Ok, all tied up. Couple of drinks. No rum on the boat for some reason. Just cheap box wine. Life is hard...
So I didn’t realize this marina was technically closed. Called them on 16 and the guy said sure come on in, do you need power, yadayadayada. Then I get here and a guy walks up and says the marina is closed for the season. But he said it’s all good. Don’t worry about it mon. That’s why I love the Bahamas!
I’m cracking up Larry’s EPIC BRINGING THE BROKE BOAT BACK title. Doesn’t feel too epic. So far the trip has actually been pretty boring, but that’s a good thing on this trip.
The boat is actually in decent shape all things considered. Just the damages Larry listed plus a few more little things. Sand freakin EVERYWHERE. It actually blew in under the sliding windows somehow. The cockpit was full of sand a few inches deep. When the mast broke some water got inside and travelled to strange places via the headliner, so the interior was pretty damp and mildew-y. It’s feeling drier now already since I’ve been running the gen and AC 24/7 pretty much. My poor little genny. Oh well. How long can one run a generator safely? Does it need to rest???
So the island looks worse than I thought it would. It was depressing riding around on a golf cart a guy basically let me use for free. He owns a golf cart biz and most of them are destroyed. When I walked up and asked for a cart he said this one here kind of runs, just take it. Didn’t ask me for my name or anything. He just wanted to help maybe? He has lives on GTC all his life and is maybe 60-70, and was putting a roof back on his house. Strong-willed dude.
I gotta tell ya, these GTC island folks are getting after it. They are all working putting stuff back together, but it looked really bad to me. Maybe was still in oh sh$t mode and kind of shocked and depressed. They are over all that shock it appears. They are working. But the cart guy did wonder if the tourists would come back...
There are still boats strewn about on land all over Black Sound where I was. Maybe 10 thrown up on shore and more sunk in the sound. There was a big fancy 70’ Marlow that was on wrecked in Black Sound I thouht but didn’t see it. Maybe the insurance folks came and got that one.
Menzies, yes I’m single handing because nobody wanted to come with me. I know I’m hard to deal with but sheesh! Just kidding, it was so clunky to get here and having to bring my own food, it was just easier solo. I don’t mind single handing the boat and I find myself amusing most of the time. I really don’t consider this a dangerous adventure or anything but maybe it’s the wine. As you know, as long as the weather is good this is not a hard trip.
Bigfish, I do have a little EPIRB lite, a PLB I think it’s called. And the Inreach tracker thing that sort of works. And a new liferaft my wife made me buy before she would make the trip with me when we came across in June.
Miz Trom, I don’t know about being a smart cookie. Most folks on this board have forgotten more than I’ll ever know about boating. I constantly find out about things I should have done differently, but somehow I muddle through. I’m a firm believer that perfect is the enemy of good. [emoji23]
My plan is to cross tomorrow from this nice, secluded and vacant (I’m the only boat here)
marina at first light, which seems to be around 7am. I think I’m gonna basically head directly west and let the current sweep me up the 16 miles or so to Lake Worth. Does that sound right? I’m not worried too much about this crossing becaue the weather looks good, but I sure do wish I had my sails. I forgot how damn wobbly this boat was.
Plan is to get the boat to Stuart on the ICW to Mack Sails and let them assess the damage and send in an estimate that my insurance will probably reject for some reason. I have an $8000 “named storm” deductible so it’s not like I’m gonna make out real well on this deal. Plus, they recently sent me a letter saying they had to drop me because they lost their reinsurance. Not a confidence-inspiring letter for someone about to submit a claim. I really dislike insurance! Maybe I will just get liability from now on.
Thanks for all the well-wishes! I appreciate the support!
OK, time for more wine. And maybe a boat shower with my organically perfumed algae water. [emoji41]