"Back in the USSA"

I know, I know, it is a long time between posts! Hey you kreeps, it is very tuff to get wi-fi on the aqua trail, and when we do, buisiness is first and land lubbers second. Abacos is what we are talkin' about! We left Spanish Wells early one morning with "Slow Dancing" right behind us. We had no problem heading north to the Abacos. We did not even blink an eye as we navigated the "Devils Backbone". Nobody bothered telling us you always hire a guide boat to get you through this or you will certainly die a horrible death! So we thought nothing of it and easily saw the ominous coral reefs and thought it best not to run into them! no harm done! Back into the deep water we went. Slow Dancing,in thier larger boat, smoked us bad on the Ocean Passage but we caught a nice "Bull Mahi Mahi" and shared some of it with "Slow Dancing" and "Hocus Pocus" the next evening before entering Hopetown. Hopetown is the place of friends from Wyoming, and as we got close the radio sang "Godspeed Godspeed, Touch and Go". "Lorrie answer that, I think it is Peter!" She did and it was Peter Kline! We hooked up and had a great afternoon with his people on thier privite island in the Parrot Cays. The next day Peter (Big Bamboo Outfitters from now on) took me Bone fishing.
Let's get this right, I have guided Peter many times to sucesful elk hunting in WYO and was looking for payback. Payback is what I got! Quick into the hunt Peter said "put it there" so I did and the fight was on! Severeal hours later, the fish was wore out and picture time. Too bad Peter did'nt catch one but it was a great day and thanks Peter! By the way, Please comment, my friend!(or used to be!).
Now that is not all the services Big Bamboo outfitters offers, Mr. Big Deal Kline also fancies himself as a sailboat rigger. Being as we had an open account from the Bone fishing rip off(He actually caught the fish and photoshoped my head on his not as good as mine body, I'm sure you all picked up on that already anyway!) so up the mast he went. I must say my money was well spent (Did'nt give the Kreep a dime!) he actually did a great job, centered, straightened and tensioned the mast. Posed for pictures, looked real pretty, all the things I would expect from a "Big Deal Guy". After it was done he was real lucky or he had it together because Godspeed sailed better and the mast quit "Creeking" during stress. I would recomend the "Mast Tuning" from "Big Bamboo Outfitters" but don't take the bone fishing thing, you are just there to take his picture!
We also visted the second home of Pete and Les Mead from Alta Wyoming in Hopetown and had a great time as Pete schooled me on fishing and Les and Lorrie did girl stuff-great times.
Paragon, SeaVeyor, and Anastsia caught up with us in Marsh Harbor and several great times were had. One day, we went off shore fishing on "Hocus Pocus". We lost a few and then Mr. Lucky went off! I grabbed him and went to work as I watched another rod bend over with a fish and leave the boat with a tuna on it, so if you ever catch a tuna with a rod and reel attached, let me know and I will give you bill's address so it can be returned!
Green Turtle Cay has a place in my heart because I was last there 31 years ago as a starving college kid. The visit was great and it was more developed, but I still was able to find the old places that I remembered so well, little did I know that one day I would sail into that harbor in my own yacht one day, CRAZY TALK I mean CRAZY! We were lucky enough to be there for the pirate festival when Lorrie's favorite 20 year old girl friend hailed : Godspeed Godspeed, Moon Shadow. She screamed and yet another reunion was had. They watched movies and giggled while I made them popcorn and treats-Women!
Three fabulous days of high speed sailing lie in front of us, following seas, hull speed, and the rear view full of "catch Godspeed if you can" (and they did'nt by the way). The "Little Bahamas Banks" was where the buck stopped and the washing machine started, it had enough quarters to run all night! We all arrived early evening and were pertched on the edge of the Gulf stream anchored in 25 feet of water with Godspeeds bow pitching at 15 feet or so. Very uncomfortable to say the least as we had no sleep that night. At dawn Godspeed made her intensions known over the VHF to weigh anchor immediatly and set sail for florida, the next few minutes were not for the weak of heart or stomock as Lorrie did a great job at the helm and I prayed alot while hand over handing the heavy anchor and chain on board in the violent seas. We had a following of vessels and eight hours later we set Don in USA sand for the first time in months. Very important and official US customs people made us take a taxi to the airport in Fort Pierce and show our stuff. SeaVeyor, Not Ha Gan, and Godspeed shared the wonderful experiance and were allowed entrance "back in the USSA"(humm a Beetles song when you say it).