April 10, 2020 - Quarantined

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April 10, 2020 - Quarantined 

Quarantined for 2 weeks 

Hope to be back on GaYa 

Our next blog will be 

http://gayadenison5@blogspot.com 

April 9-10, 2020- On our way home.

April 9, 2020 

7:30 pm- Left Florida and started driving home 

Funny how along the highway there are sign about the Covid19 alert  and how you can’t use the washrooms at the rest stops. They put out portable toilets. Are you kidding me. I will go in a bush somewhere before I would go in those toilets. 

Our last sunset from the car. 

8:45 pm- Made meatloaf sandwich  while driving. 

11:30pm- Stopped for gas. Somewhere in Savannah. Steve wore his glove to pump gas and clean our windshield. 

We then found a dark place to go for a pee in a parking lot. Then stopped at McDonald for a coffee The clerk had no gloves, didn’t even use hand cleaner. So we had Clorox wipes and placed  the money which she handed  Steve on one of the wipes and then placed another one on top of the money. We wiped the money and the coffee cup and lid. This is a lot of work.  We were going to stop and have a sleep but Steve said he wasn’t tired and listened to Howard Stern’s interview with Rosie O'Donnell.

 April 10, 2020

We hit South Carolina at midnight.  We see signs lit up stating “Go home and stay home”  I think it should say “ET go home.”  

It feels like the show ‘Walking Dead”. We are hiding from the virus and when we stop, we have to hurry up, do our duty and move on.and hide from the virus (and of course wipe everything down. 

12:30 am- We are enjoying listening to Howard Stern interviewing Tom Brady. 

3:30 am- Stopped for gas and Steve is getting tired. Time for me to take over.  

4:00 am- Just arrived in Virginia. Steve is going140km average. Only truckers  on the road.  I took over driving but brought it down to 120 km.  

5:00 am- We arrived in West Virginia  and about 1.5 hrs of me driving, it started snowing. It was a  darn snow storm. What the heck!!! 

6:00 am-We stopped in a parking lot and we both slept and kept the car running because it was 28 degrees Fahrenheit. 

7:00 am- Steve started our drive and it looked like winter wonderland. We are 18 miles from Beckley. 

At 7:20am our navigation system is showing 8 hrs left until to get home. 

Why are we coming back so early. Never thought we would be driving through a snow storm. 

7:45 am-  Breakfast time. Made us a meatloaf sandwich   :). Later Steve had chip nuts 

10:00 am- We just stopped in Pittsburgh for fuel. Can you believe it is still snowing?  We also peed behind a building. I am determined not to go in a building. 

Making sure we use our sanitizers. How ironic that I had hand sanitizers which I bought 4 years ago and never used them. I also over bought Clorox wipes for the boat and they came in handy. 

11:00 am- Steve was getting tired so I took over the driving. A State Police  came beside the car to see if we were ok. I told him we were just switching drivers. 
12:00 pm- Arrived in Erie. Can’t believe we are almost home. 

My neighbour text me to let us know that there will be a fresh loaf of beer bread waiting for us. She also picked up groceries for us. Nice to have such thoughtful neighbours who even turned on the heat for us and Lysoled our surfaces. Their daughter takes care of checking our house while we are away. 

12:15 pm-  Steve woke up and we switched driving again. 

1:20 pm- Back in Canada 

The Customs asked us a lot of questions like our email, address and phone #. 

Looks like we now have to quarantine for 14 days or pay a million dollar penalty and up to 3 years in jail. 

This is serious business.  We found out later that they submit our information to Health Canada who in turn gives the information to the RCMP who then forwards it to the local police. The police will be the ones who follow through to ensure you follow the law. 

We will be home shortly and now have to readjust to our home life. 

I know some of you have expressed that you have been reading my blog and enjoyed it. I always like to take people on our adventure. Let’s hope this pandemic clears up so we can once again socialize. Stay safe and healthy. Signing off.  

THE END OF 2019-2020 GAYA blog.

2:00 pm- Home to a two week quarantine.  

April 9, 2920 - Fort Pierce.

7:00 am-  You know you are back in Florida with all the noise pollution. Cloudy day this morning. 

We had our breakfast and received the call from Sally at Riverside Marina to be ready to be hauled out. 

11:00am GaYa is out of the water. Steve was smart in wearing protection. 

As they finished bringing the boat out we drove to Customs at Fort Pierce Airport to drop off our boating registration and get a one year cruising permit for next year. Came back to the boat when we realized we left the freezer and fridge on. We made sure to shut it before they burn out since they need water to stay cool. We then went to get a storage unit at Sea Coast for another year. 

7:00 pm- WE ARE SO TIRED after bringing all the stuff including the dinghy and kayak to the storage, packed everything in the car and covered GaYa with sunshade tarp.  

It was so hot and we were so sweaty. We decided to take a shower on the back of the boat. By then we didn’t care who saw. Seeing that we will be driving straight through, we thought there is no way we are driving all dirty. We had a bowl of oatmeal this morning and haven’t stopped all day. 

GaYa is all ready to take a break while we go home   Very emotional to say goodbye. We just love travelling on our boat in the Bahamas. Now we have to adjust to our home. It was sad that we couldn’t even go visit our grandchildren who were only an hour away due to Corona. 

April 7 & 8, 2020 - Heading to Florida

April 7, 2020

Leaving Manjack at 4am to Mangrove. We will anchor there and get some rest. 

The moon is so bright and it feels like it is guiding us home. Water is calm, no dew, warm and motor sailing. Perfect. 

Abaco is not a place for cruiser’s to come visit this year unless you want to come and do volunteer work. They are struggling with recovering from Dorian. Last night one of the cruisers posted on a Facebook blog  warning other cruiser’s  about not being able to get fuel at Green Turtle. People were vicious and upset that he was even cruising in the Abacos and how he was taking fuel from the needs of running their generator. I couldn’t believe how it was said. One thing I am realizing is how people react different under fear. So much fear in the world right now. 

9:00 am- Started to pack stuff while Steve was driving the boat. It will be different this year since usually I go to a laundromat and wash everything and then vacuum pack everything and put it in the storage bin. Guess I will either bring it all home or just put everything in a bag and do it next year when we come back.    

It is so beautiful out here. It feels like we are boating on a crystal clear aqua blue pool. I sit here while listening to my audible thinking I want to turn around. I just can’t believe that it will all be over in a couple of days. 

I am glad I kept this daily blog since I can remember everything we did or experience.  Not sure if many people read my blog but it even helps me reference every year what we have done and the mileage covered. 

This year was a little different because of the Covid19. I will write my blog up unto we get home. Getting the boat out and driving back home under these circumstances will be an adventure in itself.  

3:30 pm - We arrived  at Mangrove Cay and covered  65.89 nm 

Although we are still in the Bahamas, we removed the Bahamian courtesy flag and put up the American one. Guess we will have to buy a new one for next year.  It is better to do it now than changing it in the gulf.  
4:30 pm- As we were making water, we both took a nice long hot shower. It always feels so good. After filling the water tanks, Steve used a solution to pickle the system seeing that we will not be making water until next year. It is like putting the membranes to bed until we use it again 

7:00 pm- Dinner tonight is Barbecue chicken, potatoes and chick pea, lentil and black beans salad. 

 

Time to change my phone chip and go back to my Canadian phone number. 

April 8, 2020

Midnight- The plan was to get up at 2am but the current kept rocking the boat and Steve couldn’t sleep. We left Mangrove under a bright round moon and headed to Fort Pierce, Fla.  As we were leaving, Steve noticed a power boat anchored with no lights whatsoever.  That is scary. 

6:45 am-  Captain Steve hasn’t had much sleep however we have  been sailing at an average of 7 knots and the seas are moderately calm. Almost the perfect sail with the lit up moon.  Clouds are starting to form, and she is starting to hide once in a while. 

It is so nice to have auto pilot although one of us has to keep an out for other incoming boats.  

6:40 - We noticed Zaandam of  Norwegian Cruise ship which surprised us. We thought there were no more cruises operating  during this Virus  pandemic. 

( We found out thru a friend  and internet that this boat is being denied entry to Ports and are hoping that they will be able to come to port in Fort Lauderdale. Four people have died and many are sick from the virus. The countries don’t want to have the burden of using their resources when they are in a crisis mode ) 

49 nm to go. We were sailing up to this point but the wind died down so we had to motor sail.

8:00 am- I surprised Steve by making him a bacon butty as they call it in Britain. He was a happy sailor. 

8:30 am- We heard 2 Pan Pans on the radio stating a 57 pleasure craft set out a distress signal and then shortly  after, we heard another Pan Pan stating that there was a 12 ft sunken boat near an entrance in Fort Pierce and to lookout  Apparently the bow was sticking  up. They are just warning boaters to be cautious. 

We are  20 nm from Fort Pierce inlet and we see land and are starting to get phone reception. 

11:48- A huge freighter went in front of us. 

I finally received cell service to text but not internet. 

2:00 pm- Arrived at Fort  Pierce on a hot sunny day.  So strange driving in the cut and there are people fishing and walking the beaches. We were surprised since no one was allowed out in the Bahamas. It was so quiet and no one on the beaches. The officials monitored it and would penalized if you leave your home. I am just so surprised but now understand why the pandemic isn’t under control yet here. 

2:45 pm- Arrived at our anchorage and covered  89.12 nm

We found out we could NOT use the online CBP Roam where you report to Customs. We will have to go to the airport in the morning when the boat comes out. It isn’t a big deal anyways since we have to drop off our boat registration since the boat stays on the hard at Riverside Marina.  

Saw dolphins swimming around the boat after we anchored. 

4:00 pm- Removed both sails. It is a lot more difficult doing it when we are on the boat and of course, the wind picked up. We better rest up because tomorrow is going to be a busy day tomorrow. 

5:30 pm- Dinner tonight is pork chops, chick peas lentil salad and carrot sautéed in butter and honey. 

7:30 pm- Steve is already fast asleep on the back of the boat. Not sure if I will be able to get him up for bed. 

10:00  pm-  The moon was spectacular color tonight. And it is so bright  In preparation for putting GaYa on the hard tomorrow, I thought I was smart in packing all the boat curtains. Now the inside of the boat is all lit up from the full moon. 

April 6, 2020 - Abacos

April 6, 2020

It rained most of the night   I got up around 3:15 am and realized I left one of our side windows opened. Good thing it wasn’t one of the windows above ups upholstery. I wiped up the floor and countertop and went back to bed.  

9:30 am-  Left our mooring. As we head towards the Abacos, you can already see some of the damage from Hurricane Dorian. Trees are stripped down to their branches and just starting to grow back. 

Not sure if it is because of the dark clouds but it feels very eerie and total different atmosphere than other years. Even the cruiser’s net broadcasted from Hopetown was very brief and not much heard from anyone. It might also be because of the virus  threat.  Abacos surely does not need Covid19  on top of just trying to recover from Dorian. 

11:30am-  Went to get fuel at the Abaco Boat Harbour Marina. Right now it is the only place where you can drive your boat to get fuel in the Abacos. The guy was telling us that is it a good thing we are fueling today because the Bahamian government is shutting down again from Wednesday until Tuesday. He said the government knows how Bahamian people love to celebrate Easter and therefore doesn’t want any partying or gathering in order to control Covid. 

They have all new docks at the fuel dock. Lots of reconstruction. 

 

Because everything is shutting down, we decided to speed things up. We called Riverside Marina in Florida and they can haul us out Thursday or Friday and there is a storage unit available. They do not want us to stay on our boat therefore that would mean unpacking everything in one day. Again, we are taking a deep breath and taking it one day at a time. 

1:00 pm-  We are going 6 knots with one sail. The decision is whether we cross the Whales. It can be a very bumpy ride. We will decide as we get closer. 

We could see Hopetown lighthouse from a distance and some of the devastation along Man O War. 

2:00 pm- As we approached the Whale passage we decided to cross. What excitement.  It was wild. 

The swells were building though the cut at 15 ft and they would pick up the stern of the boat and we would be surfing at 10 knots until the next one came.  With the cut only being 90 ft wide and 20 ft wide with the reef on both side, it was nerve racking. We were lucky that the wind was veered south otherwise we would have not made it. We did a big high five at the end.  

We passed Green Turtle Cay, Crab Cay and anchored at Manjack Cay around 5:00 pm. We covered 40.83 nm today. It was sad to see so such devastation throughout the Abacos due to DORIAN. we use passed through since we know they are trying to rebuild and still  have no power and use generators for power. 

In preparation for our long 2 days journey to the States, I prepared food to eat along the way. I may not be able to update my blog during this time. 

The plan is to be in Florida Wednesday afternoon so we can get hauled out Thursday or Friday. 

Bahamas is forcing us out with the long shut downs. 

We always felt like we have been outside the bubble of the Covid19  and now we have to break in. Not looking forward to it. 

My neighbour is kind enough to do groceries for us and have it in our home before we get there seing that we will be on a 2 week quarantine.  

6:30pm-  Dinner tonight is Chicken and potatoes cooked in a Catalina cranberry sauce with yellow canned beans. 

Watched a couple of episodes of Ozark before going to bed. 

Better get to bed early since 4am comes quick 

April 5, 2020 - Off to the Abacos

April 5, 2020 - Leaving Royal for Abacos

 

6:45 am- Woke up to a gorgeous sunrise  

8:30 am- We hymned and hawd and decided to lift the anchor and head towards the Abacos. There is a no move restriction in the Bahamas but we figure as long as we stay on the boat, we will be fine. The wind is only 4.8 coming from the East. We will have to motor sail all the way.  The swells are incredible. They are at time 6 to 10 ft but 8 seconds apart. Looks like a huge wall coming at you. Very interesting. 

9:45 pm-  Steve caught a 10 pound barracuda. What a shame since we used up our last Ballyhoo. He will have to use his feather luring which have been also successful in the past. 

12:30 pm-  After Steve ate tuna salad which I had prepared, he changed the lure hoping to catch a fosh. 

2:30 pm-  starting to see land with the binoculars. Steve enjoys reading while I like listening to audible.  

We arrived at the Abacos 4:45 pm and we covered 50.26nm. We anchored however it was a little folly so we moved about 1/2 mile where we would be more protected at Linear Cay at the entrance of Little Harbour. 

6:30 pm- Dinner tonight is pork chops, beet salad and sautéed noodles 

We watched a couple more episodes of Ozark before going to bed. Looks like we are getting closer to home. 

April 3 & 4, 2020 - Royal Island

April 3, 2020  - Hatchet to Royal

6:46 am-  You surely do not need a morning alarm clock in Hatchet Bay. Between the roosters and the barking dogs in the distance, they make sure you wake up early. 

What a gorgeous morning. I think this is the calmness I have seen it in a while. You can see the turtle coming up and leaving there marks. The water reflected like a mirror.  

8:30 am- Left Hatchet Bay and headed to Royal. What a gorgeous sail. Steve put out his fishing rod hoping to catch dinner tonight. 

. 
9:15 am-  Yay!  Fish for dinner tonight. Steve caught a Cero Mackerel and it is good eating

12:30 pm- We were surprised by a call from Mike and Petra from Germany wanting to know if we were OK. It was nice seeing them since they Face Timed. They were suppose to come and visit us this summer but it looks like the trip will be cancelled due to the Pandemic. 

1:45 pm-  Arrived at Royal Island and we covered 22.5 nm today. Nice and calm. 

Around 2 pm, I cut Steve's hair and then he shaved after he went in for a swim.  Sure made a difference since he has not shaved for about 5 days.
3 pm We made water before we went for a nice dinghy ride to explore the area. 

5:00 pm-  The Bahamian government had a special press conferences updating everyone about Covid19 situation. Because there is a surge and community spread, the Government has decided, based on the advice of health officials that effective 8pm tonight, Friday the 3rd of April, a complete shutdown of all services which will be implemented until Monday the 6th of April at 5am.

 It will be interesting how this all plays out 

6:30  pm- We had such a delicious fish, sweet potato fries and coleslaw for our dinner.
Enjoyed watching the beautiful sunset.
Watched a couple of episodes of Ozark before going to bed.

April 4, 2020

7:00 am- Woke up to a beautiful sunrise. The wind is coming from the North so we will be staying probably until Tuesday. I would like to continue on however we have to preserve our fuel and want to go when the winds are in favour. Even when we go for small dinghy rides, you start realizing how you must preserve your fuel for times when you really need it. 

Not sure what people do who have dogs on board and usually take their dogs to the beach since we are not permitted to go on land . ( which includes many people)

11:30 am- Went for a brief dinghy ride and ended up in an area where there were dozens of turtle. They are so fast. It was fun to get off the boat. 

1:00pm-  After lunch we did a few jobs. We lifted the floor boards under the table to clean the bilge. 

Then Steve fixed the wiring on one of the small inverters. 

I washed towels and dish clothes. 

There is always something to do 

6:00 pm- While sitting ar the bow of the boat sipping on a glass of wine, we saw dolphins swimming. It is such a beautiful afternoon

Dinner tonight is chicken dumplings, potatoes, carrots and corn. Fresh veggies are running low. 

Watched a couple of Ozark episodes before going to bed.