Where are all the crusiers?

We got internet access before the big day(Christmas) so I thought I would do another blog because we have done a lot of things.  On the last blog we were still in Nassau getting ready to leave the next day.  We had what Al called “Our Last Supper” which was our last good meal at a restaurant that wasn’t hamburgers, fried chicken, ribs, mac & cheese, and coleslaw, the typical restaurant food in the Exumas, unless you pay a fortune. We went with couples on First Edition, Night Hawk and Blue Bay to East Villa a wonderful Chinese restaurant. 

Nassau Harbor Club

The next day we left Nassau Harbor Club to sail 6 ½ knots all day to Shroud Cay.  What a sail!  It was about time that we had a day like it!   

 

We got in and just chilled for the evening.  We came across with First Edition and another boat from the marina called Strathspey with Blair and Mary on board from Ottawa.   

Lynn & Peter from First Edition

The next day we met at our boat at 9am and went in our dinghies exploring the mangroves and to a beautiful spot at a cut through to the sound.  

Touring the Shroud Cay mangroves

Mr. Hermit with us.

 Here we got out on the beach and found a sculpture we called Mr. Hermit, made out of floatsum items. 

What a view from Shroud Cay

 Al and Peter climbed to the top of the hill for the view and found a light bulb along the way which Peter added to Mr. Hermit so he looked like he had a bright idea!  (And you wonder what we do for stimulation!)

 After lunch we moved on to Warderick Wells which is the Exuma Land and Sea Park.  It is one of my most favorite spots in the Exumas.  When we went to pick up a mooring, Al went for our boat hook and only then realized we must have lost it in those rough 4 -5 hrs. when we crossed over.  Luckily we had two.  

Blair playing the bagpipes at sundown.

We had happy hour on First Edition with Blair playing the bagpipes at sunset.  It was a neat experience again (if you remember we heard them in Fort Lauderdale too, but not on the boat we were on!).

Sunset at Warderick Wells

The next day we packed our lunch and went hiking with Lynn and Peter to get some great views of the park and our own boats.  

Can you tell the deeper water?

Lynn crossing the water to get to the views.

Boo Boo Hill with names of cruising boats on boards.

We stopped at Boo Boo Hill where cruisers leave their boat name on a natural object on the pile.  It is quite large so many cruisers have passed through here.  The view of the water is so magnificent.  You can see exactly where the deep water is and the shallows are.  Later I baked a cake because Lynn and Peter, Mary and Blair and Susan and John on Summer Salt (a boat Al called on the radio and said according to my charts you are headed right for the sand flats, they had Navionics charts which we have found from other cruisers who have them, not to be reliable in the Bahamas. They were very thankful to say the least!) came over for dessert and a game of Catch Phrase. 

John, Lynn and Peter

Blair making espresso to have with the cake.

Mary and Susie, part of the winning team!

We had a blast with girls against the guys, and of course the women won!

Blair entertaining us.

The following day, Lynn and Peter moved on, but we decided to stay another day to snorkel.  The winds were light so it made for good snorkeling.  We went to two different reefs in the park and saw a variety of fish large and small and one of the dreaded lion fish that is a terrible predator.  They actually would like you to kill the lion fish, but being in a “no take area for fish, conch or shells” we had nothing to kill it anyway.  Later that day we went to the beach where Blair sang a variety of tunes with his guitar.

The next day we did a lazy man’s sail with just the genny, down to Thomas Cut and went into Pipe Creek where Lynn and Peter on First Edition were.  We were shocked to see only three other boats there, because on our last trip there were at least twelve boats there.  Even in Warderick Wells the mooring were not full which have been in the past.  It has been light for cruisers this year.  We don’t know if they are just behind in getting here due to hurricane Sandy or that there just aren’t as many cruisers this year.  The real test will be how many are in Georgetown.