OK, so I had a “few”
projects to do while Kim was in Colorado. Not many, and I got all but one done.
I’d say that’s pretty good. The only one that didn’t get done was some varnish
work in the companionway. It was just a little too windy down here during that time to do varnish work.
Plus, I wouldn’t want Kim to miss having that kind of fun. She’ll love doing that kind
of a project.
As with most boat projects,
when you do one another usually pops up in the process. That happened to a point, but now everything is
under control. Oh, I know I shouldn’t have said that!
I am still having a love affair with the watermaker. It is so cool. Our
tanks haven’t been less than half full since we left Charleston the first week of November. And Charleston
is the last place we took on water from an outside source. It’s really neat to wash your boat while
sitting in an anchorage. I know you non-boaters may not fully understand what I’m talking about here,
but I know the boaters can appreciate what I’m saying.
I’ve been bouncing between Black Point, Sampson Cay, and Staniel Cay in the Exumas. We are
planning on celebrating New Year’s Eve at Staniel, but haven’t decided about Christmas. The
anchorage at Staniel Cay that we use is Big Majors. That is the where the swimming pigs live.
They’re getting a little nervous because they hold a big pig roast on Staniel Cay every New Year’s Day
at the big Regatta.
At one end of Big Majors
is Fowl Cay. There is a very fancy resort on that Cay. I have included some pictures.
If you wanted to go to an island that is very secluded and fancy, this would be a good choice. You
fly into Staniel Cay and they come and pick you up by boat. Staniel Cay has cottages that they rent, but
that isn’t as nice, nor as secluded. If you wanted to experience the true Bahamas however, stay at
Staniel Cay. A lot more “action” over there.
And just like other places in the Bahamas, the Big Majors anchorage has Remoras. This time
I had several underneath Fine Lion for a few days. They are hungry critters!
Evidently, the weather in south Florida has been
pretty lousy. Lots of boats have been stuck there not able to get across the Gulf Stream. That
means that there are fewer boats here. That actually makes it nice. I suspect the floodgates
will get let loose soon. It has been very noticeable that there are fewer French Canadians so far this
year. Again, it may be the weather. Our friends from Ontario on Draggin’ Lady
sent me an e-mail and said that Nassau is getting a lot of French Canadians. So it will be a matter of
days before they get down this way.
We’re anxious to see Draggin’ Lady. We had dinner with them in Lake Worth, and they bought
a new boat and were getting it ready at that time. They got a 58’ Motor Yacht. Wow…that
will be the new party boat for sure! I’m planning in tying Fine Lion behind and let them pull us
around. I think maybe the Canadian economy isn’t as bad as the US economy.
Kim returns in a few days to I am now in the process
of cleaning “house” so I pass inspection. I’d hate to get demoted…or lashes…or
sent to the brig. I have never been able to figure out how a boat in the Bahamas can get so dusty.
You never come aboard with the same shoes you wear on shore, but still there is lots of dust. I’ll
blame it on global warming. Why not?
Hey, these projects
aren't easy. If it should take 20 minutes, down here on a boat, it'd take 2 hours. For example:
today I am getting 5 gal. of gasoline for the dinghy motor and picking up our propane tank from the General Store where it
was filled. Well, went to get the propane first. The store was closed. Called her on the VHF. She
was home paying bills, etc. She came in, I paid, had a little "small talk", left to go get the gasoline.
Get there, have to find C Jay who runs the pumps. He finally came. The pumps are running slow and no one
knows why...nor do they really care that much. Hey, you're on "Island Time" mon. So, then I take
them back to the boat. Start to finish 90 minutes. Actually, not that bad...but who cares when it's sunny,
82 degrees, the water is crystal clear, and the Kalik (Bahamian beer) is cold. Of course, this is all done in shorts
and a T shirt...both on their third day.
Well, back to work getting prepared for Kim’s return.
More later...
Steve
