Look out Bahamas - Here we come again !!

Eddie and Debbie enjoying the "Bahama" Life!

This time with our friends, Rit and Jennifer Van Duren, in their boat "Contender One". We spend two relaxing, fun-filled weeks cruising over to the Bahamas and soaking in the sun.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN: Back in January, Jennifer booked us the Bahamian cottage "Four Winds" in Hopetown for the week of June 28th. We anxiously waited for 6 months for our departure day to arrive. Rit estimated that it would take us 2 days to cruise to Hopetown but we would be on standby as the time came closer. So, all plans in place - our dog sitters ready at a moments notice, our sun covers and hats ready and packed, our snorkeling and fishing gear ready to go - all just waiting for Rit to say "it's time" because the weather was good to go! And that he did, on Sunday, June 23rd, Rit would tell us "Okay, pack your 5 gallon bucket, it's time to go".

Bright and early on Monday morning, the four of us embarked on our Bahama adventure, leaving Big Torch Key at 8:30am. At 8:32am we got all the way out of the canal and up on plane when Debbie's new hat flew off her head and into the water. Captain "Rit" didn't seem to mind too much (he's been cruising the Bahamas at least 20 years and has probably seen it all) and retrieved my hat for me. Dripping wet, I put it back on my head as I assumed that this wouldn't be the last time I would get wet in the next 2 weeks, and off we headed, again.

Rit and Jennifer's "Contender One" is a high-flying, fish-around boat. She is 31 feet long and has a cuddy cabin and head. I call her High-flying 'cause Rit has it flying high in the water most of the time at 30 - 35 knots. What a way to go! We sure didn't waste any time getting places - which is nice in case of bad weather and the fish-around being mostly open. Jennifer and I sat in the back on our "Captain" chairs (in name only) and soaked in the sun. Talk about tans, this was the best tan I think I have ever had.

Rit chose a different route than our first trip stopping in Bimini as our port of entry. We stayed there one night, next morning weather looked pretty good, so off to Lucaya we went. Since we had until Saturday to get to Hopetown and it was only Tuesday, the weather didn't look as hopeful so we spent one more day in Lucaya. Which, by the way, didn't bother Jennifer as the"Mister Cashman" slot machine was calling her name at the local Casino. Eddie was being called by the "Craps" table, so he didn't mind staying another day either. All in all, we had lots of fun and plenty to eat. Another first for Eddie and I were the 'Bangers and Mash" at the local Shenanigan's Irish Pub. I kid you not!! And Jennifer, being part Irish, swore that they were authentic. So there you have it, authentic Irish food in the Bahamas - it doesn't get any better than that! Except for maybe the authentic Greek "Gyros" that we ate at Athen's and boy were they good! (Guess you can tell we like to eat.)


Thursday morning meet us with thoughts of Green Turtle - a very quaint, old English style Cay that is dear to Rit's heart. Except for Rit, none of us had ever been there before, and you should always trust your Captain, so we took the "Caps" advise and off we headed. I have to say, Captain Rit was right - it is a very pretty, relaxing setting. The Green Turtle Resort, where we stayed, is a unique place taking you back in time to the 1950's it seemed. You must try their dining room, which is well worth the money spent. Since we were staying for two nights, we rented a golf cart and visited the different sights, downtown, a renowned International Artist's home, fabulous local restaurants and eateries and just had a super time.

Four Winds

Finally, although time was flying by too fast, it was Saturday and we were on our way to Hopetown which we had been anxiously waiting to see our cottage "Four Winds" for the first time. The wait was well worth it - Jennifer did good. We couldn't have asked for a more ideal Bahamian cottage. Four Winds was right on the Bay with it's own private dock that "Contender One" looked right at home docked there. The cottage had fabulous views from all eight of it's sliders off it's great room and plenty of privacy, if needed, with master bedrooms on different ends of the cottage. We settled in very comfortably, quite easily in fact, and off to the local "grocery store" Jennifer and I went. Before dinner, we all - Rit, Jennifer, Eddie and I - took the grand tour of the Cay, all in 30 minutes, and experts we were, of Hopetown!

View of Bay from Four Winds

We all can't say enough about Hopetown. This is the place we all want to come back too. Most everyone, locals and tourist alike, use golf carts as the means of transportation. (You can't hurt anyone in a golfcart - these ones only go 11-13 mph and you can't get a DUI on a golfcart!) The restaurants have the best food!!!! Our favorite, The Abaco Inn, has soundviews from the bar and ocean views and breezes in their first rate dining room. The local hangout is a sandbar that surfaces daily called Tahiti Beach. By mid-week, all the merchants at the local grocers, liquor store and ice cream shoppe knew us!

Capt Rit is a first rate tour guide and took us to Pete's on Little Harbour, Man-O-War, Nippers on Great Guana, Marsh Harbour, a couple of his favorite snorkel places and hangouts! And talk about Conch - now Rit is a conch eater -especially Conch Fritters. He showed us a grand time and where the best conch can be had. Believe me, the Bahamas have the BEST CONCH!

Sadly, checkout day came. We packed up - how did we get all that stuff in those bags? We started our adventure partly back tracking towards home. We did have some inclement weather so straight to Lucaya we went - fast! We spent 2 nights there, thank you Mister Cashman. Jennifer and I fly home - took 45 minutes - how did that work? Five days over and 45 minutes back?

Rit and Eddie brought up the tail, waiting for the weather to break, arriving home safe and sound in "Contender One" Thursday night!

Rit and Jennifer showed us such a great time, we all decided to do this again by next year!

Thank you Rit and Jennifer for the wonderful trip in "Contender One"!

Same house, same time, next year!!!!

Crusing on the Mermaid in the Bahamas with Bill & Geri Weir and their dog Jack

What a treat for Eddie and Debbie to vacation to the Bahamas with Bill and Geri Weir on their delightful boat Mermaid. This was a knew adventure in more ways than one. First, we hadn't had the opportunity to visit the Bahamas together before; and second, neither of us had ever cruised over in a boat! We had the pleasure of crossing over from Marathon, FL to Harbour Island, Bahamas in grand style aboard the Mermaid. Bill and Geri and their dog Jack were quite the hosts showing us a grand time all along the way. We stopped at the Angler's Club in Key Largo, Cat Cay, Great Harbour, Royal Island, Spanish Wells and finally to our destination of Harbour Island Marina.

When we say "grand", we mean "grand" - the Mermaid is a 2005 Marlow Explorer 53 C Cockpit Power Cruiser. She is 61 feet from bow pulpit to swim platform with an 18 foot beam and all the trimming inside. "Captain" Bill and "First Mate"Geri" maneuvered her with ease. Eddie was certainly at ease and skilled with his "deckhand" responsibilities being on all types of boats most of his life. They were quite patient with "deckhand" Debbie who had little experience other than being on Eddie's fishing boats.

Each stop in the Bahamas was unique in it's own rite. We swim at a sandy beach on Great Harbour and the water was the most crystal clear that we had ever seen - even considering the B.V.I. We had black/white stripped fish playfully swimming amongst us which was defintely a treat. Jack had a great time trying to catch them swimming back and forth! And the "Cheeseburger's in Paradise" there at the beachside tiki hut were delicious. The afternoon just "swam" by so quickly but we tried ever so much to savor every moment for a lasting memory.

Royal Island was "the" place to anchor out ('on the hook' in boaters terms) for an afternoon and night if you are looking for a quiet, secluded Cay. It is quite beautiful and the remoteness makes you feel as if you have a deserted island all to yourself.

The Devil's Backbone is a tricky passage with numerous coral heads just below the surface and everyone says "Get a pilot to get you through". But Bill had no trouble maneuvering through the Devil's Backbone on the way to Harbour Island Marina. He's an old pro and the choppy water and cloudy day didn't bother him in the least - he wiggled through the Backbone with ease.

Harbour Island Marina was very welcoming and we enjoyed our last days there. There are so many good restaurants on the island that we never had a problem eating all the good food the Bahamians had to offer. It was particularly fun riding through the streets in our golf cart, that is the way to travel, finding interesting shops, restaurants and visiting all the island had to offer.

Our 8 days were up and we were sorry to have to say goodbye to Bill, Geri and Jack - they gave us a taste of the boating life that we will always remember.