Bimini Bound (sometime)

Still in Nassau, waiting for a good weather window to make the 165 or so miles to Florida.

First, we will spend a day heading west through the Northwest Passage for about 60 miles, i.e. west from Nassau, south of the Berry Islands, in deep ocean water - to the Bahama Banks. Will take about a day. Then we anchor overnight on the banks (!) - in 20 or so feet of water everywhere, but subject to current, surge, winds. Then next day we go on another 60 miles or so to Bimini.
We may have a buddy boat crossing with us - Escapade, a 45 foot Catalina. They have lived aboard for years, do boat deliveries, and in general seem to know what they are doing.
Possible weather window (need 2 days of calm, especially a calm night) tomorrow and Saturday, although rain is forecast. Don't mind rain, as long as the winds, seas, waves etc. behave themselves.
Otherwise, we sit tight here in the marina in Nassau while the stuff passes through on Sunday - then Mon, Tues, Wed look okay for the run to Bimini; depending on winds etc.
Plenty to do here in Nassau (i.e. the marina has a pool!), and there is an excellent (air conditioned!) supermarket right across the street. Where we are now, they provide good internet for free.

So, we should be in Bimini on Saturday, or by the middle of next week. it's supposed to be real nice, with food, marinas, things to do.

Then we wait there for a really good weather window to cross the gulf stream. Only 47 more miles to Fort Lauderdale, or 75 miles to Palm Beach/Lake Worth (but traveling northwest with a good push in the gulf stream). At 6 knots. Won't decide until we see the conditions - in any case, it will be an easy crossing - maybe 9 hours (all daylight) at the most. Worst case - an uncomfortable but safe day. But again we can wait for a good weather forecast (and hopefully an accurate one).

If/when we make it back to Florida - we will have our camper van, and plenty of people to visit with down in Florida. And much less expensive food and marinas and campgrounds. No intentions of heading north until Minnesota is inhabitable again - and it sounds like that might be a few months away.

Stay tuned ...