Wandering

Tuesday 4/21 - Friday 4/24/09 Tuesday we left Staniel Cay area and travelled north 19 miles to Bell Island and found a nice little cove to anchor in out of the wind. One of the more pleasant nights we've spent in the last few days. No roll and no waves slapping at the hull. We've been in this area before. Cambridge Cay is just a stone's throw down the way so we didn't do any further exploration.

Wednesday the wind shifted making this peaceful anchorage a lumpy spot to stay any longer. We again turned north towards Shroud Cay. Another bumpy ride but not too bad. We arrived at Shroud Cay and anchored near the south end of the island thinking that we would be out of the waves and wind. Wrong! It was peaceful at first but then a swell kicked up about dusk that had the bow crashing into it and the swim platform slapping as the swell passed under the boat. Not a fun night although we did manage to get some sleep. One neat thing while at Shroud was the Manta Ray and the Nurse Shark that kept checking out our boat. We noticed these after I had swam out to check our anchor!

Thursday couldn't come soon enough. After listening to the weather report at 8 am and overhearing a conversation between two other boats we decided to head a few miles south to Hawksbill Cay and tie to a mooring ball. The location was supposed to be better than where we were. Still windy and choppy but not the swells that we had at Shroud. We dropped the dinghy in and went exploring. We shared the uninhabited island with 2 other boats. So running into people wasn't an issue like at Big Majors Spot. Quiet beaches, some nice coral, and a cool sunset.

Friday we checked out the Russell Ruins on the north end of the island. An old settlement dating back into the late 1700's. After a brief hike we found the ruins to be mostly overgrown. Oh well, we need the exercise. Remember. Pam likes this hiking stuff! Wind is still blowing keeping Tourist steadily on the move at the mooring.

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!

Black Point Settlement, Great Guana Cay

Saturday 4/18/09 The wind is still blowing around 15 - 20 knots making for a wet dinghy ride to shore. As usual Pam wraps up in a towel and looks like a mummy while trying to stay dry. Once ashore we strolled back to Lorraine's thinking we could go in and hook up to her internet while waiting for the bread we had ordered. Somewhat to our surprise we found the door locked. Upon this discovery we did the next best thing and went across the street to the Scorpio Lounge & Restaurant and had a couple Kaliks (Bahamian Beer). During our time in the Scorpio we met a gentleman named Willie Rolle who at 72 still does guide work on the island as well as being the proprietor of the Garden of Eden. Willie told us about the Garden and how he looks at the clouds and gets inspiration and then finds a piece of driftwood that resembles the figure he saw in the clouds and places it in the garden. Personally I thought he was on something but he was very clear eyed while we were talking to him. All in all a nice man with a very simple way of life. We were going to walk to the end of the island and check out the garden but time has a habit of slipping away.

We went back to Lorraine's and she was open. We got on the net, had lunch, and picked up our bread. Two loaves white & two coconut. I've already sampled both and they are excellent!

Black Point isn't the touristy place with Tiki Bars and and souvenir shops as you can see from the picture of Main St. The beauty shop is in the front yard of someone's home. There are 2 restaurants, 1 bar, a church and a school. During the time we spent on the island it seemed like a large number of people were either standing around various places or were walking somewhere. There are a few pick up trucks and several golf carts for transportation. There is very little protection from the sea on any of these islands which makes you wonder how they survive a hurricane? Still, the people we encountered were all friendly and helpful. Not a bad place, Just a litttle slower paced than home.

Everything's a Blurr

Wednesday thru Friday 4/17/09 We left Cambridge Cay on Wednesday staying longer than expected due to good times and weather. The wind was still blowing on our trip south to Sampson Cay with 3' to 4' waves on the bow. Not bad. Only rearranged a few things on the inside of the boat. We arrived at Sampson. Fueled and went to our dock. We were put right behind Island Time, a charter yacht based in Nassau. Turns out the captain & mate were from Barrington, Il. $36,000.00 will charter the boat for a week if interested. They have all the toys and work non stop to please their guests.

One of the neat things about the Bahamas (besides losing track of time) is the clear water. I've attached a few pictures. One of a starfish beside our boat in 4' of water, and one of the water at night illuminated by the lights from Island Time which shows the bottom at about 10'. We stayed 2 nights at Sampson Cay (http://www.sampsoncayclub.com/) and left on Friday to head to Black Point Settlement on Great Guana Cay. Upon arrival we dinghy'd into the town and headed to Lorraine's Cafe for lunch and to order bread for a Saturday pick up. The bread is made by her mother and is renowned among the cruising crowd we've encountered. Also at Lorraine's is an internet access point which are spotty at best out here. Temps are in the 80's during the day and cooler at night and always a breeze. I used to think Iowa was heaven but I'm changing my mind!

Still Here

Monday 4/13 & Tuesday 4/14/09 The wind picked up so we decided to stay right here in Cambridge Cay. The forecast winds didn't leave many places to get out of and find protection so we went hiking the island trails and swimming. On Monday we had our mini turkeys that we were going to eat on Sunday. Excellent! I think Pam is getting the hang of the convection oven. Not only that but she is becoming quite the hiker! She'll probably want to buy a tent when we get home to fully experience the great outdoors. Who am I kiding? She is doing well though. Eating off paper plates, Hiking. Bathing once a week. What a trooper!

Happy Easter

Sunday 4/12/09 Happy Easter! Our plans for Easter Sunday were to have a lazy moring of hiking and snorkeling around the island. Then we were going to have our now traditional holiday meal on the boat of Kentucky mini turkeys. Pam found a couple more stuffed in the back of the freezer when we polished off the last of the Dr. McGillicuddy's! However plans change. We were asked to go with a group in the dinghys to Compass Cay Marina for a cheeseburger lunch. Not wanting to be party poopers we said yes and off we went. Compass Cay marina is tucked back into the islands so I was curious as to how to get there. I'm still curious because I couldn't see much on the way to & from. We picked up another couple from a sailboat who didn't have gas in their dinghy and I couldn't see through them. All the same they were a nice couple and we had a great time. We walked across the island to the beach on the other side and found it deserted. Nice quiet place. Might have to come back here! We had the burgers, fed the sharks, and departed. Once back on the boat we relaxed a bit. Watched some guy do tai chi on the bow of his boat and saw another Canadian guy walking around on his boat in the nude. I had to pry the binoculars away from Pam!

Island Time

Saturday 4/11/09 Today we left Warderick Wells and travelled a whopping 12.3 miles south to Cambridge Cay (still in the park) mooring field with the intent of staying a couple nights and moving on. It was a relaxing cruise down the Exuma Sound side of the islands which is a deep water route. Once we arrived we dropped the dink in the water and went exploring. One of the things we found was Johnny Depps beach cabana. Seems individuals of means can buy their own island within the boundaries of the park. When we got back to the boat the volunteer hosts of the mooring field invited us along with everyone else to a cocktail party on the beach. Pam of course went into Pamic mode since we were asked to bring a dip and our supplies in that area were running low. No need to fret. Pam is the dip queen and her creation was the hit of the gathering! we met people from all over the East coast and a few from Canada. Mostly sailboaters who were amazed that we brought our boat all the way from Illinois. One of the ladies commented upon learning that we were on the powerboat that we were on the boat that you can move around on! Sailing's not for me.