February 5, 2008
Just got Internet access at the Exuma Land & Sea Park Headquarters. Saw that the Giants won. I hope Dad enjoyed that and I can just imagine the ‘Oh, no’ from Stanley Point. Sorry, Betsy & Leona. I wonder if Peyton shared any secrets about the Patriot defense with Eli? I guess Barbie and I missed a good game, but here is what we didn’t miss.
The last post was full of short takes covering over two weeks. It seems like longer because the days have been so full. Friday, February 1 optimizes such a day. We snorkeled again at Allen’s and Highborne Cays. We sailed about five miles south when we heard Wild Card on the radio. We had met Dave & Butch last year. It is Butch (who collects materials and who makes her jewelry while she sails to sell during the non-sailing season) who showed Barbie about sea beans last year. We were about two miles from our destination at Shroud Cay when we realized that Wild Card was just 20 minutes behind us and headed to the same anchorage. So we spent sundown with Dave and Butch aboard catching up on “old times” and Butch gave Barb some additional sea bean finishing tips. Barbie said that the day was perfect.
Next day we dinghyed through the mangroves of Shroud Cay near the south end of the island trying to get to the ocean, but we were a little early and found too little water. We turned around and returned to the boat for lunch. We set out soon after to explore the route near the north end of the island and began by following two other dinghies. When one took a short cut that looked too shallow we followed the second one. When it became apparent that the next one was very tentative we took the lead and with our motor tilted we negotiated most of the way using the oars on two occasions. When we arrived at the ocean we found a little spit of sand on which we landed. We climbed a hilltop to gain a better view and we were able to see from the deep, indigo blue ocean to the banks and to where Jupiter’s Smile was anchored. Beautiful. The return trip was much easier because the tide was rising and running with us. We slipped our mooring and sailed five miles to Hawksbill Cay. At this anchorage we found the previous two dinghy owners, Dave and Roseanne on Pyxis and Ross and Rosemary on Sea Dance V. They gave us helpful advice about exploring Hawksbill Cay to fill our appointment book for the following day. Another good day comes to a close.
On Superbowl Sunday we hiked to the ocean side of the island passing ruins documented to be from the mid 1700’s when a plantation existed on the island. Once we came to the beach we walked until we came to the end of the sand, turned around and saw Rosemary approaching. She said that they had walked the beach the previous day and had seen a child’s plastic shovel among the debris and realized that they had one set of shovel and pail and a pail without a shovel aboard. They expected guests with two children in a few weeks and Rosemary decided that she should return to the sea shore “store” to retrieve the shovel to complete the second set. One man’s junk is another man’s …. After lunch we set out to explore the south end of the island and found several wonderful beaches and beautiful water. At no time did we know the score of the Superbowl on Sunday. We were definitely and comfortably in the minority.
Yesterday we sailed about 25 nm to cover about 14 nm of rumbline distance to reach Warderick Wells and checked our e-mail when we got to the park headquarters. We intend to snorkel the reefs near here. The wind is up to nearly 20 knots so it is an intention to snorkel not necessarily a plan. And for the rest of the week and until we get Internet access again (2 weeks?) the winds are not very favorable for our intended direction SE towards George Town. We hope to find Ted and Judy on Helen Irene before they depart for Puerto Rico and hope that Roger and Adel on Wild Horses can catch up with us soon as well. No other intentions presently.
Until next time, be well.
Just got Internet access at the Exuma Land & Sea Park Headquarters. Saw that the Giants won. I hope Dad enjoyed that and I can just imagine the ‘Oh, no’ from Stanley Point. Sorry, Betsy & Leona. I wonder if Peyton shared any secrets about the Patriot defense with Eli? I guess Barbie and I missed a good game, but here is what we didn’t miss.
The last post was full of short takes covering over two weeks. It seems like longer because the days have been so full. Friday, February 1 optimizes such a day. We snorkeled again at Allen’s and Highborne Cays. We sailed about five miles south when we heard Wild Card on the radio. We had met Dave & Butch last year. It is Butch (who collects materials and who makes her jewelry while she sails to sell during the non-sailing season) who showed Barbie about sea beans last year. We were about two miles from our destination at Shroud Cay when we realized that Wild Card was just 20 minutes behind us and headed to the same anchorage. So we spent sundown with Dave and Butch aboard catching up on “old times” and Butch gave Barb some additional sea bean finishing tips. Barbie said that the day was perfect.
Next day we dinghyed through the mangroves of Shroud Cay near the south end of the island trying to get to the ocean, but we were a little early and found too little water. We turned around and returned to the boat for lunch. We set out soon after to explore the route near the north end of the island and began by following two other dinghies. When one took a short cut that looked too shallow we followed the second one. When it became apparent that the next one was very tentative we took the lead and with our motor tilted we negotiated most of the way using the oars on two occasions. When we arrived at the ocean we found a little spit of sand on which we landed. We climbed a hilltop to gain a better view and we were able to see from the deep, indigo blue ocean to the banks and to where Jupiter’s Smile was anchored. Beautiful. The return trip was much easier because the tide was rising and running with us. We slipped our mooring and sailed five miles to Hawksbill Cay. At this anchorage we found the previous two dinghy owners, Dave and Roseanne on Pyxis and Ross and Rosemary on Sea Dance V. They gave us helpful advice about exploring Hawksbill Cay to fill our appointment book for the following day. Another good day comes to a close.
On Superbowl Sunday we hiked to the ocean side of the island passing ruins documented to be from the mid 1700’s when a plantation existed on the island. Once we came to the beach we walked until we came to the end of the sand, turned around and saw Rosemary approaching. She said that they had walked the beach the previous day and had seen a child’s plastic shovel among the debris and realized that they had one set of shovel and pail and a pail without a shovel aboard. They expected guests with two children in a few weeks and Rosemary decided that she should return to the sea shore “store” to retrieve the shovel to complete the second set. One man’s junk is another man’s …. After lunch we set out to explore the south end of the island and found several wonderful beaches and beautiful water. At no time did we know the score of the Superbowl on Sunday. We were definitely and comfortably in the minority.
Yesterday we sailed about 25 nm to cover about 14 nm of rumbline distance to reach Warderick Wells and checked our e-mail when we got to the park headquarters. We intend to snorkel the reefs near here. The wind is up to nearly 20 knots so it is an intention to snorkel not necessarily a plan. And for the rest of the week and until we get Internet access again (2 weeks?) the winds are not very favorable for our intended direction SE towards George Town. We hope to find Ted and Judy on Helen Irene before they depart for Puerto Rico and hope that Roger and Adel on Wild Horses can catch up with us soon as well. No other intentions presently.
Until next time, be well.
