Tarpon Basin, Key Largo, FL

Double Life is finally staged for her maiden voyage beyond the US. Well, not really. This boat, a Leopard 38, was made in South Africa so it already crossed the Atlantic in 1999, but this will be our first big trip with her. Lots of changes have been made over the past two years. Among other improvements, four solar panels were added which make all the electricity we need and a stern enclosure was made for cool or wet weather. Last month the boat went on the hard to put on new bottom paint. We also made new trampolines for safe anchoring and comfortable lounging!

Ice is not readily available we here, so one possibly frivolous but necessary addition if you want cold drinks in the Bahamas is our ice maker which doubles as a second hassock alongside the sewing machine/foot rest. Provisioning for the next few months include groceries that will be impossible to find or so expensive we won't want to buy them. Knowing we'll miss fresh coconuts, we have cracked and stockpiled a few for the first few weeks. Thanks Bahia Honda for keeping those coconut palms! 

On Monday, we said final farewells to good friends at Bahia Honda State Park, took a last look at the dockside home for the past year and set out for Key Largo.  

We took two days power sailing into the wind to reach Tarpon Basin in Key Largo. Anchored right off the Government and Cultural center, we are walking distance from a grocery and other amenities. Boats typically stage here awaiting a weather window when the wind shifts more southerly for good sailing across the Gulf Stream to our first destination, Bimini. Hopefully that shift will be occurring in 2-3 days.

The plan is to work our way down to the Exumas stopping at the Berry Is., Eleuthera and others on the way there.  Internet coverage will likely be sporadic, but I will update this blog as I'm able. Please leave comments in the section below if you'd like.