Getting ready for the Ba Ba Bahamas!

Today is Saturday and it's been about a week since our last episode and I'd like to say that it's been a whirlwind of activity and excitement.  That's actually not wrong but the theme has been go go go go...wait--which is basically the norm when on a boat looking to cross the gulf stream or any large/open expanse of water even.  Ok, here's what you missed--not at all a super quick version with photos ;-)

We had a wicked cool thing happen a couple weeks ago that I had mentioned--we watched a SeaRey plane chasing a cigarette boat up the inside channel on our way to Key Largo.  WATCH THIS crazy awesome video that the pilot sent to us...if anyone can find us, let me know (we'd be a tiny tiny speck on the right side if we are in there). He had remembered seeing us that day :-) Here is the link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asmAnE2XOb8&feature=youtu.be

Thursday a week ago we arrived back in Dinner Key, found a good anchor spot (good for Dinner Key I should say).  I spent the trip up from Long Arsenicker doing final clean up of my work computer that was going to be shipped back to McLean with my other records as soon as I stepped foot on land.  Mark and Jon had more fun tacking and sailing up Biscanyne Bay.  With my work computer shipped, I was basically done with work and was a bit sad as I watched the FedEx people take my computer away...luckily I was able to drown my sorrows in a lychee margarita and ceviche spoons at Jaguar in Coconut Grove.  I loved that place--if you are ever in Coconut Grove, go there...just do it, seriously.  Then further exhaustion of work mourning continued with Alley Cat and Shiloh at Sandbar.  Did you know that Sandbar had been through a bar make over with somebody Tapper or Taffer and they hated it so much that the next day they turned it back?  Ha hahaa!

Sails up!! Our favorite way to fly!

Beauty shot of Alley Cat and Shiloh sailing up Biscayne Bay

Orange County Sheriff's Department courtesy of our favorite OC deputy, Charles Lehr - Respect!

There were multiple Olympic Qualifying Races going on as we returned to Coconut Grove

Future Olympians :-)

Friday we got the news that Mark's parents would be coming to town and guest prep went into full gear with boat cleaning and cocktail hour meet and greets planned with the other boats.  Of course we started with kidnapping the parents and making them take us to the laundry mat which always seems to cost more and take longer than you planned but we are spoiled and prefer our clothes clean.  That night we hosted the other three boat pals on Stray Cat and were very pleased to have Boyd and Mona meet the people they have heard so much about.  We were also gifted by nature with a stunning sunset and dusk light display.

Boyd and Mona came to visit us! (I'm a little concerned that you cannot see my reflection--vampire?)

Breathtaking

Helicopter that buzzed around for a while--I think he knew we were taking his picture.

The next day was super fun drive 20 miles to Walmart day courtesy of the Boyd and Mona shuttle service for myself and Island Khaya!  This was pretty important because it looked like we were going to do a crossing that very coming Monday so we had zippy time to get everything wrapped up and final provisioning done etc etc.  Many hours later and without finding a propane refill spot, we unloaded a shit ton of groceries and were back on our respective boats.  Meanwhile, Mark and Jon had put up a new main halyard so we won't break any more winches and the sail will go up and down without a fuss!  Not one to give up or leave things undone (or put on with a whiny girlfriend), Mark and I along with Boyd and Mona went back out to the wilds of Coconut Grove in search of propane and Turbo Tax.  About 5 calls and 15 miles later, we found the one gas station in that area that does refills and even better, there was a great liquor store in the same shopping center--SCORE!!  Thank God for Mark who doesn't give up or give in.  After a lot of running around all day (and my acting like a total spaz) we said our farewells to the parents and remembered once again how dear, loving and supportive they are.  That night we enjoyed dinner at Green Street--three words, lamb chops yum.  With that dinner, I had succeeded in eating at the three places in Coconut Grove that I really really wanted to try.  Jaguar was my favorite for sure.

That night the winds picked up and beat the crap out of the boat and no one really slept...that was also about the time we saw the wave forecast for Monday--5-7 feet with 5 second period, aka bad stuff in the gulf stream.  So, we decided we were not going to cross on Monday which resulted in disappointment and frustration on top of no sleep.  I have no idea what we did that day other than plan to go back up to Miami Beach rather than stay in Coconut Grove.  A bright spot was dinner on Island Khaya that night.  As upsetting as it was not to cross that Monday, it did give us a little more breathing room for final prep and financial housekeeping and nasty stuff like taxes.  I liked Coconut Grove better the first time we where there and did not like it at all outside of the immediate 'hip' district near the marina.  I would say that I have no need or desire to go back other than as a stop over and a great place to hit up bars and bistros one night.  Not sure why so many cruisers drool over it so much but to each his own.

So Monday we woke up to glass smooth water in the anchorage and basically no wind...typical.  I hitched a ride ashore with Island Khaya and did my "final, really mean it this time" shopping at the Fresh Market (like Whole Foods) which was glorious because I took my time and bought stuff like 'ready to eat cookie dough' and fresh ground coffee.  I should not be allowed to go to gourmet grocers alone.  We left later that afternoon to get water and diesel and a pump out if I had my way...two marinas, dragging Island Khaya across Biscayne Bay for no reason and an overpriced pump out later, we were back on the way to Miami Beach.  We did discover that the glass and no wind of Dinner Key did NOT spread across the Bay and on the other side it was very windy and there was some for real chop.  It was a reminder of why you always err on the side of caution when planning a long trip on the water--the conditions can be frighteningly different from one place to another and the waves in the Gulf Stream were in the 1-3 meter/5-7 second range after all that day.  Coming back into the Miami area, I had forgotten that it is a pretty neat place to anchor and the sunset and night sky made sure I remembered!

Not the 15 knot winds predicted...at least not in Dinner Key

He has a bigger budget than we do, but is he happy?  Not as much as we are!

Dolphin welcome

Cruise ship welcome

Here is where you get your drugs and money apparently

Those things are huge

Love it - Miami Sunset

Love it - Moon over Miami

And we have been here ever since--thinking that Thursday would be a crossing day but it went from marginal to 'no' and now Monday is the day...really the day.   We started listening to Chris Parker's morning Bahama SSB forecasts and added his input to that of Passage Weather and the NWS forecasts for Southern Florida out into the Gulf Stream.  Yes Mark has to review and internalize three different sources for weather then also consider what we have been experiencing and what he hears from others and THEN has to make decisions based on all of that.  Go, no go, where to anchor, whether to move anchorages, etc.  It's a pretty big responsibility for a Captain and yep, three weather sources usually do have three different forecasts...of course!

We have kept busy here with trips to Cuban restaurants, oil changes while bobbing in the water, paying a farewell visit to Shiloh and Alley Cat, picking up impellers up the river, finding pizza, installing switches then the untimely but not unexpected demise of my iPhone 4S and the drama that I caused as a result.  Of course Mark stepped in to talk me down and made it all better (sorry again, Jon, about my spoiled baby fit that day) my making sure I got a new iPhone 6 plus and even more so by making sure Verizon set me up (two calls and a sob story later).  And I admit it, I love my new phone...it really is a wonder.  And once again, as I have said since the day we got together...Mark is the only one who knows how to soothe my savage beast, that is to say, knows how to calm me down and talk me off the drama ledge that I always seem to put myself on.

The three caballeros ride again

Mark is trying out a new funky hair cut...why be on a boat if you're not going to be weird?!

After wine and pizza, you must have two desserts

Changing oil while bouncing in the dinghy

Ummmmm...

For the love of all things holy--Jon don't let go!!!!

My cool dudes playing Miami Vice

From their River Adventure

Drinking his cafe with "agua caliente"

Yesterday Jon had a "Jon takes Miami Beach" day and I dragged/guilted Mark into another trip to the Fresh Market here in Miami Beach as well as the Publix next door for final provisions...no really, final, I mean it.  Mark installed a new solar panel switch to automatically turn on/off a panel based on light conditions.  I did some sewing...that's right, sewing.  Fixed my bike bag that had ripped.  Earlier in the day I had figured out how to confirm our Bimini marina reservations and worked on taxes a little more and sent them off along with my hard earned money.  Whew what a huge huge huge relief to get that done!!  No job to worry about and no taxes due = Freedom!

Groovy retro scene Jon found yesterday!

Installing the solar panel switch

Very intense work

Managed only to cut Mark with scissors and not sew my finger to the bag

Here is where we will be in a couple days

Last night was one of insanely gusty winds (may have sounded worse than they were) and the boat riding all around the anchor...back and forth and circling as the tide and wind conflicted.  I put in earplugs and slept through it but Mark and Jon did not.  Jon and I went out while Mark worked on the new panel switch.  Jon had errands and foolishly agreed once again to go on a shopping trip with me--the man is a glutton for punishment.  Anyway, Jon did his thing and I hit up William Sonoma and Express--um, yes I did honestly need to go to both places.  Then we did a 'pinky swear it's the last time' trip to Publix and rewarded our hard work by getting beers and burgers to take back to the boat at Burger 'n Beer Joint near the dinghy access.  It's the third or fourth cool spot we figured out was so close...two days before we are leaving. Oh well, better late than never!  For the rest of the day we'll stay on the boat and Mark will work on projects while Jon and I do what we can to either help or stay out of his way.  Well and go for fast dinghy rides at sunset...if you are a boy, that is.  All in all, I can say that I'm liking Miami Beach much more the second time around...funny because I was not a big fan the first time so I'm glad we came back. 

Jon the best sport ever, getting beer and burgers

And off they go...Mark is wearing a jacket and pants that I've seen him ski in; it's a bit chilly

Our last Miami Beach sunset for a while

Good night Miami

Tomorrow we'll be moving back down to an anchorage on the bay side of Key Biscayne while we get our wits and heads about us for the big crossing...we are all ready, even if it's a bit intimidating to think about crossing the gulf stream.  I have a number of thoughts in my head about it all and the last four months leading up to this and may try to put it to paper.  One thing is that I'm looking forward to a more quiet series of places and paces...  What I'm really feeling right now is that it's finally our turn and also that it's time for a glass of wine.

XO Suzanne