Yes, They Have No Bananas

The view of Black Point harbor.

While at Black Point we got laundry and the blog done at the newly renovated Lorraine's Restaurant.  The next day we played a bit, by walking to the beach where on the way I took this shot of the harbor.  It was taken directly into the sun which makes it look like a black and white shot.  Sometimes black and white is all you need for a great shot and how appropriate for a place called Black Point! 

Our sea glass find.

At the beach Al and I searched for sea glass. We got a pretty good haul that day which I needed to make some more sea glass candle holders for the benefit auction at Staniel Cay.

The pigs come to see the tourists, or is it the other way around?

We returned to the Staniel Cay area the following day and to the Big Major spot, where we once again anchored not far from Pig Beach. People come to see the pigs on tour boats from resorts and tenders from all the huge mega yachts that come for the holiday week . The pigs love to be fed and I am sure the mega yachts have plenty to share with them. This year the huge yachts seem to be more plentiful than ever. At one point we counted seventeen of them.

Just one of seventeen!

The yachts are not so bad, but it is all the play toys they bring. Some have more that two tenders, most have several jet skis that their passengers zoom around the anchorage creating wakes going every which way and so do our boats!

Just some of the play toys on a smaller yacht.

To get away from all the wave action, we took our dinghy over to Staniel Cay to walk around and see if there was any fresh produce to be had. Unfortunately, the boat was due in the next day. But I did get two oranges and a box of oatmeal. We checked out Staniel Cay yacht club which had recently added an addition.

Newly remodeled Staniel Cay Yacht Club

They were prepping for their Pirate Party that night but this is all we saw of it.  We were too far away to come in after dark.

Aargh!  Too bad we could not make the pirate party.

Later in the afternoon we had a happy hour on Middle Beach which our friend Marty called over the vhf and got a pretty good crowd to come.

People coming in for the Happy Hour on the beach.

The supply boat, the Captain C arrived around 9:30am the next day, so around 11:30am we went to Isle's General Store hoping the food would be out but it wasn't. Just as we were about ready to leave, the pick-up truck came with the first load. The owner a Bahamian woman said it won't be long. She would not let us in until all was unpacked and that included the second truck load as well. So about an hour an half later (that is the Bahamian for “not too long”)we finally got to shop. People were waiting outside because the boat did not come in Christmas week due to too many people taking off for the holiday week so there had not been fresh food for two weeks. We returned to the boat with our fresh supplies except for bananas. Yes, they had no bananas, just like the song says!  Two weeks without bananas, I don't know if Al can survive!

Tourists and cruisers arrive for auction and dinner.

About 3PM the benefit auction started at Staniel Cay Yacht Club. Cruisers donate items and businesses on and around Staniel Cay donate services to raise money to pay for the free dinner and drinks attendees and the prizes for the regatta winners.

The auctioneer taking bids.

 I donated two of my sea glass candle holders that I made (and forgot to take pictures of) and two small purses that I had made at home. My candle holders went for fifty dollars and the purses for fifteen so I was pleased with the results. After the auction they put out a free nice meal and free rum punches or beer for all who attended.

Ladies dish out the food.

The meal was delicious with barbecued chicken, fried fish, conch fritters, conch salad, and chicken salad. While waiting for the food you can entertain yourself by watching the sharks and rays that swim around the pier.

One of the many entertaining sharks.

The next day was the Bahamian Boat Regatta. Two Bahamian Class A boats that compete with at least two Bahamians on them and the rest crew made up of cruisers. We have never tried it because we are not racers and second, we don't want to climb out there on those boards and hang out!

Not for us!

We will let that for the younger folks! I would rather try to get some decent pictures of them. It wasn't easy being in the dinghy because it was blowing 17-18 knots and the waves were kicking up. However, I think I got some decent shots.

Lady Muriel soaring by.

I actually got both in one picture!

When we got back after the first race, I did have to rinse the salt water out of my clothes and other items. There were three races in all with Lady Muriel beating Tida Wave in this regatta.

Several of the cooks for New Year's Eve

That evening was New Years Eve so 10 of us got together on Runaway for drinks and dinner. We had a ham, turkey breast, garlic mashed potatoes, salad, homemade bread and carrot moush? (mashed carrots and plantains). Of course we started with drinks and appetizers and ended with cherry cheese pie and oatmeal raisin cookies. Pretty good meal for being on boats! We did not quite ring in the New Year at midnight but more like cruiser's midnight which is 9PM! Al and I did wake to hear the boat horns blowing at midnight. Welcome 2016!

The next day was the Cruiser's Regatta which is when cruisers enter their boats in the races. Al never does that because he says it is our home and he isn't going to take any chances. He has crewed on others boats before, but the weather was to improve to head south which is what he wanted to do. So we left and anchored at Cave Cay for the night.

The next day we hauled anchor and headed to Georgetown. We passed by Musha Cay heading out which is the island David Cooperfield owns and “disappears” to once in a while.

David Copperfield's house on Musha Cay.

Chris Parker, the weather guru, said it was going to be the mildest day for a while. It it was the mildest, I am glad we left, because it wasn't horrible but not easy either.

Where oh where are the mahi?  Not where Al is!

Al fished but all he caught was a barracuda which luckily he gaffed and was able to pull his lure out without getting bit!


 
We anchored off of our favorite spot called Monument Beach. It isn't very crowded yet, so there was plenty of room.

It feels good to have made it to Georgetown where we can relax for a while.

Christmas Week in Warderick Wells Land & Sea Park

We are the 3rd boat on a mooring at Land & Sea Park

When we left Cambridge Cay we went out on the windward side of the islands because it is much shorter. However, I wish we would have taken the longer route because it was quite roly poly and not very comfortable. Luckily, it was only a two hour run so we were in to Warderick Wells Land and Sea Park on a mooring by 1pm. 

After lunch we hiked to Boo Boo Hill where our friend's memorial bench is located. Robin and Corbett were good friends of her also, and helped with getting the bench over to here. It was looking still strong but the teak turned very gray. 

The teak bench weathered.

Robin working on the bench.

What some tender loving care will do!

 So the next day Robin and I worked on the bench, sanding and adding a coat of teak oil. Unfortunately, we ran out of teak oil for the last set of legs, but what a difference in the look of the bench! The guys worked clearing the main trail and another trail which led to Boo Boo Beach. Exhausted we chilled in the afternoon until 4pm when people gathered at the beach for happy hour.

Happy Hour on the beach.

We stayed until it got dark and as soon as the sunset, it seemed the hutia (a nocturnal rodent the size of a small cat) come searching for food. They know we cruisers drop some of our snacks so they come to clean up after us.

A hutia looking for food.  They are not that afraid of humans.

Was it Pat singing her praises?

The next day while Robin worked at the ranger office organizing all the loaner books by authors, I went back to the bench to finish the oiling. The guys continued to clear more trails. I could not believe in one day how gray the bench had turned, so instead of just doing the unfinished legs, I redid the entire bench. I know it won't last very long but it will help the wood. Just as I finished, a bird which we don't see many of, came in back of Pat's bench and sang a beautiful song. It was a weird feeling but I almost felt it was Pat saying how pleased she was. The bench did look beautiful. We do miss her.

The finished bench.

A dry blow hole.

 

 

 

I walked over to the blow holes nearby when I was finished the bench. They are holes that break through the ground and on rough days, sea spray will come up through them like a geyser.

 In fact, that afternoon and the next day I got to see them in action from the ranger station and even from our boat because a front moved in about noon with strong winds blowing 22-30 knots the rest of the day and night!

Can see the spray coming up through the blow holes.

A bit rough when it blow 25 -30 knots in the mooring field!

 So as you can see, it is not always perfect in paradise!

Sunday dawned with still a lot of wind but more like 17 – 22 knots. Cherry who is in charge of the office at the park announced a pot luck lunch at the house for 2pm. It was nice to get off the boat and get to know the other cruisers in the park.

Cruisers getting to know one another.

Hoku helping herself at the potluck.

We were doing these various jobs for the park because they very much needed the help, but also because they will not charge the $30/day mooring fee if you help or at least give you a discount. So the men continued with more trail clearing and Robin and I organized the DVD's by categories that they rent for $2 a night. Our job did not take as much time as the guys, so we girls including Kate on Makana and her 12 yr. old daughter, Hoku, went snorkeling not far from the ranger station in the mooring field. 

I loved the blue and yellow angel fish.

Hoku exploring the bottom.

The current once again was stronger than we liked so we went into the beach area for a swim. 

We ended the evening with a winter solstice happy hour. We just had to celebrate the shortest day of the year! Any reason for a party!

The next day I did some baking of cookies for Christmas and finally got some internet at the one corner of the ranger station, so I got email to come in and go out. A pretty good feat for this area!

That evening we had a dinner for Cherry on Makana. I took a pork tenderloin and roasted veggies as well as some cookies which Kate contributed also. Rick made a delicious leek pizza and Robin and Corbett brought a pork roast as well as a delicious salad. 

A great meal for Cherry.

Two pork dishes but lots of left overs!

We feasted and then taught Cherry how to play 'Sequence.” It was a fun time and Cherry who is Bahamian works in the office 7 days a week and holidays and holds special gatherings for the cruisers, so this is our way to say thanks.

Getting ready to trim the trails.

Robin and I worked with the men the next day at the trails further away from the ranger station getting there by dinghy and landing on some beautiful beaches. 

The trails were in very bad shape. We often could not quite figure out what way the path went, but they chopped and we picked up the cuttings and built cairns when it was hard to tell which way to head. Al and I had never been on these trails and so we got to see the ruins of a house from long ago.

The ruins of a former house from long ago.

Robin looking at a deep well.

We also saw a lot of large holes filled with water which looked like wells. We were wondering if this is how the park got its name, Warderick Wells.

Later that evening we had Lisa and Ben from Saraid over for happy hour. They have a Bristol 35.5 so we had to compare stories about our boats since ours is a Bristol 41.1.

The next day we actually did some “Bristol Hopping “ with the 3 Bristols in the park, another couple on a Bristol 29, Lisa and Ben and us. We started on the 29 footer, moved to the 35.5 and ended on our 41.1. I must say, I appreciate my boat more now than I ever did. And I thought our boat was getting small! Try doing it on a 29' from Canada!

Our Bristol buddies leaving Blue Heaven.

It was a very different Christmas eve for us. In the past we usually share it with one or two couples on our boat, but this year, Robin wanted to do a eggplant parmesan dinner for the park workers and the defense force men who are stationed here. I took spaghetti and Kate and Rick on Makana made his speciality pizzas. There were about 16 people. All had a good time, and as you can see all the men lit up their cigars after dinner while we girls went up stairs and played “Sequence.”

The men enjoying their after dinner cigar.  Give me a cookie any time!

Christmas day began by me making a candied butternut squash recipe to share at the 1PM Pot luck. The park provided the ham and turkeys and stuffing, while the eighty or so cruisers brought the side dishes and desserts. What a feast it was! 

Lots of good stuff!

And look at the view we have while eating our dinner. 

What a view!

 It doesn't get any better, other than being with family. However, the cruisers are so friendly, it is like being with family. 

Mark from Truant entertaining us.

One gent brought his guitar and we had entertainment after we had a game where the person with number 1 goes and picks a gift and unwraps it. Then number 2 can either take the gift that number 1 has or pick from the tree. If he takes number 1's gift, then number 1 gets to pick another. It continued that way through 45 gifts! 

Those who have already gotten their gifts seeing if they will be taken by another.

You never knew what you were going to end up with until it was all over. It was fun. I ended up with some nonstick sheets for baking. After much of the commotion was over, I got a call out to our family at my sister's and a call to Al's mom, both which we lost connection, but at least they know we were thinking of them.

My elf enjoying his Christmas meal.

Cherry and Corbett at the Christmas Feast.

The next day we headed south even though the wind was on our nose, but more than a week in one place is enough. We went to anchor off of Pig Beach at Big Major. We only stayed the night and then headed 10 miles further south to Black Point where I could do laundry and we could get rid of trash and get free water. Also, internet is much better, so better communications. We are looking forward to heading back to Staniel for the New Year 's Regatta. They have activities starting Wednesday so we plan to be there.