2023-03-26 Lindsey's visit - watermaker out again

Our niece Lindsey flew into Staniel Cay on Monday the 20th in the late afternoon/evening, after a couple of delays in her flight.   We got back to the boat, upped anchor and moved to Big Majors, as winds were clocking and becoming strong out of the NE.    

Next morning, we made her suffer through 4 hours of motoring in to strong NE winds and seas, to get up to Waderick Wells.   Now normally we would not do this, but we had to be in Nassau by Friday night, so we did the cruiser unthinkable - we made a schedule.  Fortunately, that was the only unpleasant 4 hours of the next week - so not bad at all.

We went for a couple of nice walks on Waderick, and a great snorkel where we saw lots of fish, and a group of 3 large spotted eagle rays.  The rays were a good 5 feet across and had tails that were 3 to 4 feet  long.  Spent 10-15 minutes watching and following them, very impressive.  Unfortunately, forgot the underwater camera, so you will have to take our word on it.

Our niece Lindsey - beautiful girl, and beautiful water at Waderick Wells

2023-03-19 Pipe Creek snorkeling and walks, Black Point SSCA Gam and Manta get together

We stayed a few more days at Pipe Creek, went snorkeling with Jason and Monica from Breathe, and walked the beaches with Breathe and Aaron, Julie and dog Piper from Turnerbout

Some nice large brain corals

Interesting clumps of corals and fishes

This goat seemed very curious about us, but eventually ran away when it spied the dog

Large crashing waves on the east side beaches

This little guy wasn't very afraid

Beautiful moon rise

After a couple more days at Pipe Creek, including a Pi day, 3/14, celebration on Breathe, where Monica made up apple pie and ice cream (sooo good) to celebrate Pi day, we headed south for the Black Point SSCA Gam, and Manta gathering.

Lorraine's café hosts the SSCA Gam  SSCA website .   Basically a bunch of cruisers get together for a fun time, with a nice buffet dinner at Lorraine's restaurant, and then two days of afternoon music, food and beach activities.   We went to the buffet, had a good time, and did one afternoon of beach activities.

We also had a Manta catamaran lunch, with 5 of us Manta owners there (Charm, Breathe, Imagine, Sea Seeker, and  Green Envy (power cat))   

Full anchorage at Black Point

Fun beach activities and socializing

Monica and Jason participating in one of the many games - egg races

Kris joined in on the games, and at the end of the event they even gave out trophy's.

Kris's trophy

It has been a fun 3 days, but it is time to move on, now the festivities are over.

This morning woke up to heavy rain.  Nice to have, it has been a couple of months now without rain it seems.

Cloudy rainy morning - filled the water tanks, and got the boat rinsed off

Our niece Lindsey gave us a nice surprise, and is flying into Staniel Cay, where we will pick her up, and get to spend a few fun days with her, before dropping her off in Nassau, where she will spend a week on a dive boat.  So this coming week should be good fun spending time with Lindsey.

2023-03-12 Hanging out, waiting for watermaker parts, swirly winds

We have been having a week of swirly winds.  First they are south, then west, then north, then east - you get the picture.  

That means our travel is dictated by the winds, and were anchoring protection can be found - which is always the case, but this last week more so as normally we have a week or so of  winds from the same direction (trade winds), but this last week is more like a day from the same direction.

We spent a couple of days at the south end of Big Farmers Cay.  Just hanging out and had a nice beach walk, and spent a couple hours visiting with Ross and Phyliss on Kohina who have a 41' Maine Cat.

Nice beach, with small mangrove river

2023-03-05 Watermaker issues, calm waters, projects

 A good weather window came up, so we decided to head over to Long Island for a while.  There was going to be some very calm weather, and Kris had wanted to check out an anchorage, that looked interesting, so we headed out.

We anchored in a nice spot, that had a blue hole nearby.  We had heard that there was good snorkeling, so headed over to check it out.  Nice dinghy ride, but we saw virtually nothing on the snorkel.  No fish, shells, coral - etc etc.  Pretty boring.   

Got back to the boat, and Dean decided to start up the water maker - and it would not start.  Checked all the electrical connections, and it was getting power to the motor - but would not start.  Kris went and pulled out the brushes - as they are a wear item, and usually the motor will start slowing indicating brush wear, but that had not happened.   Well, when we pulled the brushes out we found the problem - one brush had separated.

The brush doesn't have a lot of wear, but certainly won't work broken apart.

2023-02-26 More time at George Town, Exuma. Trail hiking.

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.

2023-02-19 - Just hanging out in George Town, taking walks and playing volleyball

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.   

2023-02-12 George Town, Exuma - bit of a boring week - Derek's trip cancelled

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