Our few days in Bimini

Let me get this off my chest...One big thing I have learned in the last four months is that I'm deleting pretty much every cruiser blog and chatter group I signed up for before we left.  I was starving for any bit of information I could find in those days sitting up on the mountain and took it all 10000% as gospel.  It's like Yelp for boating where one comment is that an anchorage or marina is crap and the next one says it's like finding Nirvana...you know what they say about opinions ;-)  Now I am proud to say that I am learning about what sailing is on our boat for myself and better yet, meeting places and learning about them as well for myself.  I read a post the other day that started, "Bimini is not the place it was in the 70's...".  No, I don't suppose it is...nor is Haymarket, Virginia or Detroit, Michigan or the Chesapeake Bay or Acapulco or Morocco or London or the South Pole for that matter.  Places change; sometimes they change for the better, sometimes not, sometimes it's in the eye of the beholder.  The same can be said for people--I know I am nothing like the girl I was 20 years ago or even 10 or 5 years ago.  I'm much more bratty and obnoxious now LOL!  All kidding aside, I am going to make a true effort to withhold judgement and behold for myself and make up my own mind.  Chalk one up for life lessons learned on this trip!!

So we had a great few days in Bimini and my only regret is that we didn't plan a little better because we never got down to South Bimini and the Shell Beach I hoped to visit...hey, next time for sure! I will fondly remember the nice folks who said "good day" or "good afternoon" and the people who asked if we were enjoying our visit.  I should very much like to come back here again.

Of our two full days, we had a good jog one day (5k!) and ran past the famous Joe's Conch Shack so of course we went back that afternoon for conch salad...and beer.  He had run out of conch so went off in his boat to get some more...literally, get some more, like out of the water.  He cracked it right there behind his place and I even got to eat the pistol.  And no, I did not seem to benefit from any aphrodisiac qualities, sorry; but I can say that I've done it!  After that we got to have some fresh, and I mean fresh out of the water fresh, conch salad.  It was amazing! 

The remains

Right off the boat, literally

a Ma and her two babies

This morning we were a bit lazy but did take a last walk around North Bimini and picked up another batch of conch salad and lobster salad for our toast and dinner with Island Khaya.  That along with some out of the world garlic buns from the bakery across the street.  We also bought a massive sweet roll and a mini coconut cream pie.  While visiting with Island Khaya, who recently celebrated their four year cruising anniversary and their 40 year wedding anniversary, we went over to the bull shark area since a fishing boat had come in--high hopes for seeing some sharks who visit when the fishermen throw the scraps in the water.  It started slow but eventually four of the handsome creatures arrived.  A group of researchers were also there doing something that I really didn't understand but they kept calling them "trials".  Oh how I wish my sister was there to explain what they were doing...and likely to tell them how to do it correctly.  Some type of experiment with electromagnetism and the effect on shark habits?  Whatever it was, it was beautiful to see them not in an aquarium and we all hope to see them in much more natural circumstances very soon...but from a safe distance--like us on the boat and them in the water...but not when we want to be swimming please.

Should have just gotten one of each

You can go in the cage when the sharks are there...no thanks

Here are some videos--they are quick:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTTKq9phj8g&feature=em-upload_owner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk9a86jx7oM&feature=em-upload_owner

Tomorrow morning we'll be up and out by sunrise for a big trip north then around and across the Bank towards the Northwest Channel where we will find an anchorage 15 or so miles west of Chubb Cay or possible on the bank depending on how far we get before the sun goes down...then we will continue onto Nassau around the northern side to find an anchorage somewhere on the east side.  Then we'll take a pause and decide if we want to just bee-line for Georgetown in the Exumas or bop down the Chain yet still ending up in Georgetown to regroup then head north to really take in the whole Chain proper.  I think tomorrow may be our longest passage in some time and it will be an exciting trip for the next couple of days!!  XO Suzanne

PS, For Mark and all his Ohio and OU pals, it would appear that Mr. Joe is or at least was an OU fan!

You walk up to his unassuming place:

 And then you see this poster!!

Go Bobcats!!