Sunday, November 15

The wind is up. We're in a very protected harbour and the wind is blowing 15 - 20 kts, gusting to 25. There are no waves to speak of because we are tucked up close to shore but the boat is swinging back and forth on her anchor. We put out another 25 feet of anchor chain just to be safe. We're the only boat around so no worries about swinging into someone else. We do have an anchor alarm set but it has been silent. The purchase of our Rocna anchor was well worth the money, it makes it possible to sleep at night in a blow like this.

Not a particularly good day to be out and about so we spent several hours changing the oil and filters in both the engine and the generator. This job is not difficult and it's one I've done on a car countless times. But this is a boat. There just isn't room to move around and get to everything without being a contortionist. And why the engine manufacturers mount oil fliters horizontally I'll never understand. It's impossible to remove the filter without oil running everywhere.  Remember, the engines are in the middle of our house. Just for fun, next time you're going to change the oil in your car drive it into your living room and change the oil there.

A change of plans. Not that we have many plans. We've decided that rather than head south to the Exumas and Georgetown we're going to head north to the Abacos. We may well make it to the Exumas yet this winter as there is a land and sea park there that is supposed to be amazing.

The winter weather pattern here in the Bahamas is for a cold front to show up about once a week. There will be three or four days of very windy conditions followed by three or four days of calmer winds. And then the next cold front approaches and the winds are back up again for three or four days. In the nice days you need to get where you want to be for the three or four days when the wind is up. At least so far, the aforementioned cold fronts are not cold. My guess is it has been a very pleasant 75 but with high winds which can make it a bit chilly in the evening. But it also keeps the mosquitos and noseeums away.

Tonight we had our third meal of mahi mahi. We've only eaten half of what we caught but eathing the rest will not be a problem. Susan has prepared it three different ways and each has been great.

Brian