2023-04-30 Change of plans - back to the USA

We have been "fixing" our watermaker brush every 5 days or so, to keep us in water, but finally after two months of limping along - the brush is truly done, and any fix would involve a bit of redesign - so we made the call to return to the U.S about two weeks earlier than planned.   

Since we were buddy boating with Breathe, we had a backup for water, so did a bit more exploring while we had time, and glad we did.   We stopped at Davis Point, where there was supposed to be an old abandoned logging camp, and we thought it would be interesting to see, but the great part of the trip were the dolphins.  

What amazing animals

We had a pod of 3 or 4 coastal bottlenose dolphins come and check us out as we were taking the dinghy into shore.

Hard to take good photos, shooting underwater from dinghy

They came within 2' of the dinghy

OK - enough dolphin photos - I have many more

After our dolphin encounter we headed to shore to explore the logging camp ruins.  We were unsuccessful.  Found a concrete block, some trash and rusted metal, but no path inland where the main camp was supposed to be.

The concrete block

Don't think this little guy sees many humans, as he was close and very curious

Jason walking rocky shoreline, looking for a path

After our explore, we decided to head further north, as the anchorage was exposed, and not great.   We headed up to Randall's Cay.

Next day went for a shore explore - not a lot to see.  Low lying island, lots of rock with neat layers, and mangrove swampy land.    

Breathe and Charm in anchorage

Calm day, exploring the area

Went for a snorkel at Jones rock, preparing for disappointment, as we have not seen a lot of life except a few fish and the dolphins of course.  We were pleasantly surprised.

Lots of large angelfish

Nice school of little guys.  Fun to snorkel through

Bar Jack (I think) and Porcupine fish

Dean relaxing in dink after snorkel, Jones rock in background

After the snorkel, Dean jumped in the water, and found that our starboard prop hub had some play in it in the fwd/aft motion - not good.   We decided to press on north under one engine and in the next anchorage, with calm seas, take a better look.

We had a nice sail, and short motor through a cut up to Little Cave Cay.  Next morning Jason came over with his dive hookah, and Dean and Jason removed our prop and hub, found the issue, and were able to fix it.  It seems an additional spacer was needed, as the old hubs had been modified for line cutters, that we removed.  Luckily we had saved our old parts, and had the spacer on hand.  Port side had a new hub, so no issue on that side.  Funny is that we have been using the hub/prop as is since September, and this issue had been present since then - and we have had no issues - so it was probably fine, but always concerning when parts move a direction they are not supposed to.    We could not have done the work without our buddy boat Breathe and their help with the dive hookah.  Jason also did a great job assisting Dean underwater - so a big thanks to Jason and Monica.  And yes - we have started shopping for our own dive hookah.

Jason and Dean working on the prop/hub

On shore at Little Cave Cay

Net in dead branches

Calm weather, dinks anchored while exploring ashore

We left early in the morning on the 27th, headed for the USA.  

Done with the Bahama flag - 5 months of wear and tear.

Light winds, and nice sail for about 8 hours, then got rougher, and we hit the open seas between the Bahamas and the Florida coast.  Had good wind, but lumpy seas, and then around 2:00 a microburst, with 30 knots hit us.  Handled that OK, but then the winds just died, so motorsailed in somewhat lumpy seas until came to Ft. Pierce inlet, then just motored.

Nice sunrise as we approach the USA

Approach to Ft. Pierce - not in the Bahamas anymore

More boats and people than we have seen in the last few months

We headed up to Vero Beach, as we know we can get items shipped in there.  Breathe is with us, and we will spend part of the week upgrading some of their electrical, and doing projects on our boat.  Our friends Scott and Tina have a home here, and they graciously offered a use of their car, so all day Saturday we did the American thing - and spent money.  We went to a Auto parts store for new batteries for Breathe, Home Depot for plumbing parts and some wood, Wal Mart for groceries, Lowes for other plumbing parts, Goodwill to drop of clothes and bedding we no longer need, Ace Hardware - looking for parts we did not find, McDonalds for lunch 😀, and Publix (large grocery) for more groceries.    Had to make a trip back to boats to unload part way through, as we ran out of room in the car.

Also did a couple loads of laundry - big stuff like mattress pad and blankets that are hard to wash on the boat.  Watched a little bunny hop around while waiting on laundry.

This little guy must live near the marina.

Next week will be project week - but also fun times visiting with our friends Scott and Tina, and more.