Sailing Family of 6 - Not All Who Wander Are Lost.

We left Nassau the day after Cannons birthday and headed South to Allen Cay.  Fitting, right?  We rolled around in the Anchorage there but had time to enjoy a delicious dinner before which Rourke and I saw a huge lemon shark.  Well, we think it was a lemon shark as it was huge and brown and wasn't a nurse shark!  I immediately took Rourke's hand and turned around...if I can't see it, it can't see me ....right?  Eek!! From there we made our way to Norman Cay.  It has changed alot since we were there 13 years ago.  They tore a hole in the island to build a large marina.  We used to anchor in front of an old estate that used to house a drug lord. We would take water from the cistern there.  The house is no longer there but a plane they used to run drugs that  had crashed into the water is still there and several tourists/ boats daily will confirm that as well.  The weather got nasty, windy, cold and rough. We got to see a waterspo...

Happy Birthday Cannon and Happy Thanksgiving to all!! Cannon's birthday plans (by his design)  Cookies and milk for breakfast, cupcakes and coconuts and ice-cream later today.   Sleeping with Mom and Dad tonight.  Sounds perfect little buddy! Meanwhile, mom cleans the fridge, goes grocery shopping, lifeguards, and charges electronics. We all wash down the boat/fill the water tanks.   Dad repairs the propeller, a 12 volt outlet and a solenoid with several trips to the hardware store and a trip to the liquor store later! (On a technical note, there were some problems with people not being able to comment, I believe that now it is possible to do so!  Let me know.)

I love the Berries and could spend a long long time here!!  We motor sailed to Great Harbor. It was a long 26 hours for Don and I but the kids were well rested.  We had a flat calm morning on the banks so we took our first swim.  We just let the boat drift as we took turns swimming. It was beautiful! Here are our first Bahamas pictures.  When we woke we had a very calm ocean and we proceeded to enjoy it immediately and immensely. We checked in at Great Harbor then made our way to Hoffmans Cay. We had some serious fun there! From there we spent a couple days doing some relaxing and conch hunting when we had some strong Northerlies.  The conch was delicious but we might have a sweet little girl who is allergic to shellfish.  We haven't let her have any recently so we will test our theory again soon.  Don't worry we have meds!  Missing family and friends as always. We are now in Nassau where we have ha...

We are still in Ft. LAUDERDALE as the watermaker we are waiting for isn't here as we expected and had to be sent. We are anxiously waiting and hoping to jump across next week if the weather permits.  In the meantime, we are very limited in places to go as it's the International Boat Show Everything is closed or so booked up that we can't get service.  On a positive note, the boats around here would blow your mind! We have been keeping busy on Allie May doing lots of fix up projects.   Don has replaced the screening in all our hatches.  They look great! He also put a fan in  the stifling bathroom.  What a godsend.  It looks and works great!   I've been primarily reorganizing and cleaning. The kids have been busy with school and when we do finally get off the boat they crack me up by running in circles playing TAG or follow the leader as they have a lot of pent up energy.  There has been a bit more grouchiness on all our p...

We have landed in Ft. Lauderdale. It was a beautiful sail/motor sail down the coast to get here and when we arrived we knew it would be difficult to find a place to anchor. Lucky for us we found a great place in tiny Lake Sylvia. We love it here and are close to so many places we  might need to go for parts. On the way in we saw mega yachts with their staff lined up to load the boat.  These boats have POOLS!!  We can't image the lifestyle the owners have.  We have to admit to feeling pretty good on Allie May.  Rourke saw a boat  called Elaine May today and decided its the sister boat to ours. :) After being on the boat all day yesterday and all morning today we decided a trip to the Oyster Bar was needed. On the way there we had to go under small car bridges...we weren't sure we'd make it. Can we do it? Yes we can....barely!! We made it safely and even picked up trash from the waterway when we could. After lunch and a trip to the store to let...

We loved spending time with our friends Tom and Jeanette but it's time to get moving again. Don ran all over town looking for parts  and supplies while I suffered poolside with friends and the kids.  How lucky am I?!? :) We are full on gas, food and water.  The only consistent trouble we have is these darn no-see-ums. They are tiny but fierce! What they look like: This is what they feel like... Those aren't my images but they provide a realistic image and feeling  for these little blood suckers!