Well, we made it to Chub Cay, not much to look at. They had change the entrance so you have to go in front of the beach and then back around. They had completely renovated the fuel docks. I'm not sure if they improved them or not, but it was a tight squeeze trying to get behind a catamaran that had just arrived.
When we arrived the Customs & Immigration person had just left. We had hoped to talk to him and see if we could get our VISA extended. But that wasn't going to happen. However, we did talk to another sailor that had cleared in Cuba and told us it was a breeze and he also received 90 days on his VISA. (Lucky!!) So we decided to clear in at Chub Cay next time we visit the Bahamas. Hopefully we will get more than a 30-day VISA!!
One VERY important thing to remember before ARRIVING in Chub Cay.... Bring bug spray!! There are some vicious bugs on this island. They're called "sun flies" and they make Florida no see 'ems look like lovebugs!! We sprayed and sprayed ourselves, but it didn't seem to help much. What makes it worse ... they don't just get on your boat; they move into the boat!! Nothing is safe, the carpet, the bedding, the settees and you can't get rid of them. I vacuumed a couple of times but didn't have much luck getting rid of them fast! One thing we did figure out is that they really seem to like Aloe. So if you use Aloe in ANYTHING, (make up, sun screen, moisturizer ... don't use it while in this area!
Thanksgiving Day 2007 on the Bahamas Bank
After we left Gun Cay heading to Chub Cay, we sailed for a while, but the wind died, so we had to motor sail. It was Thanksgiving Day, so we decided to stop early and have dinner. We still had another 50 miles to go and without wind, it was going to be a slow trip.
Thanksgiving dinner was wonderful. Bill grilled a couple of rib eyes and 4 small lobster tails. Now that is a dinner I could get used to having! There was so much food, we could hardly move afterwards.
After cleaning up the dishes ... we went on deck. The night was cool with just a slight breeze and beautiful moonlit night. Now that and a snifter of Drambuie made for a fantastic ending to Thanksgiving '07.
USCG Rescue
We decided to rest up at Gun Cay for the night. We arrived late in the afternoon. We had just enough time to change and swim with the stingrays. Since this was my first time, I was horrified. Seems people come to Gun Cay to feed the stingrays by hand. Yep! by hand. Like with most of our trip we were a little late in our start. The tide was beginning to come in, so the surf was getting rough. But all in all it was pretty exciting.The island itself isn't very big. It has a small lighthouse with a beacon on it. Part of the island has a few small trees and the other almost bare. The shoreline on the inside is rocky. The only place to come ashore was between the islands.
There was a larger private island off to the south. We had been listening to the VHF and heard a call for the local doctor. A woman had fallen off the dock and needed medical attention. Shortly, we saw this USCG helicopter heading toward the island.
One thing to remember if you want to stay the night at Gun Cay, the inside is like a roller coaster. Not sure how the outside was, but it had to be better than where we were.
Bimini Bahamas
We did it!! We actually made it to the Bahamas in our Boat!! It is the most beautiful water you could ever imagine. Yes, we had made it to the Bahamas after 3 long years of trying, we were finally about to dock at the marina. The water was the most beautiful color I have ever seen in my life. It was so dark blue, like SAPPHIRES and DEEP. When I looked at the depth gauge one was flashing last known 159 ft, the other had 2470 ft!!!! I know that the ocean has depths beyond imagination, but to see some of it through your very own eyes.
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