Thursday, April 25, 2013

Time for catch up

I have wanted to blog more often while here in the Islands, but all the places we had Internet, the connection wasn't strong enough, or we had a limited bandwidth and couldn't do much more than post a few pictures on Facebook, read and reply to our e-mail and check weather. We arrived in George Town on Tuesday for the Family Regatta on the 23rd and have a strong, unlimited connection, so let's catch you up.
Stephanie's brother, Eric, and her brother-in law, Rob, arrived in Nassau Sunday, April 7th, and after hugs we headed to Potter's Cay for their first taste of Island food. The next morning we headed to the Exumas Land and Sea Park. The first day we headed up to Boo Boo Hill to find our sign. Sure enough, it was waiting for us to come over the horizon to spend another fun year in the Exumas, add another year to it, (year number five) along with Eric and Rob's names and year, and take it back up to Boo Boo Hill to wait for our next return. After exploring and playing in the park, we headed down to Black Point, Then on to Staniel Cay, one of our favorites, and had lots of beach time, a trip up Pipe Creek to Rachel's Bubble Bath, fun times at the Yacht Club, exploring Staniel by golf cart, snorkeling Thunderball Grotto, fishing, (wait till you see the picture of Eric's huge fish) and well, just a whole lot of fun. It was a great twelve day and we hope they will join us again.
We spent a couple more days at Staniel, enjoying the beaches with Cassie and Godiva, and one last stop at the Yacht club for some fun and an order of the best conch bits in the Islands.
From Staniel, we headed back to Black Point to see Lorraine, have dinner, and get some more of Mom's fabulous coconut bread. When we dropped the anchor at Black Point, we noticed a sailboat (SERENA) George and Terry, who we have been watching for, who are good friends with our great friends, Jay and Nancy. We have met up with some of our cruising friends from time to time and made new ones this year. That's one of the things that makes cruising fun.
We contacted George and Terry and had dinner with them at Lorraine's along with another fun bunch that flew in from Salt Lake City. The power went out, so we had dinner by candle light. How Lorraine made a fabulous dinner for us with no power, I'll never know. The power goes out quite often, so I guess they are used to it. George and Terry are waiting for weather to head to George Town and we hope to hook up with them here. From Black Point, we headed down to George Town (wait till you see the pictures of what I caught) and will be here for a few more days.
**Remember, there are a lot of pictures, so you may need to click on older posts to see them all.**

September Song (anchored at Sand Dollar Beach in George Town and having a BALL! ) out
Bob


The guest cabin, waiting for Rob and Eric.

A little rum punch to celebrate Rob and Eric's arrival. It was so great to see them again!

Cleaning our conch for our conch salad and cracked conch at Potters Cay. As the song says, I don't want to be a conch, but we love eating it.
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This is what a conch looks like out of its shell.

Cracked conch. YUM!

Fresh Fish (the whole fish!) at Potters Cay

Eric promised to bring me a red velvet cake, and he kept his promise. Carried it all the way in a specially set up cooler for it.
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Eric said the water looked so beautiful when we got the the Land and Sea Park, the first thing he wanted to do is jump in. And jump in he did. Many times!

We met up with cruising friends in the Park, S/V JonNe', Jon and Renne', cruising friends from the Keys, and  S/V Door into Summer, Ed and Claudia, new cruising friends. They are here in George Town with us.

The mooring field at Warderick Wells.

In the belly of the whale!
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Found our sign waiting for us on BOO BOO Hill.

While up there, we always look for our cruising friends signs and send them pictures when we find them. OPTIMYSTIQUE, William and Judy who were here with us last year.

SERENDIPITY, Jay, Nancy, Jesse, and Brittany who were here with us last year.

MAYA, Steve and Kim who were here last year also.
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You never know where Chuckie is going to show up!

Chuckie, getting ready to go out exploring.

Chuckie went up to BOO BOO Hill to put September Song's sign back.

Rob and Eric, with September Songs sign with their names and year added. Hope they get to add another year to it next year.
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Our sign with another year added.

Chuckie is upset because his name wasn't added. Next year Chuckie!

A view of the mooring field from BOO BOO Hill.

Many have come to this beautiful place.
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OH NO, NOT THE BLOW HOLE!

Chuckie found a perfect nest.

The Bahamian Defense Force coming into our mooring field.

September Song on her mooring at Emerald Rock. Notice how blue SS looks from the reflection of the water.
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Playtime on the beach. Now that's a beach!
 

The crew of September Song.
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A trip to Bell Rock.

I think they like it here!

This gives you an idea of how rugged some of the coast is.

Eric, snorkeling the Sea Aquarium.
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The Sea Aquarium.
 

Jon and Renne' snorkeling with us.

Ed and Claudia at the Sea Aquarium.
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You just never know where Chuckie is going to pop up.

Eric, preparing Lobster Thermidor. We ate well while Eric and Rob were with us.

Mega Yacht 9906, aka Skat. Anchored off Pipe Cay. 231 feet, $90 million when built.
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