boatyards are still active and it is fun to watch the boats in progress. There is a hair salon in town too so Vicky got her haircut for a birthday present. Not that I don’t appreciate Ed’s haircuts!
We are back in Hope Town where we are getting fuel, doing laundry and loading up on water for our journey south. We will be heading to Eleuthra, Cat Island, Conception, Rum, Samoa and Mayaguana. Then, it is on through Turks and Caicos to the Dominican Republic. We even found a small turkey in the grocery store here so we will have our turkey, stuffing, yams and green beans PLUS pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving!
It will be hard to say goodbye to the Bahamas but it is time to move on to new adventures!

“I hate reality”, so said the beautiful Vicky Lynn (this in response to a sewing project that is not cooperating). The world is what we make of it, friend; so said Linda Hunt. It’s been three months since our arrival in Stuart, Fl and although we have set about fixin’ stuff and stuffin’ ourselves it is high time we took to the seas once again. Of course Mother Nature has a different reality in store for us. So, while we were stowed and ready to roll come Thursday, October 14, 2010 the weather window was not so reassuring. Although there was a forecast for an early morning NW wind swinging to the S in the afternoon and then back to WNW in the evening, the forecast for Wednesday the 13th and Friday the 15th (missed it by two days) are for NORTH to NORTHEAST winds.

For those uninitiated to the Gulf Stream let me digress. The Gulf Stream is for lack of a better term a current which runs from South to North, through the Straits of Florida up the East Coast of the U.S. then somewhere up around Nova Scotia it hangs a right and heads out into the Atlantic, bringing warm waters to the chilly North Atlantic (more or less, how’s that for nautical). Anyway, this current which can be anywhere’s from right off the coast of Florida to 10 to 20 nm off and right up to the Bahamian Bank moves at approximately 2-4kts (+/-), sometimes less sometimes more. So if you were to head due east out of Miami, that is 90* on a compass heading, you would not necessarily arrive due east as the Gulf Stream would push you to the north. OK?!

Now, let us introduce wind and waves. If the wind is coming from the south to west then it is more or less in sync with the Gulf Stream. If it is coming from the east then it is still more or less in sync with the Gulf Stream, however, if one is trying to head east (as we are) then it makes for a difficult passage. If, however, the wind is coming from the NORTH, then the wind is not in sync with the Stream (we’re close so I can call her “Stream”). With a current heading south to north and winds heading north to south something has got to give and it is usually a tiny little boat that has decided it’s a nice sunny day lets go to the Bahamas!

Just to keep things interesting there are also waves. Generally pushed by the wind, hence coming from more or less the same direction, not so with the Stream (close, remember). The forecast for the next several days has the Stream ( :} ) at roughly 2kts, the winds N-NE and the set of the waves ENE. Essentially this means that for the cork in the water (Vicky, Ed, Mija & Chula aboard Boto) which wishes to move east, the stream will push us to the north at 2kts, while the winds will beat us to the south at 5-15kts and the waves will pummel us to the west at whatever speed they pummel at when they are tiny waves (4-5ft at 5 sec.). Hey, I forgot, did anyone wish to join us?

Well, it’s truly not that big a deal but it can be. The weather window for Thursday the 14th was a very narrow one and while we could make it over to the Abacos without issue why piss off Mother Nature and Poseidon by dissin’ their warnings. Sidebar, while TV normally rots the human brain, every now and again something useful comes from it, i.e. the commercials for ????? It’s not nice to fool with Mother Nature (I’m sure that if the sensors’ would have allowed it the Ad would have read, “Don’t’ PISS off Mother Nature, she takes no Prisoners, or something to that effect). Wow, so much for a brief homely. While we wait for weather and torture the dogs let us tell you about Stuart, Fl.

Located several miles up the St. Lucie River from the inlet of the same name a picture of the town should accompany the word “quaint” in Websters. All along the coastal boundaries of the U.S. there exist towns which retain that “feel”, the warmth and hospitality that we all remember from days gone by, or at the very least from the ending of “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Anyway, after passing two fixed bridges, one railroad drawbridge and finally a highway drawbridge one arrives (at least via water, some may wish to take the land route) in the town of Stuart. For us, we landed at the Sunset Bay Marina along the east side of the river. For those travelling through this area via the water looking for a place to rest up, there is no finer. Ask for Sam, but don’t mention me, mention Chula. They have a special relationship, as Chula repeatedly punches Sam in the groin and he simply smiles (weird, huh). I digress.

We arrived in Stuart the beginning of August, in time for the heat and for the afternoon thunderstorms (which accompany the afternoon happy hours). The decision to take a slip versus a mooring was a no-brainer as the slip allowed for AC! Slips are priced on a per foot basis so prices vary but they are reasonable. The moorings go for about $10/day. We are told that come November the moorings fill up with the migration south, so if you wish to take a mooring make a reservation, you will not be disappointed.

Boaters breakfast- Sunset Bay Marina.

Upon our arrival we were greeted by our friends John & Peggy of S/V LVD. They live in Stuart year round and regularly sail the Bahamas. That first evening was great. HOT showers on shore, lots of HOT water! We then had dinner at Sailors Return, which is on the grounds of the marina. The food is wonderful and the staff is great, we have since dined there on several occasions. Oh, did I mention our arrival included unlimited HOT SHOWERS! Just wanted to check.

That's John and Peggy to the right (the tall good looking one and the mug with the beard) We managed to join them for a Dominican feast on Labor Day at her sister-in-laws house. Good home cooked meals. YUM.

Well that was over three months ago, since then we have as mentioned earlier made numerous repairs and fixis’ (that’s southern sailor talk).

We’ve takin’ in the Treasure Coast Pirate Festival as well as the Stuart “Dancing in the Streets”

concerts. The location just can’t be beat. For anyone heading in this direction here is a list of businesses within walking, biking or short car ride of Stuart (Sunset Bay Marina provides a free, yup, shuttle Wed and Sat for many of these):
Publix (grocery), Winn-Dixie (ditto), West Marine (duh), Copelands Chandlery, ACE Hardware, Home Depot, Lowes, Mack Sails, MarineMax, Whiticar Boatworks (there are a number of boat yards in the area, duh) WalMart, Harbor Freight (I have never before been there, but am now a worshiper), the list goes on and on. In short if you are heading south and need a rest or north or east or west (although the east part would be difficult in a boat and the west part kinda dictates that you are already here, anyway) Stuart is a great place to stop over and spend some time.

In short Stuart offers much of what the itinerant sailor needs and or wants. For those taking a road trip the same applies. So swing on through and say hi. You're bound to make some new friends and perhaps catch up with some old ones.

That's us on board "Eclipse" with the Huffords, they are on their way around the world, we should cathc up with them down south somewhere.

Peggy and John on the left, look closely at his beer holder (aka, Cheap Date).

We are currently, 11/8/10 anchored off Treasure Cay, Abaco. Hurricane Tomas has disappated and moved out into the Atlantic. The winter cold fronts are moving in giving us chilly nights (65) and blustery days. Stay tuned.

CLYDE

Yes…it has been a VERY long time since we updated our blog! And while this update won’t be as glamorous as the rest of the postings it will talk about the DARK SIDE of boating…maintenance!

We spent January through July in the Bahamas. You are allowed 8 months before they ask you to leave, but you can come back 24 hours later. After much debate we decided in lieu of flying over to Florida for a few days and returning that we would bring Boto back instead. We were only 60 miles away so it wasn’t a big deal. However, we did feel a bit like we were back-tracking! So, off to Stuart, FL!

We decided to go 20 miles to the West End of the Grand Bahama Island, anchor out and then head to FL on July 29th. We had a calm night and got up at the crack of dawn to make our way. It was a fairly calm day so we motor-sailed, by design, since we couldn’t use our main sail. We blew out the clew on a day sail in the Bahamas.

The only excitement was when we were boarded by the Coast Guard for a routine inspection. The Cutter stayed behind us while a run-about brought the two officials to our boat. They climbed aboard while we were underway and we continued our course through the whole inspection. The male officer was possibly in training as they had their manual and checklist. Boto passed with flying colors! The female officer even said she couldn’t remember boarding a boat and not at least finding one item to address. They were impressed that we all had on our PFDs (Mija and Chula too!).

We made the St. Lucie inlet by 5pm and made the long trek up the river to our new ‘home’ at Sunset Bay Marina. Our friends Peggy and John live here and have their 32’ Island Packet in the marina as well. They were even at the dock to greet us and immediately whisked us away to the Sailor’s Return restaurant, at the marina, for a fantastic meal. Ah…and it was our 6th anniversary so a nice way to celebrate…on the water with good friends!

We settled in and immediately started our ‘chores’. Boats need periodic attention and we can vouch that it is much easier to take care of while in a slip!
Project #1: Get a new evaporator for the refrigerator. We had some periodic issues which appeared to come from a small particle that would block the flow of coolant partially. While cold…it was cold enough! By the way, we could have had it repaired but the labor cost for the repair cost more than a new part! Plus, we upgraded to a slightly larger evaporator and WOW are the beers cold now!
Project #2: Get the clew on the main sail repaired. We called Mack Sails (what luck that such an outstanding group was right in our ‘backyard’!) They picked up the sail, repaired the clew, put a new UV cover over it and delivered it back to us all for under $200! We can’t say enough good things about this company.
Project #3: Order and install 2 additional 85 watt Kyocera solar panels. We already had 2 but we weren’t quite keeping our batteries topped off without running the engine or generator. We did the math and the fuel for one year to keep the batteries full would cost more than the panels!
Project #4: Of course, when you start one project you somehow end up with another! We decided to get a 5th 105 Amp hour AGM battery. We also wanted to take the batteries in to check their health. West Marine said they had degraded below normal so replaced all 4 for FREE! We are now really cookin’. Love that solar power!
Project #5: Repair the inflatable dingy floor…for the umpteenth time! Next time…a hard bottom! Also, we added a D-ring at the back of the dingy so we can secure it a bit better while underway.
Project #6: Replace the small gasoline can that we carry in the dingy (the sun had taken its’ toll). We also made some white vinyl covers for the can and the main tank to keep the sun off of them. Oh, we also finally attached the anchor bag at the front that we had sewn.
Project #7: Clean the boat! Yep, lots of salt buildup along the rails and stainless to polish! In the heat and humidity of south Florida the wash, wax and polish took three days. The Jerrycans and covers needed a good cleaning as well. All the shade screens came down and were scrubbed.
Project #8: Repair the generator. This is still ongoing so keep your fingers crossed. Basically, we don’t have the budget for a new one and we refuse to put another dime into the thing so $100/hour technicians are out of the question. To date we (mainly Ed with some help from Bob!)have pulled apart the whole thing (in the cockpit!) and Ed found the teeny problem. The flywheel key (think sheer pin) had broken so the drive shaft couldn’t turn. Awaiting the part and we will see if we can manage to get it back together the same way it came apart! NOTE: There were several trips to the store for the right tools for the job of course!
Project #9: Repair the dog clippers and give the girls a haircut. And, Clyde (another cruiser’s cocker) got a birthday haircut as well.
Project #10: Make a screen for the companion way door. We haven’t had bugs yet but if we do….we are ready for them now!
Project #11: Provision, provision, provision. This seems to be an ongoing process as only so much fits in the handy-dandy dog carrier PLUS we seem to be eating and drinking our provisioning. Go figure! The dogs now have their 150 pounds of dog food in the v-berth so they are good to go! Yes, that is normally our bed but you wouldn't believe what will fit under there!
Project #12: Some may not classify this as a project but Ed needed new boat shoes. The others simply needed to go! He had repaired them several times and there was something about the aroma?! Well, finding a size 15 boat shoe…it is a project!
Project #13: Get our teeth cleaned and inspected.
Project #14: Get the dogs their annual shots and their Health Certificate.
Project #15: Take apart the aft head to unclog hoses (now that's FUN!)
Project #16: routine maintenance on the outboard motors for the dinghy
Project #17: Ditto for the Yanmar 57Hp diesel
Project #18: with John's assistance locate a suitable piece of stainless plate to be installed on the deck in front of the anchor locker to protect the deck from the anchors and chain. There are several divots already in the fiberglass. Sounds like a simple task, unless of course your knee starts to swell while you're squatting in the chain locker and you keep dropping washers and nuts into the locker.
Project #19: this one takes precedent, let Ed's knee heal, tis now swollen and tender. Getting old!
Project #20: We also had the VHF overhauled by the folks at Standard Horizon. After some running around to have it tested locally we shipped the radio to California where they replaced its guts, all for $65, beats the price of a new VHF.
Project #21: Repair two minor window leaks and repaint the paint around the windows that protect the gasket from UV rays.
Project #22: Make bug screens for the hatches. We did this project with Eclipse who also needed them. They bent the metal edges and cut the screen to fit. Vicky did the sewing. Ah, cruisers will like love the cost savings. We did 20 hatches and 2 companionway doors all for the cost of two bug screens if you were to purchase them!
Someone still needs to go up the mast to replace the deck light; then there are the new tracks for the whisker pole. Oh, then there is #8A, replace a head bolt on generator that was sheared off while reattaching the head. Honest, the torque wrench was at the appropriate setting. Then there was the cleaning of the bikes as well as the gutters......

If you work hard you need to play hard! Along with all of these projects we have a lot of fun as well! We have a standing date for dinner and drinks with Peggy and John on Friday nights. There is coffee every morning up on the deck where stories and advice are shared with fellow boaters.

Stuart had its third annual Pirates Fest…and ‘Boto’ dug into the v-berth for the pirate attire for the event!

Clyde (the dog) just celebrated his 9th birthday by throwing a pot-luck dog party. Yes, there was even a cake for the dogs!

Vicky was able to go back to Minnesota for a visit with her family and friends. Yes, she even got to go water-skiing!

Chores done, fun had…now it is time to start watching the weather for our next window to head back to the Bahamas. We will be doing the Abacos and then south through the parts already seen on our way to the Dominican Republic. Boto is as ready as she will ever be but there will be something to be repaired along the way…she is a BOAT after all.

Limes

Not for nuttin' let's talk about Limes.

Here at ORYC the transients are all but gone, we're the hold outs and will be heading out shortly, as soon as Bonnie goes away. After two months its time to shake out the sails and try our hand at sea once again. Over the course of the last several weeks we've met a number of folks both at the resort and the marina. One of the nicest gestures has been those folks departing leaving us gifts. To be more specific we've been gifted tomato sauce, olive oil, fruit, eggs, laundry detergent, coffee, etc... ; on our budget these items are much appreciated. However, there is one particular item that everyone has gifted to us, limes.

Why is it that everyone buys limes but no one seems use them? Is there some universal imperitive that directs poeple in the tropics to buy limes and then because the lime is thought to be magical they never eat them?

Limes are a small citrus fruit, Citrus aurantifolia, whose skin and flesh are green in color and which have an oval or round shape with a diameter between one to two inches. Limes can either be sour or sweet, with the latter not readily available in the United States. Sour limes possess a greater sugar and citric acid content than lemons and feature an acidic and tart taste, while sweet limes lack citric acid content and are sweet in flavor. (Wikipedia).

What is the attraction of the lime? Are the limes in a grocery store the fruity equivalent of the lobster cleaning the inside of the restaurants fish tank, "Don't eat me, I just work here, but please take me home and release me."

Do limes have some telepathic ability allowing them to control us less developed fruits. Don't leave me here with the oranges and grapefruits, take me home and worship me by placing me in a bowl on the counter.

Is it that we all understand the lime to have mystical powers and we wish to be in their good favor by selecting them to go home with us?

In India, the lime is used in Tantra for removing evil spirits. It is also combined with Indian chilis to make a protective charm to repel the evil eye. Furthermore, it was believed that hanging limes over sick peoples cured them of the illness by repelling evil spirits lurking inside the body. (Wikipedia)

Could this be a Bahamian t'ing? Do all visitors to the Bahamas understand the connection of the lime to the British empire and therefore take a bunch home to recall the glory days of Brittania.

In order to prevent scurvy during the 19th century, British sailors were issued a daily allowance of citrus such as lemon, and later switched to lime, which was not as effective at preventing scurvy but led over time to the nickname "limey" for all Britons. (Wikipedia, I have to say here and now that I believe this internet thing is going to catch on).

Perhaps it's the limes apperance, after all green denotes balance, harmony, and stability. Green is life. Abundant in nature, green signifies growth, renewal, health, and environment. After making a trek across continents to land on the sandy white shores of the Bahamas do weary travellers need the soothing charms of GREEN. Remeber, its not easy being green. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpiIWMWWVco .

What to do with the lime? Perhaps there is some festive way to celebrate the lime, to include it in our daily rituals, like saluting the setting of the sun. Perhaps there is an opportunity here to use the natural goodness of the lime and avoid yet another prefab, preserved concoction marketed to the masses, perhaps using the lime and its natural juices can put us in touch with our inner self, perhaps there is a limey recipe for greatness.

1 oz Gold Tequila, 0.5 oz Silver Tequila, 0.5 oz Triple Sec, 0.5 oz Orange Curacao, 0.5 oz Fresh Lime juice and 2 Lime Wedges. Rim margarita glass with salt. Combine ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Squeeze limes and add to shaker. Shake vigorously and pour into a margarita glass.

Now we just need folks to leave us some salt; SALT, SALT, SALT!

TS Bonnie has passed us by and is now atop lower Florida. She has left us with gusty winds and a full day of rain both of which are keeping us tucked away down below. Our staying on board where it's cozy and dry is due soley to the passing of the storm and has nothing to do with having spent last night at Junkanoo. Perhaps we will hang up some limes to cure us of the hang over illness by repelling the evil spirits lurking inside our bodies.

Open Water SCUBA Diving Certification

Well, we are entering into our seventh week tied to a dock at the Ocean Reef Yacht Club, they make it just too damn attractive for us. We’ve gotten a little lazy and the girls love being right next to shore. We’ll be moving next month sometime…somewhere, but until then we will enjoy. So, what do we do with ourselves when we have land at hand and nothing but time? Much like Burgess Meredith we enjoy reading.

Although we actually get to read a lot and watch reruns of our favorite TV shows online, we also join in the various activities here at ORYC; Bingo, Karaoke, Sing-Alongs, Movie Night, etc…. In addition we, or should I say Vicky, decided to conquer a fear. We decided to take up Scuba Diving and today we completed our third and fourth dives with Grand Bahama SCUBA (http://www.grandbahamascuba.com/) going first to sixty feet onto a wreck and then later to forty feet onto some coral heads.

Our previous Scuba attempts were so called “resort” courses where you receive a few pointers then it’s off to twenty or thirty feet. OK…I made it to twenty or thirty feet and Vicky made it back to the beach! She just couldn’t get comfortable with the breathing. This time around we’ve done it right with Fred and Melinda Riger. First, with some pool side instruction followed by a couple of shallow dives to get ourselves accustomed to the equipment as well as just being, and breathing!, underwater.

For those that are wondering, Insurance companies rank SCUBA the 64th most dangerous recreational activity, the 63rd is Bowling. Scuba diving is very safe if you simply watch your air gauge. If you end your dive with plenty of air there is plenty of time to ascend slowly eliminating any of the ill effects such as the bends.

We both still enjoy snorkeling but there is something very special about the weightlessness and the relaxing feeling of simply ‘cruising’ around under water taking your time to observe the marine life. For the most part you are able to simply observe. Fish just swim around without paying much attention to you. That is…unless it is a remora!

A remora is a suckerfish that likes to attach to other fish (mainly sharks). They do this with their slat-like flat portion behind their head. They create a suction and take a firm hold against the skin of larger marine mammals. By sliding backwards they can increase the suction and they release by swimming forward.

On our third dive there was a remora that must have mistaken us for a ‘large marine mammal’. He started following us and was actually quite pesky. He was only a few feet long, with no teeth, so he wasn’t scary but pesky none-the-less. Imagine Vicky’s surprise when he snuck up from underneath her belly and decided he wanted to attach himself to her. Yep, it took her a few minutes to get her breathing back in rhythm! When we surfaced after our dive we asked Fred and Melinda about the remora. We found out he hangs out at this dive spot regularly so they have named him Edward. They couldn’t tell us why they chose the name Edward, could it be the flat head?

So, the homework is done, we have completed our training, the dives were spectacular and our certification cards will be in the mail! It was not only fun but we can now say we actually accomplished something while spending our 2 months tied to a dock on the Grand Bahamas Island!

Puppy Ponderings

Hi! The humans have been giving you the low-down on our sailing adventure so far. We wanted to give you our side of the story!

My name is Mija (little girl in Spanish) and I just had my 8th birthday on July 1st. I sure am glad they decided to do this cruising life while I was younger! It is a lot of work keeping watch to make sure they don’t screw up out there. I also need to ‘run the rails’ periodically to make sure the coast is clear. While on my run it is important to bark at the waves to make sure they know who is in charge. I knew there was stuff under the water and this one day we were visited by Dolphins. They are big and grey and fast; I knew there was stuff under the water.

I am the eldest and have seen more of the world than that pip-squeak Chula. OK, truth be told, the only thing I have seen that she hasn’t is the state of CA but I don’t let on. I just let her think that before she arrived I led a life of high adventure.

How do I like the cruising life? Well, when the humans first bought the boat I wasn’t too thrilled. The first time out I laid on the cockpit floor and shook like a leaf! After a few times out I got my sea legs and now I am just a salty old dog. The only thing I like better than when we are out sailing is a dinghy ride! When they start lowering the dinghy I go crazy making sure they know I expect to come along for a ride.

Alright…Chula wants to chime in.

Hi, my name is Chula (cute in Spanish) and even though I am the youngest (three) I am 10 pounds heavier than Mija so everyone thinks I am the oldest. I am not sure why but humans have a need to point out my size. And, it is always the ones who are carrying extra ‘junk in their trunk’ that point out my size! Takes one to know one!

I love to eat! Thankfully the humans loaded up the v-berth with 150 pounds of our dog food along with puppy treats. Out in these remote islands you can’t find dog food so it was good thinking on their part! Not that I wouldn’t have minded eating human food!

Oh, the other thing the humans loaded up on was puppy pee-pads. Not for me mind you! I have great bladder control. The other one, well let’s just say she sometimes can’t make it through the night. They have dedicated one of the heads for her. They turn on a night light and put a pad down each evening. She is SO spoiled!

Everyone’s favorite question is, “Where do your dogs go potty?” Silly question! We are dogs so we go ‘outside’. When we are underway sailing or at anchor that means the outside rails of the boat. Sometimes we go up on the anchor locker. Our favorite time to go there is a night time so if Ed gets up to check on the anchor in the middle of the night he can find surprises! We hear some dogs ‘hold it’ until they get to shore. Why would you do that? It is so much fun to watch the humans pick up after us!

I have a lovely, thick black coat which makes cruising a bit more challenging. In the sun I get REALLY hot! I prefer to stay in the cockpit in the shade while Mija runs around the rails of the boat. My boy, Ed, is so good to me. The life jacket I used to have is one of those orange contraptions with a big Velcro band that went under my tummy. Whew…would I get hot! So, he went on line and found these really cool inflatable life jackets (Critters Inflatables) and what a big difference! Mom found a white t-shirt too that they wet down and put on me occasionally. I look so ridiculous in it that I put my tail between my legs when I wear it! OK…it does help keep me cool though.

Alright Mija, your turn.

Ball! While Chula and I don’t have much in common, the one thing we both are obsessed with is our ball! Our favorite thing is to go to the beach and chase the ball. I used to be afraid of the water. Matter-of-fact, I wasn’t even a good swimmer. When we lived in Long Beach, CA I wouldn’t even put my paws in the water’s edge. Now…I barrel right into the water. Most of the time though I let Chula swim out get the ball and take it from her when she gets to the beach. She needs the exercise!

I don’t like to be left behind on the boat when the humans go anywhere. I let them know by howling at the top of my lungs when they leave. It isn’t so much that they are leaving us behind as the fact that when the dinghy motor starts up…I want to go for a ride. A dinghy ride is my ultimate favorite thing. All they have to say is, “dinghy ride”, and I go crazy!

We are at a marina right now in The Grand Bahama Island. That means the humans have taken their bikes out of the lazarette. They also have this really cool dog cart (Crooser Carrier) that they can attach to one of the bikes so we can go places with them. Usually they take us to the beach! We didn’t like the cart too much at first and we barked non-stop to protest. Then, the benefits started to dawn on us. There are screens on all 4 sides so we get a really nice breeze….especially if Ed peddles fast! Then, of course we are in the shade. Lastly, Ed gets to do all the work while we relax!

So, how do we like our lifestyle? We love having the humans around all the time. They used to leave for 8-10 hours a day before we took off. They said something about needing to make money to buy dog food and puppy treats. We aren’t sure how they can afford our food now but we are happy to have them around more.

We will be leaving the Bahamas shortly and going to other islands. The humans just spent a day sending emails and filling out paperwork so we will be able to go to these other islands without being quarantined. I am not sure what that means but they say it wouldn’t be any fun. Can you imagine, some of the islands, like Jamaica, won’t even allow us to come there! If you show up at an island that doesn’t allow dogs, or without the right paperwork, they say they may even euthanize us. Again, not sure what that means but I hear it is worse than being quarantined! Mom says Noonsite is a good website for this kind of information. What we don’t understand is why the humans don’t need shots or proof of their good health. From what we hear, they can have things a LOT worse than fleas or ticks!

Let me tell you, before we left, we went to the vet so many times. I hate going to the vet so I am glad that is done with! We had to meet the PETS requirements (Pet Travel Scheme) for some of the islands so we were chipped, got a new rabies shot, got titer-tested and had a bunch of new shots that are required over here.

There is only one big responsibility we have while cruising. We have heard of these things called Pirates! The humans say that is a glamorous name for a thief! It is our job to bark whenever anyone approaches our boat. We haven’t mastered how to stop wagging our tails while we are barking but we hear it helps make you look tougher. Don’t tell those Pirates that we really are only hoping that they brought puppy treats!

In general, we LOVE cruising! We still get to sleep the day away like at home. But, instead of those boring walks around the block we get to play in the sand and the water. The humans love having us around because it makes the boat feel like a home. They even say it is worth the extra effort it takes to fill out the paperwork required to bring us along. If you are going to bring your puppy dog(s) along with you cruising (why wouldn’t you?!) here are some tips.

A. Start the vaccination and paperwork 3 months before leaving.
B. Micro-chip your dogs. You have to get a new rabies shot after chipping your dogs…no matter when the last shot was administered.
C. Some islands require a titer test which really simply verifies that the most recent rabies shot worked. This test takes 30 days after the rabies shot and blood work are done. The vet sends in the paperwork.
D. Go to Noonsite and the island’s websites to determine requirements. IE: The Bahamas require Lyme, Leptospirosis, Adenovirus and Coronavirus shots which you may not need in the USA. The only vet in the USA that we could find that had these vaccines was Banfield. If they are new shots for your dogs then they will need a booster shot one month later.
E. Bring their food. Dog food is hard to find in the ‘out islands’ and if you find it the price is dear! We brought 150 pounds of dry dog food stored in large Ziploc bags. We put their food in one of those large plastic bins, with a screw top lid and seal that you can find at Pets Mart, to keep it fresh.
F. Bring along an airline approved pet carrier and the associated tags/labels required in case you need to return to the states with your pet.
G. Bring plenty of Adams Flea and Tick spray. The islands abound with these buggers and this appears to be the product that works best.
H. Bring plenty of Advantix Flea and Tick monthly treatments (available at Banfield). This also is the preferred brand for the islands.
I. Bring plenty of dog shampoo. Your dogs need a fresh bath to get rid of the salt water the same way you do!
J. Bring a clipper and extra blades if you need to groom your dog. You won’t find dog groomer’s on too many islands. Bring a nail clipper as well. We use one of those Pedi Paws which work great…just bring along extra C-batteries.
K. Bring plenty of their medications. We use Sentinel Heartguard that also has a flea and tick sterilizer in it.
L. Bring plenty of ear cleaner. We use the liquid cleaner as well as the ear cleaning pads you can get at Pets Mart. You will go through more than you expect because of all the swimming.
M. Bring pee-pads if you can train your dog to use them. Placing one down every night can prevent an accident on your rug!
N. Oh yeah….don’t forget the puppy treats!