Clearing Customs, or Not

The daylight can still bring some darkness. This Captain and The Kid were worn to fatigue from the all night crossing of the Gulf Stream. We tied off and prepared to clear customs in Bimini.

Douglas from customs approached our sloop with a warm greetings and welcome to the Bahamas. Douglas was very helpful. He checked our lines to be certain we were secure.

"Some come from all night and don' tie so well." He explained.

Douglas assured us we could rest and he would do the leg work for us to clear. He very thoughtfully reminded this Captain to hoist our yellow quarantine flag and that only the captain would be allowed ashore until the boat is cleared. He collected a $15 per person fee to begin our paperwork. He said that this would get all the necessary clearing work done and ready for me when I could make it to the customs office.

"I thought the $15 was for each person over four people?" The Kid inquired.

"It is. Dis jus' be gettin' de entry fees goin'."

Douglas was very courteous and somewhat apologetic for the confusion about fees. Fees are always changing. It is good to check ahead so you know what flags you need, how much clearing and cruising permits are, and any regulations or documentation changes or requirements.

We were very tired. The crossing and the near miss encounter drained us. It was day now. The light of day, however does not always enlighten the weary to be wary. More than an hour went by and Douglas had not returned. I went ashore to the customs office to look for him and to see if there had been a problem with clearing us. What I found is that Douglas did not exist.

"We have no Douglas working here." I was informed.

"What about the 30 bucks we gave him?"

"There is no Douglas. There is no 30 dollars." Replied the uniformed customs officer.

I gave a description of Douglas to the officer. He very slightly smiled for what I took as he knew Douglas' true identity. I also took it as we were out $30. I completed the clearing of our sloop and got back on board so we could get out into the bay, anchor and get some needed sleep. We were here to enjoy the island. It is a small island. We will, eventually, encounter Douglas.

"You won't get the 30 back, ya know."

"I know, but for 30 bucks he owes us something. That I will get."

"You'll never see the guy."

"It's a small place. I'll ask around by his M.O. Someone will know."

I took down the yellow flag and hoisted the Bahamian courtesy flag (cruising pennant). We were here to getaway. Escapes are made up of varied and interesting elements and encounters. Maybe Douglas had earned his 30 bucks after all.

The Captain and The Kid

http://hubpages.com/hub/Ish-Meal-at-Sea

Bimini Rising in the East

The island disappeared.

We had come through the night across the Gulf Stream from Key Largo, Florida. When the sun rises on the water it is not only a spectacular display of artistic awe, but also a relief embraced by soul and spirit. The night blends both romance and suspense with a certain measure of tension, depending on the weather. The sunrise over the Atlantic washing across the Gulf Stream is an eraser of uncertainty and a harbinger of a great getaway just ahead.

We had raised Bimini off our starboard bow. An island rising is exciting. It begins slowly with tops. Tops of trees, tops of buildings, and tops of hillsides. Soon more rises from the water and land appears. Many times you can smell land before you can see it. It is a good smell. It is a mix of ground, trees, grasses, sometimes aromas from foods, and life that is of the land, both human and animal. Sometimes you can identify certain smells as earthy and sometimes it is the smell where land and sea meet. The sea can smell differently along the shore than at great depths and has to do with the mixing of salt and sand, seaweed, sea life, and sea-moistened land.

Rising in the east was Bimini. Our Getaway just ahead. Then more suddenly than it rose, it disappeared in a squall. Tropical weather comes quickly. You can see it coming, and you can brace for it, but usually you cannot out run it, especially in a sail boat.

"Where did it go?" The Kid called out, searching for the land that had been just ahead of us.

"Dunno. There was something of a wreck to starboard. The water was breaking over there." I pointed.

This Captain and The Kid have been through squalls before. But during this one we were just coming onto the Bahama Bank. The water depth can change quickly, and thus dangerously shallow. I kept close watch on our depth finder, because we could not see the water in front of us to read any color changes.

"Can you see any break in this?"

The clouds were dropping rain very hard and the winds had stirred the sea and the air together so reading the clouds was impossible. It was best to just hold course. If the squall would pass as quickly as it came upon us we would be OK.

"120 feet" I called to The Kid. " We're a little north. The wind has pushed us out some."

"Hey! It's letting up!"

Just as The Kid spoke those words we had sun and rain; then sun and watched the squall roll toward Florida. Bimini popped up right in front us. The Kid rushed to the bow and began taking visual readings.

"There's the bottom!" The Kid cried out. "What's our depth!"

The bottom came up from the depths very fast. It took me by surprise and at first I was not sure if the depth finder reading was accurate because the bottom was clear like when you are in swimming depth. I tapped at the depth finder.

"It says 50 feet."

As we came into Bimini the depth finder proved accurate as the reading kept showing the depths to be more shallow. We pulled into the pier to clear customs and to begin the Bimini part of our escape. Almost immediately the fun began, but that for next time.

The Captain and The Kid

http://hubpages.com/hub/Theyre-stealin-The-Water

The Land Drifting North -- Part 2

The night at sea is a different sea. This Captain and The Kid watched the land drifting north. We were too far west to see Andros and too south for Bimini. What we were seeing was massive and it began to appear to be on a course where we could possibly intersect.

The Bermuda Triangle stories we have all read make for good reading if that kind of stuff appeals to you. Yes we were in the quote, Triangle. The Kid climbed up the mast to get a better visual. "Anything on radar?" came the question from the darkness shrouding the mast.

"Nothing. It looks like land, but its gotta be a couple of vessels."

"Looks like maybe two or three big ships. That's my guess anyhow."

Off the mast, The Kid pointed to the horizon. "See there, there, and maybe there. Three big ships, or two huge ones."

Our concern was the seeming erratic course the vessels were following. We knew it best to give way no matter the maritime laws that govern maneuvers at sea. Our traveling friends behind us had now caught sight of our mast and asked if we had picked up radar to our east.

"Nothing on radar yet, but we think there are few ships out there we need to watch carefully."

As we continued on course, it was clear that what we saw were two large vessels. The first was quite a distance in front of the other and moving faster. We could consider passing to the south of the first vessel and before the second one. The distance appeared to be safe to try this and then our friend behind could sail by after the second ship went by. The two vessels changed course again and it seemed we would have to consider sailing between them or tack way south and fight the stream.

When you are sailing at night the charts remind you about faraway places where you can escape to. They take some of the uncertainty and edginess of the night and put in mind why you are crossing at night. Soon the sun will rise and so will a nearby island. There is excitement and romance in a crossing. Escaping to the Bahamas is always a good escape. Usually, the crossing is good and uneventful, but this night was a good reminder about the need to not lose touch with real on your way to make believe.

"We lost the radio." The Kid said with some nervousness.

"GPS too. What's goin' on?"

Our compass, GPS, and radio were all down or improperly operating. The Triangle thoughts came back as we watched the vessels. The one was now to port and the second well to the south but on the same course. Could these two ships be the cause for our navigational problems? Our radio crackled, but we couldn't discern the words. It sounded like our friend off our stern. By now he must see the ships.

"Let's split the two. We have the speed and the distance."

"Wait." The Kid replied. "Wait."

The Kid had noticed something. It was a flash or reflection, or just a hunch, but it was important to look ahead with strained attention.

"There!" The Kid pointed.

Some water disturbance, maybe from the Gulf Stream, flashed some white water onto the black between the ships. What was revealed is the stuff nightmares are made of.

Next time, what we saw off our bow.

The Captain and The Kid

http://hubpages.com/hub/Good-Heart-Tough-World

Captain Tony's Key West

We stayed at Captain Tony's later than anticipated. The rain is spitting off and on, but there is a forecast for heavier storms later. The Kid decided to shoot some pool and promised not to hustle anyone. What I can see from my stool though is there is some sharking going on. At least that is up front, even though it doesn't always pay off as big.
The pool playing is not why we stayed late. As we were about to head out to snoop around for our missing pirate friend, a customer came in and began flapping some loose lips about a wooden figure. I thought that this may be the real clue needed to track down our friend and be done with this mystery.
A shadowy character slipped by the front door, but before I could think clearly, it was gone. I looked down Fitzpatrick, Greene, and Duval, but it was mostly tourists doing tourist things, so I went back inside. I sat closer to loose lips.
"Wooden figure, did you say?"
"Yeah, you know like one of those butlers, or baker figure things where they hold a tray or something."
"Not a pirate, huh?"
Loose lips nodded no, said he had to go back to the head, but instead slipped out the front door and quickly disappeared around the corner.
Captain Tony's is about escape. When you are inside you can go almost anywhere in any period of time. Unless you go out the front door, the world is not out there. The history of the place, of the man, and about the patrons who added to the history and mystery of this legendary saloon are all about escapism and other places.
This Captain first met Captain Tony years ago. Whenever This Captain and The Kid come to Key West we escaped with Captain Tony to more places than Buffett sings about in Last Mango. Captain Tony could escape in the blink of a story,and those eyes could take you to other places you did not want to return from, while at the same time making sure you bought another beer.
Captain Tony died November of '08, but the legend never dies, so the escape is always at hand in his saloon.
I asked the bartender if he knew where Loose lips saw the wooden figure.
Breaking up The Kid's game, we headed to the turtle kraals per the barkeeps tip.
This may be the end of the chase, but this is the best tip yet. Loose lips was hiding something, the figure by the front door , and all of this at the legendary escape place of all time, Captain Tony's. If this isn't it, we are heading off the Keys.


The Captain and The Kid

The Florida Keys, Clues, and Cues

It is raining in Marathon in the Florida Keys. This Captain and The Kid are staying dry (from the weather). We found our way over to Herbie's. However, what we have not found are any additional clues about our Pirate friend. Key Largo is at MM106 and about mid-way down to MM0 is Marathon. Either we have not understood the telegram, or it was a bogus reported sighting.
We did stop in Key Largo to look at the African Queen. We stopped, not as tourists, but just to escape down the Ulanga for awhile with Kate and Bogey. She is tied up like a hostage. It is not certain if the Holiday Inn is to blame. We know that it was a movie boat, and not a true story adventure, but it seems to this Captain she needs to be cut loose and get back on the water. If that does happen in the near future, please do not contact this blog, this Captain, or The Kid. We will not recall anything that may happen on that night.
Back on Marathon, in Herbie's, we shared a couple of beers with Charlie Daniels. He said he wasn't but why would he tell us that? We didn't want him to sing, we just wanted to have a beer with him. We were concerned that Spike, who was riding shotgun for Charlie didn't understand the concept of escapism because he kept saying to Charlie that they had to leave to get to Key West before midnight. Spike and Charlie looked like two guys who knew how to getaway, but that lack of patience and clock watching was disappointing.
"Why before midnight?" The Kid asked.
"What about midnight?" Spike responded.
"You said you had to to get to Key West before midnight."
"He never said that." Charlie interrupted.
Spike shifted in his chair, Charlie shifted his eyes, The Kid shifted bar stools, and this Captain was shifting into rum mode.
"Closing time at the Cafe?" The Kid asked.
Spike clutched the bar and shifted again.
"Think you'll ever pass this way again?" The Kid continued.
Spike clutched and shifted. Shifted and clutched. He clutched and shifted so much it was more like being at the Sprint Cup Series, than at Marathon.
Charlie winked and said, "Maybe when the midnight moon is shinning."
After they left and we headed back to the marina, The Kid filled me in about the lyrics.
Escapes and getaways are always fascinating like that. Everyone does it a bit differently and yet its the same. Charlie and Spike were on their own getaway to other places and it took a little persuasive playfulness by The Kid to get them to join us in our escape for the night. So, if there is a point, it is this: Everybody is somewhere. Sometimes you can join them in some places, but don't push it. Even if you have to run parallel for a distance, go for it. If they join you, fine, if they don't, that's OK too.
We may continue down to Key West. All the talk about midnight reminded me about our search for our friend the wooden pirate from Midnight Pass.

The Captain and The Kid

Pirate Sighting

The game's afoot! We just received a telegram about our wooden pirate friend. Here is the message.

PIRATE SIGHTED "STOP" LEFT ALLEY "STOP" MM106 START "COMMA" ZERO STOP "STOP"

Was it our friend? Your help with the telegram is appreciated. The Kid has a clue, so we're off.
This getaway will take us to foreign soil if The Kid is on to something. It is a good place to escape to, but for now we need to find out if this was our friend, or perhaps another pirate traveling by land overseas.
Come Monday we should have a report. Please notify us if you have insight about the telegram or there is another sighting.

The Captain and The Kid

Stormy Weather on Chub Key

NOAA said it was the first tropical depression for the season and that the first tropical storm may develop from this rapidly forming system. About half past dark we began to think money spent on a slip was a mistake. It probably wasn’t going to storm. About two Captain Morgans later and we wondered if we were supposed to have brought two of each kind of animals on board with us. The rain fell in sheets. The slips we were in were separated by four foot docks. Next to us, four feet away, was a 40’ plus ketch. We could not see her through the rain.
Much to our surprise, and pleasure, there was very little wind. I’m certain it didn’t stand a chance with the force of the rain. The rain was like being in the water, not having water fall on you. If there was wind it was coming straight down and it was shoving the rain ahead of it. It was hard to tell if there were lightning strikes. It seemed like there were, but they were hard to discern through the rain. Forget thunder claps. The only sound heard was rain.
A tropical confession about this depression is the rain’s ever incessant drain on our mettle. Fiberglass, being pelted by this downpour, was not exactly the same as rain on a tin roof, but it was as exacting on our sanity. Would the rain ever stop? Rain. Rain. Sheets of rain. Walls of rain. And just when we thought it would never end, it didn’t.
What to do when there is nothing to do? We were sitting in safe harbor and would not be going anywhere, so This Captain decided to sit with a little more of that Captain and sip out from under the rain. The Kid escaped without me, but then came back to bring me along. We went to two places that we had not been to in quite some time. The first place was when rowed across Sarasota Bay with a hand-tossed, two item pizza during a storm. The challenge to row against the wind and waves with a rapidly cooling pizza sliding around in a box with a lid that kept popping open takes special seamanship skills. As you pull the oar with its blade bouncing off the surface from crest to trough you must develop a rhythm. The blade of the oar is used to move your pizza safely across the water to your waiting sloop, and the handle is used to bump the pizza box lid closed during this rhythmic exercise. The cadence will vary depending upon the storm intensity and its effect on wave length, height and other dynamics. But this for now is about getting the pizza safely to your boat. Everything can get rained on, splashed, and soaked, but there is no excuse for soggy pizza. So the rhythm went like this: pull, bounce, crest, bump close, trough; pull, bounce, crest, bump close, trough. When we made it to the boat in twice the normal rowing time, and four time the rowing effort, everything on board the dinghy was swamped, except for the pizza. The other place we went was the time when The Kid was hustling pool at Captain Tony's in Key West. The details about that other place escape will wait for the next time, but during our rainy day on Chub it was a good place to go to wait out this tropical depression, turned storm. So, while we waited, the rum was good. The stories were good. The laughter was good, even though the rain continued.
Sometimes, even while at other places, you have to getaway. The rain was over by morning, but just to wait out a storm, to worry about something we could do nothing about, and stress-out, doesn't make sense when you can chill-out by escaping.

Pirate Alert Update: We have no new updates about our missing wooden pirate friend. Please keep watch and report to us if you have any information.


The Captain and The Kid

Pirate Alert

A friend of This Captain and The Kid is a wooden pirate. He doesn't say much. He is very tight-lipped as wooden pirates can be. He has been on some hair-raising and hair-losing adventures. We first met him at the Midnight Pass Pub and Marina in Sarasota, Florida. He worked there as the greeter and customer relations/marketing pirate. He spoke to a very few people and seldom acknowledged anyone. After all, he was a wooden pirate, not a corporate suit. The Kid and this Captain hit it off with him right from the first time we saw him. We took our drinks out onto the deck where he was working and began swapping stories about escapism and other places to visit. I was not sure he would open up to us, since it was our first meeting, but The Kid said that because we were kindred spirit, practically brethren of the coast, we would become fast friends. As is often the case, The Kid was right. As we spoke about far-away escapes, our pirate friend would gaze out across the porch, across the parking lot and street, and toward the Gulf of Mexico. When we related some adventures on The Spanish Main and a few close scrapes we had with high seas and even higher winds, his one un-patched eye peered toward distant places and earlier times.
It was clear, as we talked, we leaned upon one another to relieve the stress of being on the hard. It was boats and travel we pined for and not sedentary life that can make you stiff as a board and hardened as your skin takes on an ashen hue.
So, it is with desperate plea The Captain and The Kid put out this Pirate Alert! The pirate is missing! The Pub changed its name, the other workers have moved on and cannot be reached for questioning, and it appears our friend may be in trouble. Suspecting foul play I said to The Kid, "The game is afoot." Not dismissing the possibility that our wooden friend may have taken some deck job on a cargo ship or freighter heading to southern islands, we couldn't help but escape with him if this is the case. And, if so, we're thinking Lesser Antilles as we share his adventure. This, notwithstanding, being our hope and then best wishes for the pirate, we cannot be suspicious. Too many midnight decisions have altered the escapism allure of Midnight Pass. PLEASE! Help us find the pirate of Midnight Pass. If there have been any sightings, any clues, please contact The Captain and The Kid. You will remain anonymous for your protection. Our friend, Jack Clark, who shall remain nameless for now, has agreed to look into this matter since he had been a close companion with the wooden pirate years before.

A description: He is a Pirate. He is wooden. One eye patch. A bandanna covered by a pirate hat.


The Captain and The Kid