And yet we’re gonna’ eat it! Our first conch (purchased not harvested on our own (yet)) was served up last night. Conch baked with butter, sweet green pepper, garlic, tomato, white wine, salt and pepper. Man was it good! Today Pat’s whipping up “conch salad” which is conch “cooked (aka marinated)” in lime juice. Then add  celery, cucumber, onions, tomato, wine vinegar, olive oil and salt and pepper. Served cold…can’t wait! The cleaning of this animal is quite something to see for the first time. I’ve always said “the first person to eat a crab, oyster etc. was a REALLY hungry guy! We can now add conch to that list. Looks bad …. taste delicious!!            

View looking west over the ocean from Alice Town Hill top.

06:30 raised anchor in NoName Harbour and proceeded out to the sea buoy. We were in a mini fleet of around ten boats heading across the Gulf Stream. HB and a lone trawler (Amadon Light) headed due east to Bimini and the rest of the pack slowly rounded north to pass above Bimini at North Rock going on, non stop, to Nassau. We spotted Bimini at 12:25 from nine miles out. We were still in 2200 feet of water right up to about two miles out. We docked at Bimini Blue Water Resort Marina, in Alice Town,  and met Jean & Tom.  We had a sundowner aboard their trawler, Amadon Light, and then retired to HB to let it all settle in. We made it! Looks like we’ll stay here another night and then head off (Thursday) toward Nassau with an overnight anchored on the “banks” at Russell Beacon. Then a short hop to Nassau on Friday. There, we will update our itinerary and map out a rough schedule.  More later…..

New Pics Here

All this waiting has consequences! After our morning Starbucks visit we were heading back to the boat when we passed a movie theater. Not really the stuff that stories are made from is it? But wait, there’s more.  We were no more than a few feet past the entrance when an impromptu decision was formulated. We decided to see “Quantum Solace”.  I’m not sure it was a good idea! You see I love the Bond series and, agreeably, in a foolish move I made a second impromptu decision upon exiting the theater. One that now jeopardizes our cruising plans. After years of secretly yearning for a life of intrigue and high action I have finally released the chains of inhibition. I am now Randall J  Agent 003 ½ secret agent in the service to “Her Majesty”. That’s right…I am Bond’s replacement. I’m off to Cairo first light tomorrow in search of Mr. White. You’ll recall he is the villain who escaped in Casino Royale and now again from the Quantum Group. If I succeed in eliminating Mr. White James Bond's career is caput! His usefulness to MI6 will cease and the plot will have finally ended. James can simply slip silently into retirement. "M” has tasked me with this mission personally.  Finally, I get my turn in the spotlight! “003 ½” will be the star of one sequel after another.  That's right.......you know I like them ”shaken not stirred”.

I once heard tell of a cruising boat that spent over a month awaiting a good weather window (to cross the Gulf Stream). My reaction, at the time, was simply that they were waiting for the “perfect” window and, most likely, passed on more than a couple of suitable days to make the crossing. Mind you, it is only a ten hour sail. Well, we’ve been here four days now and the cold fronts have marched through like freight trains one after the other. Each bringing strong northerly winds (steady 12-15 gusting 20 -25). Todays forecast shows the winds staying northerly through Sunday, then moving to the east late Monday. Unless another cold front marches over top the east winds should clock around toward the southerly quarters Tuesday or Wednesday. That’s all we need to get across (comfortably)! So here we remain….waiting and hoping the long term forecast is accurate. If it’s not, and northerlies continue, out comes the old crow recipe! Me and my big mouth! I’ve actually had to sample this delicacy on occasion. Oh yes really! I know you find that hard to believe, but I do, at times, shoot me large orifice off a bit (sometimes Gin or Rum is involved). The possibility exist, once again, that “crow” may be on the menu soon. Monday will be a full week since arrival. We planned on staying just a few days. Should these winds continue past Monday we’re then into week number two. Too much longer and I’ll have to fire up the oven! Anyone have a suggestion for good Bordeaux to accompany my crow? Perhaps something with a blackcurrant bouquet and oaky undertones?  While your at it please pass the salt?

Miami looking back north on the ICW just before entering Biscayne Bay.

We anchored in Dinner Key (Coconut Grove) late this morning. Weather window, for crossing Gulf Stream, doesn't look good through Thursday at least. We topped off all fuel, water etc. and will now continue with onboard projects until the weather is good for heading over to Bimini. For the record; when the wind is out of any northerly direction, the wind clashes with the north bound Gulf Stream and creates nasty steep seas which make things very uncomfortable. No need to beat ourselves up. That will happen soon enough on it's own (and without our planning). Weather is great. We remain well and wish you were all here!