Marathon to Bimini to Nassau to West Bay

We left Marathon and what a relief it is. That place has too many people that just live there on their boat. The place certainly has all the amenities one needs, but it is much like a dorm room, only with adults. The people chatter and chatter. One person says something and it spreads like a disease.

Around 2pm we headed out of the Marathon toward North Bimini. The trip was supposed to take 20 - 24 hour, it took 21. We motored out across the wall into the deeper water of about 100 feet. After about 3 hours of that, we sailed for the next 18 hours. Across the gulf stream. The water heated up to around 84 degrees near the middle of the stream and then back down to 77 as ground started coming up again. The gulf stream is around 2800 feet deep on the average. That's deep. Our depth sounder does not go that deep. It just blinks the last number it sees. Sometimes in the middle of the gulf it will blink 34 feet, I guess it found a fish.

We traveled with 10 other boats across and we all made it to Bimini the next morning. Checked in with the authorities and then walked the island. Actually we rented a golf cart and drove. That took all of 1 hour. 7 miles long, 3 blocks wide.
We spent the next few days there waiting for weather to cross the next hop to Nassau. This included 1 night at an anchorage on the great bahama banks. This is where the land is only up to 20 feet deep all the way across to Nassau. Kinda weird to anchor in the middle of nowhere and all you see I water. Saw the sunrise and then on to Nassau.

Nassau is everything you would expect. 3 cruise ships, many people, crime and dirty. The people are not as near friendly either. It is a typical turist stop for the cruise ships. They did have your favorite stores, Gucci, Starbucks, Cartier, United Colors of Benetton, and Fat Tuesday's

Spent 2 night at Nassau Yacht Marina and spent more money that we should have. So we left.
Before we left I tried to fix the leaking diesel tanks. Thought I had it until we started going. Actually had 2 problems. One the caps leaks. Diesel ate right through the glue. Second, somehow the valve was switched to feed the return diesel to a different tank. So one tank was empting rather quickly, while the other tank was overfull. All that extra diesel went to the bildge. about a gallon or so. That is tough to clean and stinks. I can still smell it as i type.