The Ghan

This morning Jim and Maria rode on the legendary Ghan - a train that travels from the southern part of the continent in Adelaide all the way up to the farthest point of the Northern Territory of Darwin (many of you may have heard of this from the movie Australia) and back. We started the journey from Alice Springs yesterday at noon and will arrive back in Adelaide today around 1pm. The train is the way to go...this is now Maria's 3rd excursion on a train in Australia and it is a great way to see the land as I am learning how vast and expansive the Australian is. The Northern Territory where we just left has only 1% of Australia's population. It's hard to comprehend until you actually drive 9 hours on a paved highway with much or less the same scenery and look on a map to find that you have gone about 1 inch. This was our experience for the last 2 days when we took a tour of Ayers Rock (Uluru), Kings Canyon, and Kata Kjuta from Alice Springs.

Maria and Jim Explore the Outback

The first day we drove 6 hours starting at 5am out to Kings Canyon, stopping on the way to get my first glimpse of some kangaroos and a camel. The temperature for the day was 41degrees C, so about 100-110 F, so needless to say we only did a 1 hr. hike of the Canyon before returning to the van to enjoy some refreshing AC. From there we made a 4 hour drive to our camp site outside of Ayers Rock. That night we enjoyed a traditional Australian BBQ with kangaroo steaks - a great way to spend the night in the outback after a memorable sunset over Kata Kjuta (huge clumps of rocks rising over 500m in height in the middle of the desert). The next day was filled with the sunrise over Ayers Rock, a 2 hr. base walk of the rock, another 1 hr. hike of Kata Kjuta, and a million curse words at the billions of flies that flocked to piss off all the tourists. If Jim and I had not each invested in a fly net the day before, we would have been absolutely more miserable - at one time you could have 75-100 flies all over your back, arms, and face. That fly net was undoubtely the best $9 I have ever spent - for my emotional, physical, and mental safety! ha. Upon arrival at our hostel, our first priority was icing down a 6 pack and ordering a pizza to celebrate our accomplishment of seeing, exploring, and surviving the harsh outback

Jim Baker and Maria Powell meet up in Alice Springs, Australia

Today Maria Powell and Jim Baker met up in Alice Springs, Australia for a month long trek across the country.

We will be postings update, photos, and using the SPOT messenger to track our travels across Australia by satellite. Our travels will take us to Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Melbourne, Sydney, Bryon Bay, Brisbane, Maryborough, Hervy Bay, Fraser Island, Properpine, Airlie Beach, Sailing around the Whitsundays, and Cairns. If any of you have any suggestions for us or know anyone we should meet, please drop us an email

More to come after a visit to Ayers Rock tomorrow.....

After a final night at The Last Resort Guests Depart.......

After we sailed over from the baths to Trellis Bay. We went ashore on Bellamy Cay to enjoy dinner at the Last Resort.

After dinner the band came on and several of our guests made use of the "guest mic" on stage.

After breakfast our guests departed Trellis Bay by cab for the ferry dock and back to the states......

Afternoon Cookout at the Baths

We spent the afternoon cooking out at our favorite spot at the Baths. We set sail for Trellis Bay. We dodged a few squalls on our way over. We pulled into Trellis Bay and headed into the Last Resort to confirm out dinner reservations and have a few drinks.

Chris warming up the rock grill at the Baths

Florence and Jim

Relaxing at the Baths

Departing Cooper Island for the Baths

At 0700 we dropped the mooring and headed for Virgin Gorda. We are going to make a quick stop at VGYH to pickup a few items for our cookout and then head over to the baths.

Photos from the sail to Cooper Island

Departing Soper's Hole for Cooper Island

After a quick provisioning stop at the Harbor Market in Soper's Hole, we have departed for Cooper Island. We plan to snorkel cistern point and relax on the beach at the Cooper Island Beach Club.

Departing Jost Van Dyke

After enjoying homemade Caribbean Roti made by Chef/Mate Chris Davis the crew went ashore to relax at Sydney's House of Peace and Love.

After enjoying the honor system bar they walked over to Harris's Place for some dessert.

We are heading over to Soper's Hole for a quick provisioning stop.

Relaxing at the Soggy Dollar Bar

After a quick sail around Sandy Spit, we realized that there was no better place to ride out 30 knot winds and heavy seas than the tranquility of White Bay. We pulled in early this afternoon for a few painkillers and lunch aboard. We plan to spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach and then head up to Sydney's House of Peace and Love for the evening.

Relaxing on the Beach at the Soggy Dollar Bar, enjoying the famous Painkillers

Set Sail for Jost Van Dyke

This morning we enjoyed breakfast anchored off the Anegada Reef Hotel and then set sail for Jost Van Dyke. We are making a quick stop at the airport to aquire some delayed baggage, but our destination for the evening is Foxy's.

Spending Christmas Day on Anegada

After arriving at Anegada, we headed over to Cow Wreck Bay to snorkel and relax. We watched the storms roll past Anegada and enjoyed a spectacular rainbow that stretched across the length of the beach. We headed back to the boat for a quick shower before meeting Sam at Whistling Pines for dinner. Whistling Pines was made famous when it was featured on Feasting on Waves with Alton Brown as the best place in the Caribbean for Lobster. As usual, Sam did not dissapoint and presented us with a spread of BBQ and Lobster.Tereasa and Jim at Cow Wreck Bay

Guests Arrive at Bitter End Yacht Club for Christmas Eve

After a short delay on the ferry, we picked up our guests in Roadtown and headed to the Bitter End just in time for Christmas Eve Dinner. They enjoyed the Christmas buffet and made a short stop over at the pub before singing Christmas carols aboard. After a good nights sleep, a great breakfast, we set sail for Anegada.

Lundy Charters Crew Waiting at BEYC for guests

The Lundy Charters Crew is enjoying Christmas Eve on docks at BEYC, we just checked our guests flights and they are on time. We plan to go pick them up using one of Bitter Ends boats this afternoon when they arrive in Roadtown on the 5:00 pm ferry. In the meantime, we are finishing our provisioning and enjoying catching up with our old friends at the Bitter End.

Sunset at the Bitter End Yacht Club

On the way to the Bitter End...

After a busy day in Road Town provisioning the boat, we are now underway to the Bitter End Yacht club to await our guests' arrival tomorrow.

Lundy Charters Crew Arrives in the Virgin Islands

At 1400, the Lundy Charters crew arrived in St. Thomas. We are heading out on the 1615 ferry to Tortola. Our guest arrive on Christmas Eve.

We plan to pickup the boat in the morning, provision, and head to the Bitter End Yacht club where we will await our guests.

Oyster Catcher in New York Harbor at Night

The lights of New York City at night from the bridge of the M.V. Oyster Catcher

Halloween Charter Aboard M.V. Oyster Catcher

Captain Jim Baker arrived in New York to serve as a Relief Captain aboard the M.V. Oyster Catcher. Captain Geoff Werner and Captain Jim Baker sailed the M.V. Oyster Catcher around New York Harbor on Halloween. Glorious Catering and mates Chloe Douglas and Fred Brehm helped entertain family and friends aboard while we left from the World Financial Center, went around the Statue of Liberty and up the East River and Hudson River.

Sunset during the M.V. Oyster Catcher Charter in New York Harbor

George Washington Bridge

M.V. Oyster Catcher on docks near the World Financial Center

Statue of Liberty from the bow of the M.V. Oyster Catcer during our Halloween Charter

Lundy Charters founder Captain Jim Baker races at Belhaven Yacht Club

After finishing the delivery of the M.V. Oyster Catcher, Captain Jim Baker and Captain Geoff Werner took an afternoon off to race at the Belhaven Yacht Club. We raced with some of our friends from the Bitter End Yacht Club and finished second overall.


Captain Jim Baker before onboard before the race

Captain Jim Baker at the Belhaven Yacht Club before the race

Video from the Race

Important reminder, bring cold beer to a race.

Lundy Charters Runs Long Island Sound Charter on M.V. Oyster Catcher

Captain Jim Baker stayed in Darien after the delivery of the M.V. Oyster Catcher to help Captain Geoff Werner run its first charter of the season. The charter was out of the Indian Harbor Yacht Club in Greenwich, CT. After a squall blew through, we were able to get out on the water and run a great charter.

Captain Jim Baker at the helm of the M.V. Oyster Catcher

The squall from the bridge of the M.V. Oyster Catcher

The Indian Harbor Yacht Club

The Charter Guests Celebrating a Graduation
Captain Geoff Werner sharing some local knowledge with the guests

More Photos From South Andros Remote Fly Fishing Trip

Kurt and Justi show off their bonefish

Dinner.....

Haircut onboard

Making some conch salad....

Departing Marsh Harbour....despite the brush fires

Despite brush fires near the airport, our flight to Miami was still able to depart from Marsh Harbour.

Special Thanks

We would like to thank the Captain and crew of the Chicora from Charleston, SC for lending us the use of their tender yesterday. Thanks guys!

The end of one adventure, the beginning of many more...

Last night Chris and Jim relaxed and enjoyed a good night's rest at the Abaco Beach Resort in Marsh Harbor, and will be returning to North Carolina today. Lundy Charters would like to thank all of our guests from last week: Brian, Kevin, Jim, Peter, Justi and Kurt for making our adventure one to remember. Here are some pictures from the week:


Sunset over the Tongue of the Ocean



Dinner in Fresh Creek



In search of bonefish



South Andros



Fishing a Blue Hole



Enjoying a Lobster dinner aboard the boat



Anchored off an uncharted island




Sunset in Hope Town

Lundy Charters Staff Enjoys a Day Off in the Bahamas

Chris Davis and Jim Baker Enjoy a Day off in the Abacos

Lundy Charters Founders Chris Davis and Jim Baker are back in Hopetown after a sail from Nassau

We are back in Hopetown with the boat. Today we are heading up to Guana Cay for a BBQ and some relaxation.

Lundy Charters Founders are entering the Sea of Abaco

After a very calm day of cruising in the open ocean, we entered the Sea of Abaco through the Little Harbour cut. We are going to travel north until we get tired and then anchor up for the evening. Tomorrow we plan to go to Nippers on Great Guana island for the beach BBQ, to relax on the beach, and swim in the pool.

Last night as we were rounding the last marks to enter the harbour we saw what looked to be shimmering off a reflector at sea. We slowed down for a closer look and found out they were fireworks coming from Gorda Cay (about 40 miles North). Disney bought the island and uses it as a destination for their cruises. They have even renamed it Castaway Cay. We cruised by it on our way North today, it is the southernmost settlement of any kind on or around Great Abaco Island.

Captain Jim Baker and First Mate Chris Davis Sail from Nassau to the Abacos

Lundy Charters Drops off our Fly Fishing Pros in Nassau

The crew disembarked at the hurricane hole marina in Nassau this morning. Captain Jim and First Mate Chris set sail for the Sea of Abaco for a few days of well deserved rest and relaxation. The seas are very calm (one to two feet) and the crossing is going beautifully.

The Final Sunset as we sail from Andros to Nassau

Pictures of The Andros Lighthouse as we pull onto docks after our sail from South Andros

Andros Lighthouse

Brian O'Keefe fixes the crew a Conch Salad

Conch Salad

North Andros Departure for Nassau

After spending the evening at Hanks the guys were up early to head up Fresh Creek and fish some of the extensive inland flats on North Andros. Captain Jim and First Mate Chris took on some fuel for the trip to Nassau and prepared the boat for departure. A dinner of fresh conch salad and a sunset over North Andros marked our departure for Nassau. Next stop, the bright lights of Paridise Island.

Brian O'Keffe gets an Andros Haircut

We finally found Salt and Pepper

Brian finally locates the salt and pepper

Andros Lighthouse Marina

We spent the day cruising and trolling north to Andros Town where we will be spending the night on docks refueling and preparing to make the ocean crossing back to Nassau forthe crew's Saturday departure. Tomorrow we will fish some of North Andros' famous flats before departing for Nassau tomorrow night. Spirits are high as we enjoy dinner at Hank's Place in Andros Town and gear up for one last day of bonefish.