Back from the Exumas

Well, only me. - But that's a different story that I will talk about later.
Over the last two weeks, we walked, cleaned, did projects, hide from the rain, and more.
In the photos below we have - Hani making Challa for the first time on the boat - it was amazing!! It is the best Challa you can find in the Abacos.

We also took the ferry to Great Guana Cay and visited Grabbers and got nipped at Nippers. Even Cocoa had great fun at Nippers.


We walked a few times, taking photos of the flora that is now blooming (mainly the trees).

We also walked looking for the famous castle that is sitting on the top of the hill. we circled the area 3 times until we found it, and it is looking much better from distance that from close.

we also took again the famous selfie at the snow emergency route.

it was taken at about 105F mid day... snow would have been a great idea at that point.
We had to stop at the Jib Room for a very cold drink before we continued our walk...

We were invited by one of our friends that works on a "big boat", one of the 100'+ charter boats for dinner on the boat. What a boat!!! we felt great and were treated to a great fish.

Look at Hani next to one of the outdoors' dining tables.

Willy and I at the airport

And... The trip from the Exumas..

Above is Willy and I in the airport in Nassau on our way to George Town in the Exumas. The trip was to go down there and bring back a 52' catamaran that finished her charter back to Marsh Harbour. We got there Friday night, and to the boat at around 10 the next morning.

We left the marina at around 1130 and did a just under 25 hours straight run averaging 8+ kts through the run. Beautiful night, little rain, some big ships and overall a great run.

On Friday night we had some time in George town and went to see how fish fry is done.

Below some photos from the sail (mainly motoring with the jib open), and ending with a great sunset photo at Marsh Harbour last night.

Boat cleaning is done....

Avivit and the grandkids are back in the state.

We have celebrated their visit, and we have celebrated their return home :-) - just kidding, missing them already...
It took 4 days to clean the boat, remove the sand and other kids leftover, doing laundry, and organizing, organizing, organizing.

Hani cleaned the boat water line, swimming around the boat, cleaning...

We also walked to the government center (twice) to renew my visa for another 3 months. It is a very simple process, but you can do it no more than 5 days before your current visa expire ( that's why we had to come twice.

We also learned that they will not extend the visa for more than 8 months from the original entry date, so I will have to find a solution for that.. :-)
Once done, we had time to celebrate with the Bahamians' their 46 Independence Day on July 10, and then go for some fish visiting in Mermaid reef.. Not before Hani took the opportunity to cut my hair - see photos below. I can admit that even thou it took long time, she did an excellent job!! - Thank you Hani.
I did take my GoPro imitation camera this time, and even though the sun was not there (100% cloud cover and some rain), you ca

n be the judge for the quality of the photos and videos we took.
We try to walk every day, and I still have some hard time remembering where Hani and I walked before she traveled to Israel.
I also going to start a new section in my blog - items we use on the boat, and how do they work for us.

 One of the product we bought is a prevention to mildew and humidity to our mattress we bought it from MattressInsider.com
They make custom mattress, sheets, and other great stuff.
You should check it out at http://mattressinsider.refr.cc/odedgalili

We also bought (following recommendation from other sailors an external fridge and freezer (that helps us carry much more food) from SnoMaster. It works on 12V or AC and have low power consumption. We wired it directly to our 12v system and it works with no issues.

And last but not least - Hani made Challah for the first time on the boat. The Challah came out amazing and we (spell - I) ate a lot of it. We had to learn to use the oven correctly, make less than what Hani use to make at home, and gave some to our friends. There are still large amount to go to the freezer for weeks to come.

 

 Below some videos from the reef

Hani is back and failuer to launch..

First - sorry....

Mermaid reef 

I thought I publish another post after the June 18th one - I was wrong. For some reason, the blog I wrote including (actually, most of it) photos and videos, failed to publish, and now is lost. So - sometime in the near future I will publish it (e.g. the photos and videos) again.
I think the issue was video size.

Selfie underwater 

So, Hani is back, now just over a week, again after a miserable, delayed, frustrating, etc. flight back from Israel.

Conch shell

Our daughter, Avivit (Avi), and two grandkids, came on the same day too.
The original plan was that Hani will be here before they will, however, …. Plans aside, Avi and the kids came first, I took them back to the marina, to the pool, than restaurant, than pool, than ......

Hani came. - poor lady, Hani does not have great luck with flights for the last few years.

Avi and the kids were here for a week.
We took them to snorkel with the fish in Mermaid reef - not a great success, with fresh water non-swimmers, getting into salt water for the first time, and with hundred of fish around them. You guest it right - it was a quick visit (very quick).

A beach to ourselves in Green Turtle Cay 

So we decided to take them to a very protected cove, with less than knee deep water (kids height). That proved to be a challenge too.

After awhile the kids got more comfortable (read - not relaxed, but not crying anymore), so we snorkeled around (mainly Avi, as Hani and I looked after the kids). Avi forgot that when you snorkel on the surface, your back is pointing to the sun = major sunburn!!!

Cocoa swimming (almost)

And that was the first full day they were here.....

Next day we took a ferry to Hope Town, we walked, visited places, drank some alcohol, at the Hope Town Inn, walked some more, and back to the boat, e.g. - pool!!

Next day - rain..... so - pool and some local sightseen
On Sunday, we took the boat out, and sailed (read - no wind, use engines) to No Name Cay.

Ferry to Hope Town

No Name Cay, used to be a deserted small island just south of Green Turtle Cay, that had some pigs living on it. Cruisers will bring them water and some fruits.
No more; someone build a pub, put a small dock for small boats, and developed the area.

Grandparent duty and Hani having a great time with the kids

We anchored about 400' from shore, and still where rocked by the boats going in and out from the bur dock.

At anchor - sunset

We took the dinghy down, rain, went to shore, rain, gave apples to the pigs - Leila got "kissed" in her leg by the mother pig, - not a happy place. I have no plans to visit this place again

Rainbow after the storm

.

so we took the dinghy and went to the south side of Green Turtle Cay. That was amazing. Deserted beach, clear sand, clear water.
It was so nice, that we went there again the next morning for a few hours, before we left to Man-O-War Cay.

Between the two seas

We sail part of the time to the Cay, and anchored next to the rock point in the northern section of the Cay.

Having fun on the beach

This is an amazing anchorage. We took the dinghy to town in the afternoon (after a major storm has passed - over 35kt of wind and major rain and lightning), and to the amazing bay in the morning.

There is a very small stretch of lend in this area; 30 feet wide. One side the Sea of Abaco, the other, the Atlantic ocean.

Leila caught a fish

We had great time there.

On Tuesday we came back to the marina, went to the pool (again) etc.

The next day, we walked to the other side on town to a nice beach - the kids preferred the pool in that location... I guess salt water is not their preferred swimming water.

On Thursday they flew home, and we have started cleaning the boat :-)

 Below are some underwater and above water (were Hani is testing the automatic inflatable life jacket) videos