At West End

We left at 3 AM on Friday morning from Key Biscayne with the lights of the Miami skyline in the distance.  We traveled with s/v Yorkshire Rose crewed by our friends, Sue and Gene Fuller.  We needed to leave during an ideal "weather window" when the seas and winds would be the best for the 90 mile crossing through the Gulf Stream.  It was a warm starry night with winds out of the east southeast at 16 knots. We were hoping the winds would calm a bit, as forecasted, but that did not happen very much!  The seas were a bit confused, with swells between 3 and 4 feet.


About half way through the trip, I (Joanne) decided to go down below for a nap.  Big mistake!  I instantaneously felt queasy and that feeling remained with me through the rest of the trip.  Bleu Kitty found a nice pillow on the floor in the main cabin and hung in there!  He didn't look too happy, but never got sick or complained.


Thirteen hours later we arrived in Paradise!  Whew, we were tired and after a nice meal out, we crashed and spent yesterday cleaning up and recouperating.


We love the Old Bahama Bay Marina and Resort here in West End.  Cost is $3 a foot on the weekend; $2 a foot during the week.  You have all the resort amenities e.g., pool, activities center, bikes, etc. 

We went bike riding yesterday with the Fullers (only one road out of the resort) to a town.  We wanted ice cream and we were told that a lady called Lorri sold it from her home.  So when we got about 1-1/2 miles down the road, we asked the locals and sure enough, they directed us to her place.  She was a very nice lady in her 40's who is a seamstress and also serves ice cream cones out of her kitchen!  So good!

This morning we asked the resort to take us to the local Catholic church, St. Michaels.  They only have one Mass at 8 AM.  It was a lovely service - we were practically the only whites there.  The people were so hospitable.  We loved the singing and the sign of peace and singing happy birthday to those celebrating this week.  Afterwards we had sandwiches, fruit, pastries, coffee, sodas, etc. and everyone spoke to us and we felt so welcome!

The Fullers left today for Great Sale.  Since there is a blow coming in on Tuesday, we decided to stay here.  We will try to join them later. 

Check out some of our photos below by clicking on

Photos !


Postscript:   We met some really wonderful sailors here in the marina - Fred and Joanie on s/v Heavenly Scent from Missouri/Colorado,  Carl & Barbara Bretko on s/v Wind Traveler from Bradenton and Denny & Deb Mills on s/v True North from Deadwood, South Dakota.  Yesterday we all rented a limo to take us on a tour of Grand Bahama Island.  We went to lovely gardens, lunch and shopping at Port Lucaya Marketplace and Marina, etc.  Since we are held up waiting for a windy front to pass, we are having a Storm Survivor Happy Hour on our dock tonite!  We hope to leave either Thursday or Friday when winds and sea calm down again.