Daily Life Between the Fronts

Toni and Dave and Cathy and Tom

Final days in George Town had us enjoy the last dance with our friends, Dave and Toni and Cathy and Tom on Perseverance II.  We enjoy the dances so much and we just don't have anything like it back in Lancaster.  One other picture I had to share was this picture of the dog who you had seen in an earlier blog being pulled on a dinghy by his master who was swimming back to their boat.  This time, both the husband and wife as well as the dog went swimming by our boat.  I can't believe that dog could paddle that far!  

Fido the Swimming Dog

Besides be entertained by the dog, we also had a show by the local dolphins who swam around our boat several times and headed to the next boat anchored nearby.

Two dolphins who entertained us.

We left George Town on Wednesday, March 5^th with Tom and Meg on Suncat, a 33ft. Gemini catamaran and Dave and Toni on Sequence. We headed to Leaf Cay and anchored there thinking we would wait out a front that had west winds coming with it. However, Suncat and us decided to move to Pipe Creek the next day to wait out the front there. We felt there was more to do up there since we knew we would be stuck a few days due to the front. Dave wanted to do some hunting for lobster so Leaf Cay was best for that. So we departed and probably won't see them again until the ICW. They did not want to return via the Abacos so we separated for now.

We had a quiet, flat, down wind sail to Pipe Creek so I worked on another basket. Later we had Tom and Meg over for Happy Hour and just as it was starting to turn dark, our boat ended up being very close to a nearby catamaran called Zing. We anchored after them, and things seemed fine for three hours but with the current and the wind things got a little too crazy. When you want to say, “Do you have any Grey Poupon?” then you know you are too close! So we lifted anchor as it was getting darker and reset it, only to get too close to another boat. I said we were too close but Al said no, until the other couple asked us to please get further away, then we moved. Luckily, we got it down and our Rocna anchor held Blue Heaven through the squalls and winds at a constant 21knots through the night.

Homemade French Bread

The next day it blew strong all day. It was my baking day. I made two loaves of whole grain French bread and some brownies. I worked on finishing my basket, read, and beat Al at Uno Rummy Up. It is a game I never win. When you are stuck on a boat all day, you have to find something to do besides eat.

The following day the winds lightened but were out of the north so not good for moving north. We walked the sand flat where I found over 20 sand dollars in December but did not find even one this time.

The beautiful water from the sand flat.

The not so pretty sight on the sound side where all the trash lands from the ocean.

Sea glass treasures from the beach.

We also hiked two trails on the island and found a good amount of sea glass on the beaches. I actually found five pieces of royal blue which is very difficult to find. So in the sea glass world it was a good day!

We left Pipe Creek and headed to a place we had not visited yet called Cambridge Cay. It is included in the Exuma Land and Sea Park and so is a “no take zone.” It was a beautiful place and so glad we came. It is definitely should not be missed. We were able to pick up a mooring but they do allow some anchoring in certain areas. There were two trails on the island that we hiked.

Panoramic view of Cambridge Cay area from on top of the hill.

View of the cut north of Cambridge Cay.

One took you across to the sound side beach where you could hike up a trail to a very high point for some fantastic views. There were also trails to the northern cut that were not on the map which were fun to follow.

 The Honeymoon Trail took you to Conch Cut (the cut south of Cambridge) where the Coral Gardens are for snorkeling. We snorkeled there and the Sea Aquarium the next day. The “Sea Aquarium” should not be missed. The fish are so plentiful and come right to you waiting to be fed! I had some bread in a ziploc baggie in my hand and a fish grabbed it out of my hand. It floated to the surface due to the air in it, so I got it back.

Al surrounded by fish at the Sea Aquarium

 You can see Al feeding the fish. If you don't want to be surrounded by fish, don't bring food.

Talk about fish lips!

Large parrot fish.

This place had the most varieties of fish we have seen in one spot; hundreds of Sargent Majors, Blue Tangs, Nassau grouper, Jacks, Red Snapper, Parrot Fish and Angelfish. At the Coral Gardens we saw larger parrot fish, grouper and a 4 ft. barracuda. There was some interesting large brain coral there too. We have snorkeled more this year than in the past. The water temperature was warmer than in the past with it being closer to 79º and some calm days which makes it more pleasant. Although we have had fronts come through, overall the air temperature was warmer than our other two trips here.

The second day we were in Cambridge this little 125ft. motor yacht named Ohana, came in and took a mooring next to us.  Well, there went our view! The least they could have done was invite us for a drink!

Found out that Ohana was for sale.  Any takers?

We left Cambridge Cay and headed across the sound to Eleuthera about a 48 mile day. The wind was southwest and behind us for most of the day until we reached closer to the island where it became a close reach and we were sailing 7 ½ knots just soaring along. 

Soaring along at 7 1/2 knots.  That is Al's kind of sailing!

There were about 15 boats that came across because another front was headed our way and Rock Sound on Eleuthera has good protection while the winds clock around. The nasty squalls were to come during the night but we lucked out and the strong winds did not come until late morning and very little rain, but the wind blew strong and once again we experienced another day not leaving the boat. Al seems to like those days because he knows I will bake. Once again he got fresh bread and oatmeal raisin cookies. I hope we don't get too many of these days or those pounds I worked off this summer will creep back on!

Some people wonder how well do we eat on the boat. Al eats very well because I find I have more time to try new recipes and more time to cook without worrying about gardening, housework and outside commitments which I have at home. This week he had Beef Bourguignon and Curried Chicken which he said were two recipes that were keepers.

We eat quite well on Blue Heaven with Beef Bourguignon.

The winds changed from west to north which caused us to move across the harbor near town to be more protected. I was glad because the fresh fruit and vegetables were getting low so food shopping and laundry were on the list for me, and getting water and fuel were Al's jobs. Believe it or not but that took us most of the day and we plan to move on tomorrow since the winds are favorable to sail. We will move to northern end of Eleuthera and if all goes as planned we will be in the Abacos on Sunday.