We went up to the top with the lighthouse keeper, a second generation keeper, to light the light. Something very few people have ever done. What a thrill!

The light weighs twenty-four thousand pounds and has turned on the same bed of mercury since 1864. 

Looking up at the light from below. I wanted to load a video of the light turning from inside the light, but with the Internet connection I have, it would take half the day. Sorry!

Dancing to Rake and Scrape.

Boys night out at Snappa's!

The ferry to Man-O-War.

This couple are here every year selling their baked goods. If you know me, you know I'm so happy to see them.

 

The same ladies are here sewing every year when we come back. They do such beautiful work.

Our musician friend, Bil Krauss, is playing in Bermuda for the month of May. This one is for you Bil!

Must be! I agree. It's a dry Island.

Albury boat yard makes beautiful wooden sailboats and fiberglass fishing boats here in Man-o-War.

Our ride back to Marsh Harbor. The captain was so busy texting that he had trouble staying on course.  We touched a couple of times when he strayed out of the channel. Would you like me to take over, captain?

Last day chilling at the pool.

The last night Eric and Rob were with us we went to dinner at Wally's. Wow! table cloths and all. All means more rum punch.

While enjoying an evening on the aft deck, we saw a rocket launch from the space center. I wish all the pictures would have come out. In this picture you can see the boosters falling to the ocean.

George Town

Well, it's been a while. We are at the Hope Town Inn and Marina with Rob and Eric on board and it's raining today, so I thought while I have a good Internet connection and we are boat bound, I would catch you up.
On the way to George Town we had calm seas so I put the lines in. Fishing this year has been great, but that trip was exceptional. We had several dolphin on and got two in. The big catch was a sailfish. What a fight and what a beautiful fish. We were in the same area we caught the blue marlin last time we were in the George Town area. What a thrill!
We cruised down to George Town for the National Family Islands Regatta, a four day event with sail boat races, great Bahamian food, one huge Bahamian party, and what a party it was. The sail boats that they race are from all the Islands and aren't the type you normally see, and they race for the pride of their individual Islands. They are hand built and are modeled after the old fishing boats. They're hard to describe, but you will see them in some of the pictures.
***I'm doing these blogs in segments, so you will need to click on older posts to see them all***

September Song (time to catch up!) out
Bob


My sailfish doing its dance.

Notice how sharp the point in its bill is. When releasing one of these, you need to be really careful. A number of people have been speared when they erupt from the water.

What a beautiful fish. It's dorsal fin was huge!

The freezers are getting full.

We always love to see the cruising kids. Most of them live on sail boats.

 

 

In the late afternoon, a group of cruisers would head to Chat and Chill for happy hour and music.

Jon, (S/V JonNe') a cruising friend of ours, would bring his guitar to most of our gatherings in the evening at the beach while they were cruising with us.

 

One of the boats practicing in the anchorage.

When the boat heels, they crawl out on boards to stay upright.

What a beautiful sight when they come across the water.

Making the turn. Sometimes they run into each other. And they did! The rule is that if anyone falls off, they need to turn around and pick them up before they could continue the race. And they did!

The two boats from Staniel Cay, TidaWave and Lady Muriel, who we were rooting for, were in first and second place and first and second in point standing going into the last race. On turn #1 where we were anchored in the tender, they ran into each other, lost guys in the water and missed the turn. By the time the gathered up their crew and made the turn, they ended up last. I'm sure there will be some words between them over that!

These races were so much fun to watch.

 

The boats gathered at turn #1 to watch the race.

Now, on to the party and some great Bahamian food.

They throw together these bar/food buildings just for the four day races.

 

Jon and Renne' (S/V JonNe') and Ed and Claudia, (S/V Door Into Summer) cruising friends were there the four days to play with us.

Cheers from George Town!

I didn't do it. HONEST! 

The George Town Straw Market.

The Bahamians are big Obama fans.