BlueSphere Ships Log

Sailing, Norman’s Cay, Bahamas

alex@projectbluesphere.com — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:35:01 GMT

This is what my sunrise looked like this morning.

Believe it or not I managed to find just enough of a WIFI signal to squeak out a log this morning. The Ubiquity Bullet was a really good choice for me and I’m quite happy with it.

We found friends from Nassau at Norman’s and spent some time with them on the beach yesterday. Actually we walked around the little island in the picture and found hundreds of baby conch. We were invited to their boat for dinner and had a lovely evening.

Today really feels like my first day home (back in the sea). There are just a few boats in this pristine anchorage, and starfish can easily bee seen on the bottom of the 12’ deep turquoise water beneath our floating home.

Today we are going to go searching for a sunken airplane and find Conch for a big salad tonight. It’s a bit cool in the wind for swimming but our ventures south will surely remedy or desire to be warm. Guinevere swam for about 10 minutes yesterday but got cold. Today I’ll make sure she wears her wetsuit. I got her a wetsuit a few months back and she has just grown into it, Perfect timing.

I can almost feel a fish dangling from the end of me spear :)

Sail far and live slowly.

Alex

Sailing Nassau to Exumas

alex@projectbluesphere.com — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:23:34 GMT

Well..., we have been in Nassau for a week or so now and it is time to move on. The Exumas are a spot I missed for the most part on my last trip through the Bahamas. Many say they are the most beautiful cruising grounds around, we'll see. I will be able to start fishing on a daily basis and Guinevere will start her long awaited snorkeling campaign. We will be a bit more out of touch from the world :)I will be doing short updates from the Orbcomm system, but we will not have internet,phone, or access to the bigger shops for a few weeks. We need to be in George town by the end of the month as Sam's Mum is coming for a visit. Dont forget to check out the "Current Position" page and check the satellite photos of where we are.

On a side note, I need to vent a bit. If anyone has a suggestion on a bank please let me know. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH, I"M SO FRUSTRATED WITH HSBC! I'm so careful with the little money i have, but my bank feels the need to steal money from me in the form of over draft charges. They will not give me over draft protection because my lack of credit, nor will they decline a transaction for insufficient funds, sounds like robbery to me? I don't believe in credit or find the need to owe anyone anything and as a result I'm not worthy of overdraft protection, how does that work? Am I being penalized for being responsible with money? I always make sure to only spend once it has posted to my account and they still seem to find a way to hit me with the OD charges ($35.00) each. If anyone knows of a reasonable bank, no matter how small, please let me know.

Anyway, I'm going back to the peace of the island mon.

Cheers everyone.

Sail far and live slowly.

- Alex

A married man?

alex@projectbluesphere.com — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:05:04 GMT

I woke up this morning with quite the smile. Splendid is happily anchored off of the Green Parrot bar & grill (free WIFI) in paradise, and my family is centered and happy. What else could a man ask for?

I have to talk about Guin a bit today. She really is such an amazing and well adjusted child. For so many years people have been contacting me and telling me they are waiting for there kids to get older or out of college to take them cruising. If you make this statement to any cruising kid, or cruising parents they would cock their head and give you a strange look. Guinevere did something yesterday that really touched my heart, she married Sam and I. When we got back from the Aquarium she went in her room to play for a while. After half an hour or so she came out with 2 silver heart rings (I've never seen them before) and proceeded to marry Sam and I. I’ve never been much for the legal or religious implications of marriage, but when a 4 year old marries you I think it really means something. That being said Sam and I now wear small silver heart rings on our necks. Who would have known? Sam had a rum cake in the oven at the time and Guin let us know that it was our wedding cake. That being said, it really was the best dessert I’ve ever had. The picture of Guin was taken at The Atlantis resort on Paradise island.

Sam is into baking and is really interested in learning local flavors as we travel. Yesterday it was rum cake. We looked at one in a store and it was $19 bucks. It would be hard for me to imagine that a store bought one could be any better. Anyway, here is the recipe she used. Even if you don't bake I strongly suggest you try this at home. Many recipes call for starting with a yellow cake mix, this recipe is to make it from scratch.

Today we are going to do some swimming at the beach, Study the local historical monuments of Nassau, and visit the zoo. It’s really funny to hear Guins impersonation of a local accent mon :)

BAKE THE CAKE! It will do your heart some good.

Sail far and live slowly.

- Alex