It’s still early (0733 local time) but I am expecting a very quiet day at the Florida Sea Base today. There is definitely no program activities scheduled for today and almost all of the spring staff members have departed during this brief lull between our spring and summer seasons.
As I mentioned before, my wife and I sailed to Morgan’s Bluff, Andros Island, Bahamas a couple of weeks ago accompanied by Capt. Scott and Gail Penfield on S/V Chanticleer and a mob aboard S/V Caio Bella that included Capt. Mike Lucivero, Capt. Kelly Stickney-Lucivero, two guests, Teri & Maggie Wells and the Lucivero’s two cats, Bun and Little Joe. Here are a few photos.
Escape (center) & Ciao Bella (right) at anchor in the harbor.
S/V Chanticleer under full sail crossing the Grand Bahamas Bank.
S/V Ciao Bella at dock at Weeche's Bimini Dock.
According to Wikipedia, Morgan’s Bluff is named after the infamous pirate, Capt. Henry Morgan. Wikipedia offers several articles by searching Henry Morgan, Morgan’s Bluff, North Andros, and the like. For modern adventurers, it is still a good place to hide out. There is very limited cell phone coverage, no Wi-Fi or internet cafes, and almost nonexistent law enforcement. There is one large dock in the outer harbor where a water tanker docks daily transferring 19 million liters (you do the conversion) of fresh water from Andros to Nassau. The inner harbor has a concrete ramp used by ferry type vessels with an opening bow that carry goods to and from the island. The inner harbor also houses about a dozen small fishing boats. Other than these few marine related activities, there is one gas station and one bar known locally as Willie T’s but noted on the charts as Willie’s Water Lounge or Willie’s Water Bar. It is an open air establishment, no air conditioning, no food service, selling soft drinks for $1.00, beer for $3.00 and mixed drinks for $4.00. A half dozen or so locals hang out here (between incoming boats I assume) playing dominos and listening to loud, Bahamian/Reggae/Rap music played on huge but poor quality speakers. There is a pretty beach and some colorful stands have been erected into a park like area for the annual regatta that is hosted here. Morgan’s Cave is a short walk down the road. A lady stops by selling fruit on occasion and another lady comes by sometimes selling lunch out of the back of her station wagon. That’s it. No grocery store, no restaurant, no library, etc. Nearby Nicholl’s Town (about a 40 minute walk each way if you take a shortcut through the garbage dump) has a small grocery store (about the size of a 7-11) and a NAPA auto parts store. If you have a few minutes, please read the Wikipedia article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andros,_Bahamas.
If I hear anything news worthy regarding the Florida Sea Base proper I will post it later. I have a very busy “day off” planned. I have to get a lot of scuba gear gear and boat stuff off the boat and move some of the more household stuff back aboard. I also need to go grocery shopping. But that’s a 20 to 25 mile drive each way (depending on if I go east to Winn Dixie or west to Publix) so I may or may not get that done today.
Capt. Steve
Aboard S/V Escape