Yacht SV Meshugga

Wednesday, 22 December 2021

Bahamas, Bimini Arriving in Paradise at Last

We arrived at North Island Bimini in the afternoon, after a bumpy crossing. Bimini channel looks much as it did a year ago when we checked in here.

Most Marinas were almost empty

Monday morning we went into town first to Immigration where the official chastised me, that only the Captain should have gone, and that Jenny and I should return to our boat.

Pink Immigration Building

Jenny and I left, and Nicholas did Immigration and the Officials would not give him more than 3 months Visa, so we’ll have to renew, despite paying for a 1 Year Yacht Cruising Permit. He then went to Customs afterwards to present our Click-2-Clear Payment Confirmation to collect our Cruising Permit.

As we were now legitimately in Bahamas, our first priority was to hire a Golf Car so that we could tour the whole island. Whilst we have electric bicycles aboard Meshugga, we only have 2, and a Golf Car sounds like Fun.

Got to do some shopping

Dead Center of town with a view over the sea

Buildings are brightly painted

A welcome to Bahamas Kalik Beer and Jenny a Coco Loco

A stop at Charlies Bakery for Coconut bread. Charlie was closed, but kindly opened for us, but only Raison and Cinnamon breads were available. We bought both!

Towards the northern part of the island we could see Meshugga in her anchorage

Our very cute Golf Car, Fun and not very fast

We toured the island from end to end, and then it was time for Lunch overlooking Radio Beach

Kalik Beers

And Fried Cracked Conch

Back at our boat at Blue Waters Marina

Beautiful setting sun, and a quiet night in our anchorage

Sunday, 19 December 2021

USA - Florida, Key Biscayne, No Name Harbor - A month

Sorry about no posts during the past month.

Not too much has happened. We’ve been waiting for supplies, parts, doing shopping and victualing Meshugga for a year, and waiting for Jenny (Nicholas’ sister) to arrive.

Eagle (I think) flying over Meshugga in No Name Harbor

Birds

Manatee in No Name Harbor

And in Nicholas was very busy with necessary repairs and maintenance that had to be done before we could set sail for the Bahamas. Meshugga’s cockpit and salon was a real mess whilst all this was happening

After our trip to San Francisco, I was sick, with a nagging cough, sore throat, slight fever and raging headache. After a week of medications, I was concerned that I might have Covid and took myself off for a Covid test at Curative, a testing station in Key Biscayne.

They were most efficient, and I had my results within 2 hours, Negative, Yay!

Finally our dingy arrived back after being re-tubed after being at the installers for the past 3 weeks. They did a wonderful job!

My next job was to sell the Honda outboard as we had a new Suzuki outboard to install. I put an advert on Craigslist and had so many hits I had to delete the add, to stop the numerous emails and calls. It was priced right at $1000 for a 50 Hp Honda 4 stroke

Nicholas was cycling at night through the Bill Baggs park, and hit a post, going arse over tit, dislocating his shoulder and breaking his toe. Next day we rushed to the Mercy Hospital Emergency rooms for X-rays etc. Prior to going to the hospital though we managed to pull his shoulder back into joint and so after the X-rays and MRI his diagnosis was for a Grade 3 ligament tear and the doctors prognosis was that it should heal naturally, if not, then surgery. His Big Toe, is also a mess with multiple fractures and then cannot operate to put pins in as there are just too many breaks. This too has to heal naturally, and Nicholas will end up with a thick, maybe wonky not too straight Big Toe. He cannot wear Flip Flops or shoes, so has an Othopedic Sandel when walking off the boat.

Returning our hired car to Hertz and the Ritz Carlton in Key Biscayne, and waiting for a Freebee Golf Car to take us back to Meshugga.

A week later, Nicholas decided his shoulder was feeling more stable and having sold the Honda outboard, installed the new Suzuki outboard. It was quite a feat, made easier by us being alongside the wall in No Name Harbor were the water was flat and no wind.

A trip to Crandon Marina to fill up with Diesel and Petrol, one of the last few items on our Must Do List before leaving for Bahamas

I stayed ashore to make a last Grocery Run to Costco and Walmart, Nicholas leaving the dock on his own to return the 5 miles to No Name Harbor

A couple of photos of Meshugga underway, it’s not often I get the chance to take photos of Meshugga moving, as I’m always aboard.

Friday 17th finally arrived and Jenny arrived to join us aboard Meshugga. Welcome Gin & Tonic to celebrate

That night we were treated to a wonderful Fireworks Display

Saturday saw us doing final prep, ie off to have a Covid test so that we could apply for the Bahamas Health Visa. Despite making an appointment, the line at Curative was long, and we waited 45 minutes for our turn to do the test.

We also went for Booster shots at the local CVS Pharmacy, quick and easy.

And then back to No Name Harbor in one of Key Biscayne’s Freebee Shuttles

All our chores and prep done, we spent a last night in the USA at No Name Harbor with an early start planned for Sunday 18th to cross the Gulf Stream to Bahamas.