Missing The Good Stuff

Our view of the ceremony.

The waiting is the hardest part.  Our daughter is coming.  How can we get through these next sixteen days?  I've dreamed of having the girls out here with us for so long... We sailed away a year and a half ago and left our youngest daughter.  Since then we've seen her a couple of times, but have also missed so much.  Important things like wedding dress shopping.  It's the hardest part of Cruising life.

We've settled into Mangoes Marina in Marsh Harbour, Great Abaco to get some things done before Brittney arrives... but also for another reason.  We need wi-fi.  Good, reliable wi-fi - as if that can be found in the Bahamas...  We had to at least try to find it because another very important event in our daughter's life was happening.  And since we couldn't fly home to be there, we could at least be there virtually.

Also missing new niece, Macy!

We wanted to be there so badly, but with the boat in the Bahamas and nobody to care for the cats... plus the expense of flying to Texas with another upcoming trip in August for Brittney and Scott's wedding... it just wasn't going to happen.  So... on the morning of her graduation, I got up, got dressed like I would if I had gone to the event and set up the computer so that we could use FaceTime to attend.

Melissa, our eldest daughter, was kind enough to mess with the interface.  It kept dropping and freezing up.  I had been so concerned with getting good wi-fi on our end, I hadn't considered the possibility that there might be problems with the graduation being held inside a huge building where the 4G might be sketchy.

But Melissa was awesome and stuck with it so that we could get the majority of it.  We were also able to see a much better video of Brittney walking across the stage and receiving her Masters Degree in Accountancy.

I had goosebumps as Bruce and I huddled around the computer screen watching it all.  It was a very proud moment as we reflected back over the years of dedication and hard work that it took for Brittney to achieve this goal.

Thanks Peg for being there for Brittney!

My practical mind was at war with my selfish side as I struggled to remain focused on the fact that although we couldn't be there, Brittney had many other family members present to cheer her on.... and for that I am eternally grateful.  Her sister, Melissa, my Brother and his new baby, and my Mom were there from my side of the family.  My daughter's father and his side of the family were in attendance.  And even more importantly, Brittney's fiancé Scott and his Mom were there to support her.

It did not escape me that my daughter's Mother-In-Law-To-Be was there... when her own mother was not.  It is a tough thing to live with and if money were no object... I would have been there.  But this life is a choice and it comes with sacrifices.  Very hard ones.

So... with teary eyes and a heart full to overflowing with pride, I stayed glued to the computer screen all that day and the next.  I waited for pictures and Face Time sessions as my family moved through the ceremony and the congratulatory celebrations.

Seeing the cake is not the same as TASTING the cake!

I got to see the decorations at our house as the girls prepared for their combined Graduation and Bon Voyage party.  They did such a great job.  Melissa is the most wonderful sister ever as she does double duty as hostess for this and is also Matron of Honor for the upcoming wedding.

I am so proud of both of my girls today it makes me want to burst... with pride in them... but also with the weight of regret that I feel for not being there with them.

Congratulations to my beautiful daughter Brittney.  You truly deserve all the accolades you've received for your singleminded dedication to your education.  You have made your mamma proud!

Our Baby leaving home...

After all of the hoopla died down from the graduation and the going-away-party.  The next morning dawned, and from thousands of miles away I could envision the scene in my home.  Melissa making coffee and breakfast in the quiet hush of morning, while Brittney and Scott dressed and finished packing the last few things in preparation for their departure.

Brittney was leaving home.  Another milestone in the life of parent and child.  This one I am not sorry to have missed.  This one I have already lived through.  The taking leave of ones child.  So this one I gladly skip and keep at least a few Mother's Tears in reserve for next time...

I Think We're Gonna Like It Here

Things were kind of quiet after White Pepper left.  We stayed over an extra night at Treasure Cay to catch our breath and relax a bit.  The week had been non-stop fun but that takes it's toll on energy levels and we needed a moment alone before we rejoined Karl and Jan in Marsh Harbour.

After a good night's sleep we motored out the channel and into the brilliant emerald green waters of the Sea of Abaco once more.  

The day was all sunshine, blue skies and fluffy white clouds in stark contrast to the deep jewel iridescence of the water.  I'm still puzzled by the color of the water here and we just stared and marveled as the boat stretched her wings and fluttered over the lightly ruffled surface.

We were sailing.  We had all day to get to Marsh Harbour and that was just fine with us.  We trimmed sails and entertained ourselves trying to get more speed as we tacked across the Sea.

There are shallow banks out here where the color of the water changes to  lighter shade of blue green.  We cautiously plotted our course to take us across these shallow areas and held our breath as we sailed over them without a bump.

Our comfort level has increased by leaps and bounds these past weeks.  We are no longer limited to the recommended routes that form dotted lines all over the charts.  We are free to leave the confines of the path most traveled and it feels good.

We tacked our way through a narrow spot, working more on this sail than we have since we used to race before leaving home.

It was a glorious day.  Bruce began to make noises about maybe just sailing around out here for a bit longer as we neared Marsh Harbour.  He didn't want it to end.

But one look at the cloud looming ominously in the near distance and we reluctantly wrapped it up.  Boy we needed this day.  It felt really good but we still had an unknown marina to contend with.

We felt sure that it would not be much of a challenge with little current, not much wind to speak of and good depths.  We furled sails and motored in through the markers and found Mangoes at the far end of the harbor.

There were tons of boats anchored out in the harbor and we shouted and waived as we recognized boat after boat.  It seemed as if everybody we knew was here!

Friends aboard Flying Pig, whom we hadn't seen since Vero Beach back in December, shouted an invitation to meet them at Snappas at 6 pm.  Awesome, we have purpose!

We got the boat tied up with the help of Peter, the dockhand.  He guided us into our slip and helped us get tied up so that we would rise and fall properly with the tide.  He assisted with our electrical cords and showed us where everything was. It was an awesome welcome.

Suddenly the day was warm.  The breeze we had enjoyed out on the water did not reach us here.  That sparkling little pool amidst the tropical landscaping of the marina drew us in.

We had a little bit of time to kill before we had to head for happy hour... let's waste it checking out our new digs.  We plan to stay here for a week so that we can get some things done on the boat and prepare to receive our daughter.  But we didn't have to worry about those things today...

We asked around and got directions to this "Snappas" place.  Turns out it was right down the road from the marina.  We entered and realized that happy hour was already in full swing.  Our 6 pm start time was way late.

We had missed the appetizers but not the fun.  We were welcomed to a long line of tables, mostly full of people we knew from one anchorage or another, but some new faces.

Drinks appeared in our hands and we sat and joined the fracas.  We ordered dinner since we missed the free food... no worries, it was great and reasonably priced.

We participated in the chatter until the sun began to set and everyone suddenly disappeared.  Bruce and I strolled back to the marina a block away and filled our eyes with this new town.

Marsh Harbour is a real town.  There is traffic and stores and restaurants.  There are people everywhere and an energy that, we now realize, has been absent in all of the towns we've visited in the Bahamas thus far.  "But that's why you GO to the islands... to get AWAY from all of that" you say...  and it's true.  But this... it has a good vibe.  It's a nice change from all of the remoteness.  It just feels good.  I think we're gonna like it here...

Florida East - Treasure Cay

As soon as we got settled after successfully navigating the entrance to the anchorage at Treasure Cay, we looked around and mused "we could be in Florida!".

Getting in is best done with higher than low tide as there are some shallow spots, especially before the channel begins.

Once in the channel, the markers are abundant and you can see where the shallow spots are.

Inside you will find about half a dozen mooring balls in good conditions, and plenty of room to anchor.  This is where the resemblance to Florida is found.  The anchorage is in a series of canals that are protected by bulkheads and homes.  Even the water is greenish but still clear and clean.  Holding is good if you can't get a mooring.

The moorings cost $20 per night, and you can anchor for $10 per night.  This gets you all of the amenities offered by the nearby marina which include wifi, showers, a restaurant and a nice pool.  You can get limited water by filling your jugs at the marina.

We happily dropped anchor and met some new friends in the process when we settled side-by-side of them.  Their attitude was that if our boats got too close to one another, they'd put out some fenders and raft us up!  How cool is that????  Turns out that they also know Karl and Jan on White pepper and they joined us all for happy hour which lasted well into dark when we were abruptly scattered by a brief rain shower.

The following day we joined our friends for a beach walk.  The beach is right across the street from the marina and has chairs and shady palms.  Treasure Cay has one of the Abacos Top Ten Beaches and it is no lie.

Our mission: to find french fries.  We had heard that there were special fries at a place called Treasure Sands Club and we were hot to see what all the fuss was about.  It was a rather long walk, but hey, the view makes up for any discomfort we felt and we enjoyed the time to chat with one another.

The TSC is a resort-in-the-making.  There is a very nice open air restaurant.  We sat and ordered drinks and lunch and spent a decadently long time sitting at the table.  Our waiter was the BEST and he made it clear that our happiness was his first priority.  When we finished lunch, we drifted towards the pool, half expecting someone to object... until our waiter approached with an offer of clean towels for us all.  Talk about customer service!!!

After the frosty reception and attitude we felt at MOW Cay, this was such a welcome change.  We spent the entire afternoon hanging out at this beautiful pool, feeling like we truly ARE "The Rich And Famous".  THIS... is the good life!

We were all shocked to realize the time was moving on towards sundown.  We reluctantly left this oasis and trekked back the way we had come.  The view was slightly different with the changed light as the sun slanted behind us.

It's really hard work, this Cruiser life... by the time we reached our "home beach" we were all sweaty and tired.  We took a break under a shady palm tree and just stared out at the beauty that is ours.

Our mood was now a bit somber.  Our friends from home would be leaving in the morning.  It has been so good seeing them but there's just never enough time to properly catch up.

The White Pepper left to get our friends to the airport and Bruce and I stayed on another day.  We did a little fishing (catching nothing) and enjoyed the pool.  This place is so well protected and feels just so welcoming, we will put it on our list of places to return for sure. Maybe it's the fact that it's reminiscent of home (the US), maybe it's because it's just so EASY here... but the place is accurately named Treasure Cay.