Memorial Day trip aka The 2010 Get Chris and Ken to the Bahamas Trip

[earthmover17]

OK guys I guess I'll start the Thread. By this time last year a group of us ( Flippy Floppy Armada) had already put the plans together for a Port Lucaya trip. As I live for taking trips on my boat I'm ready to start planning one.
I will be bringing my Boat to the east coast ( Boca Raton) before Memorial day for some sort of trip. Preferably the Bahamas but I'm open for other destinations. We had a really good time last year at Boca Chita ( ended up going there as opposed to PL as the Gulf was very uncooperative) and that's always a possible place to go. We could also do a Keys trip with a couple of days at the Tortugas (no docks so it would have to be a raft up but you can dink to the fort which is way to cool).
Let's post up and find a destination.

Jack

 

[missnmountains]

Re: Memorial Day trip

Jack, I'm in as long as you promise to pull me all the way!!

I think Memorial day falls on the 31st this year. If so, how about the 29th through the 2nd or 3rd? I obviously need to check with Chris on the dates, but we are going to make this happen.

Ken

 

[Odyssey]

Re: Memorial Day trip

Hi Guys, Mike and I were just talking about this same subject and I logged on this afternoon to start the "Bahamas 2010 thread", you beat me to it.

Lets start planning! This time, lets look at all the available dates and see who can go and when. We can plan multiple trips. We also should look at a longer trip this summer. Mike wants to go where the water is gin clear.... You know where that is!

here are the dates available for cruising....

Thursday April 1st
April Fool's Day

Sunday April 4th
Easter

Thursday April 22nd
Earth Day

Wednesday April 21st
Administrative Professional's Day

Wednesday May 5th
Cinco De Mayo

Sunday May 9th
Mothers Day

Saturday May 15th
Armed Forces Day

Monday May 31st
Memorial Day

Monday June 14th
Flag Day

Sunday June 20th
Father's Day

Sunday July 4th
Independence Day/July 4th

Monday September 6th
Labor Day

Sunday September 12th
Grandparents Day

Monday October 11th
Columbus Day

Sunday October 24th
United Nations Day

Sunday October 31st
Halloween

They all look good to me. Also, Boca Chita is a great trip before it gets hot so there's cruising to do before the summer.

Suggestions for destinations include ....

Bimini (everybody's favorite, quick and easy)
Port Lucaya
West End (could be a jumping off port for a longer trip)
Nassau (only 8 hours from here)
Abacos
and for the adventurous; Exuma (where the water is as clear as gin).

OK, let's get some feedback from everyone.

Randy

 

[missnmountains]

Re: Memorial Day trip

Hey Randy,

Chris, I and Heather will most likely need to work around the holidays as we did last year. We were given a warning last year that she missed too much school. I told them school was overrated. For some reason I don't think they appreciated that.

WE WILL MAKE AT LEAST ONE OF THE TRIPS TO THE BAHAMAS THIS YEAR.

I am officially highjacking Jack's thread and renaming in "The 2010 Get Chris and Ken to the Bahamas Trip".

Are you sure Mike is talking "Gin Clear Water" or just "Gin clear in my glass".

We are looking forward to seeing all of the flippy floppy group again.

Yea for Summer.

Ken

 

[chuck1]

Re: Memorial Day trip

I am officially highjacking Jack's thread and renaming in "The 2010 Get Chris and Ken to the Bahamas Trip".

Done!!! Can anybody go?

 

[Odyssey]

Re: Memorial Day trip

Hey Randy,

Chris, I and Heather will most likely need to work around the holidays as we did last year. We were given a warning last year that she missed too much school. I told them school was overrated. For some reason I don't think they appreciated that.

WE WILL MAKE AT LEAST ONE OF THE TRIPS TO THE BAHAMAS THIS YEAR.

I am officially highjacking Jack's thread and renaming in "The 2010 Get Chris and Ken to the Bahamas Trip".

Are you sure Mike is talking "Gin Clear Water" or just "Gin clear in my glass".

We are looking forward to seeing all of the flippy floppy group again.

Yea for Summer.

Ken

You'll get there (Bahamas) this year for sure!

 

[Odyssey]

Re: Memorial Day trip

Can anybody go?

Absolutely! Last year, Ray and I met Ken, Jack and Mike (and their families) for the first time and had a terrific time. We're looking forward to meeting new folks this year.

Randy

 

[missnmountains]

I was only kidding... Now the pressure is on.

 

[hansen64]

I think we should plan a trip to Bimini over Memorial Day and have a back-up plan in place ahead of time if seas are bad. Not only would the trip be a great kick-off to summer boating, but we could also use the face-to-face time for planning final details, provisioning lists, etc for other boat trips for the summer. We could use this thread to plan dates and locations for the other trips.

With that said....

I think a trip to the gin clear water of the Exumas is in order this year. Maybe sometime between mid-June and mid-July, before the hurricane season picks up too much. Maybe over the 4th of July. If we planned a longer trip with target destinations and dates, we might be able to accommodate more people since anyone could come or go to meet up with the group as their schedule permits.

For example, if anyone wanted to spend more time going over or coming back, or spend different amounts of time at various points between here and the Exumas (Bimini, Chub, Nassau, etc), those people could leave earlier and do those things. For those not wanting to spend the extra time, they could motor straight to one of the meeting spots (like Nassau). If we can set dates to depart from Nassau for the Exumas and to return through Nassau, spouses, kids, kids' friends, etc could fly in or out to meet up with their boats.

I'm not sure how much time is the right amount for the Exumas, but I would think a week would be a good start for the discussion. Maybe leave Nassau on a Saturday or Sunday for the Exumas and return the following Saturday or Sunday. A Sunday to Saturday Nassau schedule would let the boaters who do not want to stop in Bimini or Chub leave florida on Saturday and return the following Sunday. Those wanting to stay in Nassau or anywhere in between could make the trip as long or short as they want.

So, for the sake of throwing out a date, maybe leave Nassau for the Exumas early on Sunday June 27th and return to Nassau mid afternoon on Saturday July 3rd.

 

[earthmover17]

Bimini"s fine with me. We still gotta get Randy and Mike to jump off the Sapona.
Glad to see everyone wintered well and are ready to do some more trips. Don't forget to get your DTOPS renewed. I just did mine and it was as big of a pain in the a$$ as it was last year.
I think Bimini would be a good place to take Ken as a Bahama starter. It's not that far away and I think he and Chris would like it.
As for the other trips I'm in for anything.

Jack

 

[chuck1]

Re: Memorial Day trip

Absolutely! Last year, Ray and I met Ken, Jack and Mike (and their families) for the first time and had a terrific time. We're looking forward to meeting new folks this year.

Randy

Man It would be great to meet up with you guys and gals. It has been years since I've been to the Bahamas. Unfortunately until this economy comes around and people start buying vacations/second homes up here in the mountains we are having to stay home and watch every $$$. Take plenty of pictures and videos, really enjoyed them last year.

 

[Boulder GT3]

I"m in for Bimini at Memorial Day. For laughs, take a look at the Brown's website. I would say they have an "enthusiastic" representation of the place. That said, it's my kind of place and I like it better than the fancier place farther up. Bimini Bay IIRC?

We're also looking at the Exuma's as a must do this Summer. I've never been. Tom

 

[earthmover17]

Tom,
Good to see you sniffed out the thread. There were about a half a dozen people I was gonna run down if they didn't post up and you were the first on the list.
I kinda like that primative feel of Browns also. Bimini Bay wasn't bad but it's that 45 minute idle to get there.
I vote Bimini at Browns.

Jack

 

[earthmover17]

Re: Memorial Day trip

Man It would be great to meet up with you guys and gals. It has been years since I've been to the Bahamas. Unfortunately until this economy comes around and people start buying vacations/second homes up here in the mountains we are having to stay home and watch every $$$. Take plenty of pictures and videos, really enjoyed them last year.

Actually I've found the Bimini trip to be fairly inexpensive as trips go. You obviously know your own situation but if things change join us.

Jack

 

[Boatingfool]

So jealous...

 

[missnmountains]

So are you guys thinking getting to bimini the 29th and staying through the weekend or staying through the week. We are still trying to figure our Heather's schedule and it would be better for us to get there after Memorial Day.

Because the 31st is Memorial Day, I would love to stay that week into June.

Just my .02 worth.

Ken

 

[earthmover17]

I"m in for Bimini at Memorial Day. For laughs, take a look at the Brown's website. I would say they have an "enthusiastic" representation of the place. That said, it's my kind of place and I like it better than the fancier place farther up. Bimini Bay IIRC?

We're also looking at the Exuma's as a must do this Summer. I've never been. Tom

Tom remember when we were in Bimini and Browns was closed for remodeling? Man after looking at the website that must have been some sort of remodel.
Anyone know if Big Game ever opened back up?

Jack

 

[chuck1]

Tom remember when we were in Bimini and Browns was closed for remodeling? Man after looking at the website that must have been some sort of remodel.
Anyone know if Big Game ever opened back up?

Jack

Did Browns really do the remodeling. I thought I heard the financing fell through on the deal?

 

[earthmover17]

Did Browns really do the remodeling. I thought I heard the financing fell through on the deal?

Tom and I were there in October and it wasn't any different. If they did the work the website shows it would be nothing short of a miracle. I think they got the cart before the horse on the website.

Jack

 

[trit21]

Tom remember when we were in Bimini and Browns was closed for remodeling? Man after looking at the website that must have been some sort of remodel.
Anyone know if Big Game ever opened back up?

Jack

I have been reading on many other website, mostly the fishing websites, that Big Game was purchased by Guy Harvey and his crew. They also state they plan on renovating the marina, docks, etc and getting it back to 'the place to be in Bimini'. I am hoping they can get it open for this year but I am thinking it is going to take a couple years of renovation at the pace they run in the Bahamas.

One question: Why do you guys feel Browns is a better place than Bimini Bay? We usually go to Bimini Bay and love the pool at the mega yacht marina location, food sucks but that is what the golf carts are for, going into town. Just curious because we cruised by Browns and we all thought it was not the place to be when staying a week in Bimini.

Oh yeah, and the website pictures you are referring to were up last year as well, they have not done anything to the building although the docks are new, buildings are still the same old run down same ole same ole.