I am composing this post as I look out on the soft green of our meadow and at Violet snoozing in the sun. The Bahamian portion of our adventure has come to an end. Nico is up here for business before heading back to continue the journey from Florida to Maine. He will be getting a little help from his friends while I stay here, plant my garden and substitute teach while trying to find out why my head does not like the motion of the ocean. Our last leg was getting Far and Away back across the Gulf Stream to Vero Beach. We figured on spending a day crossing from Double Breasted Cay to West End, Grand Bahama and then from there, crossing the Stream in mild weather.


We toasted the adventure with our trip's classic warm (no ice) rum drink - dark rum, fresh squeezed lime and orange juice and a splash of tonic.


We dined on fresh cracked conch that we collected, cleaned, soaked, and pounded before frying it up with panko bread crumbs.


The next day we rose early and barely made it out of our anchorage on a very low tide. We bumped against some coral but we made it out and sailed all day across the bank, enjoying the last of the gorgeous turquoise water...


and the last of the great fishing. This is a Spanish Mackerel.


We cooked it up with the last of the bean sprouts. My sprouter saved the day, giving us fresh veggies throughout the trip and giving me a garden at sea. I talked to the sprouts and moved them around in the sun and tucked them in if it was getting rough. One morning the lid flew off while I was moving the sprouter and Nico, without a second's hesitation, dove in and rescued it.


I realize I have included many pictures of food but it was an important part of the day and I was really proud how well we ate despite no refrigeration. I was also amazed that I stocked up appropriately and we didn't run out of any essential items. I didn't have to throw much out due to spoilage and I only had to get rid of one container of Mexican corn meal due to bugs.


A last glimpse of that color! When we got to Grand Bahama we realized that there were really no protected anchorages unless we traveled almost 20 miles out of our way. We decided that instead of rolling all night at anchor in the open we would just keep going across to Florida, arriving at daybreak. It was calm, settled weather.


As we left the Bahama bank the depth went from 12 feet to hundreds of feet in a matter of minutes. Soon it was thousands of feet deep.


We were in the Gulf Stream.


What a difference in the color of the water.


Soon it was time to take down our tattered Bahamian courtesy flag. The night crossing was uneventful although a bit lumpy. The current was running against the light northerly breeze so the seas were choppy. However, no big ships came near and another sailboat with the same idea kept us company to the entrance at Fort Pierce. A big orange moon rose over the water as I was at the helm. At dawn we circled around the sea buoy until it was light enough to enter. We cleared customs by using a phone App and FaceTime, and headed to the Marina in Vero Beach. Back in the U.S.A.