Sand Castle

     There are many beautiful homes in the Bahamas, but this is probably the most unique.  It is located at our favorite anchorage Plain Bay, which we mistakenly called Little Bay.  Adjacent to the home is a small inlet which, on the charts, is called Little Bay, hence the error on our part.  Yes, it was built to look like a sand castle.  Local sand was supplied to a paint vendor so that the exterior of the home would blend with the local beaches.  It's a grand sand castle.

S/V Chiquita

     This is S/V Chiquita.  Usually a blog entry of this type would fall under the label "Boats of Interest".  However, this entry could also fall under another category - "Persons of Interest".  No, don't get the wrong idea, he is not wanted by the police.  The sailor that crews this boat, Ron,  is a very interesting person.  Among his many accomplishments, he built this boat in his back yard in Florida with help from friends, some as far away as Maine.  Two weeks prior to launching the boat, he retired from his job and has been conducting sea trials ever since.  I think the boat has passed the sea trials as this photo was taken at Black Point Settlement, Exumas, Bahamas.

Rain Showers

     Last year, we celebrated Christmas Eve in Spanish Wells, Eleuthera, Bahamas at the home of a retired harbor pilot.  This year was again something new and unique for us.  The evening was spent on the beach with  Frank, Peg and their son Troy who was visiting from Pennsylvania.  Frank & Peg have one of the two homes on Plain Bay, the other is the sand castle.  Bill and Mara (S/V Puddlejumper) and Ron (S/V Chiquita) joined the festivities and we had a bonfire and listened to Christmas music.  Everyone enjoyed the evening despite a few rain showers. 

Looking back at Big Run as we headed to the beach we captured this sunset.

Sharon and Ron enjoying the bonfire.

Bill, Mara & Peg

Seasons Greetings

       We would like to wish our families and friends a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Another year has passed and we find ourselves to be very fortunate to be full time cruisers but it does come with a price.  We do miss our family and friends, and wish we could spend more time with each and every one.  You are in our thoughts, and we count the days until we see you again.

Bahama Style

Standing L-R - Bill & Mara (Puddlejumper), Frank, Rodney (2 By 2), Ken (Meant To Be)

Seated L-R - Peg, Jean, Sharon & Bob (Big Run)

     It's been brewing all week, like a stick of dynamite with a long fuse that had been lit, and it was about to explode.  On Saturday morning, Bill from Puddlejumper stopped by Big Run to invite us to a beach party.  It was about time!  The 5 boats, Big Run, Puddlejumper, Two By Two, Meant To Be and Chiquita have been in Plain Bay all week.  We kept running into each other on our excursions to shore or as we dinghy'd from boat to boat.  Ron from Chiquita and Bill had spent some time Saturday morning prepping the smoker grill on shore and returned to their boats.  I went over to Puddlejumper with the dinghy to tow the party raft to shore and returned to the boat. So around 1:00 pm Sharon and I decided to be the first and head into shore.  No sooner did we get to shore and the rest of the crews joined us.  You will note in the above photo we are relaxing in front of a home.  That is Frank and Peg's home whom joined the festivities.  Also joining us is Jean, the owner of the other home on the bay, the Sand Castle.  After spending the afternoon on the beach, we went up to Frank and Peg's house for a late afternoon dinner which included Peg's conch salad.  Despite all the winds we have been having, and today was no different, we have finally got the party started for the season - Bahama style!

Points Unknown

      Long before we departed South Beach, FL on the 17th of November, we were dealing with the wind.  It was not a big issue as we traveled down the ICW in October or our travels south in Florida.  The wind did delay our departure from Miami for a few days and held us over in Bimini, Bahamas for 5 days.  It also gave us one wild night on the Great Bahama Bank at Russel Beacon as the boat did its imitation of the ol' hobby horse.  At Norman's Cay in the Exumas, the wind played with the boat, keeping her broadside to the rollers.  Then, what was thought to be a safe travel day to Warderick Wells had waves breaking over the bow and covering the pilothouse with "spray".    

     But not all is lost.  We have managed to find our way to our favorite anchorage south of Black Point.  After meeting one of the two locals residents (land dwellers) of the anchorage, we have learned that the bay is actually named Plain Bay.  Far from plain, beautiful clear water, white sand beaches and great company.  Since arriving here on the 29th of November we have met and befriended many other boaters.  There's the couple on M/V Two By Two, Rodney and Pauline.  They also have a raised pilothouse trawler, a beautiful Nova Scotia 47.  Rodney is a Kiwi from New Zealand and Pauly is an Irish lass.  We have had some very interesting happy hours with them.  Just recently our very good friends Ken and Cindy on S/V Meant To Be have arrived, and we also have had some very memorable times with them as well.  We also met Ron on S/V Chiquita, a bright yellow trimaran.  He has been doing the single-hand sailing (crew of one) for a long time.  When you ask him where he hails from, he tells you either Maine (USA) or the Caribbean, he's not sure which!  Right now, Ron is buddy boat with S/V Puddlejumper, a catamaran.  Puddlejumper is crewed by Bill and Mara from Arkansas.  But we still find one thing missing - Rick, Deb and Izzy from M/V Broulee, our buddy boat from last year.  Moving forward,  Ken and Cindy will be departing for their journey to Puerto Rico and beyond.  Two By Two may be departing for points east or south some time soon, Puddlejumper and Chiquita will be heading north in a day or two.  And Big Run, well, we may stick around in Plain Bay waiting for the next group of boaters to stop by on their way to points unknown.