We continued our stay at George Town. Dean played more volleyball, and Kris decided that hiking every trail on the island, and mapping them would be fun.
Kris's goal was to make up a nice trail map of the island. She did not make it before we left, but did walk over 12 miles of trails. And took the machete out and cleared a couple of trails as well.
Kris's trail routes. No good map exists for other cruisers, so she might make one up.
The trails on the island are quite varied, some are pretty rough, some flat and easy, some mostly beach, and some rocky coastline.
Rocky beach trail
Liked how this rock formation made a perfect planter for the scrub brush (I think it is Wild Thyme)
What wind and water does to rock is always amazing.
Jagged iron shore along trail - crazy looking formations
Nice secluded beach
Kris added trail markers when she found scrap to work with.
Even though there are 300 plus boats anchored in George Town, Kris only saw about 3 other people out walking, and she walked both a mix of afternoons and mornings.
We did host a Manta catamaran get together and had people from 4 Mantas join us for a beach social.
Breathe, Indie II, The Great Catsby, Heihei Rere, all joined us for the social.
The beach on Stocking Island in George Town is the meet up place, and also where the George Town Cruisers Regatta is held. This is a two week social time with games, races, and activities. We went in for the Variety Show.
Dean at the mileage marker sign on the beach.
Large crowd gathered for the Variety Show
Our view of the show
Music act on stage
Finale of the show was a group who does Junkanoo came over and played for us.
Junkanoo group marching up to stage.
It was a fun evening. We decided that we were not into participating in most the activities. Those of you who know us well, know we are not big group kind of people. The weather was going to change, so we took the opportunity to leave George Town and head over to Long Island, where we will do some snorkeling and exploring.
Nothing much going on. Dean goes in to the beach in the morning to play volleyball. Started in the afternoon, but found that a more competitive group with better skills plays in the morning, so that is where Dean heads now.
A little practice waiting for more folks to form up teams
Kris not into volleyball, so each morning she heads out on one of the many trails. Some trails are rougher than others - lots of rock and hills, and others are quite flat and easy. Long barefoot beach walks are always good as well. Lots of pictures from the trails below.
Rougher trails up on the hill, where you are walking in scrub brush and rough rocks
Nice view of rocky shoreline
Rock stacks are trail marks on the hill tops
Lower trails, thicker taller brush and flat walking
Some swampy areas - but nice rock stepping stones
I think this is a poisonwood tree - don't get the sap on you
Lots of close palms on trail. Have to duck and weave a bit to avoid the fronds
Found this guy on the beach walk - glad I did not step on it.
Nice view of the very busy anchorage from the hill top
Nice beach walk
Lots of these little guys cause rustling in the leaves as you walk by
We did go into town and had a lunch out - wasn't worth it. $40 for a burger, fries and coke for two people, and it took about an HOUR from when we ordered, until the food arrived.
Waiting for food
Yes, that is a $15 dollar burger and fries
Did a separate trip to fill our propane. Long line of folks with their bottles waiting for their turn at back of propane truck.
In line with bottles, waiting for a fill.
Georgetown Cruisers regatta starts this week. It is a couple of weeks of fun races, goofy activities, and events. Haven't decided how much longer we will stay here - depends on if Dean wants to play in the volleyball competition.
Outboards, love them or buy new one? Our Honda outboard works well and then it doesn't and it becomes frustrating. We have run a good year without any issues but in George Town we have had some issues. The carburetor has been removed 3 times but it still isn't working as reliable as we want. Once it is running - it runs - but getting it started can be difficult. And it dies when at idle frequently. Kris is more ready to dump it than Dean, but new engines are very expensive so it is a hard decision to keep or not.
We had a uneventful sail north, with a couple of changes of plans. We had planned on sailing to George Town via Flamingo Cay, and then Water Cay, and thru Hog Cay Cut - but the weather and mostly waves decided differently for us. So instead about an hour out of Flamingo Cay - plans changed and we headed to the north end of Exuma Island, anchored for the night, and then headed southeast back into Georgetown. We sailed most the way - so that was nice. Coming into George Town, clouds formed - and we got a brief squall - always pleasant to anchor in.
You can clearly see the front line of clouds of the squall
Publishing early, as on Sunday we will be out of electronic communications range sailing between Buena Vista Cay and George Town Exuma.
We spent a couple more days on Hog Cay. We hiked through the brambles, as we had seen a straight line on Google Earth, and some ruins from the trail the previous day, and wanted to explore.
Found the rock wall that was showing as a straight line on Google Earth
