Awareness
Week
Becoming totally aware by becoming totally oblivious…
March 17, 2001
Awareness Week 2001: The Seven Year Itch was a huge success! Running from March 3, 2001, through March 10, 2001, two vessels were chartered for this cruise from Fun in the Sun Charters of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. One vessel was the Island Packet 44 named Escapade and the other was the Beneteau 432 named Holladay Traveler. Gary Golden was captain of Escapade and Dave Timberlake was captain of Holladay Trader.
Unfortunately, Holladay Trader turned out to be of lesser quality and was worn out and so became known as the Chevy Boat while the other vessel became known as the Mercedes Boat. The Chevy Boat was also known as the Bacon Boat, apparently a reference to the purportedly plebeian culinary tastes of those aboard! In actual fact, however, both boats contributed equally to a terrific week of fine dining.
We got underway for Bimini on Saturday evening and found a good wind blowing but from a problematic direction. We spotted Bimini shortly after daybreak but it was to our south and we wound up having to beat upwind and up-current all morning to make the entrance to Alice Town. But once we secured at Bimini Blue Water Marina Sunday afternoon all was well and we had a great few days in Alice Town and most especially at our old haunt, the Compleat Angler. Our final night at the Angler was highlighted by the music of the Calypsonians and the dancing of Elliott!
On Thursday we headed south to Turtle Rocks for an afternoon of skin diving and then down to Honeymoon Harbor at Gun Cay. Unfortunately, after waiting for the strong winds which blew from Monday through Wednesday to calm, they calmed completely and we had to motor on both legs of our trip on Thursday. Friday was a wonderful day spent on and about Gun Cay. It was a perfect beach day and everyone took advantage.
That evening we set sail back to Ft. Lauderdale. There was a perfect southwesterly breeze and we flew across the Straits of Florida arriving before daybreak. As usual, saying our good-byes was difficult, but flush with the memories of a wonderful week and with thoughts of many more to come in the future, it was hard to be too upset!
Here's hoping it's not another seven years before we cruise together again! No one knows yet where or when we we will cruise again, but please share your suggestions with other members. My favorite, so far, was Amy's comment that two weeks would be better than one!!
~GARY