December 16, 2011

Friday, December 16, 2011

Last minute running around turned out to be quite an exercise day for us.  I got to take my first bus ride on a public bus in the US.  Interesting and they only charged a quarter!  Cheapest thing I have seen in years.  The bus took us n the opposite direction we thought it would but happened to drop us off at another Marine store which had most everything we needed, except the lights.  I walked in and had a wonderful sales man named Chris and Fred told him I needed a planer and a hand line for cruising to the islands so set me up!  Set me up he did, he wrapped all the line on the ring, tied swivels and hooks and lures on leader lines for me as well a spoons.  While watching him explain what each colorful thing was to catch what and tie the different fishing stuff to lines, I thought it would be a good idea to purchase something with pictures and descriptions of fish I caught since the only thing I can identify is a goldfish and flounder.  I have heard you shouldn’t eat blow fish for some reason so I am hoping they tell you that stuff in the book I got.  Of course, there are shells there also so I had to get something to identify the shells and...I knew a girl shouldn’t be out in the wild blue yonder without a map so I threw a nautical chart in the mix of things as if I knew where I would be like looking at a road map.  Yep, another thing to learn on this adventure...how to read  map with no roads on it.  $150.00 later I realized I don’t even like to eat fish, I just like to catch them and throw them back.  I asked Fred if I caught anything would he eat them?  He said yes.  I said “will you clean them also”?    He said yes and I knew we were set for food...for him anyway.  I said “Gee, I hope I catch a fish” and he replied, well...if you only catch one that will be a mighty expensive fish”.  Now I am on a mission...I need to catch and eat fish.  I still hesitate at the latter part of the mission but, I will try it anyway.  West Marine was only a few blocks away they said and pointed us in that direction.  We walked and walked and walked until more than 1/2 hour later we saw the West Marine sign.  I kept telling Fred, “Come on, this is good exercise”.  I could tell by the look on his face he would rather have paid top dollar for a taxi but he was a great sport about it.  Finished up the list and a bus stop was on the next corner.  I knew how we were getting back to the marina, and walking was out of the question.  We fueled up, squeezed every bit of water that would fit into the boat and the rest went into water jugs, 25 more gallons worth.  It was free here, one of the last places we go to find free water.  It’s 50 cents a gallon in the islands.  Not to worry, I will be washing dishes in sea water as well as bathing in it also, yep, just like a mermaid, as long as I don’t see any sharks around.  I will probably have Fred sit in the cockpit and watch the fish finder for any BIG things swimming towards the boat.  We made it to No Name Harbor just as the sun was setting, made a pass into the harbor and decided to swing on a hook just outside the entrance.  This would lead for an easier exit in the morning.  We ran into s/v “Rhapsody” Carol and Skip, who are planning to leave in the morning the same time we are, about 4:00 am.  I Called Mom & Dad, Jim, Linda & Jennifer, Marion and Janet as promised before we left.  I was reasonably sure they wouldn’t want me to call them at 4 AM so I spent most of the evening chatting, knowing it would be the last time in awhile we would chat, except for Skype and that’s only when and if we have internet.  My phone will be useless in the islands so It will be temporarily disconnected for the duration of the trip.  I had the option of doing that and still keeping my number when I get back.  Dinner was quick, kielbasa and sauerkraut.  Good thing to have when you know you will be on deck most of the next day...breezy, you may say.  We raised the dinghy onto the davits and are set to go.  Fred says it will take about 8 hours to get there so I decided to set off the SPOT every hour to track our progress over the open seas.  From then on, we plan to set it “only” when we drop the anchor.  I am so excited, I can’t sleep.  Fred is sleeping and I overheard him telling my Dad that he will get us started and let me sail on to Bimini while he goes back below to sleep.  Maybe I should put on the life line while he sleeps.  Sooooo...off we go!