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Goodbye to Miami. We stayed in Miami 11 days, waiting for our weather window to cross the Atlantic to the Bahamas. Our crossing was on Friday February 13th which was ironic. But we had good fortune...calm seas, good weather and beautiful waters. We had a good time in Miami but are very anxious to get to the Bahamas. 
Our marina on Cat Cay. This is where we cleared customs and spent our first night in the Bahamas. We had dinner that night at the restaurant and a group of guys walked in with the Ex-Dallas Football Coach Jimmy Johnson. Fabin's daughter had her picture taken with him, very nice guy. 
When we left Cat Cay, this is how the water looked for 68 miles. Breathtaking....it was like cruising in bath water. You could see starfish on the bottom. 
We are anchored 68 miles from Cat Cay and 61 miles from Nassau. This anchorage is right before we enter the North Channel (and deep water) that takes us to Nassau. It was a little strange being anchored with no land in sight but what a sunset we experienced. 
As we approach Nassau Harbour, you can see Atlantis on Paradise Island. 
Part of the town of Nassau on New Providence Island. 
We are just entering the Nassau Harbour. This is where all the cruise ships dock when in port. In 1977, Jess and I where in this port on a cruise ship. I remember coming into port and looking down at the water and all the "private" boats. I was thinking to myself how cool it would to be on my own boat just like the others. Well, 32 years later, my dream came true!. 
Part of Paradise Island. Years ago, it was just one casino/hotel. 
Just one of our little neighbors in the marina. We look like dinghys compared to some of the yachts that are here. There is one huge yacht at the end of our dock and her engines are "jet engines"! We plan to depart Nassau on Wednesday (if weather is good) and will be in the Exumas Wednesday afternoon. So, more pictures to come. 
Florida Bay/Gulf of Mexico. This was our view from the bow. Beautiful when the winds were calm....very rocky when the winds were high. We had a wonderful stay in Marathon and hope to go back later down the road. We did go home for Christmas and Mandy's graduation. It was so good to be with all the kids. We are looking forward to cruising the Exumas then we will head back to Texas in May. 
"The Cone of Knowledge"....Happy Hour at the Tiki Hut which was right next to our boat at Harbour Cay Club in Marathon. Great folks, great friends. Harbour Cay Club is the BEST! 
January 29th, leaving Marathon. Whichaway stayed at another marina and finally caught up with us. 
Heading north to Miami, this is the last of the Florida Keys. Once we go under the bridge and a small channel thru the Mangroves, we enter Biscayne Bay heading to Miami. 
Boca Chita Park: This is the Lighthouse on Boca Chita, an island about 22 miles south of Miami. It's a great place to tie up to when weather is going to be bad. We arrived on January 30th right before a BIG front came in. We were able to secure the boat and then the winds picked up big time and blew hard for two days. > 
A view of Boca Chita from the lighthouse. In the background is the Atlantic Ocean. They have hiking trails and picnic areas. On the weekends, this harbor is packed with boats. Not only is the wall space taken up but boats will raft up to other boats three deep for a "party weekend". You can see Whichaway and My Cin in the right corner. 
Chuck, Fabin and Cindy enjoying Happy Hour watching all the boaters come and go. 
Sunset at Boca Chita....beautiful! 
MIAMI VICE...as we were approaching Miami in Biscayne Bay, this "hotdog boat" cruised by us with a helicopter filming it, then turned around behind us heading back to Miami. They were either filming for a show, commercial or just because they wanted to. Very very rich. 
NO NAME HARBOR....There is a neat little harbor located in Key Biscayne Island. It's a great anchorage (if you can get in). Whichaway was able to anchor and when we came in, we tried. We dropped anchor and our stern swung this close to shore. See the beautiful Iguana.....we decided to leave, didn't want to have this Iguana as a guest on our boat. As it turned out, we were able to get into a marina further up on the island. Key Biscayne Island is right across the Intracoastal Waterway from Miami. We were so glad to settle into a marina...alot of fronts came thru, very cold, very windy, able to rent a car to run errands and wait for our "weather window" to cross to the Bahamas. We arrived here on February 2nd and "HOPEFULLY" we will be able to cross to the Bahamas on Friday, February 13th. Our first week here was very cold but the weather is getting better and warmer. I will update the next blog from the Bahamas (when I can get internet service). We will not be using our cell phone (very expensive) but can use Skype on the internet.
Happy Valentines....and more to come. 
Buzzard Rock: Can Happen To Anybody! The owner of Reflections owns Buzzard Rock Marina were we stayed for two weeks. Super marina, super folks and Wayne and his family are gracious host. They were heading out for a week's family vacation and the Capt. was looking at his cell phone and this is what happened. They were not even a mile from the marina (which was good for them). Things can happen to the best of the best. 
Side view of Reflections. They had to bring in two barges and a crane to get her off the sandbar. Everyone felt so bad for Wayne and his family. Volunteers from the marina went out to the boat at night to keep watch on her. 
THE $100,000 FLAG. This is our Gold Loop Flag for completing the loop. We joke about calling it the $100,000 flag but we proudly display her on our bow. Loopers see it and know right off that we did the loop. 
History on the Tennessee River. This is the Cherry Mansion. Built in 1830 by landowner and planter, David Robinson. He presented the house as a wedding gift to his daughter Sarah and her new husband, W. H. Cherry. General Ulysses S. Grant was eating breakfast here on April 6, 1862, when he heard the distant dull thud of artillery fire as Confederate forces suddenly attacked his army at nearby Shiloh. The house served as Grant's headquarters during the fierce two-day battle. By the time the battle ended over 23,000 men died. 
The Whitten Lock. We shared an 85ft drop with a huge barge. No biggie for My Cin - the pro's. 
We are anchored off the river in this beautiful, peaceful cove enjoying the colors of fall. 
Boaters can experience the FOGGY mornings on the Tenn-Tom. We left our anchorage and hit thick walls of fog right before entering a lock. There is no turning back and we had to inch our way into the lock. It was one of the scariest moments on the trip. 
Incredible sunset in Perdido, Florida. We stayed at the Holiday Harbor Marina right next to the Sunset Grill. Now you know where they got the name. My sister Cathy lives in Pensacola, which is about 6 miles away. We had a wonderful visit with her and Sandi. Great marina, Sunset Grill owners, staff and food THE BEST! 
Anchored right off of Panama City with another gorgeous sunset. 
Sunset on the Gulf of Mexico. We left Carrabelle on 11/5 at 12:30pm for our crossing to Tarpon Springs. Weather/water conditions were perfect until 8:00pm. Winds picked up and it was not a pleasant run until about 5:00am the next day. We arrived in Tarpon around 11:30am on 11/6, anchored and crashed. My Cin made it. 
Cruising south on the Intracoastal Waterway and just one of the many beautiful neighborhoods along the way. We are currently in Venice, Florida and will head to Ft. Meyers tomorrow. We will arrive in Marathon Keys by Sunday or Monday. Jess and I will fly home in December for Mandy's graduation (Teaching Degree) and Christmas. We will head to the Bahamas in mid-January and explore the Exuma Islands. In the spring, we will head back to the States and start making our way back home to Texas. It's been an incredible run but we are ready to head home for awhile and be with our kids. By the time we get back will be exactly two years on the water. But in the meantime, we will continue our blog with more pictures and stories. 
