We have lost track of time and are just now getting back to update the site. It's hard to believe that it has been a month since we last posted our adventures. There is so much to tell, but we think it better said with pictures.
We are now into our seventh month of cruising and loving it. We have been based in Sand Dollar Beach, George Town, Exumas, arriving in early February, and staying to welcome Pat and Larry and then Michelle and Charlie. We were here for the 26th annual cruising regatta held March 2-11, and a lot going on -- parties, sailing races, shows, contests etc..
It was sad to say farewell to our friends Denis and Marie from Honah Lee II and Eric and Sue from Pagan . We were all together from Little Farmer's down to George Town, and they left for Trinidad. And it was with joy that we greeted Patty and Ray on Cool Breeze , with whom we rafted at the North Carolina Welcome Center.
A highlight was meeting George and Toby Hohenstein, good friends of the Tuschicks and Arnolds and neighbors in Groton; Toby and Bob grew up in the same New Jersey town. For several months a year, Toby and George live on a houseboat in George Town (picture below), then summer on a barge in the French Canals.
Our days are spent walking beaches, hiking wooded paths, shopping in town, visiting with friends, attending beach parties, dancing on the deck at Chat 'n Chill. We drifted with 80 dinghies rafted together for a happy hour sunset, more than once tended a dragging anchor during continuing cold fronts, .....we even attended the opera by dingy!
Every few days we dingy into George Town under the bridge into Lake Victoria. These are the last pictures of the old bridge; it is being torn down and replaced. Once inside we tie up to the Exuma Market dock along with a few other boaters to get RO water and run errands.
We still have time to walk the beach and swing together. In the whole time we have been in the Bahamas we have yet to throw down a blanket and lay on the beach. There is just too much to see and do.
Pat and Larry were with us during Larry's Birthday Month; we visited a quiet harbor and beautiful resort on Calabash, Long Island and at Conception Island snorkeled the most beautiful coral reefs we've seen so far. Pat brought the best week of weather we've experienced; the night before Larry left was another front with 30kt winds and anchor dragging.
Cruisers like to get together to watch the sunset. Here 80 or so have rafted together to share appetizers, tell jokes, drift through the harbor, and blow conch horns as the sun sets.
We went searching for the turtles on Conception Island. Conception is a protected island with no homes or buildings or people living there. The day could not have been any better.....
followed by another beach party. Every place we go there are beach parties. Even on islands as remote as Conception.
Another adventure of Lorenzo and Roberto was off to see sharks. The only problem is one of them was a Lemon shark not the gentle nurse shark they expected. (Maggie and Pat watched from the dinghy.) The water was crystal clear, and the coral unbelievable.
Luther joined us a few days before Lorenzo left, and went everywhere with us. Here Bob is giving him a drink. Luther has now migrated to the cold north with Lorenzo and promises to come back next year to share the adventure.
Rosie is loving the life on the boat, since we're staying in one place. She's adjusted very well - particularly after she discovered the cat nip.
Michelle and Charlie brought a northerly cold front with them, and the wind blew 15-20 every day. We left our anchorage in Sand Dollar for the quiet protection of Red Shanks, 5 miles south. We toured the ruins of a late 1700s estate, with the most beautiful 360 degree views of water, lounged on the boat, and walked some beaches.
We will leave here soon and spend the next month going back up the Exuma Chain, over to Eleuthra, and up to the Abacos, where we will arrive in early April.
Life is good!!!!!!!!!!!!!