Staniel Cay

Sunday 4/19 & Monday 4/20/09 Sunday we left Black Point and travelled North about 6 miles to Staniel Cay, home of the Staniel Cay Yacht Club (http://www.stanielcay.com/) and also the Thunderball Grotto which is a cave that you swim into and once inside it opens up around you and above you. It was used first in 1964 when they filmed part of the James Bond film Thunderball in it. Most recently they filmed Into the Deep starring Jessica Alba here. Also just around the corner is Big Majors Spot.

Once we arrived at Staniel we got anchored and took off in the dinghy to look for the famous pigs of Big Majors Spot. Not a problem. Ray Charles could have found them! Actually it's more like they find you. Once you get close to the beach they swim out to your boat looking for food. As you can see from the picture Pam made another friend! We spent some time feeding the pigs and then moved on. Big Majors is also a popular anchorage with boats of all sizes anchored here.

We finished off the day with cocktails followed by dinner of french toast and bacon. (bread from Black Pt.) It don't get no better!

Monday we went over to the grotto and while Pam kept an eye out for criminals I snorkeled into the grotto looking for Jessica Alba. We both came up empty handed but I did see several fish and some beautiful coral. Afterwards we scraped the salt off of me and went over to Staniel to check things out and make dinner reservations at the yacht club. Don't get the wrong impression. This ain't no hoity toity yacht club that requires jacket & tie. Casual is the name of the game down here! As usual the people were all friendly and from all over. While in town we stopped at the Blue Store and the Pink Store, both grocery stores with about 2 rows of shelves no longer than a VW. Pam's missing HyVee but managing to get by. Back to the boat to take a nap and then get cleaned up for dinner. Boy that shower felt good!

Dinner at the Yacht Club was the best meal we've had since leaving Ft. Myers (other than the ship board meals). Clean surroundings, attentive staff, and great food! They even have Makers Mark bourbon. Needless to say one of us stuffed themselves at the dinner table. It was hard getting Pam back into the dinghy for the ride home!