Miami Beach, FL to Bimini, Bahamas

We made it!  I have been dreading this trip for a while now (the portion across the Gulf Stream) - I've just heard so many stories about it but evidently we picked a great day!  We got up and raised the  anchor at 3 this morning, we made it to the inlet to Miami Beach by 4 a.m. and we took off.  The winds were from the northwest and north (you're not supposed to cross when they're coming from the north) but they were not high winds and the chop was relatively nothing.  I had prepared myself for the trip across the Gulf Stream with a dose of Dramamine at 3 a.m.  By 4 a.m. I was falling asleep.  I watched Miami Beach sink into the distance and then fell asleep.  Luckily, Daniel hadn't taken any Dramamine and he just kept driving.  He even unfurled the jib sail at one point, but the wind wasn't enough or from the right direction to really help, so he lowered it.  Then he just kept on chugging along.  A short (to me, because I slept through most of it) 7 hour ride and we were in Bimini! 

 

A couple of hours before we got to Bimini, in one of my moments of coherence, I watched and shook my head as Daniel pulled the brand new fishing pole and lures out.  I mean, we aren't really "fishermen people" - we haven't fished much in our lives.  Anyway, he put a lure on and set the pole and we watched it and waited for something to happen.  I felt like it was more like a boat decoration - we don't know how to catch a fish!  Anyway, about 10 miles off the coast of Bimini the line started screaming...and we saw a fish - a HUGE fish - jumping in the air.  In the air!  We caught a fish!  Daniel picked up the reel (apparently he has been reading books on how to catch a fish) and started reeling it in.  I, of course, got the camera out and started taking pictures.  Daniel fought with it for what seemed like forever but in reality was probably only about 5 minutes.  That fish just kept jumping in the air trying to get off the hook.  Daniel reeled him in all the way to the back of the boat and then the fish took off again.  Jumping again.  Daniel reeled and pulled and the fish totally jumped off the hook!  Smart fish!  It was like a 10 pound Mahi Mahi (and for once, I'm not exaggerating).  We were both somewhat relieved as we were really just "practicing" catching one - we really weren't set up to clean and chop one up - but we will be ready next time, that's for sure!

 

Our first fish!

 

As we came into Bimini there were manta rays everywhere.  I saw a starfish and even saw 2 sharks.  We made it easily to the marina (Bimini Blue Water Marina) where for $1.00 per foot ($41 total) we can stay docked for the night.  We also purchased diesel here for about $5.50 a gallon - not too bad.  We've walked a lot of the island today.  It is really a pretty place.  There was even a small school or church "band" having a parade.  We watched them go by.  We had lunch at LaLa's with Daniel having conch and I had a hamburger.  Both were delicious. 

 

We are taking off toward Chub Cay (pronounced "key") tomorrow and then Nassau the next day.  There is a cold front coming through and we want to get to an anchorage in Nassau before it comes through.  We will probably anchor "out" somewhere on the Bahamas Bank tomorrow, so no wifi will be available. 

 

We cleared customs - changing out the "Quarantine" Flag for the Bahamas flag

I TOLD you it was pretty!