2023-01-15 Ragged Islands - Haitian Refugees - You tube video out.

As planned on Monday we went into town to Hillside Market – which we think is one of the best stores in the southern half of the Bahamas.  

Doesn't look like much from the outside, but is packed with food inside.

Got our fresh fruit and veggies stocked up for the next month.   Back to boat, then to the fuel dock, where we topped off diesel at $6.89 per gallon – ouch!  Only put in 43 gallons – but still hurts the pocketbook.   We should not need any more fuel until back in the states hopefully.

Got a nice surprise when we got back, the other boats in the anchorage were getting together for beach happy hour, and we were invited.   Had a fun time meeting some new folks and visiting – until the no-se-ums after dusk drove us back to the boat.

 

Beach happy hour in Thompson Bay

Left early the next morning, for a nice spinnaker sail – had not done that in a while – but winds built, so dropped the chute, and went with main and jib.  

We still really like out spinnaker

Long sail – 55 miles, but relatively calm seas and pleasant day.  Stopped at Flamingo Cay in the Jumentos for the night – and had a bit of a rolly night.  Next morning up early and another very pleasant sail down to a nice spot between Ragged Island, and Little Ragged Island.  

Our friends on Sojourn were there, as well as some other folks we know.   

Tradition here is to all meet up for happy hour on the beach – which is a great time to visit and meet new folks. 

The guys even got together to roll a heavy log up higher on the beach so it would not be floating around offshore presenting a danger to navigation.

Poor Duane could not find a spot to get to the log so he only got to encourage the others.  Very heavy log, as it really did take the 5 guys to roll it uphill in the sand.

During the happy hour we found out that the video taken of us by Adventureman Dan was out.   You can view it here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYMn3Qsyxds&t=3s

Next day we drug Sojourn along on an adventure.  Kris had seen some caves near the water on the island as we had sailed down and wanted to explore.  We dinghied up, and Kris and Karen hopped off the dinghy onto sharp iron shore to explore a cave – found it covered in goat poop, and quite smelly.

Neat looking caves, this one had some small tunnels going further in, but very dark and small so we did not climb in.

Kris and Karen got dropped off and explored this cave.  Duane and Dean stayed in dinghy, as shore was iron shore with sharp rocks, and we had to be very careful to keep the inflatable dinghies away from shore and safe.

The cave was very stinky - fresh and old goat poop and pee everywhere and thick on the floor

Inside the cave

Cave exploring done - We then beached the dinghies, and tried to find a fresh water spring that Kris had seen listed.  Got scratches from the brush – but no obvious spring.   

Duane and Karen helping to find the elusive Blackbeard's well - fresh water spring

Next day was cloudy, but the sun came out just in time for nice snorkel mid day.  Saw some nice coral, and one really nice ray.  Sojourn even got a lobster. 

Had Sojourn over to the boat for pizza and card games.  Karen made absolutely delicious cookies which we all enjoyed – and Duane trounced us in cards.

 

Next morning quite windy as predicted, and around 6:40 in the morning heard voices.  We were inside having breakfast, and looked out and saw a line of people on the beach.   Dean counted 60 of them.  

Some of the Haitians on the shore.

We contacted Sojourn, as we knew they had the phone number for the Bahamas Defense Force.  They called and alerted them.   After another hour, more cruisers woke up and noticed the people, and one of the boats gathered water and food from the cruisers anchored here and took it in to them and spoke with them.   They were all Haitian refugees and thought that they had made it to Miami.   They were informed otherwise – and you could see a group of excited happy folks, get sad and depressed quite quickly.    The Bahamas is a fairly poor country, and they can not handle care and feeding of refugees, so most all get sent back to Haiti.    This group had come over on a very rough built boat that is less than 30’ long.   A very dangerous, rough trip – only to find that they most likely will be sent right back to Haiti.   At least they made it alive, many perish on the journey, or land on an uninhabited island and perish from the landing on the rocky cliffs.    It is a sad situation. 

The Haitians were all picked up off the deserted island of Little Ragged where they landed, and shuttled by boat to the north to Ragged Island, which has a population of about 60 people, and where the Bahamas Defense Force has a station.

After the morning excitement, we decided a nice beach walk was in order, so Sojourn, us and Joe and Tina from the Manta 42 catamaran Sea Seeker went for a nice walk.   We had not met Sea Seeker before, so nice to get to know them.  

Part of beach walks in the Bahamas is unfortunately looking at the trash that has washed ashore.  Most the trash is not from the Bahamas, but from further south Caribbean islands, and some from the other side of the Atlantic.

Dean created beach trash sculptures

Goofing around with more beach trash.

 

Joe from Sea Seeker, Dean and Karen from Sojourn 

Rugged, but walkable east coast of Little Ragged Island

Joe and Tina of Sea Seeker posing for a photo

Several little crabs out on the beach.  This little guy stayed still long enough to get a good photo.  About size of your hand.

We will hang out here for a few more days - no definite plans - our only schedule is to be in Georgetown by February 13th - as Derek is coming for  visit and will fly in there.