Crossing Back to the States
On Wednesday the 25th, we left Green Turtle and made the run to Great Sale Cay and anchored in a quiet, isolated spot off the Grand Bahama Island shoreline. Enjoyed a peaceful dinner aboard—just us, calm water, and a wide‑open sky. Next morning we continued on to West End and Old Bahama Bay, our final stop before crossing back to the States and a past retreat for John Travolta and family. We stayed two nights, soaking up those last warm, tropical winter days, and final rounds of Bahamian goombay smashes.
A Tough Start, a Tougher Crossing
At 0700 on Saturday the 28th, we attempted to begin our crossing, but the seas were stacked 3–4 feet, with a 3 second interval and ugly. After a short attempt we turned around and returned to our slip at Old Bahama Bay. By noon the weather had settled just enough to make another try. It still wasn’t the most pleasant, but it was doable, so we pushed on.
The six‑hour run to Lake Worth was a full experience. Weather predictions were for 2 foot or less. Instead the sea rose to steady 3–4 foot seas, plenty of rolling, a nasty thunderstorm near the Florida coast that dropped visibility to zero at times, and a surprise visit from the U.S. Coast Guard. They boarded us for a safety inspection, which we passed without issue. As they departed they rode alongside to give us a photo op … waving as they swept by.
Back in Florida
Once safely anchored in Lake Worth, we treated ourselves to a good meal and a few toasts before calling it a night. Next morning brought more rain and thunder as we got underway for Fort Pierce, where we planned to stay four days. We arrived in the early afternoon just in time for a phone call from dear Diane McKee. “Come join me at the inlet” she said. And we did … for fun and music and some old-fashioned bar hopping! As always, great fun with Diane.
Friends, Family, and a Few Chores
Fort Pierce gave us the chance to reconnect with familiar faces. We visited with Bonnie Scanlin, Ronnie Farmer and Diane McKee, and my cousin Jan. We didn’t have enough time to see Randy and Barbara Semper or Sam and JoAnn Hess, all from Aquia Harbour, and Steve and Kim Donnock, transplanted from Lake Barcroft in Falls Church, but we’ll make up for that when we return in the fall and spend more time in that area.
Between visits, we tackled the usual chores to keep BenjOllie ready for the trip home. As we turned in Wednesday night, we both agreed: next time, we’ll plan for a longer stay in Fort Pierce. A few pictures of people we visited are below.
