Well we haven't dropped off the face of the earth despite our month long writing hiatus! We've just been cruising around these Abaco Islands and settling into the laid back live-aboard life style. We caught three snappers in about 45 minutes today and grilled 'em up for dinner on the barbie. (Janet insists that I mention that SHE caught the biggest one!) 

The weather in February has been a bit chillier than January but still in the mid 70's nearly every day. The major difference has been the succession of fronts moving through the islands over the last few weeks which makes diving, lobstering etc. a bit more difficult due to limited visibility with the ocean stirred up. As a result we've been cruising around on bikes or taking long beach-combing walks and doing more land exploring than sea. We also enjoy spending time with our friends on other cruising boats and seeing each other again after diverse routes bring us back together.

Things we take for granted on land become our daily focus....food shopping can involve renting bikes, riding for an hour or more and then stashing the goodies back on the boat before collapsing with a rum punch...This is WORK! <grin>

During the last two weeks we sailed back around "the Whale" passage to Green Turtle Cay to spend 2 weeks at the dock. This was because they had a 35 cent a foot dockage special as well as cable TV so we could watch the Olympics every night and enjoy Green Turtle during the day. (Janet managed to finagle a dinner or two at the fabulous restaurant here too!). I'm glad we were at the dock for the last big front that passed through as we had sustained 35 knot winds and gusts in the 45-50 range. Several boats in the anchorage here dragged...but were undamaged. Nevertheless...not a night to be on the hook!

Our good friend Alge is due to arrive for a week with us on Saturday and we are supposed to pick him up in Marsh Harbor...but the weather is not cooperating. We need to go back through the Whale Cay passage to get there and there have been breaking seas there for the last few days...called a "rage sea" here. Hopefully we'll get a window tomorrow to go through...otherwise Alge will have a long cab and water taxi ride from Marsh! Regardless...we'll have a great time!

We are truly enjoying ourselves and I will find it hard to leave here in another month...the time has flown. At present we are planning on trying the long ocean passage from here direct to Beaufort, NC and avoiding much of the Intracoastal. It is a substantial trip of about 550 miles and should take 5-7 days depending on the weather. One or two other boats have expressed an interest in going in company and it certainly would be good to have some! More on this as the time approaches.

In the meantime we plan on having a great week with Alge, then we'll try seeing a bit of the northern Abacos and getting the boat "sea-ready" again. And so the adventure continues...
//GB