Beached-Out

Is it possible to get beached-out?

I believe so.

This past week we've made some ground sailing down the west side of Eleuthera island.

We've been buddy boating with SV Busy Bee who have become good friends now. They have just recently started cruising and are planning on going for years, so we feel blessed to have met them so early on in their voyage.

We have shared Chinese New Year together, hours and hours of board games and Lego, shows and movies and endless discussions about weather and route planning.

Together, we've explored Glass Bridge, Queen's Bath and the blowhole, Governor's Harbor, and now we are anchored in Rock Sound.

It is hard to describe to non-cruisers what our life afloat is like.

Every day is so different, yet there is a routine of some sort.

There is always, and I mean ALWAYS, an underlying worry about weather and if we need to move to find better protection from wind or gusts or swell.

We have to continuously monitor our energy, diesel, gas, propane, food and water consumption. If we're running low in any of those areas, we need to top up somewhere, somehow.

More often than not, obtaining these resources is not an easy task and will take a lot of asking around to suss things out.

This is repeated every time we move anchorages and need to start all over again, understanding where things are, what's opened when, where to dock/beach the dinghy, if they take cards or cash only, etc.

If there is a calm day, we have to decide if we want to move along so we keep going to the next protected anchorage or do we want to stay put and explore the area a bit further on land or by dinghy, maybe do a bit of snorkelling or swimming?

But if we stay put, how long before the next good day comes so we can keep moving? Maybe we could be stuck here for days, weeks even!

Weather systems do not care about boat repairs, visitors, or weekends.

This constant necessity of needing to be aware of the weather, wind direction, swell, tides etc is all encompassing.

Cruising is the epitome of living in the moment, for better or worse.

We aren't on holiday here. This is not a vacation. We are not on a trip.

This is a lifestyle and while we may be passing through some of the world's most gorgeous beaches, what we really want to do (after checking the weather again), is lay down with a good book, break open a new board-game or simply take a nap.

Good morning!

Binnacle selfie, no wind today so not much else to do to fill the time while we 
motor to Rock Sound to seek shelter from too much wind tonight. 

SV Busy Bee at anchor near Levi Island.

Going through Current Cut. Timing this cut to go through at slack tide is 
very important, or else you risk all sorts of nasty possible scenarios.

Our little barista at work! 

Governor's Harbor church.

Hard to describe the different blues you see crossing from dark deep Atlantic 
blue water to the turquoise clear waters of the shallow Bahamian seas.
Luckily at the Glass Bridge in Eleuthera you can just about get both in the same shot.

Walking back to our dinghys on the beach in Governor's Harbor, dark clouds descending.

Passagemaking for Tai = Minecraft!

SV Busy Bee at anchor near Levi Island.

Going through Current Cut. Timing this cut to go through at slack tide is 
very important, or else you risk all sorts of nasty possible scenarios.

Our little barista at work! 

Governor's Harbor church.

Hard to describe the different blues you see crossing from dark deep Atlantic 
blue water to the turquoise clear waters of the shallow Bahamian seas.
Luckily at the Glass Bridge in Eleuthera you can just about get both in the same shot.

Walking back to our dinghys on the beach in Governor's Harbor, dark clouds descending.

Passagemaking for Tai = Minecraft!

Practicing writing our Chinese names.

Making dumplings for Chinese New Year.

Happy Chinese New Year!!

Cruising friends are THE BEST! Tonight we enjoyed sundowners with SV Vinyasa in Rock Sound. They are fellow TRU (Totem Raft Up) members and beautiful humans.