Best Life

 Training went better today.  We learned how to assemble all gear and attach everything safely. I cannot believe how heavy everything is.  The tank and weight belts being the heaviest and everything else just awkward to carry.  (Isn't awkward just awkward a word?) I was able to enter the pool wearing my own shorter fins and immediately submerge and breathe just fine.  After a couple laps underwater along the bottom and I was good to continue the next lessons.  We practiced buoyancy with with our BCD (buoyancy compensator device).  AKA the vest with all the attachments.  After letting all the air out of the vest and sitting on the bottom of the pool for a bit, kick to surface and inflate vest upon reaching surface to become a flotation device.  We did this repeatedly.  Easy peasy. We practiced equalizing (aka valsalva maneuver to get rid of pesky ear/sinus pressure).  And then "pushups" on the bottom of the pool using inhalations and...

  A strange beginning with a cold jacuzzi.  No one ever turned it on so we abbreviated our morning soak.  (We had the whole place to ourselves though!) Then our SCUBA class.  Fred and Melinda came highly recommended by several people.  Patient with all our questions.  Thorough in the plan and descriptions of each step.  I was feeling good about the process.   Then the pool.  Chesla was patient, thankfully.  The process of mask fitting, vest and weights and flippers seemed straightforward.  We waded into the shallow end of the pool (3 feet) and donned our gear.  Flippers longer than I have used in snorkeling.  A weight belt with 12 pounds attached so I sink.  The vest (which can be inflated or deflated to ascend or descend) with tank secured and both a mouthpiece and gauges.  Mask.  It was cool, windy and cloudy so we had the pool to ourselves and no spectators!   A simple act of putting our fa...

 Today's goal - wash the exterior of the boat.  Lots of bird poo and pollen and dust from the marina construction.  After our morning soak in the jacuzzi and before the heat of the day, we scrubbed.   She shines! The rest of the day was spent stalking other boaters on noforeignland.com.  An easy way to keep track of people in our boating class and friends we have met along the way.  Just enter a name or boat name and voila!  They pop up on the map! I also experimented making biscuits from my sourdough starter.  They taste good but did not rise properly.  (I was impatient and knew it).  And I made croutons for my lovely fresh and highly anticipated salad.   Paul purchased a spare engine - just in case.  The marina in North Carolina will store it until we can go grab it.  After our tumultuous experience this year, Paul will be prepared for further engine troubles.   Quiet time reading on the back benches ...

 The marina continues to empty out as everyone heads back to Florida.  Our nearest neighbors left this morning.  The boat on our starboard side is empty. We no longer need to worry about how loud our music is and we can wash our boat without worrying about splashing the spit polished pristine yacht that sat next door.  (Maybe tomorrow?) We took the free shuttle to the supermarket.  The grocery store is my least favorite place.  The smells, the chaos, the people!  Ugh.  The bus was full of friendly folk but as soon as we stepped off the bus we were bombarded with a very aggressive timeshare seller.  Go away!  She did. The store itself was very clean with wide aisles and lots of variety.  Prices = 2-3 times higher than home.  But I can make salad again and we have fresh fruit.  They do not have bags.  Either bring your own or carry everything.  (I had bags.)              ...

"Stumpy", our resident Frangpani tree, is doing well.  He has sprouted new leaves and is looking like he might survive until we arrive in Daytona.  A gift from Carol, Stumpy has had a rough ride.  I tripped over him once, spilling his dirt out.  He was forgotten for a brief period and found dried out.  He is now secure under the outside table, tucked in a corner and is being watered regularly.  If he withstands the remainder of our trip and being planted in Daytona, he will have proven his durability and will thrive even without constant attention.  Perfect for a vacation home!  After a late start and a visit to the jacuzzi, I found it hard to find motivation.  I settled on the outside table for the day.  I finished the Quiet Time Log and Paul edited all the specific upgrades and repairs that we have completed.  I finished another book and now need to visit the marina "library".  Meanwhile, Paul installed new outside lighting. ...

 We decided to take today "off".  After multiple days of beach going, I was ready to have a quieter day.  I finally washed, dried and put the heavy blankets away (vacuum bags).  Hard to believe we were ever so cold on the boat we required multiple layers, blankets and a heater! I also had my sourdough starter that needed to be reduced.  So I tried my hand at pretzel bites.  Quite a few steps to complete but I have the time!  They turned out pretty good and definitely worth keeping the recipe.  Hopefully next time it won't take me more than 2 hours! And then we made meat lover's pizza.  Ground turkey and bacon with mozzarella and cheddar.  Yum! The jacuzzi is our favorite spot first thing in the morning and last thing before jammies.  We meet all sorts of people including Justin.  He is employed at the onsite diving business and has convinced us to try scuba diving.  So next week we will be suiting up and trying something n...

 We have found another beach I would put in my top 10.  Banana Beach was absolutely beautiful.  Soft, white powdery sand and waters varying from deep blue to turquoise that was crystal clear and warm.  Stingrays and lot of fish.  A great little restaurant with good food and good prices.                           Sandbars crisscrossed through the little bay creating lots of tidal pools.                                             Even the path to the beach was pretty.                                                                          ...

 Today our picnic took place on Taino Beach.  Nice parking lot but crappy walk to the beach and even though the sand was soft and the water gorgeous, the surroundings were a little rough.  Just south of Smith's Point where we attended the fish fry last week, there were many boarded up shack/restaurants and litter.  We did enjoy the sun and I was able to walk.                                Pirate's Cove with the colorful umbrellas has ziplining, water slides and plenty of water                                       sports (Jet skis, water bikes, etc).  Open when cruise ships are in port.                                          ...

 Yup, there is a beach on East Grand Bahama called Beach.  It is supposed to be a historical landmark but I cannot find out anything specific.  We wound up eating our picnic lunch on Beach today.  Homemade chicken salad and lemonade.  Yum! Plenty of driftwood and shells among the hurricane debris. We were able to rent a car this morning so we headed out to the very east end of the island.  There is a whole of nothing between Freeport and the end.                                    Trees decimated by Dorian and then the brush fires.  Miles of this view!                                                       The East End Library now closed.              ...