Jan. 7-10 Just went about our days, swimming, exploring and doing chores. At least we could get WIFI on the boat from where we were anchored and Cecil held during the several days of strong winds.

Jan.11 We did the final sprucing up of the boat and went into SCYC for lunch before picking up our next guests, Mike and De, who are some good friends from Maine. They were married on Windermere last summer in Bucks Harbor, Maine and we have known Mike since we have been cruising. Their plane arrived on time and we wisked them “home” and let them settle in. Afterwards, we gave them a quick tour of the area in the tender before the winds picked up. Back to the boat for an early dinner of shepard’s pie and bed as they were very tired from their trip.

Jan. 12 We took food scraps to the pigs and got some good photos to boot. Because it was windy and gray out by Twin Cays where I had planned to have a picnic, we went to our coev on Staniel instead and hiked around before having our picnic on the beach and a nice swim. At least we had sun and the water was not too cold. Cards were in order and then dinner was duck a l’orange, sweet potatoes, and broccoli.

Jan. 13 It was sunny but windy again so we went to Sampson Cay and walked around before having really great homemade pizza! I even tried a lite beer that wasn’t too bad. They have a new chef and he is doing a good job. The tender ride back was a bit wet but quick. I took Mike and De to the beach for a sheltered afternoon swim to work off some of the pizza. We had some other cruisers over for cocktails and a light dinner of soup.

Jan. 14 It was still quite windy so we went into Staniel Cay to walk around and show them the village. Afterwards, we had lunch at the Yacht Club. In the afternoon, we moved the boat down to Bitter Guana and anchored for the night. Our gurests taught us poker and we used shells as chips. Lobster newburg was the menu followed by a movie.

Jan. 15 After breakfast, we went into the beach and fed the iguanas our fruit scraps and walked across the island to the windward side. Then we weighed anchor and motored up to the western side of Bell Island to a new anchorage for us which turned out to be deep and good holding. De needed to practise snorkeling so Mike and I took her over to the edge of the island and she was able to see lots of fish! They even saw 6 lionfish which we reported to our local dive shop because they are from the Pacific, poisonous, and everyone is trying to erradicate them. It was a beautiful calm evening in our new anchorage.

Jan. 16 Our excursion for the morning took us up past Johnny Depp’s island and further to look at a reef we had been told was good. It looked good but it was too deep for snorkeling. Then it was around the corner to the sea aquarium and a good snrokel there. Mike and De loved the variety and quantity of fish there. Back to the boat, shower and have lunch underway to Warderick Wells where we anchored off the western side in a big bay. It was early enough to be able to take a long walk on the island and work off lunch. The going is pretty rough over pockmarked rocks but parts of the trail were it the sand. Our final stop was BooBoo Hill where we all looked at the boat names and other messages left on driftwood pieces. Back to the boat for dinner of pasta with cream sauce, ham, peas, and sauteed onions, and grated cheese and cards.

Jan. 17 Off to the ranger station to feed the banana quits but the rules had changed and no one is able to do that anymore, boo hoo! We took Mike and De to a good snorkeling spot we have gone to alot and they were not disappointed. Then we had a bumpy ride back to the boat because the wind had picked up. Everyone had lunch while we motored back down to the Big Majors anchorage which was crowded. It took us a while to find just the right spot with the right depth and swing room. dinner was chicken Marbella, red rice from France, sauteed spinach with garlic.

Jan. 18 To Staniel for groceries and very important half & half for the captain. Next, it was lunch at SCYC and quick emailing. De had fun taking photos of the nurse sharks and rays by the docks. Back to the boat for a quick change into our snorkeling gear. Off the Thunderball Grotto which was crowded but Mike and De enjoyed the fish and grotto anyway. Then we took them to my small reef on the back side of Big Majors and finally to the Fowl Cay cut where we were able to drift through the cut over the sea gardens and fish. They loved that experience! Dinner was homemade crab cakes, garlic mashed potatoes, zucchini & eggplant. There was a beautiful full moon and the weirdest thing- fog! The water was warmer than the air and an actual New England fog rolled in which made our Maine guests feel right at home. We were freaking out because we had never seen fog here before in all the years we have been coming to the Exumas.

Jan. 19 Today’s expedition was to Twin Cays by dinghy. We packed a picnic and our snorkel gear and off we went to our own little island! We beachcombed, ate our sandwiches in the shade under the trees and went snorkeling. We found a large seven year apple bush. It gets its name from the fact that, if you eat one of the apples, you won’t do it again for seven years! Afterwards, we showed our guests another part of the surrounding area where many boats like to anchor. We also looked at the work going on at the private island called Over Yonder Cay. Millions have been spent by its owner and he has so far put up 7 windmills, solar panels, dredged a small marina, and is building several houses. Quite an undertaking! Once back at the boat, we cleaned up our selves and our shells and got ready for dinner at SCYC on Mike and De. There wasn’t a breath of air so the dinghy trip was a breeze and the dinner was good as well as the company. The moon was again our “streetlight” on the way home.