Martinsville Virginia is On Board!

Leslie and Jay Hervey got here around lunchtime.  We dined on conch fritters, shrimp, yucca fritters and chicken wings - with lots of Kalik beer.  Its windy and cool, so an afternoon nap was definitely in order.  Tonight we will dine on shrimp over pasta, caesar salad and wine.  Leslie is picking brains trying to catch up on old Richmond friends and their children.   Most of us have empty nests now, but you never stop being parents.  

This island is more developed than Exuma, our last trip.  We were on board 20 minutes and I felt at home immediately.  Well provisioned, this will not be a spa trip.  I just want to go home without the winter gray complexion I came down with.  Life is good with friends you love.  Looking forward to Sharon and Ed Walker coming on Wednesday.

Cant wait to try out my new wet suit.  Look out coral reefs - here we come.

I'm finally here, Abacos!

I arrived early yesterday to blue skies and warm air - w0w, sure beats the snow and ice that was headed for VA! First Lady was at the airport to meet me and promptly whisked me away to Union Jack's Pier where my sweet Gary was waiting with open arms to greet me! Dropped off luggage on the boat and headed to Mango's for a grouper sandwich and an ice cold Kalik - it doesn't get any better, does it?! I loved hearing all about the voyage down here with Page, Stuart, Carrie, Joe, and Will - fun times for sure!!!  Back on the boat, Gary was ready to leave the harbour after 5 days anchored...so we headed over to Great Guana Cay. Sun warmed me up nicely - I actually got hot on the way - what a nice change! Found a nice anchorage in Fishers Bay and dinghied ashore to Nippers' dinghy dock. Walked thru Settlement Town to find the famous Nippers (which is on the ocean side) and found a small crowd at the bar. There seemed to be 2 couples with their teenage daughters - and since Gary was wearing his Geronimo Lacrosse t-shirt, the girls asked if he was a lacrosse player!!! And of course he said he just coached it!!  It was a bit breezy, but I enjoyed a Nippers on the Rocks (aka Rum Punch) and it warmed me up nicely! Internet connection was great and fast there and they also offered free calls to the US and Canada!! We'll be back, for sure - in fact, the Barefoot Man plays there on Mar. 6 & 7, so I'm certain we'll be there!! We saw him on our honeymoon in the Cayman Islands 27 years ago and he apparently plays here every March - can't wait - Will and Todd will be here on the 7th, so they will have to grin and bear it with us!! Back to the boat and grilled out for dinner - early to bed since I had been up since 3 AM the night before (couldn't sleep) - a bit of a rocky night, but a gorgeous and relaxing morning. I just have to insert this now... listening to Jimmy sing "Mexico" right now as I'm writing this...don't you wish I could call you and sing it to you, Mikey?!?!  Late morning today (Tuesday), we sailed over to Man O War Cay - beautiful, calm, quiet, clean, quaint, and dry! Went for a walk into town, then along a great stretch of beach...back to the boat for a nap, then grilled fish (salmon and Bill's rockfish - yum!)...now under the stars and a sliver of a moon, listening to one of my favorite golden oldies CDs (just heard Janice now!)  Wish all of you were here!

xoxo Alison  (First Mate)

Still Waiting

Marsh Habour and Abaco have been absolutely beautiful the last few days and is supposed to be this way for the next four or five days. Temperature is 68 to 71, bright sunshine and clear water. Too bad Joe & Carrie did not get this weather before they left. Well the laundry is getting clean, two loads and one to go. The boat is actually getting cleaned also. Mostly though I have been relaxing reading 'Wind from the Carolinas". Cannot wait to see Alison, Ed M. suggested she give me a lecture, I cannot wait. Well Roadhouse is playing, it is pretty relaxing, sorry Ed W. no 'Tears in my Beer".  I have been having trouble uploading pictures, I will try to take my computer in closer to the signal. Stay warm & take care.

Capt. Gary

Alone & Waiting

Hello from Abaco, It is quiet here now. Joe & Carrie flew out this morning and now I am waiting for Alison to come down to where it is warm. 

We had a few quiet days, two fronts blew thru and the temperature has dropped to a cold 65.

Taravana stayed at Hope Town on Elbow Cay while the wind blew from 20 to 30 and then it was gusting higher. We did go to town & then to the ocean, both are very nice. Joe & Carrie found Captain Jack's Restaurant for a light lunch and to watch Obama be sworn in. We returned later for some hot conch fritters and conch chowder, Carrie had Pasta Alfredo. It has been fun having all the young adults aboard for several weeks and I hope they learned some things about sailing and teamwork. I am now anchored in Marsh Harbour just off Mango's Restaurant, great conch burgers. It supposed to be cool the next few days but I have to clean the boat, do laundry and fix a few small things that invariably break in ocean sailing.

Capt. Gary

Relaxation

Gary, Carrie, and I are currently sitting peacefully in Hope Town listening to the church bells chime to tell us telling us that is 6 o'clock pm.  The chicken is on the grill and the liquor is flowing and the game is on, could it get much better than this? We had a great day today. The day started with a relaxing motor to Guana Cay, where we sat for a few hours reading and basking in the sun ( 75 degrees today with a slight breeze). At around 11 we took off in the dingy and traveled around the point to go check out the "place to be" on Sundays, Nippers. We arrived on the island, docked the dingy, and headed down the sandy road. We arrived at Nipper's, which was a beautifully colored bar/rest. that was filled with people. Carrie and I headed down to the ocean - very soft sand. There were some reefs out front, so I took the waters while Carrie walked down the beach and Gary enjoyed the scenery from the bar. When we came back up, we had some beers. Gary made friends with some old folks , which seems to be the majority of the people down these ways, and we headed back to the boat. After a quick lunch, we headed over to Hope Town, where we are currently posted up for the night. Carrie and I made a quick trip up to the lighthouse and got a view of the entire harbor and the ocean, which we will definitely see tomorrow. Taravana out.

We lost two in Abaco

 

Will & Stu had to fly home today, it was great having them on the trip and I know Will did not want to leave. Taxi 151 ╨ First Lady took them to the airport while I shopped for dinner. It was a restful morning, Joe & Carrie cleaned the boat & topped off the water. They then went wandering thru town and returned to Snappers for a burger and hotdog. We cast off the marina and headed to a nice quiet anchorage at Guana Cay on a white sand beach. The day was about perfect, 72 deg, sunny, light breeze. I took a nice two hour nap after we walked the beach. The sunset was the topping of the day.

Conch Anyone?

Hawks to Whale to Conch

After leaving the ‘old folks retirement community’ in Hawksbill Cay, we began our passage towards Marsh Harbour. After half a day’s ‘not so rigorous’, but relaxing sail, we laid anchor near Whale’s Cay on a deserted island that, in the near future, will be the home of a island resort and marina. All of us chillin dinghy’d ashore with the help of dinghy masta Stu. Whilst Carrie and Joe walked along the shore towards the marina construction, Will attempted to go spear fishing, with Stuart watching and laughing at him realizing that he needed the equipment Stuart had told him to bring. While Carrie and Joe were away, Will was able to find a conch and a wonderfully colored hermit crab trapped inside a beer bottle. After Stuart’s unsuccessful attempt at following a fish (but not able to keep pace), Joe and Carrie returned, and Joe guided us back on Motu (Polynesian for island- our wonderful but slow (according to me, Stuart) dinghy), thank you Dacre for the name. After our island voyage, we sailed over to Marsh Harbour and tied up at the marina. Gary went up to the marina to make us legally welcome to the Bahamas, while the rest of the crew prepared the boat for the night. After a good shower, we headed over to Mango’s for a wonderful dinner where we discovered that Carrie likes conch (yay seafood!). Joe got upsided by his gumbay smash punch while I finally got the Kalik I had been waiting for for two weeks (I was wearing my kalik t shirt the occasion). After dinner, we headed to Snapper’s down the street, a lively little club that sported folks of all ages. Much to our chagrin, there were some elderly couples feeling each other up on the dance floor, whose actions caused Carrie and myself to wonder. After a fun night of drinking and dancing (everyone but Joe got on the floor with Carrie), we all headed back to the boat for some cards and a good night’s sleep. Sadly, Will and myself will be disembarking from the voyage to head back to school, but we will the crew and all future visitors the best of weather and lots of fun aboard the Taravana. Bon voyage.