February 26, 2016

February 24 we left Big Major ( Staniel Cay)at 8:30 heading toward Lee Stocking Island. There is a cut we have to go to get into the Exuma Sound and it is called Galliot Cut, you don't want the current opposing the winds as there is a lot of current . We got through great and on to Lee Stocking.

Right by where we will anchor is a little island called Leaf Cay and that is where the pink iguanas are that we took pictures of 2 years ago.

The inlet going into Lee Stocking is very tricky as there are reefs to one side so you see the big surf. the wind and current were with us and let me tell you we surfed in on waves that were about 8 feet.

We anchored at 3:30 and got the dinghy down and went to visit people we met 2 years ago from Canada. They were so good to us when we got struck by lightening. They were headed back to the states.

As we were out in the sound there were so many flying fish, Bo did some fishing but caught nothing, the depth was between 600-1000 feet.

We had planned to spend several days here but after listening to Chris Parker (weather) we pulled up anchor and left for Georgetown at 9:45.

Paul and Krista are still with us but they will be headed back to the states so this will be our last time with them.

Bo fished and caught 2 Barracuda , one was medium size but the other was big, I am sending the picture of this one. We through both back as they carry Ciguatera.

So many sailboats are headed to Georgetown as it is family regatta week. At one time we saw 18 boats all headed to Georgetown.

We arrived in Georgetown at 2:15, anchored in a favorite spot and settled in.

Today February 26 Bo went up to Sand Dollar Beach and met with people on doing photo shooting for the week.

While he was gone I made peach cobbler and cranberry scones.

When he got back we went to friends boat we met 2 years ago, these people were the ones we would walk the beach for hours every day. We then went up to St. Francis for lunch came back to the boat and got Bo's camera and off to the beach for an hour of photo shooting.

Yesterday I did my ammonia laundry soaking so I could hang it to dry this morning then I put more water in the pail and put in another load to tomorrow.

Plan is to go to the beach for shelling about 8:30 am while Bo does some shooting then go into town for a 1 pm talent show in the park. We have several stops to make before the show. Will be fun to get back into town and see the changes.

Have a great weekend..OH our friends on Cat's Meow are headed down so we are excited they should be here if weather stays with them in about 5 days as they will go round the clock from St. Augustine to Georgetown. Hope the weather gods are good to them.

Sun, clear skies and calmer winds.

Joyce

February 21, 2016

Yesterday we rented a golf cart to explore the island and to see if everything that was in The Waterway Guide was still here.

We started about 9:30 headed to the south end of the island. We had so much fun checking out beaches, one was by and airport just off the runway. Paul had to carry Krista down and she was afraid she would have a potty accident and after we said, oh well he carried her down. What an awesome sight.

We went on some pretty narrow, rocky paths, rock and roll on the golf cart. At one point we even lost Krista's bunged on wheel chair, so WHOA quick stop bungee it back on and up the hill we went.

I found a sea bean and a small fan for her so gave her the treasures.

At one point there was a tire swing and she was sitting in it and Paul took pictures and I was a little late and got a not so good picture of the 2 of them.

We got back to our boats about 5 and took warm showers to wash off all the salt and get ready for another day.

We had hoped to snorkle Thunderball Cave but it is going to be cloudy so might only do some dinghy things and have Bo take more photos.

He hopes the wind is down and sun is out tomorrow so he can fly his drone and finish up and head out Tuesday for Little Farmer Cay. This is the beach where Paul carried Krista to yesterday.

February 17, 2016

We leave Nassau along with Too Much Fun. We pulled out of the marina about 9:45.

We had to pass through the yellow and white banks that have coral heads so you need to be on the look out for them as they will destroy your boat. The light was not real good so I had to stand out on the bow of the boat and keep an eye out.

We are in 25 ft. of water and it is so blue as there is white sand bottom.

As we pass over some reefs you see Blue Trigger Fish, so many tiny starfish and some large orange ones. When we were in Georgetown Bo dove down below our boat and picked one up so Valeria, Jaymi and David and Sharon could see it.

We anchored at Highbourne Cay about 3:30, got the dinghy down, motor on and went for a ride, so great to be back in the water.

Over night the wind changed and we got the swell from around the point so at 8:45 we along with Paul and Krista left and sailed to Great Major ( Staniel Cay). This is Bo's kind of day, both sails up and making 7-8 knots. He is smiles from one ear to the other.

We arrive at Big Major about 2 and Pauls got here about 3:30.

Paul called by VHF. He dove to check out his anchor and a bull shark was also checking out his anchor. Paul said he never knew he could climb his anchor chain so fast, he even lost a fin. Someone else heard the guys talking and said, do it again so we can all see you, it got a great laugh.

Tomorrow we are planning our day about 8, want to snorkel Thunderbolt Cave and do some dinghy trips along with Bo filming.

We should be here maybe 3 days then head to Black Point as we have clothes and books for kids to leave. Ted/Jerrie Springs daughter Shelly and Addison gave us things to take over and we are so grateful as the people there have nothing.

More in several days. As we get further into the Exumas the internet is less and less.

God Speed.

Joyce

Feb. 14, 2016

Here are a few pictures I wanted to send. This picture was taken by Nate's Bakery where we bought Cinnamon Raisin Bread for $7. You have to remember everything is shipped here so groceries are very expensive.

Bimini in the evening.

The islands get their groceries in 2 shifts. On Thursday the dry /frozen products come in on Friday the fresh things come in. It is all lifted off onto a dock and them the people being their trucks/cars/ golf carts what ever they have to come and pick the items up.

This is Paul's boat on our way to Nassau at sun set, pretty darn cool. ( she is the one I will write about that is in a wheel chair)

When we arrived in Nassau I was checking our boat out on the next dock and could not pass this picture up.

Have a great Valentines Day.

Joyce

Good Morning February 12, 2016

We left Bimini at 10:45 after helping people on a catamaran untie and go for fuel. Their names are Paul and Christa. They have a story that we will tell later. She is disabled and uses a wheel chair. When you hear the story and the drive she had it is very humbling, she is 51.

It has been a beautiful day, we have motored with the main sail up for stability and some speed. About 4:00 we put up several sides of the enclosure for warmth.

February 13, 2016

It has been a very busy night for Bo as there is so much traffic. Back in the states we have shrimp boats that go out to fish with big arms that go down in the water to catch fish. Here they us them for other fish. The big boat in front is called the Mother Boat and then they pull  behind them up to 8 small boats. When they go to catch lobster/fish the fishermen go out in these small boats and bring back their catch. So you see a big fishing boat with small boats behind them, now only the big boat has a few lights but all the fishing boats are only being towed behind with no lights at all.

The stars were so bright tonight and a beautiful 1/2 moon laying down so peaceful.

We have been going 6-7 knots and are having to slow down so we don't get into Nassau before light and the marina opens at 7.

About 6 am we are at an idle speed for about an hour, we can see Nassau but no way want to go in. There is a mail boat and a cruise ship also wanting to come in. The mailboat does come in the the cruise ship waits for a pilot to bring the boat in.

When you are entering Nassau Harbor you ask Nassau Harbor Control for permission to come in. They then respond with what channel to go to and there are 3 questions they always ask.
1. Where did you come from.
2. Where are staying.
3. Your boat documentation number.
After all of this they said come in, have a good day and be careful.

At 8:45 we are tied up to the marina as are Paul and Christa. Showers, sleep are first on the list. Groceries next. This is the last stop that there is a real grocery store so you stock up. I went over with two bags and brought back fruits/veggies all I could carry while Bo watched the replay of the Arizona Wildcats Basketball.

I will send some pictures when we have more band width but just wanted to let everyone know where we were and we are fine and ready for our next adventure which should happen maybe Tuesday or Wednesday.

Calm Seas.

Joyce

February 9, 2016

I have not written for several days but thought I would send a few more pictures.

We have been kept busy with filming and interviewing. Bimini to us is a well kept secret, the kind of place we love to visit and spend some time.

We have had 3 fronts go past us and when I say fronts I mean winds. Today the winds at our dock are between 20-25. The sun is trying to come out but seems to be having a hard time. I think all of us are waiting for a window to either go to The Berries or Nassau.

We are having to go to Nassau as they have now passed a law like the states you have to a permit to fly a drone. We totally understand this. We have been given the people and offices to contact that can do this for us but they are in Nassau.

Let me send a couple more pictures. Another picture of The Dolphin House, he has even his stairways all done in a mosaic form and incredible. Our service is so slow I am not able to send another picture so will settle with this one.

February 3, 2016

Today was our tour of the Dolphin House, a must see.  What an incredible afternoon we spent about 2 hours there for filming and talking. I will try and include a picture, he Ashley Saunders is from here but went to college in Wisconsin then grad. school at Harvard and came back home to teach for 30 years. This house he started in 1993. I will send a link and you can get a better view and idea what it is all about. www.doLPinhousebimini.com.

We met a gentlemen whose name was Chipper and he was a carver and had carved a piece for the Dolphin House.

February 4, 2016

We walked to the Bimini Big Game Club Resort and Marina for 10am.and were there for about an hour. ( original owners were The Bacardi's) .We were given a tour and interview of the resort so we can go back and film. It is truly a resort . They have a motel unit and also single apartments. Big Game Club are very active into fishing and have many tournaments here. I have a picture of the structure they use to weight the Marlins. Right now the Discovery Channel has a crew here filming for Shark Week which is on their channel. Bo was able to interview a gentlemen involved in this production. We saw where they have the cages that divers get into with all the bars and can encounter sharks.

We walked back to Dolphin House to have Ashley sign more release papers and I was able to give him one of my nature treasure. Two years ago I found a glass bottle on the beach at Stocking Island. The bottle was from Trinidad and I filled it with tiny shells and then made a twine tie with shells attached around the neck of the bottle. I used this as a decor. Now Ashley has it for his home.

We took a shuttle to the very end of the Island to The Marina at Resort World Bimini. There is a Hilton hotel and housing addition here. The sea plane lands not far from here 4 times a day. We took a taxi back to the marina for $10 and spent some time gathering our thought and preparing for the next day.

About 3:30 I was walking to the beach and in a building next to the marina were 2 gentlemen outside. I stopped to ask a question about the huge fences land across from them. They were telling history and had pictures so called Bo and he came right over. He showed us pictures of what the estate had looked like back in prohibition days. It was bought and built for people from the US and later sold to people from DC. Part of it was destroyed by hurricanes but enough stand the family still comes today. The gentleman that owned the building (a disco) was named Star as he had been an athlete and coached for years taking youth baseball teams all over to play in competition. Star told us about people that had built and owned property for years and then sold it. One tidbit was the movie, "Silence of the Lamb" had the last scene filmed here right down the street so have to watch the movie again. We talked and looked at pictures for maybe an hour.  Wish we could get he along with others to sit for an evening of talk and history.

We then walked to the beach so I looked for shells and Bo enjoyed the sunset. As we got back to the boat the gentlemen on a sailboat across to us stopped to talk so we invited them over. They came with what they wanted to drink an some munchies. Everyone has a story and it is so interesting to hear all the stories about where they are from and why they are doing this and where they are headed. As we were talking the boat next to us from Chii (57 ft. Swan) needed more water hose to fill tanks. We all carry water hose that is used ONLY for water so gave them one of our 35ft hoses.

Here is a picture of the front of the Dolphin House, all hand done. Dolphins are 6 ft. It is like this all over, the sides, the steps to 2nd floor all of it unbelievable.

Joyce