SKINNY ACCESSIBLE ONLY

Non-Accessible washroom vanity

Our Ben celebrates a birthday today (which means I am now older too). He worked at the Ottawa, Ontario food bank for months. The bathrooms and everything had to be wheelchair accessible. I thought of him last night as we saw the women's washroom at Bimini Sands Beach Resort. This washroom is not even accessible if you are overweight at all. I thought it was too funny and had to take a picture of it. I don't know who designed it but I thought why not just put a small sink in at the end instead of this long vanity that you would have to squeeze through to wash your hands. Anyways, I had to share.

An interesting jelly fish here
at Bimini Sands Marina

SEASIDE RULES

Way back when Paul and I were in New Smyrna, Florida we went shopping in the tiny boutique touristy shops. This is a rare event but things happen for a reason. Paul looked up and saw this amazing sign that was framed and on a stand for all to see. "We have to get this so all our guests know the rules". I agreed and now I am posting the rules as all our guests have gone now.

All boaters have the "rules" to follow on their boat... I can say for all boaters that these rules apply big time. Any cottage could use a sign like this too.

We are at Chub Cay Marina with many villas and cottages. We did an hour hike today and came across some very unique driveway entrance decorations. They are so creative down here from pineapples, mermaids to this awesome sand dollar that I just loved. Paul took a picture of it for me. I like to share the uniqueness of the Bahamas.

The weather is going to be in our favour to leave at dawn Thursday morning. We will leave this marina tomorrow and anchor out. We leave for Bimini Sands Marina and will be there for a few nights awaiting for the weather window again (as other boaters do).

I have been listening to our local radio stations, Majic 100 and CFRA the last few days so I am hearing the weather and the local news. Being away so long we seem connected by the world wide web! What a great invention!

Hatch-- An opening in a deck leading to the cabin below with a cover designed to let water in while keeping fresh air out.

Passage—Basically a voyage from point A to point B, interrupted by unexpected landfalls or stopovers at point K, point Q, and point Z.

MAKING OUR WAY TO FLORIDA

Hello to our followers I can see people are trying to see where we are... well we left Staniel Cay on Friday morning and travelled all the way to Rose Island, just outside of Nassau. The weather, wind, waves, prayers, sun etc were all in our favour. We left Nassau after getting fuel, on Saturday for Chub Cay. Now those weather factors are not in our favour now, so we are paying to stay in a marina here surrounded by Sport Fishermen. Chub Cay Club is where the huge Sport Fishermen come with their boats. These are the boats with the tall tuna tower high up above their flybridges. We wake up to all these boats gone (up early to catch the fish?) and they come back between 2pm and 4pm. Then these men (many crew) wash and scrub their boats for about 2 hours. Salt is the enemy. I noticed that the boats with the most crew (or maybe friends?) get the job done very fast, it seems they have their designated jobs. Remember when you were young and if you had a car, you seemed to have a few extra friends? I always notice that these men with the sport fishing boats seem to have a few extra friends onboard too.

When we are anchored at Rose Island we see Atlantis all lit up at night. Well, Friday night's sunset was amazing in the sense that the sun was huge! From our angle that sun was so big that Paul took a video and few shots on our camera.

Every time we pass through Nassau Harbour our eyes are always on the large cruise ships, they wave to us and we wave back. Saturday is a big day as this is a day for a turnaround. There were 5 ships in harbour. This time though I actually looked opposite of the cruise ships and this time I saw this quaint “shack” that came out of the shore by about 100ft. All these times coming through this channel I was so busy waving and taking cruise pictures I missed this little cottage. Notice that Atlantis is in the background. This cottage has a perfect view of all the ships coming and going.

I wonder if this houseboat was going too fast?
I got this online, did not happen near us.

SURPRISE PICTURES

Vicki wanted so much to ask if we can slide down too!!

GIRLS HAVING FUN!!

This is what Paul would have
looked like if he actually had hair??

Our guests are gone and we are preparing to leave tomorrow for Norman's Cay, then Highbourne for a couple of nights. We will await for good weather to travel to Nassau.

Our holiday is over and back to Canada in a jiff!!!!

Tiny Coyaba is in the background

MOST POPULAR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN CANADA 
(come visit us)

1. Niagara Falls (Ontario
2. Harbourfront Centre, Toronto
3. Granville Island, Vancouver
4. Stanley Park, Vancouver
5. Vieux Port, Montreal
6. Exhibition Place, Toronto
7. The Forks, Winnipeg
8. Banff National Park, Alberta
9. Canada's Wonderland, Maple (near Toronto)
10. Mont Royal Park, Montreal

I have been blessed to see 9 of them!! How many have you seen?

EYE CANDY

Wine is a staple “food” in some households (boats) so when provisioning in another country (USA) one sometimes buys products by labels. The label on this red wine caught our attention and lo and behold we now have it at the cash to buy. Doug and Paul have been friends for over 30 years so a good bottle of wine is on the menu every night (we hope its good!)... when just buying on label who knows what it tastes like.

We ventured down to Oven Rock.... near Little Farmer's Cay Island. This rock is a landmark as to where to anchor. When you go ashore there is a trail to a large cave. This cave is one that Matthew and his friend Matt loved to swim in the mineral “pool”. I had lost my camera for a short 48 hours so I was not able to take pictures at this time …. but today I did. Many visitors come to this cave (by word of mouth to other boaters) as we see many footprints and some markers along the way to guide future trekkers. We have left a marker behind to help future explorers to find this cave.

Inside the cave, nice and cool

We are sitting at anchorage at Black Point Settlement using the free internet on the island. We ate at the famous Lorraine's Restaurant and had a conch burger and fried fish …. DELICIOUS! She is so busy one is suppose to go up and serve yourself a Kalik (beer) at the counter. This is what one does here in Black Point here... isn't it wonderful?

This is a large mural inside Lorraine's Cafe
Black Point

I took a 9 second video near the Staniel Cay dump... we drop off our garbage and then hike to the ocean side. The waves are magnificent.

SEA LAND VEHICLE

FRIENDS ARE FANTASTIC... we welcomed our long-time friends Doug and Vicki on board Coyaba. We are enjoying their company and they brought many good things from Toronto to here in Staniel Cay. I took a photo of all the stuff, look closely and you will see wine, fly swatter, paper towel, a tomato and Gin + other good stuff. These friends are the last of our guests so we are running out of stuff of importance … like Gin, white wine, cucumber, paper towel and other stuff as shown on the table.

We are enjoying catching up with them with news from home (Canada) and news from their own homefront.

Many boats are heading north at this time of year. We plan to head north after Doug and Vicki leave. I am confident that the snow will be gone and the tulips will be blooming at the front of our house.  

There is a "boat" that turns into a "four wheeler" on land.... we saw this in the water the other day then go  right onto the beach for some four wheeling fun. We were walking around Staniel Cay and saw it parked at the yacht club and took a picture so you can see for yourselves.

Friends are people that know all about you and still like you anyway!!

WENT TO THE DUMP

Near the Staniel Cay Dump, just beautiful
went with another couple and actually got a picture of
the two of us!

We are sitting in Samson Cay Marina just with our dinghy so we can have internet. We could not go out for lunch as planned because someone rented this whole island including the restaurant.... so back to our boat for a boring lunch there. Twenty years ago this week our third son was born. I did bring a pink sleeper to the hospital just in case but God blessed us with a third son so a blue sleeper it was. We love you James! We wish James a very Happy Birthday as I know his big brothers and buddies will party with him.

We met some very nice people from Tofino, B.C. (my parents live on Vancouver Island too!). They took us to the Staniel Cay dump to drop off some garbage. Does not sound interesting.... well after one drops off the bag, hike on a small trail and this is what you see. This is the ocean side of the island of Staniel Cay. What a beautiful site it was. This couple have been coming to this area for years so they are full of useful information.

Our boat is super clean and tidy for guests arriving from Toronto on Wednesday, we have them for 8 wonderful nights then we say goodbye to them and a big goodbye to here. We will start heading north to cooler climes.

I think all boaters can relate to my quote on this posting and I would say the same thing for homeowners.

"If you can't repair it, maybe it shouldn't be on board." -- Lin and Larry Pardey

CRAB SCARE

almost stepped on this crab
He scared me as I am sure I scared him

Samson Cay Marina is a small quaint marina with small sailboats or megayachts that are over 100 feet long. We all share the same amenities here. There are wonderful nature trails here that all lead to a beach. When you arrive at the beach there is no one around. However, the little crab above thought so too until I almost stepped on him. He scurried away quickly and scared the !@#$ out of me with a yelp or two. It was so unexpected! Anyways, he posed for our camera.

aerial view of Samson Cay Marina
Coyaba is on the right of picture,
just see the flybridge

"Travel not only stirs the blood.... It also gives strength to the spirit." -- Florence Prag Kahn

TOQUE AND TWO FOUR

When you are from a foreign country there are words or sayings that others do not understand. One Canadian saying that we all know is a two four. If you are not a Canadian then it is not a common term used by you. When I was provisioning in Florida and the cart was full, I told the cashier I had a two four of bottled water under the cart. Do you need to see it? A two four? Yes. She looked at me strange and then I caught on real quick. I mean a case of twenty-four water. Now, if I was in Canada anywhere and said that, the cashier would know exactly what I meant. You see, a two four is what all Canadians buy when they go to get beer.... a 24 pack of beer. (Who buys 12 packs?)... and we refer this term to cases of water or anything that has 24 in it.

Toque.... what is this? Americans have no idea and look real strange at Paul if he says he had to put his toque on. You see a toque is a small hat with no brim. Could be knitted or made of cotton, whatever. Anyone who skis or snowboards always puts their toque on. I keep reminding Paul just say hat down here, they have no idea what you are referring to. Bald people wear toques all year long!

Serviette, yes it is French but it is an English word for napkin. I asked for a serviette in a restaurant in Key Biscayne and that waiter looked dumbfounded. I quickly corrected myself. I asked for a napkin.

I need vinegar on my French Fries, I do not like ketchup. This I know will not happen outside of Canada unless I am in Britain or a British Pub (even then you may have to ask). I actually carry those little vinegar packages that you get at fast food places (in Canada) in my purse. These terms are a give-a-way we are Canadian or a little weird? Our sons like mayonnaise on their French Fries, why?... because they have hung around their Dutch friends. They put mayonnaise on so many things. Mayonnaise on French Fries is NOT Canadian, it is a Dutch thing.

Of course if we talk in Celcius or metric no one understands down here. It is a good thing we grew up with both imperial measurements and metric. The younger generation in Canada do not know Fahrenheit. I could talk about Beavertails and Poutine but the list could be too long.

I write this post because in the Bahamas it is so cool that Paul wore his toque, I could not get vinegar on my French Fries at lunch, I asked for a serviette and it is like 15 outside! The two four of beer that we got from Wal-Mart is really a one eight (18 pack) and I am proud to be a Canadian.

The word “toque” is a French alteration of toca... a Spanish word that describes a 15th-century pageboy haircut.

LONG SLEEVES AND SOCKS!

Since we arrived in the Bahamas I've worn flipflops, swimsuits and the “going to shore shorts” but today I wore shoes and a long sleeve shirt AND socks!! It is only in the low 60's F (less than 20C) We are at a dock here in Samson Cay Marina. There is some bad weather here and we know now from experience book a marina well in advance if you plan to stay in one. We have so much laundry to do since the boys left (sheets, towels etc.). So a nice sheltered marina is what we got here at Samson. This marina is very close to Staniel Cay Marina but more secluded and no town. The water is .50 cents a gallon and the power is very expensive ($1.10 kw). We are “plugged in” to the marina but we are careful as if we are at home or like I say just like our son Ben after buying his first home, flicking off lights, cutting back the heat and not running his air conditioner.

We went to the Clubhouse for lunch and I loved the artwork so much I took pictures of them. I will post a couple of the shots.

It is always interesting of the different foliage here, as a beautiful small flower can grow in sand with such little rain. With all the rain we are having today and the next few days, I'm hoping even more flowers will be blooming in the next few days.

Full of blooms

This small flower growing out of sand!

Did You Know? The character of James Bond is based on William Stephenson, a real-life spy from Winnipeg, Manitoba - according to Uncle John's Bathroom Reader