March 10th, 2019
JR
We came across JR on our rambles who is the island carver and as you can see a very good one too
March 10th, 2019
peace and tranquility
After the cave we buzzed over to Little farmers Cay for a wander around what is a lovely little community which has a laid back and friendly approach to life that's captured in this picture of contentment
March 10th, 2019
A good day
It was a great pleasure to catch up with Ian, Michelle and the good ship Mahina in Staniel Cay of the Exumas (if you recall they sailed with us down the ICW from Norfolk and on too St Augustine)
In fact, we are sailing together and this picture is us at anchor close to Little Farmers Cay thanks to a fantastic couple of hops south from Staniel Cay. The morning saw a fresh reach to Black Point where we popped ashore to use the laundry before upping anchor and having another blast to where we are in the picture.
The picture was taken just before we disappeared into the Island in search of a large cave that was eventually found by tracker Tracey - eat your heart out Tonto, you've nothing on a Cornish maid.
That morning Ian and I went for our daily explore and exercise with me on my now trusty paddleboard and his kayak. On our return we saw something big in the water and a huge eagle Ray about six feet across swam between us with its wing tips just about brushing us. Talk about thrilling and at the time I would have paid thousands for a camera. I now take it on my paddles for I am sure there will be more.
March 10th, 2019
Food Chain
The harbour is teaming with these little fish and we were fascinated to watch the food chain in action as larger fish flitted about leaping out of the water as they fed off them. Underneath that little tableau we had big rays and nursing shark feeding off the bottom. Watching nature has to be one of the highlights of this trip and we never cease to be thrilled. In fact we had a lovely breakfast in the cockpit at Spanish Wells where a dolphin spent an hour cruising about the back of the boat. I jumped in for a swim with it but found that the water was unusually murky - better luck next time.
March 10th, 2019
Library
From Spanish Wells we sailed to Governors Harbour for we had to extend Traceys visa, mine being extended at the airport immigration on return from one of my work trips to Europe. It's a lovely spot that offered us a day off as we waited for Monday. These down days are welcome for it feels like a Sunday with eggs for breakfast and this case a lovely paddle-board and lots of tea and reading.
This is the library with the anchorage in the background.
March 10th, 2019
Gas
From the Abacos we had a long day down to Eleuthra which is one of the big Islands out to the east of the Bahamas and is quite different from the Abacos. Eleuthra means freedom and was named by Capt William Sayles and his group of Puritans who ended their search of religious freedom by settling here.
Of the many communities on the Island we love Spanish Wells for its charm and friendlness. It is a classic island community of seafarers where everyone is kind, generous and has a role in keeping the Island going. This is Richard topping up our gas bottle in his front garden - a lovely person who I could have yarned with all day.
Health and Safety - eat your heart out.
March 10th, 2019
Marsh Harbour
Marsh Harbor could never live up to the stunning anchorages of the Abacos Cays but it makes up for it with incredible holding for the anchor and perfect shelter. Its other asset is that it is a great staging post to head back out into the wilds. As such we had a busy couple of days ticking off the job list, doing a laundry run, food shopping, topping up fuel and sitting out a healthy front which had torrential rain through the night and washed all the salt off Pearl. We also had fun meeting people thanks to our Ocean cruising Club burgee and the generally social nature of cruisers. Amazingly we found that we had five couples from Cornwall, all with mutual friends. Wouldn't believe it would you.
March 10th, 2019
Treasure at the end of the rainbow
One of the highlights of the Abacos as our time in Double Breasted Cay which could only have been named by a randy sailor of old. I couldn't see the likeness but it did have a pleasant undulation and was soft underfoot. Before some feminist chooses to take offence that's Tracey's input - gotta laugh.
The waters are as clear as mountain air and being in the middle of nowhere the sea life is amazing. We saw a hug sea snail that had left its shell and was about eight inches long and six high. An eagle ray jumped out of the water in front of us, turtle flitted about and Brian and I were able to put plenty of food on the table.
We loved it and were sad to leave but we had Alexs deadline to meet and a fresh broad reach is a hard thing to turn down. We pulled up the anchor at sunup and dropped it again in Marsh Harbor at sundown having rattled out a fantastic 80nm. One of those days that sticks with you and will enlighten old age. A perfect day.
