We then went into Bell Channel & Port Lucaya in search of a marina another boater told us about. But after talking to the dock master, who was in a very noisy barber shop, I didn't get warm & fuzzy feelings about him or the resort.
In 2013, we met Canadian boaters while in Green Cove Springs who told us they stay all winter at the Ocean Reef Resort. We dismissed the idea then as we rarely stay at a dock, let alone a resort. We left Bell channel & returned to Silver Point area where we found the Ocean Reef Resort but they didn't answer our call on the VHF. We cruised around the many canals then back past the resort. Someone called us from the resort asking if we had any questions...we did, & after feeling comfortable with the place, we took a dock on the windier side of the marina in front of the pool.
We tied up the boat & I checked us in for a week. After a few days, changed it to a month & as you can see, we stayed for 6 glorious months. I got the usual ton of paperwork plus some tickets for dinner & drinks - $425/month with free water, inexpensive electric & many activities.
I was returning to the boat when I heard pool balls clicking. I went to check it out...a few guys playing pool - free for several hours - otherwise, $1.25/game. They asked if I'd like to play - you're kidding me-right? I dropped the paperwork & thus began my obsession for staying here.
Below is the digital chart of the channel in from the ocean, the canal system & Ocean Reef.
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I've marked Island Seas; the beach where we take the pups & our tracks
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| Beautiful Murals on the walls |
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| Massive line for dinner |
I was having the very best time I've had in a long time. Free dinners on Monday with
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| Awesome staff: Lavonia, Justin & the remarkable chef, Michelle |
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| Justin...aka 'Jussy' - he played the music for Karaoke |
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YUM! chow time for real Bahamian food
Bahama Momma Caroline & staff (beautiful people inside & out)
LISA!! My all time favorite all around person!!
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games (like pass the hat & trivia) & line dancing after.
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| Surprise, even Wayne played pass the hat |
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| That's Charly in the blue shorts |
Free bingo with prizes.
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| Rudy (with a 'Y'), extraordinaire - he handled every event (notice the old bingo cage) |
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| My sweet Rudy (w/a 'Y') |
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| Bingo outside Esther's eatery- played with pennies as markers |
Free Bocce Ball,
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| Best Bocce team ever |
Free bus to grocery store (the run to the store was quite an event - had only an hour in grocery & liquor store & if any time left- order take out from the Pizzeria), Dinner (not free) & a movie, Dominos, Karaoke (I even sang a few). & 'in season' when the majority of the boaters arrive - poker.
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| Jim & Chris brought Karaoke to a whole new level - Chris is a professional opera singer ! |
Boaters love pot luck dinners & figure a way to celebrate something/anything & they always dress for the occasion.
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| Bunkey & Geoff celebrate the Academy Awards |
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| Tracey, Todd & Tom (below too) Tom was an extra in 2 of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies filmed several miles from Freeport |
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| Tom on the occasion of the Academy Awards |
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| More activities - Lunch on the dinghies |
Bev & Herb are boater friends we met in '09 in Brunswick GA, now live in Freeport - it was great to see them again. Their help was invaluable many times taking us to places for stuff we needed...And, Bev & I had some 'girl' time too.
We met so many wonderful people & I still keep in touch with many. Meet a few:
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| Leslie (right) her sis Carol & of course, Scupper & Jack |
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Bonnie, Rudy & Leslie
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| Richard & Charlene (Charly) - We played LOTS of dominoes together & loved every minute of it |
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| Hank & the ever stoic,John - my heroes at the Christmas party (that's another story) |
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| Hank & me, my pool & poker buddy. I called him Henry-everyone laughed but that's his real name
Another couple, Charles & Anastasia, invited us to drive out to the 'West End'. We've checked in at the West end many times (by boat) on our way to the Abacos but we've never had the chance to see the area 'on foot'. Gorgeous resort-had drinks at the beach.
 
Condos at the Old Bahamas Bay Club
Old Bahamas Bay Club beach
We passed by the locals bringing in conch for the local restaurants
  
Paradise Cove, the Red Bar
Pounding Conch @ the Red Bar
The other boaters had a pot luck for Thanksgiving but we went to a little restaurant in the Market Place for a lovely, all inclusive dinner with Herb & Bev.
Christmas was spent at another boater's home across the canal from the resort (took our dinghies over). They were away but encouraged us to use the house. Amazing, huge home with magnificent grounds.
   
Exchanging gifts in a very different, but great fun way
I arranged for Kathryn to come over just after Christmas - bonus for us - we got to spend NY eve together.
  Tom (the pirate) lives on his boat at the marina & has a jeep. He played host & took her all over the island...& took all of us to the Market Place at Port Lucaya for NY eve. We had dinner at Luciano's & danced at Count Basie square. |
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Count Basie Square in the Market Place @ Port Lucaya |
I was depressed when Kathryn had to leave on 1/3/16.
January was abysmal, gloomy, cold, damp & just plain miserable most days. I played poker on Friday night wearing 2 shirts, jacket, jeans, socks, & hat...but it was worth it! Same outfits with most other activities. Thursday movies were getting newer & better.
There is no pump-out at the marina so about every 3 weeks we went out to the ocean to dump our tanks - it gave us a chance to leave the docks & cruise around. Most times, I was at the helm & brought the boat in & perfectly docked her. (yes, I'm bragging cuz no other women on the other boats ever piloted their boat) Other boaters came to a dock to help those arriving (like me but I never needed help-there I go again, bragging)- they were impressed with my skills & applauded! (so did the resort staff) Boy, was I proud.
Our time allowed to stay in the Bahamas was running out - it is mandatory that we leave the country for a day, then can return after renewing documents . We researched every conceivable way to do this - fly? take the boat? No matter what, it costs money. We decided to have some fun while at it. We booked ourselves on the Celebration, a small cruise ship. We had to put the dogs in a kennel - left on February 3-returning on the 5th. While in Miami, we hired a taxi for several hours for a whirlwind shopping spree - mostly stuff for the boat. It was a fun trip, good food, shows & casino action.
Wayne was getting irritable & itchy to leave...but not me.
Sadly, we left the marina on March 16th (2016), & cruised south to Bimini, got a dock for the night. We met more amazing people living on a gorgeous trawler near us. We asked them where there might be a restaurant close by... "you want the best food?" Join us for dinner...we did & so glad we did. A wonderful evening with great people.
We left the dock @ 10:15 on the 17th (St. Pat's day)The weather was perfect for the crossing. Arrived & anchored in Biscayne Bay about 7pm wondering where to go from here??
We had long wanted to cruise up the East coast & March would have been the best time to begin that journey. However, there was a person living in the cottage who was able to trash the house in only four months. He left in November (2015). Mickey & Kathryn spent a great deal of time cleaning & getting it back in shape. We decided to return to Summerland & do whatever it took to get the house back in order - figured it wouldn't take long & we could get back to the business of cruising again.
We all know it's not smart to write your plans in the sand when the tide is coming in.
I decided to create another post for the events of the next 6 months....
hope you stay tuned.
