20,000 Pasty White Kids

    Upper Photo - One of hundreds of Man-of-Wars we saw as we crossed the Straits of Florida.

 
      Saturday was the weather window we needed to make the crossover of the Straits of Florida.  Our plans were to go back to Miami to check in, but mother nature said otherwise.  Due to the winds and the ocean surge we were once again required to adjust our heading to another port as with other crossings, this time Port Everglades (aka Ft Lauderdale).  As we approached  Florida's east coast it became quite the spectacle, audibly and visually.  As soon as we got within 20 miles of the coast ,the chatter on VHF channel 16 was non-stop.  Then when we were about 5 miles from the Port Everglades inlet, the boat traffic became very heavy.  What were we thinking of when we decided to return on a Saturday.  Oh, I almost forgot, we are boaters and very weather dependent.  The madness we saw at the inlet continued all the way up the ICW to our anchorage at Lake Sylvia.   

     After clearing customs by phone we had to go to the local immigration office and appear in person.  Off we  go with Rick and Deb in their dinghy to a local marina so that we could catch a taxi to Port Everglades.  The taxi ride and the immigration office was uneventful.  However, what made this most interesting is that it is the start of Spring Break.  Did you ever see 20,000 colleges kids from up north in Florida in February?  Yea - 20,000 pasty white kids.

Lower Photo - M/V Broulee heading for Port Everglades (Ft. Lauderdale)

Boo Boo Hill

          On our way north back through the Exumas, we stopped once again at Warderick Wells.  On our first trip to Warderick Wells, Sharon and I never made it to Boo Boo Hill, which is a special place for cruisers.  On top of the hill is a collection of sign boards bearing the names of boats, and sometime the crew names of those boats, that have stopped by for a visit and to deposit their sign boards.  On our return trip that was our sole mission, to place our sign board on Boo Boo Hill.

Upper Photo - View from the top of Boo Boo Hill

Lower Photo - View of sign boards on top of Boo Boo Hill

Upper Photo - Rick & Deb of MV Broulee after placing their sign board on Boo Boo Hill

Lower Photo - Here I am on Boo Boo Hill adding the finishing touches to our sign using a magnifying glass to burn the boat name into the wood

Compass Cay

     Photos of our anchorage near  Compass Cay.

Bahamian Defense Task Force.

     We left Black Point Settlement on the 11th of February for Little Bay because of an expected blow to come through on Saturday/Sunday.  We managed to get one of the better anchorages within Little Bay and rode out the blow for a couple of days.  Then on the 15th of February the Bahamian Defense Task Force arrived.  They slowly dispatched a dinghy which made a quick run over to Black Point.  After about an hour the dinghy returned to the area but did not stop at their ship.  Instead, the dinghy came into our anchorage and headed  to a neighboring sailboat, but nobody was home.  Next the dinghy made its way over to our boat, Big Run.  After a few quick greetings, we were informed that they would be boarding our vessel for an inspection.  Four of the five dinghy occupants boarded our boat but only the officer in charge came into the boat for an inspection.  We presented our cruising permits, passports and immigration papers to one of the junior officers while I gave the senior officer a tour of the boat.  Fifteen minutes later they all piled back into their small dinghy and proceeded onto the next boat.    We watched the task force dinghy makes its rounds through our anchorage for about a half hour, most of the other boaters had  left in the dinghies to go elsewhere.  It was then that we realized that of the 15 boats there, we were on the only boat to be boarded by the Bahamian Defense Task Force. 

Above photo - HMBS Yellow Elder at anchor just outside of Little Bay.

Thanks Willy

  On Great Guana Cay is Black Point Settlement.  This is a very small community but one of the nicest we have seen.  Within the community of Black Point is a place called the Garden of Eden. It is one man's dream, Willy Rolle.  His passion is to find hidden treasures within the landscape of the island.  These are not treasures of gold or precious gems but simple items that most of us would overlook.  He will find tree trunks, tree branches or even rocks that  bear  a resemblance of something.  It's like looking at the clouds and seeing a dog or a person's face.  Willy's front yard is decorated with these items and from the looks of it, he has been at it for many years.  Then we got a tour of the back yard where we were treated to many different fruit bearing trees.  We even had the chance to sample some of the different fruits of Willy's "garden".  This was one of best experiences we have had with the local people of the Bahamas, one that we will treasure for a long time, thanks Willy. 

A view from the road of Willy's front yard

A sample of  Willy's visions - a goat's head.

A papaya tree in Willy's backyard

Sunrise Or Sunset?

Bahama Mama

     While we were at the Little Farmers Cay Festival we were introduced to a local wood carver, Fleether  Tinker Jr.  also known as JR.  We enjoyed his work very much and we like to collect items from different areas, so we purchased a Bahama Mama.

Above photo - JR is "autographing" the Bahama Mama we just purchased.

Below photo - This is the Bahama Mama on the boat in a temporary location.

And I Still Don't Believe It!

     Next to Staniel Cay is an Island called Big Major Spot, and on that island is a local attraction.  When I first heard about this, my curiosity went through the roof.  How many opportunities do you get to see swimming pigs?  And I still don't believe it!   (Don't forget to click on the photos to enlarge the photo and return to the blog by hitting the back button.  You have to see the enlargements!)

Left photo - Charge of the pork brigade!

They lay in the shade on the island until they hear your dinghy motor.

Right - It's an amphibious assault!   The pigs will actually swim out to your dinghy for food.

Left - Having overshot the first dinghy the pigs turn on the second dinghy.
Note - to the left of the pigs are small fish jumping out of the water. 

Right - Success, the second dinghy has food.

Left - Mrs. Big Pig gets upset as Sharon's food supply is exhausted.

  

Right - Sharon retreats to the water after Mrs. Big Pig steps on Sharon's  foot.

Left - Captain Rick (M/V Broulee) steps in to protect the women as Deb (M/V Broulee) photo documents the action and Sharon watches from the water.

Right - The only injury suffered in the scrimmage was Sharon's foot and her pride.  The only thing Sharon could say was " My dad would want to know why I was feeding pigs while being barefoot?"

NOTE TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS - SHARON IS OKAY!

5 Fs

     On the First Friday of February at Little Farmers Cay there is a festival.  The locals from the island are joined by Bahamians from other islands as well as cruising visitors for food, music, dancing, contests and Class-C racing.  It is known as the 5 Fs (Farmers Cay, Festival, First Friday in February.

The unofficail start to the festival.  This is a common sight in the Bahamas - the mail boat.  But this one is differnt, the Captain C.  She makes a grand entrance which you can hear for a mile away, the music is blaring and she is bringing more party revelers.

On Friday is the BIG Race, for all the marbles and the bragging rights for the next year.  Six boats entered for this year race.

And this year's winner is Team Thunderbird!

And now for a little fun.  The best Male Legs Contest.  Yea, that's Bob.  He finished second only because he lacks good dance moves.  But it wasn't about the dancing it was about the legs.  I was robbed.

And then there was the Best Male Butt Contest.  No, Bob did not enter this one.

One of the local young boys having fun with Deb's (M/V Broulee) digital camera.

This sail boat had catastrophic failure on the first day of racing and had to be retired.  Here, the boat is being loaded back onto the mail boat.

As the sun was setting on the opening day, this cruiser played Amazing Grace on his bag pipes while we enjoyed dinner at the waterfront restaurant.

The Exuma Community Youth Band was brought for the festivities on day 2, Saturday.

Private Beach

     Sharon and I got to spend some time south of Black Point Settlement at Little Bay.  Our buddy boat had some matters to take care of at Staniel Cay, so we took a few days to hang out on the beach.  For 3 days Little Bay was our private beach.

Above photo - Sharon makes landfall at Little Bay

Above photo - his and her footprints in the sand

Above photo - view of shoreline on eastern side of island across from Little Bay

The Man Made Stuff In The Bahamas

Some of the man made stuff in the Bahamas

Not the home but their tiki bar.

Cool shot from Black Point Settlement Regatta Point

For a few million you might have a chance to own this home!

Stone beacon on Adderly Cay indicating salt was available.

Free Showers

     We woke up this morning with a plan, but before we discuss the plan let's regress.  We returned from Long Island in the Bahamas to George Town on Saturday January 22nd and anchored at Red Shanks.  Then the weather went "south" when a cold front stalled and became a trough, and we were stuck in Red Shanks since Saturday because of the wind.  Last night I was awakened by an eerie calm that came over the boat as the wind died down and the boat stopped dancing around.   This is where the plan from this morning comes into play.  Our plan was to weigh anchor, go to Kidd Cove which is the closest anchorage you can get to George Town without running aground.  Phase 2 of our plan was to go into town for a few items, return to the boat and head up the coast to The Marina at Emerald Bay.  Before we discuss The Marina at Emerald Bay phase, let's go back to the part about weighing the anchor and getting underway to Kidd Cove.  Sorry, not gonna happen.  Long story short, the engine decided to go on holiday and would not start.  After an hour of trying this and trying that I called Rick on M/V Broulee for some input.  Before I could hang up the mic after our discussion, Rick was standing on our back porch asking what I had tried and what I didn't try.  After about an hour of collective thought and turning wrenches we managed to diagnose the problem and had the engine running.  Damn batteries gave us some false readings.   We managed to get to George Town, which was very busy because all the other boaters that also had been pinned down by the winds from the previous days.  Using a dinghy in windy conditions is just asking for a saltwater shower.  We finished our business in George Town and cruised up to The Marina at Emerald Bay to reprovision the boat as we  head north back to the Exumas and anchorages we missed on our trip south to George Town.  So here we are at the marina again to get some water, food, wash some clothes and yes, those free showers.

 Above photo - this group passed us today as we were pulling the anchor at Kidd Cove.  The theme for the party was James Bond & Thunderball.

 Above photo - breakers on the reefs as your leaving Elizabeth Harbour.

Green Flash

     There is a optical phenomena that most boaters have seen or have heard about.  It usually occurs over water as the sun sets on the horizon.  It can also happen at sunrise over water, the moment before the sun breaks the horizon.     Sharon and I saw our first one on January 3rd when we were at Warderick Wells and the sun was setting.  On January 19th I witnessed my second event and it was the best of the two I have seen.  Sharon claims she did not see it.  It may have been that she blinked at the moment the event occurred.   As the sun is setting, at the very last moment (read less than a second) the light is transformed by a prism effect and the sun emits a green light.  This optical phenomena is known as a green flash.  (Sorry, no pictures of the event)

Another Great Anchorage

     In Florida, there is a boater's destination called Velcro Beach.  Actually its rightful name is Vero Beach, but many boaters who have stopped there for visit call it Velcro Beach because you get attached to the place and it's difficult to leave.  That is what is happening with us and George Town in the Bahamas.  We are back for the third time.  Last week we left George Town to go over to Long Island.  While we were at Long Island we stayed at Salt Pond (see previous posting) and then moved up the coast of Long Island to Calabash Bay and one of the best looking beaches we have seen by far.  Then on the next weather window we crossed the Exuma Sound back to Great Exuma Island and George Town.  We are not in Elizabeth Harbour (George Town) but a very close anchorage callled Red Shanks because of a blow that came through on Saturday night.  The front passed through and has stalled and turned itself into a (weather) trough.  So here we are waiting for another weather window to head north back into the Exumas.  There are a lot of anchorages we passed up in the Exumas so that we could be in George Town  when we needed our permits renewed 2 weeks ago.  At least for now we are waiting out the weather in another great anchorage.

Above photo - raising the anchor early one morning on one of the many trips to Geroge Town.  Photo credit - Deb on M/V Broulee.

Above photo - Cruising on the Exuma Sound on the way to George Town.  Flat calm waters, cloudless skies - that's ideal conditions.  Photo credit - Deb on M/V Broulee.

Above photo - Bob & Sharon going for a dinghy ride.  That's our little "sports car" when we are at an anchorage for extended periods.  We need more power!  Photo credit - Deb on M/V Broulee.

Long Island's Eastern Coast

Photos of Long Island's Eastern Coast

Above photo - Sharon taking a break in the shade.

Above photo - the seas were calm but they were still rolling onto the beach.

Above photo - looking north.

Above photo - Bob watching the waves roll in.