BEACHES, BURRS AND BEANS!!!!

Well, its seems like a long time since I have been back here to update the blog! Stacy left, then Dan and Judy left with their company and the three of us were all alone.  We spent the first week touring around in the dingy. We went over to Lee Stocking Island just about every day. We did not do much, but we did walk over to the ocean side to search the beach for treasures. One day Garth found SEVEN hamburger beans!! That is amazing! We listened in on the planning meeting for the regatta and almost volunteered for the scavenger hunt but then thought better of having an agenda or having a commitment. Last week the winds picked up which meant that if we had to go anywhere in the dingy we would have gotten soaked and it would not have been a pleasant ride, so we rented a car. We went to a different part of the island, a different beach and a different restaurant every day.  Garth found seventeen - yes, 17 beans in one day!!! We had a very pleasant time and shared the last few days with Roger and Anna aboard Free & Br Easy!

The boys relaxing on the beach!

So many beaches, so little time!

View from the Exuma Yacht Club bar.

Sunrise ..yes do see it occasionally.

Thanks to Garth our bean collection is growing 

The beaches here are amazing and empty. I do not think we saw another person the whole week.

However, walking the beaches does have its drawbacks, both Garth and Zeke got sticky burrs stuck in their paws....soles!  Both had to soak in epsom salts and both were attended to by Nurse Crachit, I mean Florence Nightingale.

Zeke's now wearing socks to keep the medicine on. Garth is doing well at keeping his bandages on!

We had thought we would leave here this Saturday and take our time getting back to Florida. However, the marina is out of diesel for starters and the wind is supposed to really pick up Saturday night into Monday! So, we may still be a fixture at the dock come Saturday morning.

Garth and Dan went out fishing this morning and we are waiting to see what they haul back in!! Will definitely take some pics if they catch anything!

A few more pictures from the past week.

Green Flash night at Farmers

Yep, he went in for the BBQ part first thing in the morning!

Santanas Grill, best lobster in Exuma

Zeke, Stacy and a local at Santanas beach

How do you walk in these things?

Zeke and Stacy snorkeling!

Catch a Fire Grill for sunset.

1967 totally restored Riva - a real beauty!

Can you see the bird on the flower!

WOW - a full rainbow!

Only three boats sank this time at the Five F Festival!

We had a really nice day at Compass Cay walking the beach. We introduced Stacy to trashing - walking the wrack line and looking for trash and sea beans. It is amazing what falls off peoples boats! We departed Compass and two hours later were tied up to the dock at Staniel Cay Yacht Club. Stacy, Judy and I went for a walk and managed to scoop the last two loaves of bread on the island.  We had dinner at the bar and all left happy campers. We decided to spend another night there before heading down to the festival. Zeke's paw is better but still not one hundred per cent so we wanted to keep him out of the salt water.
We arrived at Little Farmers Yacht Club just after two pm. We heard people on the radio asking about OUR slips and we quickly radioed Rosie to tell him we were on our way and do not give away our spots! There are only two slips here and we reserved them a few weeks back.

Let the party begin!

The Five F Festival  (FIRST FRIDAY IN FEBRUARY FARMERS FESTIVAL) started twenty four years ago and the Regatta started fifteen years ago. It is a huge deal here and every year they rent the mail boat to bring people from Nassau. We heard the boat coming long before we saw it. The population of the island quadrupled and it took over three hours to unload all the supplies. Several Regatta boats also came on the barge.

Big news in Nassau & Adien doing the race planning!

Didn't see them come in on the mail boat?

On Friday the 11 o'clock race got underway about 1:30. Even the announcer was asking that someone let him know what is going on. The music was blaring, people were milling about eating and drinking. There was supposed to be events going on downtown but because of the delay they just cancelled them. The day before we had gone for a walk and walked into the Ocean Club, they thought we were there to help organize the events. So, the day before they still hadn't figured it out. I guess with enough rum they hoped people would not notice the disorganization!
We saw two boats sink during the races - the water is shallow and the crew can literally stand in the boat. They have to dive down and take out lead, then the boat floats back to the surface. The third boat had a faulty pump and got towed into the harbour. It was gone the next day. It's always something on a boat

First they pull in the anchor 

Then they put up the sail and the race in on!

A little dangerous??

Whitty K and Thunderbird - neck and neck!

Rounding the first buoy.

Whitty K took home the hardware!

Golden Girl, the second boat to sink - note the dog coming to the rescue!

Third boat of the weekend!!

They loaded up the empties and quietly departed - the party is over for another year.

We stayed at Farmers until Monday as the wind really picked up. We thought of leaving on Sunday and going to Musha (David Cooperfields Island) but Garth read on the internet that he has unfriendly dogs loose on the island, On Monday the three of us walked across the runway and sat in our coral pit to watch the sunset. We saw a green flash at sunset - cool!

Tuesday we left early but not before Garth jumped in the water and retrieved the BBQ part that feel in last night. We went out  Farmers Cut all the way to George Town. Zeke had a gravol and Stacy spent time on the floor, in the chair staring at the horizon or on the deck catching the breeze.

Garth trying to get the part without having to get in - the current was really moving!

We rented a car for Wednesday and drove from one end of the island to the other. We stopped in Baraterre, the place that Dan picked Stacy and Steven up from. We had lunch at Santanas Bar and Grill, this was the first time Zeke had been back in the water for almost ten days - he was sooo happy. We had lightly battered lobster - yummy. We drove through Sandals and another resort Grand Isles and then drove around Emerald Bay Marina. It is very nice but it is literally in the middle of nowhere and there is nothing to do or see up there. At least here we can see people all day, go shopping, eat out and walk around.  We stopped at  the sandals beach, Garth and Stacy did a little bit of snorkeling  We all had a swim and I found a beautiful cowrie shell on the beach. It is still sitting on the dock waiting for the conch to evacuate.  Our last stop was Catch a Fire Bar and Grill, it is the best place to see the sunset and it was a great ending to our day.
Garth and I drove Stacy and Steven to the airport early Thursday. We were a little concerned about them getting out of Miami. Steven was heading to Boston and Stacy Toronto - the snow was due to start and they both needed to get home. Thankfully they both made it home safe and sound.
Garth and I have been taking in the local activities of chatn'chillin. We took the dingy over to Sandollar Beach, walked over to the ocean side and went for a walk. We have been over to the ocean side form another area - there is a beautiful three mile long beach. Garth found six hamburger seabeans and two heart seabeans - a good beaner!!  We plan on spending the next few weeks here taking in the scenery and relaxing.

Zeke is doing well, he is once again going to the beach and running through the waves like a puppy!

I have been trying to upload pictures for days with no luck, the internet connection is terrible.  I will post this now and try to upload some more  pictures later.

Bread, Zeke and Stacy!

George Town back to Perry Institute and back to Compass Cay

We moved off the dock on Sunday the 20^th and went around the corner to Red Shank Anchorage. We had our own beach and were safely tucked away. The winds were predicted to blow for the next few days and we were better off out there than slapping against the dock.
We woke up on Monday morning and Zeke could not put any weight on his left paw. I tell ya this dog is going to be the death of us! We got out the magnify glass and sure enough he had some left over burr pieces stuck in between  his pads.  Poor guy, we did our best to get them out and even asked eagle eye Dan to look at his paw. We bandaged up his paw and  all went to Chat n Chill Monday afternoon. It is a beautiful beach with an outdoor restaurant, volleyball net and picnic tables. The cruisers have events there every day, for example there was a class on basket weaving, they play dominoes and cards. Keeps you from going stir crazy or getting “cabin “ fever I suppose.  We had a tasty burger and just chilled, Garth played a bit of volleyball.

Conch salad anyone?

No Toronto but there is a  .........

PORT DOVER

 Tuesday, Zeke was still not bearing any weight on his paw.  Garth asked on the radio if there was a vet anywhere close by. Turns out that there is no vet but a woman answered and said she could help. We made arrangements to meet her on Hamburger Beach that afternoon.  We were all thinking that she was perhaps a vet tech but turns out she does distant energy healing. She did a session on Zeke and then suggested he have a foot bath the next day to draw out the toxins and any remaining burr pieces.  Humm........

Seriously ...distance energy healing!!

Tuesday evening Garth made bread – yes, you read it correctly – Garth made bread.  A few weeks back when we were at Farmers Cay we got talking to Andy and Debra from Port Dover. Turns out that Andy makes his own bread and he gave Garth a loaf and the secret recipe. May not sound like a big deal to you but out here bread is sometimes difficult to get.  We managed to get a loaf at Staniel Cay as the supply boat had been there but at Farmers Cay there was no fresh fruit or vegetables and no bread. The local bread , coconut bread, is great for French toast but it is very dense and a little sweet so it does not work for sandwiches.  Anyhow, Garth actually made two loaves and it worked out well. At 10 pm we were taste testing hot bread and butter. It to is very dense but I am beginning to appreciate dense bread!

Happily kneading

Waiting

Ahh the smell of fresh bread!

On Wednesday morning Dan and Garth took the tender over to get the distance energy healer and the equipment, they came back to Algonquin and Zeke had his foot bath. He just sat there with his paws in a tub and a current going through it. We were also asked to write out the words Love and Gratitude on two small pieces of paper and tape them to the bottom of his food and water dish.  The lady left about noon and at 2 o’clock Zeke was putting weight on his foot.  I wrote the words Love, Gratitude then added Sucker, taped them on the front of his dish and we are now just waiting to see him run in the sand! Will keep you posted.

Thursday we returned to the dock at the Exuma Yacht Club and spent the next two days getting ready for our company.  We did take a break to go back to the Rack n Scrape at the Peace and Plenty. This time we stayed for the music and I have to tell you we were all hurting units the next morning. Not sure if it was the rum punches, the dancing or a combination of the two! 

 Stacy and Steven (Dan & Judys son) were arriving on Sunday and the wind was really picking up. We did not want to get stuck in George Town. We decided to leave Georgetown and go back to the Perry Institute. We would wait there, Stacy and Steven would take a taxi to Barraterre and Dan would take Con there to pick them up. WHEW! the plan worked  Steven and Stacy arrived a little worse for wear and a bit salty but safe!  

We all enjoyed a wonderful dinner aboard Quest then it was early to bed.
First order of business was a trip to the Pink Iguanas for Stacy and Judy being driven in the tender by Steven. It was a little...ok a lot rough out there. Once they saw the Iguanas Steven brought the tender up to the back of Algonquin and Stacy literally jumped aboard! Again, a little worse for wear and a bit salty.

Pink Iguanas
We are presently on the inside and thank goodness cause it was so nasty out in the ocean today, 25 knot winds and 6-8 foot waves.  If we hadn't left on Saturday we would all be sitting at the dock in George Town

After 6 hours we arrived at Compass Cay

It's better in the Bahamas

 From Zeke :  My paw is healing every so slowly, I think I can milk this one for a few more days though as I really like the attention. The burrs here in the Bahamas are nasty. Also, for anyone who has not already heard the news I FINALLY got a zero on my Blastomycosis Antigen Test. This means that there was no fungus detected, if I get another zero on the next test  I can stop the medication!!!  Does that mean I will have to stop the pill pockets?

Perry Institute & George Town, Exuma

 Time travelled:   7 hours - (over a week)
 Nautical miles:   48.6
 Docked at:         Perry Institute Mooring & Exuma Yacht Club

Just another beautiful beach

 We left Farmers Cay and went to the Perry Institute for Marine Studies. They have several mooring balls in the harbor. Unfortunately, the institute has run into hard times and has closed. The mooring balls are still there but the "painters" or the loop to grab the rope is gone. They were attached with stainless steel and someone has lifted them. So, as Dan approached he drove by one ball and could see that it had no painter, he went to the next one - humm, the same thing. Judy tried to haul up the rope and ball but it was too heavy and too far up. Sailboaters have the advantage of their bow being closer to the water. Dan came out but by the time he got out there the boat had moved and it was still too far. So, Judy kept the boat in place and Dan got in their tender and drove around to the ball and did the lines from below. Then he drove back to us and I threw down the lines to him and he fed the lines through. Once we got settled we all headed over to Coconut Beach for some much needed R & R.
We spent three nights on the ball. The second day we went over to the institute. The first thing we saw was a skid loaded with computers just sitting there rusting away. Dan, Judy and I walked to the beach and trash surfed. I found two sea beans. One special one and one ordinary one.  When we went back we joined Garth and Zeke on Coconut Beach. The next day the four of us went back to the institute and walked to the beach from there. I found a hamburger sea bean and one other big one.

Seabeans!!

The day before when we were walking to the beach Dan noticed a pile of cooper, someone had burned the coating off of it and it was just sitting there. Well, the next day it was all gone. It was eerie because it was as if someone called and said OK everyone off the island we are now closed. There are clothes in the washers and dryers. Tools just sitting out, jars of food still sitting there. There is even a submarine parked up in the shed. While we were walking around the institute Zeke found himself up to his shoulders in a burr patch! (more to come on this misadventure)

Great! now I have a sore paw!!

We took our weather opportunity and left for Georgetown on Thursday the 17th.

Shark below the boat at Perry!!

David Copperfield's island, $325,000 a week

Sneaking through skinny water, 3.9 ft of water under the boat

A movie shoot, this is the supply/johnny on the spot barge!

Pretty scenery

We arrived at the Exuma Yacht Club and Marina shortly after noon.

Kids being kids!

Concentration!

It is right downtown Georgetown. After we hooked up we went for a walk. The grocery store is small but has everything you could ever need - not want - but need. You may have to wait for the next boat to come in but eventually you'll get it.  There is even a Royal Bank and a Scotia bank here. We went to the Peace and Plenty Hotel and Restaurant  for  Rake n' Scrape. You get to choose between BBQ chicken, ribs, hamburger and two sides - the sides are always - peas and rice, coleslaw or mac and cheese. The mac and cheese is more like a hardened glutenous mass, but it tastes OK.
On Friday, Garth and I walked around the lake and searched all the stores for distilled water . We have to wait until the next boat comes in. ( it is for the batteries) I cleaned the outside of the boat at the back getting rid of a ton of sand and grit! On Saturday, we walked over to the other grocery store and got a few things then finished up our shopping at the market across the street. We all jumped in the tender and went to the Fish Fry for dinner.

Bahamas Food Court

Clevon, the dockmaster, had recommended a place to eat but when we got there the women tending bar told us that the cook had to leave the island for a funeral. So, they could serve us booze but no food. We ended up at "Shirleys" and all had delicious meals. Cracked conch, curried grouper and a chicken wrap all washed down will eleven rum punches. We followed our GPS trail back to the boat and all was well!

We are leaving here to go anchor out for a few days and will return later in the week to get ready for our company. Cleaning, provisioning and laundry!
I have since learned that the Rake N Scrape is all about the music and not about the food. When we went there the first time the music was starting as we left.