Bimini, Bahamas Post #2
After three grueling nights at sea, we were more than ready to kick back and relax. We pulled into our slip at Big Game Club in Bimini, Bahamas with a little help from the friendly dockmaster. All we wanted was a shower, a drink, and some solid sleep. But as any cruiser knows, that’s not how things go when you’re checking into a new country.
First order of business? Raise the yellow quarantine flag and leave the comfort of your floating home to go face the officials. And in true Kismet style, we did it completely out of order. We walked into customs before immigration, but thankfully, the tired looks on our faces, and the fact that we had completed Click2Clear, earned us some grace. The customs officer had mercy, stamped our paperwork, and granted us a three-month cruising permit. That gave us plenty of time to make our way to the Dominican Republic at a relaxed pace.
Next stop: immigration. There had been plenty of chatter among cruisers about getting denied the full 90 days, but we had no issues in Bimini. The officers were polite and efficient, and we were soon officially cleared in. Time to celebrate!
We grabbed a Sands Grapefruit Radler, one of my all-time favorites and surprisingly hard to find in many other parts of the Bahamas, and headed off for a well-earned lunch. I had been to Bimini many times during my cruise line career, so I knew my way around. We fired up our electric scooters and hit the road.
We zipped from one end of the island to the other, stopping by The Bimini Beach Club. Well, beside it, our new cruiser budget didn’t quite cover the entry fee. Then we headed to Stuart’s Conch Salad Stand for some fresh conch salad and an ice-cold beer. It was an unbeatable combo.
Back on the boat, it was time for the usual rhythm: check weather, handle boat chores, and plan the next leg. Unfortunately, weather would become a recurring theme during our time in the Bahamas. Strong winds seemed to roll in every week, turning our planned two-night Bimini stop into a four-night stay. But we made the most of it by exploring the island when we could, and on the worst day, watching a movie on the boat with a glass of white wine in hand.
Finally, the weather gave us a break. With a clear window, we set our sights on Highbourne Cay. We decided to skip straight to The Exumas to get ahead of the next system. It wasn’t the route we originally planned, but that’s life at sea. It is part adventure, part improvisation, and always guided by the weather.
Until next time,
Patrice & Rodney