The Exciting Adventures of Sam the Skull

One More Season in the Bahamas

2011-06-19T11:09:00.000-07:00

The boat is on the hard at Titusville for the summer and the crew is back in Scotland for medicals leaving your man in charge.

The decision to go to the Bahamas turned out to the best idea so far, we met new friends ,caught a load of lobsters and fish and visited islands that we had not seen before.

The Bahamian immigration officials really excelled themselves this year with new rules and regulations which pissed off the cruisers big time.

One of the best places we sailed to was Ocean Reef on Grand Bahama which is a closely guarded secret and only open to those and such as those.

All photographic evidence will be provided when the crew and the camera return from Scotland

Northern Exumas

2010-11-30T04:06:00.000-08:00

This is Atlantis at Paradise Island. The archway between the buildings is the Michael Jackson Suite. It costs $25000 per night with a minimum of 4 nights. They say that it is booked for the next 5 years.

After a few days in Nassau we sailed to Normans Cay (Ex Drug Lord Hideout).It is still unspoiled and the only footprints in the sand were ours. Met Val. and Bruce PDQ 36 Windrush and tried out the new extensions with sea trials. They work well!. As we have to return to Nassau to extend visas we sailed north to Allans Cay and visited the Iguanas. Then a great sail downwind with our large kite back to Nassau.

Change of Plans

2010-11-15T11:18:00.000-08:00

Not much to report but we have been waiting in Marathon for weather for over a week and it does not look like there will be a window soon so we have decided to go to the Bahamas Tomorrow and take it from there.

With any luck we will have fishing pics soon.

Eastern Caribbean 2009

2009-12-17T07:14:00.000-08:00

We arrived back at our boat on the Rio Dulce on 24 November 2009 and to our surprise it was in perfect condition. No mildew or mould just a quick clean down outside and

we are ready to go.

First stop after refuelling and provisioning is Texas Bay. It is so nice here that it would be a crime not to stop.

Next to Livingston by the lancha from T. Bay at the entrance to the Rio to check out. We leave the documents with Raul , go for lunch and when we return the paperwork is complete.

Next day we are off down river to the sea and our next adventure.

We are sailing to Cabo Tres Puntas en route to the Sappodillo Cays when all of a sudden this Spannish Mackerel decided to join us for dinner.

WE had dinner aboard BLUE with John and Angie who cooked the fish.

Rio Dulce, Tikal,Antigua

2009-04-08T08:23:00.000-07:00

Drinkypoos at the hotel in Chichi.

A small part of the produce market at Chichicastanango. No Gringos.
Lake Atilan with the volcano behind.

The bus station at Antigua.

Main street Antigua with the Volcano at the end of the road
The view down river and a local guy trying to get a cheap snack.
I am sorry about the delay in posting but we lost our camera at Tikal.

The chicken bus is the only way to travel.

The structures are amazing and the views are fantastic but it is a long way up.

The Templos are lined up with the stars.

Clever people.

Barbara is outside of the hotel in Flores.

this is so that you do not leave without paying for your Big Mac.
This is the hot water springs or Aguas Calientes

Guatemala has been the highlight of our cruising so far.

Roatan to Belize City

2009-03-01T10:12:00.000-08:00

This is french Harbour Roatan where we spent 2 weeks and hope to return soon.

This is the first cay that we passed on arriving in Belize.

We Arrived in Belize on Friday 27 Feb. overnight from Roatan it was a boisterous downwind run and we arrived at the entrance to the barrier reef entrance at 7 am. As a weather front was forecast we altered course for Belize city and headed north. At 3pm we anchored at Twin Cays for the night. This is one of hundreds of islands off the coast. The wind was blowing 15 Knots from the north East so we had a great sail north to Cucumber Beach Marina at Belize City where we need to check in and wait for son John and Laura to arrive on Tuesday.

The fishing was poor but we had a fair catch of fish that gave up and jumped aboard during the night.We were constantly throwing flying fish back but these are the ones that we missed until morning.

Sometimes people come out to you in small boats offering goods or services. I think that it is an old tradition

2009-02-18T15:11:00.000-08:00

We arrived at Roatan in the Bay Islands of Honduras on Sunday 15 Feb. four days exactly from Jamaica. The trip was entirely downwind in 15 to 20 knotsof wind and occasionally 30 knots but that was only at 3 o'clock in the morning and in the black dark. The full moon had just passed so we had moonlight most of the way.
Roatan is a beautiful island and the spannish speaking local people are delightful and very friendly.
We are presently anchored in Old French Harbour which has been a safe haven for ships since the pirates were here. It is a fishing port and the main catch is prawns or shrimps to some.
The customs and immigration were a dream compared with the Bahamas and there is no charge.($300 in the Bahamas with major bad attitude). There is a ferry service to mainland Honduras and we plan to go next week.
The pictures below are of the main street,the anchorage, the reef that protects the anchorage and some local people on a Sunday afternoon on a sailboat

Bob Marley

2009-02-09T09:49:00.000-08:00

Bobs Grave

Bob Marley Agriculture...............................................

Bob Marleys birthday, 6th February. A great time for a visit to his mausoleum!!
Hired a fast cab, at great expense ($100) an expert driver, he knew the way to Nine Mile, Mount Zion, with his eyes closed, ours were anyway.
We were dispatched into the hands of the locals, hands out for dollars, just for showing us a garden full of all different types of marijuana. We thought it was part of the guided tour and handed over our hard earned Jamaican dollars, for a few photos and a few joints.... Will we never learn?
Entered the walled Marley Mausoleum proper and waited in line behind a cruise ship load of Glasgow punters, white legs, burned feet in sandals. Followed this noisy crowd through the tour, a total rip off, the guides had their hands out at every turn looking for $$$
Had to remove our shoes to enter His bedroom, containing his Single Bed...
All in all it was an experience, and we kept our joints for later.
Our driver managed to remember part of the way home, and after a few patties, like a bridie, we arrived back at our anchorage just in time for Happy Hour. Bobs single bed

Bobs couch. Bobs pals
Glasgow Punters on dope

Monego Bay Jamaica

2009-01-31T07:15:00.000-08:00

This a large tourist city and the climate is dryer than the east end of the island. We are anchored off Montego Bay Yacht Club which is very YA!YA! old chap.

The lobster fishing is good.

The city centre is very busy

We ope to leave

Port Antonio Jamaica

2009-01-28T05:47:00.000-08:00

We have spent 1 week in Port Antonio and it has been very good . We would like to return.

This the Rio Grande

The local people do their laundry in the river and dry it on the stones .

The Rio Grand is the largest river here and comes down from the mountains. This is us rafting on the Rio Grande. The local raft captains pole the rafts for 8 miles downstream and pay apprentices to pull them back upriver. Some Pants!

Long Island to Jamaica

2009-01-25T11:43:00.000-08:00

John and I had a lovely day on the ocean side of Hamburger Beach, yer man was beachcasting, I had my sun lounger and a good book.....
Only one sentence into the book and yippee!! he's landed a fish, it's a barracuda with great big teeth and will need to go back.

Headed for Long Island with Echo and Reach, only two other boats at anchor in Thomson Bay.

New beach restaurant opened at Salt Pond, so anchored there for a few nights, new place is fantastic, called Long Island Breeze, it has laundry, showers, fresh water pool, bar, and the food is the best we've had in the Bahamas. Also free internet.
Hired a car for two days and took in some culture!!!

The museum was very interesting, it also had a ladies bathroom, all important..

Climbed to the top of the beautiful white church, the view was amazing.

Echo and Sam the Skull left Reach on Monday morning, heading to Jamaica.
Caught no fish.

Saw lots of dolphins though.

Arrived Port Antonia, 8.30 Thursday morning, to clear customs and immigration we stayed at the beautiful Errol Flynn Marina, stayed for two nights, nice hot showers and laundry facilities.

Checking in was so easy, and free, locals are very friendly and no walk at all and we were in the town itself, it has a great market for fruit and veg, also crafts and of course the whole area has a cloud of Marijuana hanging over it.....

Met an American couple at the dock, they have a house high on the hill and invited us for dinner, quite a place and a wonderful dinner.

Took a cab ride on Saturday to Boston, world famouse for its jerk chicken and pork.

Boston Beach was gorgeous, perfect for surfing, and spent a wee while sitting on the rocks watching how its done...

Plan on leaving here on Thursday and head to Montego Bay.

Its Bob Marleys birthday on 6th February, and plan a visit to his graveside.

Long Island to Port Antonio Jamaica

2009-01-25T10:42:00.000-08:00

2009-01-08T08:17:00.000-08:00

2009-01-08T08:14:00.000-08:00

More exciting updates..............................

2009-01-05T12:46:00.000-08:00

It s Pirate Night.....

30Th December, and the gang are all ashore at the beautiful Staniel Cay Yacht Club, dressed to the nines...

Most of the costumes had to be store bought, no way cruisers normally have these clothes stored on board.

Johnny Depp has a lot to answer for, the pirates were all gorgeous, and the girls were in high heeled boots and fishnet stockings.

I made a boo boo and blacked my teeth had a dirty face, scars and blood dripping down my cheek, from a recent sword wound.

Great fun was had by all, and we managed to stay up way past 11.30!!!!

(I had my photograph taken with the winner)

Christmas day.

2008-12-29T06:24:00.000-08:00

We have set up this Blog page for your amazement......
Our first photo shows us at Sampson Cay yacht club, with Sam the Skull anchored in the bay behind us.
We had a most enjoyable Christmas buffet, Bahamian style, with a lot of other cruisers.
It has been quite a windy season this year, great for drying laundry, but not so good for fishing, and snorkling.
I have a kayak this year, and its been great fun, I"m getting to be quite a dab hand, can even turn round and paddle back to the boat!