We crossed to Bimini Bahamas on January 22, 2021.  We had our health visas, COVID tests, and ready to go.   It was an easy crossing, zig zagging across the gulf stream.   We are very happy to have daily emails from weather expert Chris Parker.  We settled into Bimini Big Game Marina, known for its large fishing tournaments.

When in Bimini, we checked into customs, received our visas and hoisted the Bahama courtesy flag on Happy Together.   The next day we were off to get our Bahama SIM cards, and ran into a couple of new friends on the road.   Talking to them, we decided to change marinas to the Bimini Bluewater Marina.  So with SIM card in hand (you can only get what they have) we moved Happy Together to Bluewater.  We docked right next to David and Carol Antos on Onward, who are members of Blue Water Sailing Club (one of two yacht clubs we belong to), the first members we have met since we joined during COVID and could not attend activities.   

Bimini has two main roads, Kings Highway and Queens Highway — both easy to walk.  There are shops and grocery stores, bread makers and conch shacks.  There is also a great food truck serving street food.   The beers of The Bahamas are Kalik and Sands beers. The rum is called Ricardo.

We were in Bimini for almost two weeks, due to the lack of a weather window.  We needed a few good days to cross the Great Bahama Bank.  What do several boats do when waiting for a weather window?  They go on field trips, play games and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere.  We buddied up with Pleiades from Charleston, SC, Miss Adventure from Oriental, NC., Fantasea from Saint Petersburg, FL, Onward from Boston, MA and Equinox from Sandown NH.    Since we were all tested for COVID in the states, and then again in The Bahamas, it has been a pleasure to feel normal again.  The group coined for itself the name “Bimini Bluewater Club” (BBC) after the marina where we first met.

One of the field trips was to the Fountain of Youth on South Bimini. Folklore says this well found by Ponce de Leon on Bimini is where you can take a drink for youth. However, the well was dry when we arrived. Another trip was through the mangroves to a very special spot. There is a spot where Martin Luther King would travel with bonefisher Ansil Saunders. Here, King wrote notes for his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, which he gave in Oslo in 1964.  He also wrote his famous speech to the sanitation workers on strike in Memphis, often called the “I’ve been to the mountaintop” speech for its legendary refrain.

Another great visit was to the Dolphin House.   This house, constructed by Ashley Saunders is built with only materials found on the beach, in Bimini, or given to Ashley.  Included are license plates from all 50 United States, postage stamps from all around the world, hundreds of conch shells, and a treasure of other materials.  Ashley is currently building a lighthouse on top of Dolphin house.  Ashley started building this house in 1993 inspired while swimming with dolphins.