2/6/2011 LITTLE FARMERS CAY
SUPERBOWL SUNDAY
TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 0 NM
It was a much subdued Little Farmers Cay today with no races and no hoopla. The dock livened up as the folks from Nassau began to feed back onto the ferry for their long ferry ride home. Back went the “C” class Thunderbird, back went the pickup truck and back went all the travelers. Friends and family waved from the dock as the ferry cast off. Whoops! Here come three more. The ferry eased back to the dock and the tardy three jumped aboard then the large boat wove its way out of the harbor. Marilyn on Whisper was out on deck for the photo op as the ferry crept past their starboard. Close!
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| WAVING GOODBYE TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS |
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| NOW THAT'S A TIGHT FIT |
A few cruisers and locals alike gathered at the marina’s restaurant to watch the Green Bay Packers beat the Steelers. Halftime was a bit of a letdown, but who am I to judge?
2/7/2011 LITTLE FARMERS TO BARATERRE
MONDAY
TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 26 NM
After settling up our bill and taking on a little water we cast off our lines and headed out of Little Farmers bay. We thought we might again spend the night at Lee Stocking but found them overfull. However, while passing through the anchorage and mooring area, we spotted the sailing vessel Walkabout from Ira, VT. We hailed them on the VHF and found that it was a couple named Bob and Jean and that they were, indeed, from Ira. How funny to find someone from the little Ira, right next to our own little Middletown Springs.
After a short anchoring for lunch, we decided to move on. We pushed on another 5 NM to the little settlement of Barraterre (bar ah terry). Although this island is attached to Great Exuma Island by two bridges, it feels much removed from most of the hubbub. We did find the little blue “Touch Me Not” sailboat that won one of the races at the regatta. This must be its home.
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| BARRATERRE DOCK |
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| SUNSET OVER BARRATERRE |
2/8/2011 BARRATERRE ACROSS TO CAT ISLAND
TUESDAY
TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 53 NM
Our total lack of plans, beautiful weather and Dan’s desire to get in some fishing led us to head out across the Exuma Sound to Cat Island. Although it was a great day to be cruising, Dan only caught and released one barracuda before we tucked into Fernandez Bay Resort’s little cove for the night. We spent a fitful night surging side to side and decided we should have anchored farther to the more protected ends of this lovely little resort’s bay.
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| FERNANDEZ BAY RESORT ON CAT ISLAND |
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| THERE IS ALWAYS A PLAIN ARRIVING OR TAKING OFF FROM ONE OF THE FAMILY ISLANDS |
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| SUNSET FROM CAT ISLAND |
2/9/2-11 CAT ISLAND BACK ACROSS THE SOUND TO LEE STOCKING
WEDNESDAY
TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 53 NM
We were going to spend another day here on Cat Island but this really looked like the day to be traveling the Sound. So it was “pull up the anchor” and “off we go” time again.
Dan had barley gotten the second line in the water when a HUGE Dorado hit the line. The massive fish fought a fierce battle, diving down four times, but an exhausted Dan finally prevailed and landed the beauty. We iced him down until we got into the shelter of Lee Stocking Island then anchored way out to clean and dispose of the remains.
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| LOOK AT THAT POLE BEND! |
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| WHAT A BEAUTY |
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| THE CATCH OF THE DAY! |
Once hooked to one of the Research Center’s mooring balls, we prepared up some yummy Poke with little bits of raw Dorado and feasted upon that until grilling some for dinner. Wow! Now that’s what I call the “fresh catch of the day”.
2/10/2011 LEE STOCKING ISLAND
THURSDAY
TOTOAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 0 NM
We awoke to some choppy waters today and were glad to be secured to a mooring ball for the day. Dan and I found our way in the dink to Coconut Beach and hiked the trail up to Perry’s Peak, the highest elevation in the Exumas. Later in the day we ambled across the narrow island to the northeast side where we studied the flotsam and jetsam swept up on the beach and swam in the refreshing waters.
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| THE VIEW FROM ATOP PERRY'S PEAK |
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| I MADE IT! |
Dinking back to Quest, we discovered another Vermont sailing vessel. Van and Lauren Schwiebert on Gratitude live in Brandon, the next town north of our office in Pittsford. They invited us to come aboard and we chatted about our journeys and home connections for quite a while. “Six degreese”?
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| GRATITUDE FROM BRANDON, VT |
2/11/2011 LEE STOCKING ISLAND TO EMERALD BAY MARINA
FRIDAY
TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 15 NM
This morning we joined several other cruisers for the scheduled tour at the Perry Institute for Marine Science here on Lee Stocking Island. This is truly their “low season” so not much was going on right now. Later scientist and interns will be scurrying all around. Their mission is “To improve and enhance the understanding of the wider Caribbean region’s marine environment by supporting and conducting high quality marine research and education programs in order to provide solutions to people and our oceans.” One of their priorities right now is the study of the invading Lionfish that are decimating the sea as they voraciously eat anything that will fit into their mouths.
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| CRUISERS WAITING FOR OUR TOUR OF THE RESEARCH FACILITIES |
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| VAN AND LAUREN FROM BRANDON, VT |
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| SOME OF THE TANKS USED IN THE RESEARCH |
After our little educational diversion we dropped from our mooring, took the cut out and made our way south to Emerald Bay Marina where we will await the arrival of the Wragas, do some laundry and provision for the next week.
Vince and Marilyn on Whisper were there to help with our lines and joined us on Quest for a Dorado dinner. They will be heading farther south tomorrow so we our last few hours together. We sure have enjoyed their company.
2/12/2011 EMERALD BAY MARINA
SATURDAY
TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 0 NM
Clean, clean, clean! Laundry, make beds, ready for company!!
This lovely marina provides some great services for the cruisers that stop in. The laundry facility has 4 large washers and 4 dryers that we may use for free. Their exquisite showers are complete with all the Sandals amenities, large and clean. After finishing all our chores we took advantage of this nice bonus the escaped to the clubhouse to use their Wi-Fi and work on the blog.
After a perfectly wonderful weather week, a front is coming in tonight. Just about time for the Wragas to arrive, the wind increased and the skies began to darken. The marina arranged for a taxi to meet Mike and Barbara at the airport and we awaited their arrival.
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| ANGRY SKY |
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| CAN YOU SAY "WINDY" ? |
Holy cow! What a difference two hours can make. We were sweating from the heat one minute then the big wind began to blow in the cold front and the temperature began to drop. By the time Mike and Barbara got here it was blowing up a storm and continues all night. The forecast is not so great for the next week with winds every day.
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| WHAT A RECEPTION FOR MAIKE AND BARBARA |
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| THERE HERE! THERE HERE!! |
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