| With Colin
aboard ready for his first bluewater passage, we waited for good weather at Key Biscayne
to cross the powerful Gulf Stream current that separates the Bahamas from the continent.
We anchored in Biscayne Bay not far from Richard Nixon's former residence. Even though you
can see the bright lights of Miami in the distance, Key Biscayne feels quite remote.
Dolphins played around Two-Step and we had some lovely sunsets. The lights of the city on
the horizon were such a contrast to the tranquility of our immediate surroundings that it
really made us appreciate the beauty around us. Finally we got the light southerly winds
we were waiting for (northerly winds go against the flow of the Gulf Stream and the result
is large confused seas) and departed out the channel through Stiltsville at 0200.
Stiltsville is a
community of homes built on stilts (pilings) out in the middle of the water. (Is this a
ploy to avoid land taxes?) Most of the homes are deserted now or used only as vacation
homes. As we proceeded cautiously between the reefs picking up the channel markers with
our spotlight, these strange ghostly buildings popped out of the darkness too. Finally we
were clear and headed out into the black night. We'd never seen the Gulf Stream so
calm and motor-sailed through the night, making landfall in the Bahamas at Bimini at 1200.
The weather was perfect during the 10 days that Colin was aboard and we cruised the Bimini
group of islands at a leisurely pace enjoying the abundance of lobster and conch for
seafood feasts, the beautiful white sand beaches, blue water and sunshine. It was hard to
believe that it was winter back in Canada. Colin departed on a seaplane from Bimini
harbour and the weather quickly changed. We had several fronts over the next few weeks
with strong winds and heavy rain. (The locals call these winter storms
"northers") On one occasion, we had to put out a three anchors to hold the boat
in place as the howling winds swung around. Still, it beats snow and ice! More then we ever planned to learn
about Hurricanes!
A good hurricane plot showing
all the different ones this year. Note that they all go through, or very near, New Bern
where we are keeping our boat! Good plan huh? Well, the marina where we chose to dock
Two-Step, Northwest Creek Marina, turned out to be the smartest thing we've done! Winds
got up to 80-100mph but there was no wave action to speak of in the harbour.
 The Morning after in New
Bern NC. We drove the few miles to the downtown and found the other marinas had been
trashed. The river was too exposed!! One marina, right on the river had scarcely a boat
left afloat! Docks, boats and everything were scattered around the grounds of the hotel.
Probably 50
boats were destroyed. Some were piled up and sunk, some were in the streets of the town,
washed up in the high water of the storm. Water levels went 5 feet above normal.
A number of people left their sails on
the roller furler, and when the wind unfurled them, the strain was too much!
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