Photos and Thoughts of Compass Cay

Yes, we're still in the Exumas and, yep, life remains pretty good.

There are probably those who wonder how we maintain our sanity while hanging out static, tied up at Compass for weeks, even months. And we admit, sanity is subjective, but this thing we all do on boats is not exactly rational behavior. — is it?  So we do what makes us happy at the moment.

And...

We've said it before. One must be conscious of what it is to be at Compass Cay. It's an acquired taste if you're lucky enough. We're down with that, we do feel fortunate to be here and we're always sad to leave. Those who have put in extended time here at Compass will understand.

This trip has had several unavoidable diversions, forcing us to redraw our cruising plans.
Future plans? Nothing is off the table yet - everything is back on - like rebooting, we're mulling over our intentions for the next few months with fresh eyes wide open.

But, while here we've been busy; island busy, anyway.
Good news for those who cruise this area. A whole new source of less expensive and relatively fast island communications has become available so we're puzzling over how to extend that out to the family island marinas.

In the meantime, the sky has offered up some spectacular vistas and island time has allowed me the opportunity to get out and use my camera.

Last night was such an occasion. The bugs made it an adventure, but I quickly snapped a few photos before seeking protection in the boat.

This week starts with an early flight back to Ft Lauderdale for a meeting with the new owners of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. An exciting opportunity that's worth pursuing.

Next week, we may be forced to compile existing data and make a decision on when and where to head next. There's another island wanting our services so that's a factor. Another consideration: we've still got a hankering to do some cruising up the east coast.

As always, no decision will be made before it's time.

Happy Problems

Yes, as previously stated • Life's good

A little work, some play, island zen, and we end our days with scenes like these.

Who could complain?

And meanwhile
Summer turns to fall
Roses bloom and fade
Life goes on - You can measure it all
By the difference that it made
Mac McAnally

Adios,

Exumas Return ~ Exhale...

It's nice to be back; though there was a disturbing moment as we walked onto the boat hearing a highwater alarm.  But, barring a faulty primary bilge pump, a quick look revealed all was well.
Backup?
Yeah, but still -

Our stay in Jupiter was longer than we had expected. After all that had happened there was a lot to be taken care of and high-speed internet / reliable cell phone service certainly made life more manageable.

Finally, after a week's stay, we caught a ride to Ft Lauderdale and hopped a little Watermakers plane back to Staniel Cay. Tucker had dispatched a small boat to pick us up and the last leg was a beautiful ride back to Compass and Istaboa.

Crew Istaboa - Happily boarding the Watermakers flight back to the Exumas

(Thanks to Norman, from Chicken Cay, for the pic)

So, literally, at the end of the day, we're back on the boat; a bit tired, but happy to be home. For the first time in more than a week we've stopped to take a breath. Then an apt finale to a week that has only gradually improved — we look out to the west where another amazing Exuma sunset was painting a sky that would've made Maxfield Parrish envious.

exhale...

It's going to take a couple of days to re-acclimate and the wind is puffing up a good blow — so we'll be here a while.

After that?
Who knows...

It's nice to be back

Islands Interuptus

Just as we'd eased into the restful state of mind that being in the Exumas brings about, the phone rings and reality says hello.

Life's been good. Lots of old acquaintances have surfaced, some we see often around Jupiter, others we haven't caught up with in years. The weather's been nice, hot, but better than you'd expect for June.

And to keep my mind from lulling into total cognitive atrophy, we've enjoyed taking on a little technology refresh project on a nearby island.

 The famous "Pickle Barrel Houses" 

Of course a stay at Compass Cay wouldn't be complete without a visit by Beacon Won. Capt Bruce and Sheila brought in a charter crew from Memphis. It was interesting to see folks from home all the way down here in the Exumas. They were shocked to see homeys as well.

From aboard Beacon Won... another stunning Compass Cay Sunset

As always, Capt. Bruce invited us over for a Fried Turkey Dinner... and as always a feast aboard Beacon Won was enjoyed

Just as we were about to say how life couldn't possibly get any better... Reality rings.

I'm awfully sad to write, Mel's mom has passed away. Not a tragedy, more of a blessing, but sad all the same.
Oddly enough, here on Compass, just a few years back, I got the same phone call regarding my own mother.
As we did then, we'll do now... Friends will run us down Pipe Creek to Staniel Cay where we'll catch a plane back to the states to take care of what we must.

So it's off to Florida where we'll switch gears and clothes then drive up the coast to Brunswick, Ga for services.

Life goes on ±

Dylan Speaks

And articulates like he sings — his words like his lyrics — draw images

Truly worth your time to listen to in it's entirety - 

The Exumas

Been a while, but it still feels like home.

After pulling out of Ft Lauderdale, early, in the dark, we eased away from Port Everglades cut and pointed east toward Great Harbour Cay. We didn't get much help from the Gulf Stream so I pushed the throttle a bit and saw 10+ knots. Our course computer calculated we'd make it in around 6:30PM, but we beat that by about 30 minutes and motored through the rock cut leading to the marina only to find the place empty.
No problem finding a slip.
After tying up and washing a layer of salt off Istaboa, we walked up the stone steps past the still drained pool to Rocky Hills Bar and there enjoyed a pleasant dinner of pan fried fresh Wahoo. It was excellent and as always the company and conversations were too.


The next morning came with a fresh breeze and we could tell it was going to be a bit lumpy out, but we knew the wind was going to get worse before getting better — so we slogged into the rough on the east side of the Berrys and took it on our nose.
After a couple of hours the seas did settle into a moderate chop and we motored past New Providence then made way across White Bank, straight for Highborne Cay. Again, pushing, we made it into the marina around 6:00 and eagerly tied up. We booked 2 nights so the next day was a short but enjoyable respite on the island. We enjoyed it so much we booked another one.

We haven't been to Highbourne in years. The place has become so popular we couldn't get in unless we made reservations well in advance... and we just don't roll that way.

Highbourne is a beautifully manicured little island that still manages to hold on to the barefoot ambience of the Bahamas. The other boaters here are friendly and we made new friends as well as caught up with old ones. Some interesting tales we're told and enjoyed as we sat in the shade of the little gazebos located at the end of each dock. The sunsets, as usual, were quite nice.

Gallant Lady - Anchored off Highbourne Cay.

So today the plan is to run south to Compass Cay and continue indulging our infatuation with the Exumas.
The good news is the winds are a bit puffy which will keep things cool and hold the bugs at bay.
The bad news is the winds are a bit puffy which will make for a messy day.

We'll take the good with the bad. (as if we have a choice)

Cheers,

Happy 100th Birthday - JFK

Interesting Washington Post article —

On JFK’s 100th birthday

Two Steps Forward — One Back

No, haven't moved yet.

After the davit fix we splashed the tender to run the engine. Well, that didn't go as planned.
Hopefully the fix will happen today and we'll leave soon. There's a few days of nice weather coming up and we hope to take advantage of that.

But, it's all good.
We moved onto the boat a couple of weeks ago hoping to quickly go through any boat issues before taking off to wherever and we have. Not many problems really, but the little fixes and weather has kept us here at the dock.
It's taken a few days but we've acclimated. One can easily become accustomed to the comforts of a dirt home. We've traded a king size tempurpedic bed for a notapedic island queen and the bathrooms don't compare, but after a few days we've rekindled our love for Istaboa and life afloat.
We're looking forward to getting underway, but as stated above... it's all good.

Cheers,

Dispatch from the N.A.P.

It seems after pounding through harsh conditions, paying their dues for the first day or two, old Neptune has given that bold fleet of Nordhavns a bit of a break. Messages and blog posts indicate things have settled into a nice cruise for the North Atlantic Passage crews.

This morning's position points to an arrival sometime tonight.

Tivoli sends out real-time blog posts from aboard so I'm sure we'll receive a report later.

Meanwhile back at the ranch...

We're just wrapping up preparations on Istaboa and waiting for a nice 3 day weather window to give us pleasurable sea conditions to cross to the Exumas.  Typical late May weather patterns have prevailed. Puffy Southeast winds creating nasty head seas would make for  a miserable ride to the islands. So we're taking our time and going through all the systems needed for an extended stay.

Credit, where credit's due:
Shout out to James Knight for mending our davit; I don't think anyone else could, or would, have done it. He diagnosed and replaced a bad capacitor on the main controller circuit board. Not many do such things anymore. Certainly not cheap, but he did it on a Sunday, so worth the bill rate.

Today is Watermaker test.

Congratulations and Cheers to the NAP Crews as they're about to land in Bermuda and complete leg one.

Adios,

Compass Cay

Is really looking beautiful right now. We're still hangin' in Memphis. The weather's been crazy, 12º  one day, 70º the next. We're about to head south and we're thinking blue.
Check it out!!
copped from Instagram:

When @tifftan6 is not feeding herself or our cats 😺😺, she's feeding sharks 😂🦈🦈🌊🐒 FULL VIDEO in bio, enjoy! #stanielcay #compasscay #dji #scyc

A video posted by Ron Quan (@ronquan) on Jan 14, 2017 at 5:32pm PST

No, nothing about boats

 Bob Dylan's Nobel Prize acceptance speech — The fact that he wrote it, but was a no-show for the ceremony is, well... so Dylan. Not surprising though.

 Good evening, everyone. I extend my warmest greetings to the members of the Swedish Academy and to all of the other distinguished guests in attendance tonight.
I'm sorry I can't be with you in person, but please know that I am most definitely with you in spirit and honored to be receiving such a prestigious prize. Being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature is something I never could have imagined or seen coming. From an early age, I've been familiar with and reading and absorbing the works of those who were deemed worthy of such a distinction: Kipling, Shaw, Thomas Mann, Pearl Buck, Albert Camus, Hemingway. These giants of literature whose works are taught in the schoolroom, housed in libraries around the world and spoken of in reverent tones have always made a deep impression. That I now join the names on such a list is truly beyond words.
I don't know if these men and women ever thought of the Nobel honor for themselves, but I suppose that anyone writing a book, or a poem, or a play anywhere in the world might harbor that secret dream deep down inside. It's probably buried so deep that they don't even know it's there.
If someone had ever told me that I had the slightest chance of winning the Nobel Prize, I would have to think that I'd have about the same odds as standing on the moon. In fact, during the year I was born and for a few years after, there wasn't anyone in the world who was considered good enough to win this Nobel Prize. So, I recognize that I am in very rare company, to say the least.
I was out on the road when I received this surprising news, and it took me more than a few minutes to properly process it. I began to think about William Shakespeare, the great literary figure. I would reckon he thought of himself as a dramatist. The thought that he was writing literature couldn't have entered his head. His words were written for the stage. Meant to be spoken not read. When he was writing Hamlet, I'm sure he was thinking about a lot of different things: "Who're the right actors for these roles?" "How should this be staged?" "Do I really want to set this in Denmark?" His creative vision and ambitions were no doubt at the forefront of his mind, but there were also more mundane matters to consider and deal with. "Is the financing in place?" "Are there enough good seats for my patrons?" "Where am I going to get a human skull?" I would bet that the farthest thing from Shakespeare's mind was the question "Is this literature?"
When I started writing songs as a teenager, and even as I started to achieve some renown for my abilities, my aspirations for these songs only went so far. I thought they could be heard in coffee houses or bars, maybe later in places like Carnegie Hall, the London Palladium. If I was really dreaming big, maybe I could imagine getting to make a record and then hearing my songs on the radio. That was really the big prize in my mind. Making records and hearing your songs on the radio meant that you were reaching a big audience and that you might get to keep doing what you had set out to do.
Well, I've been doing what I set out to do for a long time, now. I've made dozens of records and played thousands of concerts all around the world. But it's my songs that are at the vital center of almost everything I do. They seemed to have found a place in the lives of many people throughout many different cultures and I'm grateful for that.
But there's one thing I must say. As a performer I've played for 50,000 people and I've played for 50 people and I can tell you that it is harder to play for 50 people. 50,000 people have a singular persona, not so with 50. Each person has an individual, separate identity, a world unto themselves. They can perceive things more clearly. Your honesty and how it relates to the depth of your talent is tried. The fact that the Nobel committee is so small is not lost on me.
But, like Shakespeare, I too am often occupied with the pursuit of my creative endeavors and dealing with all aspects of life's mundane matters. "Who are the best musicians for these songs?" "Am I recording in the right studio?" "Is this song in the right key?" Some things never change, even in 400 years.
Not once have I ever had the time to ask myself, "Are my songs literature?"
So, I do thank the Swedish Academy, both for taking the time to consider that very question, and, ultimately, for providing such a wonderful answer.

My best wishes to you all,

Bob Dylan

And I was standin' on the side of the road
Rain fallin' on my shoes
Heading out for the east coast
Lord knows I've paid some dues
Gettin' through
Tangled up in blue

Ah get born, keep warm
Short pants, romance, learn to dance
Get dressed, get blessed
Try to be a success
Please her, please him, buy gifts
Don't steal, don't lift
Twenty years of schoolin'
And they put you on the day shift
Look out kid
They keep it all hid
Better jump down a manhole
Light yourself a candle
Don't wear sandals
Try to avoid the scandals
Don't want to be a bum
You better chew gum
The pump don't work
'Cause the vandals took the handles

I was riding on the Mayflower
When I thought I spied some land
I yelled for Captain Arab
I have yuh understand
Who came running to the deck
Said, "Boys, forget the whale
Look on over yonder
Cut the engines
Change the sail
Haul on the bowline"
We sang that melody
Like all tough sailors do
When they are far away at sea.

You used to ride on a chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain't it hard when you discovered that
He really wasn't where it's at
After he took from you everything he could steal

She takes just like a woman, yes, she does
She makes love just like a woman, yes, she does
And she aches just like a woman
But she breaks just like a little girl

Yes, and how many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, and how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, and how many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind