Day 3?

Dora successfully completed her first double overnight. She was quite the little trooper. Now the Red Head crew is looking to do a third night. With conditions this good it’s hard not to. Dylan and Dee Dee think it looks perfect.

Dora concurs. Of course, if conditions change we can abort but the predictions are great. This would be the first triple overnight for the entire crew. Them’s some salty dogs!

Good Morning!

Dylan, Dee Dee, and Dora had an uneventful overnight passage to the US. They were greeted this morning by a pod of dolphins. It’s unusual for dolphins to swim in Red Head’s bow wake, something that happen with aCappella on a regular basis.

Dylan was ecstatic to see his old friends again.

Dee Dee wanted to share her delight with her dad.

Dora was a little harder to impress. The crew spent much of the morning hoping to see their buddies again. Alas, they seem to have found a better playground.

Heading Home

The Red Head crew pulled anchored and headed across the Bahamas Banks at first light.

Dylan, Dee Dee, and Dora are hoping for a smooth passage.

When It’s Right...

The perfect weather window has been forming for a crossing back to the US for early next week. The Red Head crew left Man-O-War Cay this morning to head through Whale Cut Passage in perfectly calm waters. Tonight they’re anchored off Green Turtle Cay. If all goes as planned, the crew will anchor off Foxtown tomorrow night, Great Sale Cay Saturday, and then head across the Gulf Stream Sunday.

It’s always good to be underway again. Dee Dee and Dora loved getting a snoot full of ocean air.

While Dylan stayed vigilant on duty as First Mate. The crew has enjoyed their time here in the Bahamas but the weather is telling us it’s time to go.

It’s Her Birthday!

Today is Dee Dee’s 6th birthday. In celebration, good friends Kristin and Wayne offered to help us bring the Red Head crew ashore. They met us by dinghy on the small beach and assisted with getting Dylan, Dee Dee, and Dora to the beach without causing an international incident with the dozen or so tourists there.

The crew had a long walk and lounged at the beach before heading back to Red Head.

It was a pretty good birthday for our pretty girl. We love you Dee Dee!

Terra Firma

The Red Head crew made another attempt this morning to reach terra firma. We spied a pretty little beach yesterday that looked like it had shore access. Unfortunately, it was small and populated with too many people and young children, and a small dog. Not optimal for a rambunctious crew who’d been confined to quarters for several days.

So Dylan, Dee Dee, and Dora had a nice long dinghy ride all around Man-O-War Cay. Looks like they had a good time.

Such a Bummer

The Red Head crew has been forced to endure days onboard without a trip to shore. Mom and Dad were able to make a reconnaissance dinghy ride to the islands and found a beach that looked promising at low tide. Unfortunately, the winds haven’t died enough to make safe passage with a dinghy filled with the crew.

This morning saw a menacing front come through with only a slim chance for an afternoon trip.

Dylan, Dee Dee, and Dora have done fine. The advantage of a seasoned crew. Dora tries to start a play session, mainly by biting her playmate. First with Dee Dee on the well deck.

Then with Dylan in the salon. Each joins in for a bit. We’re hoping to move to Man-O-War tomorrow. The Abacos are proving not to be ideal for Red Head’s rather rambunctious crew members.

Wanted: One large, isolated beach with safe approach for a fun loving canine crew!

Water Cay

The Red Head crew left Hope Town this morning to head 16 miles to Water Cay, a small, uninhabited (we hope) cay off of Archers Cay.

The plan is to take Dylan, Dee Dee, and Dora ashore tomorrow for a beach romp. Dad chose Water Cay because...

“someone” could be left off leash as there is really no where to go. We’ll see if the plan works tomorrow - fingers crossed.

Hooray!

After several days “stuck” on Red Head, Dylan, Dee Dee, and Dora finally got to take a dinghy ride around Hope Town.

Unfortunately, there was no good spot for getting off and romping, but the crew still managed to tire themselves out...

Boring...

We’ve been anchored off Hope Town for a couple of days. Red Head is too big to try to take her into the crowded harbor. Unfortunately for the crew, it has been too windy to take the dinghy down and go to shore.

It hasn’t been very exciting. Certainly not the fun they had at Great Harbour Cay.

There are hopes for tomorrow. Meanwhile, Dylan thinks it’s the perfect time for a snooze.

To the Abacos!

The Red Head crew pulled anchor at first light and headed for the Abacos.

The trip was a bit more lumpy than predicted. So Dad sat with Dora who immediately climbed onto his lap. Spoiled girl...

So Long GHC!

Today Dylan, Dee Dee, and Dora left their beloved Great Harbour Cay. There’s a lot the crew will miss.

Top on their list is good buddy, Mico, who came to see them off. Don’t worry the crew will be back. For now they’re off to new adventures in the Abacos.

Favorite One

Tomorrow is still looking like a good day to leave Great Harbour Cay and head to the Abacos. The Red Head crew has much more exploring to do. How will Dylan, Dee Dee, and Dora remember their time here?

Like this...

Finish with a Bang!

Today was (probably) the crew’s final trip to the beach here at Great Harbour Cay. Thursday is shaping up as the perfect day to leave for the Abacos and tomorrow is a walk day. Mom was looking forward to getting some final photos to remember the fun times we all had.

Dee Dee and Dora chased the bumper.

Dora put in a bit of coconut digging.

Dylan and Mom wander down the the beach and found a pyramid. It was looking to be the perfect end to our stay. Then all hell broke loose.

Mom heard a commotion and turned around to see the beach empty of the crew but Dad’s red shorts disappearing into the dunes way down the beach. She ran as fast as poor old Dylan could keep up. Turns out Dee Dee decided to run after a couple walking the beach and Dora somehow slipped her collar and joined in. Eventually, all dogs were corralled and beach time was over. The silver lining - Dee Dee and Dora were so tired they hardly pulled a bit on the way back. Dylan was dragging too.

Listen up girls, this better not be an omen for the rest of our time in the Bahamas...

Alligators?

Dylan encountered an alligator during his walk on the beach. He had no idea there were alligators in the Bahamas...

Mighty Happy Dogs

Dylan, Dee Dee, and Dora sure love a dinghy ride. Just look at those faces!

Wasted Money?

Mom spends loads of money buying a variety of bumpers and other floating toys so the crew can have fun on the beach.

So what’s the favorite one? The old water bottle or flip flop or other floating trash that washes up on the beach. Sigh....

Big Sister, Little Sister

Dora is the little sister who wants to emulate her big sister, Dee Dee.

Dora really wants to follow Dee Dee into the waves but she’s missing that Lab gene.

Things usually go fine but occasionally there is a tussle requiring adult intervention. It would probably happen a lot less if Dora stopped biting Dee Dee’s ear...

Rough Seas

The past couple of days have been calm which always means boats leaving and boats coming as they take advantage of the weather window. Today the predictions were for the winds to increase.

The Red Head crew certainly saw rougher conditions at the beach this morning. That didn’t stop Dee Dee!

Playing Catch Up

Since Dylan, Dee Dee, and Dora are skipping a beach day now and then, the crew can catch up on some favorites that haven’t made it into the blog.

Like Dora vs the coconut...

After the Seas

Dylan has been such a good boy about his beach restrictions.

Today the beach was covered in great mounds of seaweed following a couple of rough days. Makes for even better smells according to Dylan.

Dee Dee and Dora were happy retrieving the old flip flop they found.