Bahamas here we come!

Tonight we sat on 'Southern Vectis' and watched a flaming orange sky fade to deep blue, and listened to the strains of a bagpipe float across the water. It was magical -particularly after cocktails on 'Somewhere in Time' - Eileen and John's luxurious 'Nordic Tug 42'. It was a fitting ending to the many happy days 'Southern Vectis' has spent here, at Las Olas Marina, since our first visit in mid-November.
Tomorrow is IT! The day we've been planning towards for literally years! We cross to the Bahamas! It's all planned...from a perfect (we hope) weather forecast, to a full moon, to non-existent waves in the Gulf Stream for our crossing. We're geared up and raring to go.....and more than a bit nervous, though we don't admit it! Our berths are booked at the 'Bahama Bay Marina', in West End, on the island of Grand Bahama, approximately 68 nautical miles north east of Fort Lauderdale.
Tomorrow (Saturday 10 January, 2009) 'Southern Vectis', 'Sea Change' and 'Somewhere in Time' will slip their moorings at 'Las Olas' and slip gently down the ICW to a temporary anchorage at 'Lake Sylvia'. We will all dinghy to do any last minute shopping, and probably gather at the 'Southport Raw Bar' for oysters and wine some time in the late afternoon. Then back to the boats and a short snooze before we pull anchor around 11:30 p.m. to catch the midnght opening of the 17th Street Bridge. Then our voyage will begin! All being well, and averaging a speed of about 6knots, we should make it to West End in 12 hours, taking into account the 3 + knot current in the Gulf Stream.
I must say that the build up to this crossing is quite something! We feel that we'll be somehow passing over to another existence.......maybe it'll be heaven, or maybe opposite! But tomorrow we'll be be 'crossing over'.....wish us luck!
Next time ......from the Bahamas.

Christmas party at Fraser and Edi's.

Lily wears her sunglasses at night and for breakfast

Water sports- VIctoria style

Lily & Isabelle

Beach walk -Victoria, B.C.

Holiday adventures

Christmas day on Vancouver Island

Happy New Year to all our 'blogsters'. We hope you had a good one, and that 2009 will be good to you all.
It seems ages since I last wrote, so if my prose seems a bit rusty, please put it down to too much food, wine and good company over the holidays.
Our holidays started with a get-together and delicious dinner at Fraser and Edi's house in Lighthouse Point. Suni, their lovely daughter, and Heather and Cory, Edi's twin sister and nephew, were also there. It was great to reminisce with them all, and catch up on their news.
Next we flew across the country to Victoria- taking the long way round via Montreal and Vancouver, but luckily missing all the storms. We spent ten days with Charlotte, Pierre, Lily (22 months) and Isabelle (5 months) in the woods of Metchosin, just outside Victoria. As you all probably koow, Vancouver Island is where a lot of Canadian 'snowbirds' go to avoid the snow and bitter temperatures 'out east'. Well, it didn't work this year! We arrived to thick snow and, in some cases, impassable roads and driveways. Charlotte and Pierre live at the top of a narrow lane and had to rent an enormous seven-seater four wheel drive SUV to get to their house! Thank you both for your forethought!
We had lots of fun with our little granddaughters - including 'the early morning shift', exercising with Lily on the trampoline, hot tubbing in the snow, and almost sliding down the hillside in the SUV! We also had a super day out at Weir Beach in the brilliant sunshine, and, of course lots of hugs and kisses from everyone. We were sad when we had to fly off on our 'red-eye' flight via Seattle and Atlanta back to Fort Lauderdale.
Now, since we've been back, we've provisioned the boat for the crossing to the Bahamas (we cornered the market in tins of chili, spaghetti sauce and stews!) We'll be going from Fort Lauderdale to 'West End', on Grand Bahama. Bob and Carol, on'Sea Change' arrived on 5th January, and John and Eileen on 'Somewhere in Time', will arrive sometime today. Both boats have been travelling all the way from Ontario since the beginning of September. Then we all wait for the famous 'weather window' - no 'north' in the wind and preferably soft southerly breezes. Just a passing thought...every boat crew we've chatted to so far has been making for the Bahamas...will there be room for us?! On the other hand - it sounds like 'party time' once we get there! More anon.