December 17, 2011

Saturday, December 17, 2011

I was awake before the alarm went off, one of the few times we set it because we are on island time now but we were so tired and wanted an early departure so it was necessary.  We were ready so there was nothing to do except start the coffee and bring up the anchor.  The weather was nice as we raised anchor at 4:33 am.  It was dark although I noticed how light the deck was.  Realizing that it wasn’t coming from the mast lights above , but a half moon.  Moon beams shone on the water as if tiny specks of lights were raising out of the ocean waiting to guide our way.  South East winds were 12.6 knots although we were actually moving at 6.2 knots.  By 5:03 AM we were officially in the ocean, passing the mile marker 1.  At 5:23 we made a turn at Fowey’s Rock and were moving through 3-4 foot waves.  Looking back over the stern I could see Miami lights in the far distance and a few blinking lights ahead on the port and starboard side of us.   I was so glad I put a patch on last night.  I didn’t get sick at all.  Coffee in hand, we watched the sunrise in the East, coming through the distance clouds.  It seemed to be lighting up our destination.  Too early for pictures when it was too dark and later land was too far to capture in the lens so I just sat back, let Fred do the navigations heading at 111 degrees and trusted that would take us to Bimini.  Once we saw land I opened my gift from Jim, Linda and Jennifer.  Thank you, all three of you!  I can’t wait to use it,  A beautiful colorful book on reef fish.  The water was sapphire blue then later turned to a lighter blue, to turquoise to a beautiful island green.  I could see the bottom so I ventures to the bow, scamming to bottom to catch a glimpse of anything.  I thought I saw birds, but upon closer observation, I realized they were coming out of the water and flying then just as fast as they appeared, the disappeared.  “Flying fish”  I yelled back to Fred, pointing at the same time so he wouldn’t miss it but it was too late.  I remember Fred telling me that the water was so clear you could see the anchor at 80 feet.  I could almost see the specks of sand and wondered just how deep it was beneath Casa Mare’.  He was right, it was like there was no water between me and the bottom of the ocean.  My body jerked as if someone had lassoed us to a screaming halt.  By the time I got back to the cockpit, Fred was already on the radio and I heard him say, “I hit ground” must have shoaled up.  The only other thing I heard him mumble is…”and it’s high tide too”  I knew what that meant.  No need to drop anchor and just secure things below because we were either going to port or starboard.  I didn’t panic...but wait…”high tide now” I asked myself?  That means this is as good as it gets and there was no waiting for more water to come in and raise the boat.  I started to ask him if he had tow boat us or sea tow but the engine grew louder and louder as he tried to dig himself through the area.  For a moment there I thought if I leaned real far on one side or the other, that would help but before I could ask what I could do, we were moving again.  Fred radioed to incoming cruisers to take the South entrance because this area is too shallow.  We pulled into Bimini Blue Water Resort and Marina.  Set a spring line and we were ready to check in.  As Fred was filling out the papers the dock master gave him for immigration etc, I jumped off the boat and down the marina to get a shot of Casa Mare’ in her slip.  I heard Fred call me and I answered be he had already spotted me.  “You can’t do that, get back on the boat, you are under quarantine, want to get me thrown in jail?”.   “Quarantine?” I thought.  Then he explained that until we check into customs and immigration we are not allowed to leave the boat.  I scurried back inside, got my passport and Stasia’s papers and off Fred went to do the immigration check in thing.  We found that they no longer take you for 6 months, we need to check in after 3 months again.  “New Boss” the officer said.  When in Rome, do as the Roman’s do I thought.  I just stayed quiet and waited until everything was legal as Stasia was trying to recover from her trip across...poor thing.  The vet told us cat’s don’t get seasick.  Don’t believe it.  During the early dark hours, Stasia emptied her breakfast between Fred’s feet, twice.  Poor thing hung her head in the cockpit combing locker as if it were her own personal puke bucket, most of the trip.  We did manage to throw the planner off but not a bite today.  Rhapsody, next to us in the marina, not only caught a big fish,  but also saw a pod of pilot whales.  They were just behind us about a half hour or so.