BIMINI PART DEUX

Bright and early Monday morning, we left Fort Lauderdale and headed south to Miami and Biscayne Bay.  Our good friend Al (s/v Second Wind, s/v Sparrow, s/v Moon Taxi) joined us.  Al Likes being on the water.  He says that he’ll just sit in the bathtub if he can’t get on a boat!  It was a motor-sailing trip in light air and smooth seas.

            After rounding the bend between Dodge Island and the ICW, we passed a truly prodigious conch blower

                               that will sound the horn perpetually.                                                                        We passed under Rickenbacker Causeway leaving Miami behind,

 and entered Biscayne Bay.  The bay is huge and plenty deep, even outside the marked channel. We dropped the hook at No Name Harbor and opted not to take Bruno ashore.

            First light Tuesday found us underway past the south end of Key Biscayne.  In the early morning light, we could make out the stilt houses in the middle of the bay.

 Years ago, fishermen built shacks on stilts.  Occasionally, those shacks got blown away in storms but they just rebuilt them.  Somewhere along the way someone got the idea that it would be cool to build real houses.  The shacks were replaced by somewhat more resplendent shelters.   I don’t know what they do for water and waste, but they certainly don’t have to mow the lawn!

           
We left the stilt houses behind, slipped past Key Biscayne

 and set our course for Bimini.  We were motor-sailing again in smooth seas and light wind slightly off the bow.

 As the day progressed, the wind veered more and more on the nose and the jenny became useless.  

            We encountered quite a bit of traffic for a change, some of it too close for comfort.

            The engine ran perfectly both days.  Is it fixed?  Who knows?  They say that you can have three problems with a diesel engine, fuel, fuel, fuel.  We had the tank cleaned and the fuel polished.  I changed the fuel pump.  All that’s left is hope!

            As soon as we tied up at Blue Water Marina, Al put out the word that he was in the market for lobster—a lot of lobster!  There were quite a few boats in the marina and he invited everyone to a lobster fest.

    We grilled 60 tails!  Definitely a good evening.

            I never tire of walking around Bimini.  The people are friendly and helpful. Good morning!  Good afternoon!  Smiles and eye contact from everyone you meet on the street. 

             Flowers and interesting things to see

      They seem to start 'em young!

  Oh and the pig roast.  At around 11 or 12 oclock we saw it on the spit. 

“It’ll be ready around 3, mon.”  So around 3 we show up and it’s still cooking.  “Maybe another hour, mon” island time!  Finally, around 6 o’clock they took it off the spit cut it up.  Delicious!

Not everything is seriousness, there's plenty of time for silliness!