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.