Adventure has always been important to me

Alligator Light right outside of my town...Islamorada Florida. Beautiful crystal clear water. Our winter home is a three story townhouse on a bay that is about 200 feet from the Atlantic Ocean. The view is spectacular, and my access to go boating is pretty nice. My boat is sitting on a power lift about thirty feet from my door. Just push the down button...go out through a short canal...through the Channel 2 bridge to the Atlantic...and I'm headed out to the tropical reef to start fishing. It's only about 4 miles to the edge...the abrupt drop off from 30 feet to about 100 feet and then gradually deeper out to 1000 feet and beyond. This is where the big ones live. Islamorada is well known as The Sportfishing Capital of the World.

From Jupiter Inlet Florida to Abaco Bahamas is about 9 hours on a good day...non stop. To me it is my ultimate adventure. Single handed challenge of man against the sea. I love it.

  My trips to the Bahamas start with hooking my boat trailer to my truck in NH and traveling to Jupiter Florida...loading four months worth of supplies on the boat, storing the truck and trailer, and leaving at dawn for a 200 mile ocean crossing. It is a very intense five day trip...towing about 1600 miles, loading, launching, and storing, and the crossing. Of course it takes months of planning and preparations first...plus rearranging life itself...to first even imagine something of this magnitude. It's exciting, nerve-wracking, exhausting, and very satisfying at the same time. Sometimes people in Abaco would call me crazy. It's definitely not for everyone. My name on the forums there is either Big Fish or Loose Bruce. LOL

I love fishing in the warm ocean...from The Florida Keys to The Dry Tortugas to The Bahamas. It is a primal challenge to find the prey, bring it home, clean it, prepare it and eat it. I love it.

   You will see several pictures of exceptional fish in these pages. I'm even more proud of these fish than the beautiful cars here. The fish represent considerable personal effort and perseverance that it takes to catch them. The days that some people won't go out are days that the fish actually bite the best. Some of my best catches came on days when I hardly saw another boat...it was too rough. My wife Peggy calls me the warrior.

The Dry Tortugas. About 75 miles west of Key West...Fort Jefferson is a Civil war fort built by the North during the Civil War to control access to the Gulf of Mexico. There are no services available there now, so it is a challenge on a small open boat. I towed my boat to Key West, stored the truck and trailer, and launched for the 75 mile open ocean crossing. I spent three days living on my boat. I have a bow dodger (tent) where I slept and a sun shower for bathing. It was pretty crowded on my smallish open boat loaded with coolers and gear, but hugely satisfying in the hardship. The best part for me was that the fishing was tremendous...being so far away from mainstream conveniences...not many boats reach there. My kind of place. Peggy and I traveled there again on a big seaplane we chartered out of Key West. It was awesome...flying only 500 feet above the ocean and then touring the huge fort, and snorkeling in the crystal clear water.

As I have mentioned, we have spent many winters in the Bahamas. I had heard how crystal clear the water was and how uncrowded it was. I decided to try it for the winter. I flew over to check out the Hope Town Abaco area to see for myself. I loved it. It was difficult to find an affordable rental for several months since they generally rent by the week. I managed to book two different houses totaling three months and we were off. Preparations for a 200 mile open ocean crossing to a foreign country bringing everything we needed for three months was daunting, but we did it. We repeated this trip many times. We bought a piece of land in an area called "Jack's Jungle" the second year. The third year we actually brought some family and friends over to witness our marriage in Hope Town! It was magical for sure.

One winter when we were staying in St Augustine Florida, I decided to tow my boat to Jupiter, and go across to Abaco Bahamas where I have some land on a small island named Lubbers Quarters. My land is in an area called Jack's Jungle...and it's definitely that. The land is on the highest hill on the island...with 360 degree water views. I built a tower to see the views over the trees. A couple of years before, I built a shed there to hold things that I wanted to leave there rather than bringing them across each year. I didn't know much about carpentry, so I bought a book on how to build a shed. It was hard all by myself, but it was very rewarding. I carried a Suzuki dirt bike across on my boat to use to go from the dock to my land...about a half mile up in the woods.. 

   I spent about a month living on my land in an undeveloped area with no electricity or water except what I could get from rain water collection. I would set up an air mattress in my shed each night to sleep. It was very difficult but a lot of fun. Each night I would write on my laptop about the experience. I will post that diary here when I can. Youtube videos from that trip are linked on this page.

This is the Cherokee 140/150 that I owned and refurbished and flew for a few years. I always wanted to fly, so the year I turned 50...I was driving my motorhome back from the Florida Keys, and I decided that it was the right time...I wasn't getting any younger... and I decided to go for it. I started flying lessons when I returned from Florida in April and received my private pilot license in November. Dream accomplished.

I have always seen a motorcycle as a really free way to travel. Driving along, picking up scents from wherever you happen to be. It feels like you are really part of the scenery. 

  I used to go on camping trips by motorcycle as a young man. That is the essence of adventure...complete freedom to not have a specific plan except to explore...on a motorcycle.

   I have always used my motorcycles as a tool for clearing my mind. Even a relatively short cruise to nowhere has huge emotional benefits.

Adventure 2013

Every year is an adventure…or can be an adventure…if you try to remember the things that pop in your head as “I wonder what this would be like” moments. I already have had this type of “dreams” for most of my adult life. I always hated the winter…always. NH seems to have longer winters than summers. I very clearly remember as a child…shoveling snow from a long driveway…and wishing I lived where there was no snow. As an adult, I would usually try to escape for even a short visit to a tropical island…and loved it…and tried to figure a way to extend even a little more each year. I visited Jamaica, The Bahamas, and south Florida for short trips. Eventually, I was able to arrange two or three months every year in a motor home in the Florida Keys, and my own boat to explore the wonderful warm South Atlantic. To be able to get away…with no schedule, and no pressure, was incredible…and made any sacrifices necessary during the rest of the year no problem. I have no issue with working six days a week, for nine months…for this opportunity. As I always say…”this is why I go to work…to be relaxed, and near the warm South Atlantic, in the winter months.” Not even the President gets vacations like mine. I am very fortunate to not only realize what I want, but I am able to focus on the goal, and shape my life around my “dream.” 

I spent about fifteen years relaxing, fishing, eating, and just hanging out in “The Florida Keys” every winter.  I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have travelled some around this country, and as mentioned in some nearby countries, but I always liked the Keys best. After months of the preparations that are necessary to escape for that extended period, I felt like I was on vacation already as soon as I got on the interstate. 

I never thought I would appreciate somewhere else like I did the Keys…but somehow I heard about the Bahamas, and the incredibly clear waters there. Of course, there would be far fewer people there than the Keys. That was the real drawback of the Keys…the crowds that could easily access the Keys from the Miami area. The Bahamas sounded perfect…I could run my boat across…they had a similar money system…it was relatively stable, and didn’t appear to be dangerous. Of course, it was 200 miles of adventure to cross the Atlantic…just to get there. It sounded like my kind of adventure.

 I had one kind of similar adventure in my past. Several of the guys with boats from Knights Key in Marathon FL, where I was camped…kept saying they would like to go with me when I talked about going to the Fort Jefferson National Park…about 75 miles from Key West. But…they never would really commit to the trip, so I went by myself. There are no services there, so you need to bring everything you need with you. It was great! Three days on my ‘little’ 25 foot center console…camping out on my boat…fishing…just enjoying the adventure. I’ll never forget it. It was my first real remote adventure.

This year was an unusual year, in that Peggy and I planned to stay mostly in St Augustine instead of the Bahamas, to save money. I still brought the boat down so that I could make a short trip to Abaco. To further reduce costs, I hoped to rough it, and stay in my cabin on my land…otherwise known as a shed. Going across to the Bahamas is always an adventure, but this was something else entirely. I’m talking about an 8x10 shed that we just use to store generators, mopeds, some tools, fishing gear, clothes, and general household stuff that we have acquired over the years. It was already pretty full of storage containers, and would need to be emptied to fit my inflatable bed.

I spent considerable effort trying to assess what I would need, if it made sense at all, and whether I even thought I could do it…or wanted to. I already had a couple of generators, and I bought a big 4D storage battery, and wiring for different accessories. I got a new sun shower for bathing, some 12V lights, and some small propane tanks and a small burner. I already owned a nice little 12V refrigerator. That pretty much covered the basic necessities, but there is always a lot more to it than that. Luckily, my buddy Mike Andersen was already there, and had plenty of water in his cistern to share with me. What would I do without Mike? He helped me lug all my stuff up the quarter mile from the dock to my land. 

Actually, Mike’s sister Sally is just as helpful and nice. When I get to Jupiter, I just call Sally up, and she helps me get my truck and trailer stored, and generally carts me all over town. After all is accomplished, she and I have dinner together, and then she drops me at Jupiter Waterfront Inn, my resting spot before my crossing at sunup next day. 

This year, the marine reports had been calling for 10 to 15 foot seas in the Gulf Stream for weeks. Finally, the crossing opportunity looked good for Saturday, so I left St Augustine early Friday morning, with lots to do before night. I had booked the last room available at Jupiter Waterfront Inn, a slip right up the street at Jupiter Pointe, and storage for the truck and trailer in Hobe Sound. 

The plan went perfectly…arrived Jupiter Inn, checked in and loaded all my gear in the boat out front. Went to the gas station and filled the tanks. Called Sally, and asked her to pick me up at the marina. Launched the boat at Burt Reynolds Park Ramp, and ran her up to the marina where Sally met me. She drove me back to the ramp for my truck, and then she followed me to Hobe Sound Storage to leave my truck/trailer. We were done by 6:30…whew! Sally asked if I would like to have dinner at her daughter Laura’s house. It was nice to finally meet Laura and Steve, their son Logan, and of course their neat little dog ----.  Sally brought me home around 9PM…what a perfect day, and the weather promised light winds on Saturday. It couldn’t have gone better.

I got up Saturday morning to light winds and cool temps. I walked about a half a mile to the Publix Grocery when they opened at 7AM, and bought an “Ultimate” sub for the ride…half for breakfast, half for lunch. My crossing was basically uneventful…if a 200 mile ocean crossing can be called that. I think I got to my dock in Abaco Bahamas at about 4:15. Slick. I was so tired that I just wanted to set up my tent in the bow, and sleep. Mike has a cart that he tows behind his scooter, and we brought a few containers up the hill, but that was it for the day. I set up my bow dodger, and just sat on the dock with a cold beer and reflected on my trip as the sun went down. 

The next day was another busy one. I wanted to try and set up the cabin so I could sleep there, but I needed to empty lots of things out of it before I could “move in.” Two mopeds, two bicycles, two generators, and lots of containers out, and lots more containers to bring up the hill. Plus, the biggest project of the day was to get my new bike ashore. I really had no idea how we were going to do it. Of course Mike came to the rescue, as he always does. Mike is a scavenger for sure. He is always on the lookout for things that he can put to use. Just the week before, he had found a couple of purlins from an old steel building that had burned. He was going to use them to enclose his fire pit. A purlin is basically a C channel thin steel beam used to frame walls or support the roof. His idea was to roll the bike in the channel from boat to dock. If that sounds easy, believe me it’s not. Of course there was a distinct possibility that the bike could end up in the ocean. It was tense, and very difficult, but we did it. I probably wouldn’t have tried it without Mike. He is definitely one of the most capable people I know.

Since we worked so hard unloading my gear and moving everything up the hill…we rewarded ourselves. We decided to go to Abaco Inn for happy hour…Mike’s treat. I had the seared tuna appetizer and a bunch of beers. I was glad to be home in Abaco.

Of course I had only begun to get set up. It is really hard to get organized when you have to open several containers to find any particular thing you are looking for. I was always moving containers outside to make room to sleep, then searching through them to find toothpaste, or whatever. Days and days of this searching around behind door #2...door #3...what a pain. I don't want to complain because I did this to myself, but I'm definitely not used to roughing it. It seems that my days are just full of setting up a system or way of accomplishing something just to survive sort of comfortably. 

Here is how a typical day goes:

Wake up early of course, have juice, and start the coffee (takes about an hour to perk), get on the bike, and go down to the dock to check on the boat and the weather…winds, clouds, etc.. Fold blankets, sheets, etc., and put away folding bed and air mattress. Have a light breakfast banana, yogurt, maybe cereal. Listen to the Cruisers Net. Work on walkways with the machete. Cut trees to clear for new trees and plants. Go down to Mike’s camp to see what is going on. He is building a new dinghy. He says it will be his best and last. Back to camp and work on something else…maybe a generator, charge some batteries for phone, computer or my big “house battery.” Work on one of the bikes. Plant trees, check on leaves of ones I have planted to see how they are settling in. Fertilize new stuff, clean up old palm plantings. Try to get better organized in the bunk house so I can find everything easier. Get things running that have sat idle for a year. Idle is not good.

Usually I don’t even think about lunch, so I work through. I watch the sky and the temps, so I can hopefully have warm water still in the sun shower. It cools off fast in late afternoon. After my shower around 5 or 6, I settle down to a spectacular dinner of a can of chicken rice soup and Vernon’s homemade bread and a glass of wine. It really does taste good after a busy day. There is always so much to do. Camping in itself is a lot of work. Everything is more difficult…cooking, eating, laundry, dishes…it all takes much more effort.

It is very difficult for me to be away from my normal luxuries…internet, telephone, television…mostly the communications part. I noticed on day two or three that my phone had service! Wow! I hadn’t been able to email Peggy to let her know how it was going, so I said what the heck…and talked to her for about half an hour…expensive but worth it. Then I texted Shari, and that worked too. I’m able to communicate with my family. I’m thankful to have that much…camping on an island in another country. 

As of Monday the 25th, which is our wedding anniversary by the way, I have been here nine days. This is a very special day, since Peggy and I were married in Hope Town on this date in 2006. I had not planned to be here without Peg, but weather delayed my crossing. We celebrated via text messages, but promised to celebrate together later.  I have only left this property twice during this stay. We (Mike and I) went to happy hour at Abaco Inn on Sunday night and Hope Town on Wednesday. That’s it. The best part is that I don’t want to leave. I have bonded with this land many times since we bought it, but this time is even better. I really know that I’m totally satisfied spending most of the time right here at Makai. I think that is what we will call our home when we build it. Makai means “toward the sea.” We are not really that active socially at home anyway, and we have lots of friends in Abaco. I think Peggy and I both really enjoy a comfortable home with the beautiful turquoise water out the window. I’m not sure I want to do a lot of camping here, as I am this trip, and I’m definitely sure Peggy doesn’t want to either, so I’m hoping that we can find a way to build soon.

I planted some fruit trees this week. The problem with growing anything in Abaco is the history of these islands. They were formed millions of years ago as underwater reef. When the water receded, of course the coral reef died and became very hard limestone. Over centuries and millenniums land plants eventually started to grow here. Even after all those years, the limestone is just under the surface, and actually sticking up everywhere. It’s very difficult just to walk on this very uneven surface. The climate is so dry, that the “dirt” that covers the limestone is actually leaf mold, and in most areas it is only a few inches deep. The rain that falls does not collect anywhere. It either just runs off, or filters through to the sea eventually. So, the leaves never get enough moisture to actually break down and turn into conventional soil. Our land has some very substantial tree cover…all old growth I believe. These trees are forced to send their roots horizontally to find any available moisture, so the “dirt layer” is completely congested with roots. I think you can imagine how difficult it is to plant anything.  Luckily, my land has an excellent layer of dirt and leaf mold. I expected to only be able to dig down 2 or 3 inches before I found solid limestone, but the first hole was about a foot! Shocking. Of course the next one was only 3 or 4 inches, so I just tried somewhere else. I ended up with about 8 to 12 inches for each tree. The digging was still very hard. 

I’m also preparing to “plant” some orchids. Orchids will be much easier since they are epiphytes. They are happy growing on trees. I will find the right side of the tree where they will get the right amount of light hopefully, then I will surround the “roots” with peat moss, and wrap fishing line around them to get them to attach eventually. I have been placing them in different locations to see where they seem most comfortable. Different ones have fairly obvious different light requirements. I’m watering and fertilizing all of my babies to hopefully make them thrive while I’m here, so they will survive the neglect that will happen while I’m away. Mike said he would help me by watering and fertilizing as long as he stays in Abaco, which will really help to give them a chance. 

I continue to try and get organized every day that I am here. I’m afraid I will not have room for all the crap I have brought here. Another motorcycle, and a big battery, as well as other related camping stuff is making things pretty crowded. I am weeding out whatever stuff that I feel we won’t really use. 

Today is Thursday, the 28th…I have been here almost two weeks. I have thoroughly enjoyed “camping out” on my rock, but I am ready to go home and be with my wife…in relative comfort and luxury. The hardest thing might be being without the internet. It is amazing how dependent I (we) have become on “going on line.” It’s really great that my cell phone works for the first time, although Batelco has “aggressive” pricing at $2.25/min. Fortunately texting – would you believe it – has reached the Abaco’s. They are relatively inexpensive, and we have been using it a lot. It’s great to be able to keep Peg informed so she doesn’t worry about me too much. It’s just really nice to be able to communicate. I have lived a very basic life these two weeks. Most of my efforts have centered on just sustaining basic comforts…power for refrigeration and communication and lighting, shelter from the elements, food and water. That’s pretty much what my day is about. I have enjoyed my time hanging with my buddy Mike, and planting my trees and flowers, as well as visiting a little with other people I know, but survival is really what it has been all about. I wasn’t sure about doing this, but I always knew I could do it. I’m proud of myself for actually doing this. I’m pretty sure most people wouldn’t even try. It’s really amazing that my big meal of the day might be either scrambled eggs and toast with a beer, or chicken soup and a grilled cheese sandwich…and it really tastes GOOD! It is very satisfying. This is my version of living outside the box.

Friday March 29th. Went fishing fairly early this AM with Mike. Nice day…cool breezy…wind NE at about 15 or so. Caught two small blackfin tuna and we decided to cook them on Mike’s stainless steel keg grill…over a wood fire. Mike made a marinade, I cleaned the fish, and we had a really great dinner of fresh fish on the grill. It was definitely the best meal of the trip.

Time is really winding down now. Peggy is checking the ocean crossing reports daily on BarometerBob.net…a local free news and weather daily service…to see when the conditions are right for my return crossing. She says that Tuesday’s conditions sound perfect. Light winds from the south, and seas less than two feet. I like it. Now I just have to figure out how to jam everything back in this little cabin. I think I will have a dress rehearsal the day before, just to make sure it will work. I have three days to get it all done. It should be no problem. Just another beautiful day in paradise. Winter weather is so nice down here. The humidity is usually not too bad, the temps are beautiful, and there are almost no mosquitos or no-see-ums. I have basically been living outside except to sleep, and the air has been perfect. It was cool on the water today, but still really nice. I took an outside shower as always. Of course my sun shower was over 100 degrees, so the cool breeze didn’t feel bad at all. Probably tomorrow, either Mike or I will call his sister Sally to ask if she can help on my return. I’ll also have to contact the storage yard, the Jupiter Inn, and the marina. It’s nice that these people already know me and can help me…things usually go very well when I call ahead.

Saturday March 30, 2013 I spent most of the day separating things that are staying from things going back. I stacked as many storage containers inside as I could without impacting my sleeping area. It’s looking pretty good. I should have room for everything…I hope. Went to White sound and tied up at the “public dock.” There is a nice little store no too far away, so I walked there. I found most of what I needed, and they allowed me to access their wi fi for free. I picked up about 100 emails. Wish I had known about this deal before. From there I went over to Sea Spray to refuel the boat for the return trip. Gas cost $6.51/gal!!! It was well over $700.00 to refuel, and I was nowhere near empty. 

Tomorrow, I will continue to get ready. I need to clean up the boat a little, and organize the cabin. I also need to work on my VHF antenna, and a few other technical needs. Maybe Mike and I can find time to go out and relax a little. It’s definitely time for that. 

Sunday…another great weather day. The last day before my return crossing, and lots to accomplish. Mike offered that I could stay in his cabin tonight since I really needed to get my cabin loaded with everything ASAP because I was not sure everything would fit. I hooked up some speakers to my laptop, and listened to music while I went through everything…separating what stays and what goes. I brought some water and detergent down so I could clean up my filthy boat for the trip, and organize my small cabin to get ready for the crossing. Late afternoon, with dark clouds gathering, we hauled my refrigerator and some containers down to the dock for loading. Once I was mostly ready, and had had my shower,  I relaxed a little, and brought a bottle of wine down to Mike’s. We chilled, and talked about the coming year. The rain came pouring down, and looked like it wasn’t going to stop for a while. I told Mike I would stop by his boat in the morning for a cup of coffee on my way out of town. Luckily the rain finally stopped just before dark, and gave me a chance to make sandwiches for the next day. I went back and finished putting everything in the shed except the scooter I was riding, and went down to Mike’s cabin for the night.

The rain stopped and there was absolutely no wind for the first time in almost three weeks. It is unbelievably quiet when the wind is calm. All you hear after dark is a couple of crickets maybe. It’s kinda spooky…but really neat. 

When I woke it was still dark and dead calm at 5:00 AM. The humidity was really high so everything was covered with dew. I loaded my deflated air mattress and my blankets on the scooter, but it wouldn’t start. I ended up pushing it about a half mile up the hill and then cross country to my land, then into my cabin. I was soaked with sweat at 6:30 in the morning. Not a good way to start. Then, I had trouble with the hasp that holds my front door padlock. I tried to get it to close, and I ended up breaking it off. Crap! Luckily, again…I have Mike to bail me out of a difficult situation. 

I called Mike on the radio at 7:00 AM when I got on the boat and was ready to go. The weather was still almost calm…with a good wind day forecast. I had coffee with Mike on his boat, and actually got “on the road” by 7:30. Not bad.

The first two hours of the trip is NW up through the Sea of Abaco past Man o War, Scotland, Guana, Treasure, Green Turtle, and a bunch of other cays with small communities. The rest of the trip is mostly through remote waters with almost no population, and few land sightings. At the northern part of the Sea of Abaco, I turn more westerly for the longest part of the crossing…through the Little Bahamas Bank. There are only two, uninhabited islands that I come near…Great Sale Cay, and Mangrove Cay. The water is amazing! The different shades of turquoise are many. It truly is remarkable how pretty it can be. The water is relatively shallow like the Sea of Abaco…between ten and twenty feet deep. This is about three and a half hours at a heading of WNW until I get to the edge of the Bank at Memory Rock. It is just that…a big rock…maybe about 1000 square feet of nothing with a small pole on it. From there starts the most difficult part of the crossing…The Gulf Stream.

Every crossing is different. Usually I will encounter several different conditions at different points, even though the forecast only tells one story. This year was equally diverse. Cruising up through the Sea of Abaco was a piece of cake. Winds were light and just off my port (left) nose. By the time I reached the Little Bahamas Bank, the wind had picked up a little, and was now off my starboard (right) nose since my direction had changed. It’s about one and a half hours to Great Sale Cay, and then another hour to Mangrove Cay. Mangrove is where I usually make my only stop…actually just a hesitation. I put the boat in neutral, and switch fuel tanks, refill the oil reservoir, have a nature call, and continue on ASAP. About a four minute hesitation…then on we go. 

As soon as I continued past Mangrove Cay, I could tell that the sea conditions had changed a little. I was getting an ocean swell, like I would not expect in this shallower water, and I was still twenty five miles from Memory Rock…and the deeper Atlantic waters. As I continued west, the swell got stronger and stronger. I was concerned what it would look like in the Gulf Stream. It was predictably rough with a mix of larger ocean swells and a confused shallower chop as I crossed through from the Bahamas Bank to the Atlantic. I had been averaging about twenty two or three knots thus far, but had to pull back a little to about twenty knots. Still nothing that would significantly alter my timing. As I continued into the deep Atlantic, it seemed to calm a little, and I was able to almost get back my lost speed. Great. Unfortunately, these conditions did not hold. About two thirds through the Gulf Stream crossing, which I expected to take about two and a half hours, the conditions started to deteriorate, and got much worse the further I went. I still had between fifteen and twenty miles to go, and seas were at least four to six feet, winds were at least fifteen knots from the north, and the seas were very confused. Huge waves would push me sideways as I surfed in front of them. I would go way off course as a result, and would have to work my way back, which of course made the trip even longer. Now and then the boat would slam into a wave that hit from the side, and jar my spine. Of course it was a very wet ride, with the wind and waves (beam seas) hitting me from the side. It was an exceptionally uncomfortable ride, though not necessarily dangerous. It definitely was no fun. The forecast had been for seven to ten knots of wind from the NE. They had forecast seas at two to three feet. I believe it was actually more like ten to fifteen knots from the north, to go with four to six foot seas. It doesn’t sound like that big of a difference maybe, but believe me it is! 

Winds with a northerly component are always a concern in the Gulf Stream. The Gulf Stream is a current within the ocean that is moving south to north at about three or four knots. When this current comes up against an opposing wind moving north to south, it has the effect of steepening whatever waves are present. Usually this effect is even more pronounced where the “current” meets the static water. I found that to be true that day, on both sides of the Gulf Stream. It was rougher on the Bahamian side, and it was much rougher on the US side where the winds were higher too.

Even though you prepare for a safe crossing by listening to several sources of weather information, there is nothing guaranteed…like with any forecast. In retrospect, I will be more suspicious of a northerly wind component for a Gulf Stream crossing, no matter how benign it appears to be. Having said that, I will say that I never felt really unsafe, although certainly uncomfortable. The bottom line is that even if I knew exactly how the conditions would be, I probably still would have crossed that day. 

Sally again helped me get my truck and trailer out of storage when I arrived at Jupiter Inlet. I was completely exhausted from my difficult crossing, but happy to be back in the US.