Holiday Inn Paris-Republique Nassau

... Spanish Cay. As we entered the Sea of Abaco from the N MOW Channel, Dave had the Cruiser's Net on VHF. They were on the "New Arrivals" so Dave announced that Spindrift had arrived from the Exumas via Eleuthra and was spending a month in the Abacos before heading back home to Florida. We had officially arrived! Arrived at Mango Marina, Marsh Harbor at 9:40 AM tired, wet and salty! N26 32.795 W77 03.186 Life is so good! N26 32.795 W77 03.186

... and we told him we turned north at Black Point because of weather. His grandparents were some of the original settlers on Farmers Cay. Then there was a wide discussion among several riders and the driver about the families of Farmers Cay and Mushy Cay and other out islands down there. "Ruling families" were discussed and this kid was a member of the "ruling family" of Farmer's Cay. The kid told us the Bahamian ...

... teenagers, a 45' catch anchored near us at Black Point and now in Warderick with 4 kids on board and are with another boat with three kids on board. The "Cats Paw" catamaran behind us has two kids and a large golden retriever on board. They are all out for a couple of years and those of school age are being home schooled. Wish I had thought of that! It's now 9:45AM and the wind is blowing about 8-10 kts N and the air is cool. On Channel 9 ...

... We radioed them about the anchorage but they were off Emerald Rock which is more exposed to the Banks and said we'd have no problems in the North Anchorage. So, we tooled on in - we were assigned mooring ball #13. The number didn't please me - I'm becoming superstitious but figured - whatever!!! Of course I didn't get the mooring the first time - it took three times --- and of ...

... marina because our sheets were all wet and salty - so figured we'd get the laundry done before we leave for a month in the Exumas. Picking up lots of information here on where to go and the returnee's are asking lots of questions about anchorages north. Settled in with pasta and was asleep by 10:00. We certainly party hardy! Saturday, April 4th - We've lost a day. When I tore March off the ...

... south that on the charts seemed to have shallow water but had several large boats at anchor - local knowlege is a great advantage. Dave and Kristie from Sea Mist came across for drinks and dinner and we planned to leave early to catch a rising tide along the channel from Hope Town to White Sound on Elbow Cay. A cold front was predicted to follow us in the late afternoon and into the night.

... because if we miss more than one day he will give us an F and he has assigned us, no lie over 80 pages to read each day for homework. Yikes! In class I met a new friend named Steph. We immediately hit it off as we shared phone calling card issues that we had both had the previous night. I just couldn't read the numbers on my card but Steph was calling the US Embassy in Spain for a job this coming summer when they asked her for her passport number ...

The boat docked at 9, so we went and had a great brekkie, before leaving the ship to go on a snorkelling expedition that we had booked. The sea is beautiful in the Bahamas, that blue that you see in pictures. The snorkelling was great fun. We bought some fish food, and then dropped it in front of us, and all the fish would come up to eat. I am sure if I opened my mouth I could have swallowed ...

... for the food. Yes, we he*rd the news before we left on our cruise *bout someone being bitten by * sh*rk in the B*h*m*s. Th*t's why it's very import*nt to follow the st*ff instructions: " Hold onto the rope *nd st*y within the group". The smell of fish blood *nd the bumpy bo*t m*de me sick. I took * bite of gr*nol* b*r. It only m*de it worse. I w*nted to throw up *t th*t time. I m*n*ged to burp *nd it ...

... the Straw Market and rode on a terrifying drive to Paradise Island, which was just a hop skip and a jump away. The driving in the Bahamas is scary. The drivers aren't fond of braking but they love their horns. They cram into the smallest places and it wasn't uncommon to see scrapes and dents in the body of the cars. Our cabbie dropped a few ...