IT'S A DOGS LIFE
SAILING AROUND THE WORLD WITH SPIRIT OF ARGO
IT'S A DOGS LIFE
SAILING AROUND THE WORLD WITH SPIRIT OF ARGO
Bahamas United States

Forida to the Bahamas – pitures of the trip

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I sent the humans out to town this morning (Monday morning) to purchase a data card for internet in the Bahamas.  In the past, despite the low density of people here on the islands, we have found great tower coverage.

And guess what….we got coverage!

So I can now send you pictures of our trip from Jacksonville, Florida to Great Harbour, Berry Islands, Bahamas.

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Saying goodbye to friends we have made. Jay, famous for inviting us out for our first southern boil, his love Charlene and my human slaves. Jay brought me 'Scooby snacks' for the trip.
Saying goodbye to friends we have made in Green Cove Springs. Jay, famous for inviting us out for our first southern boil, his love Charlene and my human slaves. Jay brought me ‘Scooby snacks’ for the trip.
Finally untying from the dock. L to R: Jay formerly of Prospero, who we travelled up Eleuthera and the Abacos with. Roger of 'Warrior for Life' who we spent last hurricane season with in Grenada and new sailors we hope to meet along the way Maria and Kim from 'Spirit of Maria'.
Finally untying from the dock. L to R: Jay formerly of Prospero, who we travelled up Eleuthera and the Abacos with. Roger of ‘Warrior for Life’ who we spent last hurricane season with in Grenada and new sailors we hope to meet along the way Maria and Kim from ‘Spirit of Maria’.

 

Looking back on Green Cove Springs as we head on up the St.Johns River heading for the sea
Looking back on Green Cove Springs as we head on up the St.Johns River heading for the sea

 

Anchored up just up river of the rail road bridge which was broken down. We started to wonder if we were ever going to get out of Jacksonville.
Anchored up just up river of the rail road bridge which was broken down. We started to wonder if we were ever going to get out of Jacksonville.

 

Finally throw the Railway Bridge and under the lifting Bridge at Main Street. Nothing to stop us making the sea now
Finally throw the Railway Bridge and under the lifting Bridge at Main Street. Nothing to stop us making the sea now
The St.Johns River is very long and it takes the good day to get out to the ocean. In the mean time we can enjoy the wildlife, like these playful dolphins
The St.Johns River is very long and it takes the good day to get out to the ocean. In the mean time we can enjoy the wildlife, like these playful dolphins
We will miss lots of things we have come to enjoy in Jacksonville. Lots of little lizards, giant locus, southern hospitality and fresh Mayport Shrimp!
We will miss lots of things we have come to enjoy in Jacksonville. Lots of little lizards, giant locus, southern hospitality and fresh Mayport Shrimp!
Finally the sea is sight
Finally the sea is sight
We got the sails up just as the sun went down
We got the sails up just as the sun went down
Time for the humans to start alternating shifts at the helm. Time for me to hog the sea berth and get a good nights sleep
Time for the humans to start alternating shifts at the helm. Time for me to hog the sea berth and get a good nights sleep
We made good progress south down the Florida coast and started catching some fish in the morning
We made good progress south down the Florida coast and started catching some fish in the morning
Time to start stocking the freezer up with fresh tuna
Time to start stocking the freezer up with fresh tuna
And as usual, the humans started a competition on who could bring in the largest fish. Guess who won again.
And as usual, the humans started a competition on who could bring in the largest fish. Guess who won again.

 

With the variable winds I let the humans us the motor to increase progress. As a result the humans decided it would be a good idea to stop into Palm Beach the following morning for fuel before heading off across the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas
With the variable winds I let the humans us the motor to increase progress. As a result the humans decided it would be a good idea to stop into Palm Beach the following morning for fuel before heading off across the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas

It may have been a great idea to pick up cheap American fuel, compared to the Bahamas, before leaving US waters, but the humans turned to whole manoeuvre into a catastrophe by running aground both on the way in and on the way out.

It looks like lots of water everywhere, but in the early morning light you can not see that most of this water is very shallow sand banks just below the surface.
It looks like lots of water everywhere, but in the early morning light you can not see that most of this water is very shallow sand banks just below the surface.
The safest place for these guys is at sea. Finally no railroad bridges or sand banks. We are finally on our way to the Bahamas
The safest place for these guys is at sea. Finally no railroad bridges or sand banks. We are finally on our way to the Bahamas
We took down the tattered American flag that has hung as our courtesy flag for the entire summer. We are finally leaving US waters
We took down the tattered American flag that has hung as our courtesy flag for the entire summer. We are finally leaving US waters
Our third night at sea
Our third night at sea
Do you remember the first computer games. Does this not look like asteroids? We had to thread our way through a lot of shipping traffic near Freeport, Grand Bahama
Do you remember the first computer games. Does this not look like asteroids? We had to thread our way through a lot of shipping traffic near Freeport, Grand Bahamas

 

With the morning light we found ourselves in the Bahamas. We aimed to make landfall at the north end of the Berry Islands, Great Harbour Cay. It will be nice to make landfall as I am getting a little tired of all this sailing.
With the morning light we found ourselves in the Bahamas. We aimed to make landfall at the north end of the Berry Islands, Great Harbour Cay. It will be nice to make landfall as I am getting a little tired of all this sailing.
We squeezed into the bay on the East side of Great Harbour Cay and dropped the hook just before the sun set
We squeezed into the bay on the East side of Great Harbour Cay and dropped the hook just before the sun set
In the morning we were off to the beach for our first swim since July. That is 3 dog years for me
In the morning we were off to the beach for our first swim since July. That is 3 dog years for me
I love the taste of sand in the morning
I love the taste of sand in the morning
Great Harbour Cay is a port of entry for the Bahamas and it is the responsibility of the humans to go to the local customs and immigration office and check into the country.
Great Harbour Cay is a port of entry for the Bahamas and it is the responsibility of the humans to go to the local customs and immigration office and check into the country.

 

For the humans it means a kayak to the beach and a walk to the local small airport
For the humans it means a kayak to the beach and a walk to the local small airport

 

After the airport they stopped in at the Marina on the West side of the island. Set well inside the island and surrounded by raised hills (very rare in the low lying Bahamas) this Marina looks set up as one of the best hurricane holes they have seen yet in the Bahamas
After the airport they stopped in at the Marina on the West side of the island. Set well inside the island and surrounded by raised hills (very rare in the low lying Bahamas) this Marina looks set up as one of the best hurricane holes they have seen yet in the Bahamas

 

The long walk back to the kayaks along the beach made the humans very thirsty
The long walk back to the kayaks along the beach made the humans very thirsty
So they were forced to stop in to the local beach bar for a Guinness Extra and some Conch bits
So they were forced to stop in to the local beach bar for a Guinness Extra and some Conch bits

 

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