Day 142 Mar 5 85 mi West End Settlement Grand Banks Bahamas

Today is the DAY......we have heard from Mike and Harriet who help us with the weather and just about everything else.  They have lived aboard their boat the past 10 years or so and are looking to  moving to the RV life.  Best of the two worlds...right...maybe add golf and fishing to that....right Fred who has a birthday today.  Happy Birthday dear brother!!!!!

George from Marathon sent us weather reports and of course Rik and I have been on every weather app we have.  It is a good day to make the run to the West End with a late start so the seas calm but just do it....

Michel and Pierrette told us good-bye....They are on a Mainship across from us at Las Olas Marina.  Pierrette comes over and speaks French to Saddi and they both bring her cookies....she likes that!!!!

Pierrette and Michel

 

 

Las Olas Bridge is open....for us???

 

 

Marina

 

 

Lots of boats going out today

 

We stopped at Lauderdale Marina for fuel at 9:30AM......$4.45/gallon...195 gallons...let you be the judge.... and headed out of Port Everglade Inlet.  We made it out about 2 1/2 miles and the dinghy had a shackle break on the St Croix lifting system.....so back in to Lauderdale Marine to make the repair.  It is amazing what the Captain can do with a pocket knife and channel locks....but he made it work.

Captain has it fixed

 

 

Boat US bring a Yacht back to port

 

 

Port Everglad Inlet

 

 

Out of the inlet again at 11:30AM headed to the West End...a 2 hour delay but it smoother than before which may be good.  We see some sheeps out here......that's Pierrette's word for "white caps"

We could see the ships from the beach

 

 

Captain is moving on

 

 

Are we doing this again?

 

 

Fort Lauderdale back there

 

 

Getting rough out here

 

 

 

Blue Sky...Sunny...no land back there

 

 

3-5 feet swells known as Elephants

 

 

What is this coming across our path

 

 

Azalea Ace Cargo Ship 570/feet long

 

 

18.1 mph...all on the AIS..what does ours say to  him

 

 

There is the West End

 

 

Our entrance to Old Bahama Bay Marina

 

 

Welcome

 

 

Pretty isn't it

 

Captain goes to Customs, Saddi and I wait because we can not get off the boat until we clear customs.  $300 cash, look at boat documentation and the passports and we are good to go.  They didn't even look at Saddi's papers....didn't ask us what we had on board....Oh well....Saddi is healthy and has up-to-date papers for the Bahamas.

 

 

 



Customs and Dock Master

 

Once we cleared Customs Saddi and I went for a walk but forgot the camera.  We arrived back at the boat in time for sunset before going to dinner.  Cracked Conch for me and Blackened Snapper for the Captain.  Sure is nice to be here.

 

 

Our first Sunset in the Bahamas

 

 

Pretty

 

 

We made it....we are here