Christmas at Warderick Wells, Exuma Land and Sea Park

The next day we decided to try hiking the shorter trail to the ruins from a beach around the corner from us. It was shorter but also had some steep areas to climb. We were successful in finding all 5 foundations of homes from the 1800's.

Checking out the ruins.

One of the five house ruins.

 There wasn't much left but it made me think, how in the world did these people survive on these fairly arid islands back then. 

The beehive furnace used to break down the conch shells.

 We also located the beehive furnace that they used to break down the conch shells into lime for use to make their walls of their homes. This area had lots of cacti and poison wood. However, it also had the antidote- the Gumbo Limbo tree. You are suppose to break the leaves and rub them on your skin to counteract the poison wood rash. It also said it could be used on wasp and bee stings.

The Gumbo Limbo tree- needed if you touch Poison Wood.

Later Serenity arrived in the anchorage with their problems fixed. To celebrate, Carina had us over for a Winter Solstice Pizza party. 

Pizza party on a catamaran named Carina.

 We had a great time enjoying each others company and getting a little fix of “communication.” That was catching up on emails because Mark and Kathy have an amplifier than got us just enough cell connection to get our emails if we held it right next to it.

Mary Jo enjoying the pizza!

Mike trying to get internet connection with his i-phone.

By ourselves we headed to Warderick Wells Park Headquarters. The rest were hoping for better weather tomorrow.  It was a miserable rough ride, taking green water over the bow when we hit a wave. We never expected on the bank side to have waves like that but we eventually made it in to one of the most beautiful spots in the Bahamas. We wanted to get there, because one of our goals was to put together the memorial bench for Pat Thorpe, our friend from Suncat, who died while we were hiking there last March. The other boats, Cool Cat and Makana who had the bench parts were already there. We made plans for the next day to put the bench at the highest point on the island, called Boo Boo Hill. It is a spot where cruiser's leave their boat names on pieces of driftwood in a huge pile. I finally remembered to make one and so we officially are on Boo Boo Hill.

We finally have a board on Boo Boo Hill after two other trips here.

Everyone carrying a piece of the bench.

Connecting the parts like a jigsaw puzzle.

A lot of pegs and glue.

It was a co-operative effort with Bill and Margie on Cool Cat, Katie, Rick and Hoku on Makana, us and Tom from Suncat to get the bench parts up there and put it together and selecting the spot. Katie pulled out a bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream and cups so that we could share a toast to Pat who was always ready for a party. We shared our wonderful remembrances of Pat as well as a few tears.

The bench is made of teak, and the two sayings were found in Pat's journal which says a lot about her.

Tom enjoying Pat's Perch.

This is the view if you look left while on the bench.

This is the view of the sound side toward the ocean when you look right.

When it was completed I felt our mission was just about done. I only had to send emails to all who contributed with a photo of the completed bench and the views from it. Once done I know Pat is looking down very touched and pleased that so many contributed to her memorial bench called Pat's Perch.

Serenity and Sequence arrived in the park that day with just as rough seas as the day we had getting there. Sequence took a mooring in the Emerald Rock area which ended up being a lot further away than they thought, so they asked if they could be moved the next day to the north field where we were and much closer to the office, ranger station and us..

Enjoying Christmas eve.  How do you like my elf?!!

The next day was Christmas eve. It was my day in the galley making apple crisp for dinner, a cake for

the Christmas pot-luck dinner as well as a salad. I had to pick the one day that there was no breeze blowing to be baking! Then after lunch it just poured the heaviest that we have ever seen in the Bahamas. Al collected about 20 gal. from the dinghy and another 20 from the deck that he got to flow into our tanks. The rain put an end to going to the beach for happy hour but not with our dinner with Dave and Toni. We had a wonderful Christmas eve dinner of baked ham, sweet potatoes, fresh mixed vegetables, cabbage slaw and apple crisp for dessert.

Can't get a better view than these!

Christmas day we celebrated with other cruiser's and some park personnel at one of the most gorgeous spots in the Bahamas. It was on the deck of the home for personnel in the park. They provided several turkeys and a ham. The cruisers brought the sides and desserts. Believe me, no one went away hungry! 

Carving the turkey.

Plenty of food!

Presenting the money remaining from the bench fund collected.

While there, I presented Cherry, the park personnel from the office with $140 left from our donations for the memorial bench for the park to use where they deemed necessary. After a busy afternoon we were ready to go back to Blue Heaven and just chill as we watched the sunset over the horizon. Just another wonderful day in paradise!