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After an excellent crossing a beautiful sunrise over
Nassau and the Atlantis Resort is a favorable omen for the rest of our
trip. |
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The small lighthouse that marks the harbor entry is a
frequent photo subject. Today it was trying to hurry us along because
the
Disney Wonder was entering the harbor behind us and uses all the
spare room to maneuver. |
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For the third year in a row we are in Nassau for New
Years. It's not by plan, it just happened. We actually stayed awake
until midnight, not usual for the old fogies we seem to be becoming.
We set chairs on the foredeck and had a great view across the harbor
toward Atlantis. In
the top photo Lynn and Toby wait expectantly.
I suppose that like so many things, fireworks all start looking
alike but when your in the moment, the constantly changing
kaleidoscope sky and the percussion of the aerial bombs it is
exciting. I got carried away shooting pictures and a small sample is
offered here.
At midnight, we popped open a bottle of champagne and welcomed the
New Year with a toast and a kiss. The kiss was much better than the
champagne. |
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People who know us wonder how we eat so well while
cruising. Lynn plans well and stows a lot on board. In two days we
will have been gone two months and we are just beginning to see the
water line at the bow. Our fridge, while large for most boats is
small compared to a house. Lynn shot this picture to show how full she
keeps it. By cruise end it will be more normal. We have consumed
enough, however, that she can keep a couple of ice trays in the
freezer section. It's nice to have ice in our drinks. |
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Highborne is naturally pretty, but it is also well
kept. When they put up a sign it is often unusual but well done one.
The book exchange is at Cheap Charley's Oar House.
Even a stop sign can be an art piece. |
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Although it was cool and blustery, we took a nice walk
around the island and snapped a few photos. You can tell it is cool,
Lynn has on long pants. George was unwilling to abandon shorts but
resorted to a long sleeve over shirt. Lynn stands by an artful
collection of flotsam and artifacts. Then we see her on the hill
overlooking the sound.
George is seen along the marina wall with Sunspot Baby in
the background.
Toby wonders why he was not invited on the walk. Well, the marina
has a male dog, Mr.Wilson, and Toby has demonstrated his unwillingness
to get along well with other males, so we didn't risk an encounter. |
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Lynn does the vast amount of meal preparation, but
occasionally George jumps in. Here we see him about to prepare his
special "Penne Ala Norcina," penne pasta in a carbonara sauce. |
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Our annual trip up Boo Boo Hill was nice this year.
Not too hot, not too cool. In the first picture is one of the signs
marking the trail while the high ground in the back is Boo Boo HIll.
We always meet some of the bold curly tailed lizards along the way.
Usually they are perfectly willing to pose for a portrait.
The third photo shows George on the trail. In his left hand is the
pre-prepared sign for the hill.
The sign is clearly visible in photo number 4. We screwed it to a
log below it in the hopes that it will last through the hurricane
season.
Lynn poses atop the hill near the signs left by other cruisers.
The last two photos are a couple of the beautiful vistas seen from
the hill top. The last shows a boat departing. |
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It's hard to express how clear the water is here.
These three photos help illustrate the point. The first is looking up
the mooring field from near the turning buoy. Sunspot Baby is
the last boat in the distance. Even shooting at an angle to the
surface, the bottom is clearly visible. Shooting down from the
dinghy into the water shows clarity. The bottom is about 12 feet here.
Our dinghy, Chase Boat, seems to be suspended in air rather
than water. |
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George spent an afternoon on the patrol boat scoping
out the area where we are volunteering. |
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While sailing from Warderick Wells to Staniel Cay we
passed a couple of friends on other boats. The top photo is Adamant 1.
The middle Blue Blazes. The fact that we passed them is not fair. We
were making water and had an engine on so we were motor sailing.
The last is an unnamed boat that we don't know but she looked
pretty sailing along and we took the shot. |
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Welcome to Staniel Cay, always a nice stop for us.
The whole sign on the wall, a portion of which we see here, says
"Welcome to Staniel Cay."
The clinic along the main road has a nice garden in front.
There are two stores, the Blue Store and the Pink Store. The Blue
Store is now renamed Burkes. We got the proprietor to pose in the door
for us, but the light was not good.
Sunspot Baby doesn't have much company at the dock. We used to have
to fight for space with the mega yachts to get in here. We don't miss
them.
The bottom sign should remind all the rich folks that are buying up
islands that they only own from the high water line up. The beaches
are supposed to be open access. |
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Dinner at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club. No special
occasion other than to have a nice evening ashore and for Lynn to get
a meal she didn't have to fix. |
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Last year we were invited for dinner aboard Soul Mate
III and they served a Thai Pork Loin. We loved it and Lynn got the
recipe. Finally Lynn made her first attempt and it was delicious. |
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Both of us are active in the on line Cruisers Forum.
We frequently meet other boaters who know us from the forum. We try to
get pictures when we can to post for other members to see. Here are
"Jan B" and her husband Mark from Seas The Day. |
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Doing laundry by hand is not fun and we usually get to
a Laundromat somewhere often enough to avoid hand wash. Occasionally,
however, it can't be avoided and then the boat takes on a laundry day
look. Sunspot Baby usually looks more like the lower picture. |
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While moored at Cambridge Cay, we got a chance to get
a couple of sunset photos. Ho hum, just another sunset in paradise. |
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A park boat came by many days while we were hosting
the Cambridge Cay mooring field. All of them, park employees and RBDF
(Royal Bahamian Defense Forces), and volunteers were friendly,
helpful, and just genuinely nice to be around. On this day two
ladies from the Bahamas National Trust, the organization in charge of
the 26 parks in the Bahamas, came along. From left to right Tamika
(Director or Parks and Science for the Trust), Natasha, Lynn, George,
and Henry. |
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While at Cambridge we had a brief period when it was
like being at home. We had five boats from our little marina all at
one time. One of those is also in our yacht club. At the top the
crew of Sunspot Baby is joined by Arne and Beverly aboard Scandia
as we show our Farifield Harbour Yacht Club burgees.
The lower photo are the folks from Northwest Creek Marina. Beth and
Dave aboard Grateful Attitudes, Arne and Beverly on Scandia,
Lynn and George crew of Sunspot Baby, and John and Cheryl on
Leprechaun.
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Volunteering was not all work and no play. We took
walks on the island and went for a couple of snorkels. You and see us
on the beach on the sound side of the island and our dinghy waiting
for us when we return. Then George driving the dinghy back from a
snorkel. |
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Pelicans are rare in the Bahamas but we had a very
bold one visit our boat on Monday 1/25. I thought when I came out to
take a picture, it would fly away. Instead it was very bold and walked
right up to me. Unfortunately, the picture is backlit but you can
still see quite a bit of detail. |
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Sampson Cay is a new stop for us this year. It is a
small resort and marina rather than a village. The marina while
pricey is very well protected. We, however, took the cheapskate route
and are anchored out near the resort.
Any place the fishermen come in to clean their catch, there will be
resident nurse sharks. Sampson Cay is no different and there are
usually several hanging around the docks.
We had dinner for "Bahamian Night" their usual Friday special. It
was barbequed ribs or chicken, pigeon peas and rice, Bahamas style mac
and cheese, and corn on the cob. It was delicious. Don't take the
pucker of Lynn's mouth as an indicator of the food. The waitress took
three tries to make the camera work and Lynn was getting impatient. |
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Uninhabited islands were the norm along the Exuma Cays
not so long ago but now rich folks and celebrities are buying them up
and either developing resorts or setting up there own version of Never
Never Land. David Copperfield bought Musha Cay sometime ago and
established his own little HIGH END resort. People like Bill Gates
rent the whole island for vacation. They have placed "swim area"
markers far out into the narrow little channel that runs along the
west side to keep the riffraff in their sailboats from using the
protected anchorage there. They have serious looking security people
on the island to tell you you can't do what's legal, like go on the
beach (see the sign at Staniel above). Now we see there is a police
boat stationed there.
If you want to rent it, just
click
here.
We are unsure who built the castle on this island but it is very
near where Faith Hill and Tim McGraw have their island.
I guess it's not paradise lost, it's paradise bought. |
