Abaco or Bust

First we want to thank all our family and friends for making Michelle's graduation from the University of Kansas a very special and memorable occasion. The entire weekend was full of celebration and glowing parental pride. We are lucky for having two very independent and bright daughters. We are confident that Michelle will be a hugely successful teacher and that she will make a difference in the lives of many of her young students. 

Exiting the Bell Tower

We are back for the second half of the sailing season and it isn’t starting out so good, with Tropical Storm Andrea putting us in a holding pattern anchored down in Lake Worth, Florida.  On the positive side we had ample time to explore Peanut Island and discover new things we hadn’t found in the Palm Beach area before.  

Peanut Island

Like the public docks we found right in downtown West Palm Beach (free all day until midnight) south of the Lake Worth Inlet and south of the Flagger Bridge.  If you ever get a change check out this area, it is really a lot fun and we enjoyed our time there especially since it was free all day.  On top of that they have a free public tram that runs all day long. And as a bonus it stopped right in front of our favorite grocery store chain. We also discovered a development very much like Zona Rosa but much larger.  And of course anytime we find a Starbucks it makes Captain King happy. So lets recap our stay at West Palm; Free dock, free transportation, grocery store, Starbucks and lots of bars with Happy Hours.  Question is “why did we ever leave”?

West Palm Dock

Because the weather finally cleared so we made the 50 km jump to West End, Bahamas.  It was a light wind day but we went for it because this had been the least rainy and/or squally day we have had in weeks.

After a 9hr crossing we arrived at West End and decided we’d anchor out after researching a good spot on the north side of the island giving us good protection from the south winds.  The water here still amazes us on how crystal clear it is.  But we didn’t stay anchored long because after we barbequed a nice arrival dinner we saw a squall on the horizon with an unbelievable lightning show in it coming our way.  So we decided a dock at the marina that night would be the prudent thing to do.  These summer squalls here are nasty and any sailor worth his salt seeks shelter as soon as possible when they appear.

Old Bahama Bay Resort & Marina

 The Old Bahama Bay Marina at the West End is a beautiful tropical resort development and a perfect spot to tie down through the squalls. They have a beautiful full service marina, a magnificent pool, a beach bar and the staff is as friendly as they come. And a nice nightly tab that comes with it also. So like our last trip over here where we discovered that paradise is expensive continues to be true. But we are sailors and after one night and a day enjoying the spoils at the resort we moved back out to the anchorage leaving the resort to the millionaire crowd with their mega motor yachts.  But it is fun to pretend sometimes!  

Speaking of mega motor yachts. Steve Job's floating creation is proof that you can create something different. 

So off we go into the unknown and hopefully the weather will settle down a bit and we can enjoy our last month before the Hurricane season set in.