Jan 16-30 We passed these days just doing the usual with a few different moments thrown it for extra fun. Some new friends wanted to go shelling and she wanted to learn to snorkel so that meant and expedition. We didn’t go far but were able to accomplish our goal and they had a great time. 

dinghies and tenders- Everyone down here has one or the other because they are our “car”, “mini van” or “full size van” and we can’t get ashore,etc without them. The sailors have small dinghies and the good news is that they can be pulled ashore or “beached” as they are not heavy. The powerboats usually have bigger tenders and they have to be usually anchored just off the beach so we can go back “home” when we want and not when the tide tells us we can. They all need to be pumped up and that happens usually when the weather turns cooler and the air inside shrinks. They have engines that don’t like ethanol so there are various additives you have to put in the gas when filling up. Being the Bahamas, the gas availability can be a problem from time to time. Going to get your groceries or going on an expedition or going ashore for lunch all involve your “vehicle” so you always check the gas level, take a hand held VHF radio (in case of any trouble), get the right clothing on for the conditions and bring other equipment as needed, and maybe even bring some water. Tying the dinghy securely to your boat is very important as loosing your dinghy can really ruin your day! Around here, if they get loose, they end up in Andros which is 60 miles to our west. There are no stores around to go buy another one. Dinghy etiquette involves not going too fast in the anchorage and throwing up a big wake. This makes the smaller boats rock and roll and makes you not a popular person.

Jan 31st We went ashore and had a fun lunch at Taste and Sea with some friends who just happened to show up. Then we went to the airport to pick up Mike and De, our friends from Maine. They were so glad to get south to warmer weather. As soon as we got them aboard, we took off south toward Little Farmer’s Cay. About halfway there, we anchored in a nice bay with a sandy beach and spent the night.

Feb. 1 There is a festival every year at Little Farmer’s called the first Friday in Feb. festival at Farmer’s. We motored down to the cay and anchored off the west side thinking we were in just enough water. The wind was howling but we took the tender around to the other side and tied it to a dock. Then we walked along the airstrip to a restaurant where there was very loud music but a good lunch and a perfect view of the Bahamian sloop race. These were the smaller versions of the ones we usually watch by Staniel Cay around New Years. There were 8 of them and they all had to be lined up at the start with anchors and sails down. At the gun, they raise their anchors and sails and head up wind to the mark. About halfway there, one boat capsized and sank and another had rig problems. The rest somehow were able to finish the course. The wind out on the course was clocked at 30 knots! We were all sitting on the beach watching all of the excitement. Finally, we went back to the boat and I made dinner. The boat was actually aground for hours but we can rest on our three keels nicely. It is the slight bumping on the way down that is disconcerting! We had invited our friends Gail and Erick for dinner and he brought his guitar. After dinner, he entertained us which was a special treat.

Feb.2 The weather was still gray and windy so we brought up the anchor and moved a few miles north and anchored off the beach by the path to our cave. I led Mike and De tot he cave and they loved it. Afterwards, John picked us up and we moved the boat up to White Point. Mike, De, and I took a late afternoon swim into the beach and a walk. It was nice having the place all to ourselves.

Feb. 3 The sun was out but it was still a bit windy. We moved the boat back to Big Majors, went for a swim and enjoyed a Super Bowl party on No Agenda. I watched more football that evening than I have watched probably ever. 

Feb. 4-6 There was lots of snorkeling, playing of Biriba, eating and drinking and playing on the beach with the “gang”, fixing friends boats, and fixing our boat. 

Feb. 7 Mike and De left in the morning so it was time to do the laundry, get fresh food because the mailboat was in town, and pack. I had to go to Greenwich to be with my mom for a week in the cold and snow. John will be looked after and probably fed lots of meat by our friends in the anchorage.

the arrival at Staniel Cay

Wendy and Chris on the Moon

Mike in a big tide pool on the Moon

some of our sand dollar finds

Newly weds in the cave

the whole gang

spotted eagle ray in the cut by Over Yonder Cay

snorkeling in Thunderball Grotto

Jan. 7-9 My Mike, Chris, and his new wife Corey arrived in the afternoon. Everyone went immediately into the water and swam to the beach. Of course, I can swim around this harbor for months and see a random ray, nurse shark, small fish, and big barracuda but C&C saw a spotted eagle ray and a really cool big crab on their first trip! We introduced them to the “gang” and they played some of the new beach games.

Since they have been here so many times over the years, it is harder for me to come up with new adventures. Well, I succeeded! There are some big rocks out near deep water that form a broken wall the shelters a bay and John took us all out to them and dropped us off to explore. There were big tide ponds, shells on the one beach and rock climbing possibilities. We all loved the new spot until a squall hit and John had to come in the tender and rescue us. We had packed a picnic to have on Judy’s beach but had it on board instead as the rain started just as we got back there. That evening, John had to work on the generators (only maintenance) so the kids and I played a new game called Quirkle. 

The next day, we went to Thunderball and found shells on the sea floor for the first time. Then, it was lunch at Taste and Sea which was a success. After lunch, we all went swimming to the beach to play games and on the way back, there were several good sightings- a very large ray buried in the sand, a sea turtle, reef squid, a big nudibranch, a horse conch, a helmet shell, and an octopus inside a conch. Chris found the octopus and Mike swam it to the boat where he put it into a bucket for photos. All in all a good natural science day!

Jan. 10-14 

It was time to move the boat (which we did none of last year). The kids had never been south of Black Point settlement so we headed south to an anchorage along the coast of Great Guana Cay. Our mission was to find the trail to the big cave that is inland near a big rock called Oven Rock. John took us down by dinghy and dropped us off near the rock. There were a nesting pair of ospreys on the rock and they were not to happy about this! They cried and chuffed at us and almost dive bombed us which was disconcerting to say the least. After much searching, we found the beginning of the trail and were able to walk inland and up to the cave. I had been there last year but this year, we did more exploring and even walked in the tidal salt water inside. When we got back to the boat, we found she had been aground in the very low tide so we had to wait to leave till she floated a bit more. The kids and I went swimming in the unusually crystal clear water and had incredible visibility! John was able to slowly move the boat to deeper water and we went back up the coast to anchor off the beautiful white beach at White Point for the night. The next morning, we returned to Big Majors and our usual parking spot.

The kids wanted to find some sand dollars so we all went to North Gaulin Cay by tender, mom driving, and had great success. Afterwards, they wanted to swim the cut by fowl Cay again and in the shallow area of sand near the cut, Corey spotted a small octopus trying to eat a crab out in the open. Much excitement! Lots of “talking” through their snorkels. Swimming the cut was almost a let down but the saw more good fish and corals. That night, the Biriba tournament started. 

I had heard about some new places to snorkel in the area so, of course, this meant another expedition. I was tender captain again and we found and snorkeled the new area but it proved not that great. As usual, the kids found some good things. The other thing I wanted to check out was a “hole” (a very deep roundish spot in the water). There was a lot of current so I dropped them off to snorkel over the hole. Mike dove down and got some close up photos of one of the 5 spotted eagle rays that were down in the hole. This was another exciting find for them! Mike then found a nurse shark that was resting nearby the hole minding its own business. That night, more Biriba.

Their last day was slow and relaxing in the morning with an expedition in the afternoon. This time we took them to the big sand bar in Pipe Creek to look for sand dollars and shells. With the extra low tide, the bar was bigger and we found a lot of good things. After the hunt, we went to the cut nearby where we usually see spotted eagle rays and were not disappointed. As we neared the cut, a big ray jumped right out of the water right in front of us! The kids got their snorkel gear on and went snorkeling with about 4 of them. This time there were no sharks around which was nice. This was a perfect ending to a perfect weeks visit.

John and Joe enjoying the day

Heather and John serving the enchilladas

Mexican Train dominos

the catamaran being patched

Tida Wave with its bow damage

the girlies with our tender driver

working on the puzzle

Dec 25 - Jan 6

Our friends Joe and Kathy, who used to cruise down here for years on their sailboat, came for a week of fun and laughter. 

The minute our friends arrived, they insisted we go to Staniel Cay Yacht Club for fish sandwiches! They absolutely love them and remembered them fondly. They were not disappointed. I have been trying to get Joe to be more of a vegetarian so I served him kale which he had never had and he loved the way I cooked it. One night, we were all having pasta with tomato sauce and veges and I put my plate of basil pesto and peas in front of his place. He looked at it and looked at everyone else’s plates and frowned. He had a green dinner and was not pleased. I switched the plates back and he was happy again but the joke got a good laugh.

On the 31st, John and Joe went in the tender to watch the Bahamian sailboat races off Staniel. It was windier than usual and during the race, one of the boats tipped over and sank! There were several injuries to the crew but luckily no broken bones. That night, we had a New Years Mexican dinner and Mexican train dominoes and Mexican music party with some of our friends. Everyone had a good time and we all were able to stay up till after midnight! That is quite a feat for old farts like us.

On the 1st, there is always a cruisers race and there was more excitement again. The other Bahamian sailboat was racing with the cruiser boats and T boned a large catamaran! It was no one’s fault but the catamaran had bad damage and after being patched up and pumped out, was towed to Florida by a local salvage boat. What a way to start the new year.

For the rest of their stay, Kathy and I worked on a 2000 piece puzzle which I was finally able to finish after she left. We swam, shelled, snorkeled, and visited the iguanas. One night, we even had dinner at Taste and Sea which was delicious. After they left, one of the local charter yachts set fireworks off on our beach and it was a spectacular show! We all had front row seats.

Bob and Penny- Santa and elf

Susan and Ray on No Agenda- our hosts

carver and hungry me

polishing

sunset in the Big Majors anchorage

raking seaweed

the supervisors

Mike the fire pit digger

Susan from Exodus- worker bee

lugging the seaweed to the burn pile