COLOURFUL TOWN

We sent off Ben and wife Sam along with their friends Tyler and Jalyn home via the small runway here in Staniel Cay. From here they travelled to Nassau all the way to Ottawa via Philadelphia, a long day for them back to their reality. We had an awesome time. We took the dinghy into shore to drop them off at the airport, a rough ride as the waves were big... then when we got back to Coyaba, the waves picked up big time!! We pulled anchor and moved to another anchorage. It was still rough last night but moved again this morning. Much nicer now, just much cooler weather, sweater weather here. (no parka)

Ben had caught a mackerel on the fishing line on our way to Staniel Cay and I am looking forward to posting that picture. We caught then released. We really did not know what to do with the fish at that moment. While in the Exuma Land and Sea Park, the kids went at dusk to a fishing boat where they had been snorkeling to see these two men feed the small sharks. This was an interesting sight. Sam got a few pictures. These boater's freezers were full and needed room so gave a huge bag of Mahi Mahi to the kids to bring back to our boat. (these guys were picking up some buddies and going fishing again in the “big waters” and needed freezer room for their new catch) Needless to say we had a wonderful Mahi Mahi dinner the next night. Jalyn tried it and enjoyed her steak much better. I have leftovers in the freezer for Matt and James and their buddies when they come down... but not meal size, just an appetizer size.

There are all kinds of boats from all nationalities in this anchorage. It is very interesting listening to the VHF radio traffic. No radio or television but lots of entertainment here. For example a large yacht was “dragging” this morning so the trawler beside them was hailing the captain on the VHF. A crew member came on the radio and she was new and informed this trawler that the captain was not on board She did not know what to do. She didn't even know how to use the VHF radio and she did not even have a phone on board as the Captain took it. Someone in the anchorage phoned the Captain and he was on his way back to move this megayacht. Who knows who or where the owners were. No shortage of entertainment!! We have a BAA (Big Ass Anchor) and we are happy about that, no worries of us “dragging” anywhere!

I will go to the Staniel Cay Yacht Club and buy internet for the one day ($10) and upload this blog. The internet is so slow and unreliable, I would not type this right on the blog. I type in a word doc, copy it, go to our blog, paste, “publish” it, then might be able to view and edit it (spelling etc), all within a minute, as the internet may lose connection. So frustrating. We will meet some other “yachties” at the bar and eavesdrop on their boat stories.

Staniel Cay is a colourful town, there are yellow, pink, green and blue buildings. For example, I have
to find a blue building for the 3^rd grocery store I want to visit and compare prices. All transportation here is motorbike, bicycle, or golf carts (up to a 8 seater). And then there are trucks, but only with logos, ie: construction. It is such a cute little community... so friendly!

Did you know that a Nautical Mile = 1.15 Mile?

Did you know..

that it takes 2 weeks for a paper towel to degrade in salt water?

Aluminum can takes 200 years?

STANIEL CAY, THUNDERBALL AND PIGS

We travelled from the Exuma Land and Sea Park to Staniel Cay on Thursday. We figured that there is so much to see and do here that we skipped Compass Cay. Staniel Cay is known for the a James Bond movie titled Thunderball. All of it filmed right here. Today we did snorkel right in the Thunderball grotto (cave)... it was awesome! When you snorkel you always compare what you see to the last place your best snorkeling experience was. Many years ago, my best experience was on Barcardi Island in Santiago de Cuba... now I will be comparing all my future snorkeling experiences to this location. There was so many fish and coral that I did not even know existed. If someone had one snorkeling experience in their life, this is the location, I am not exaggerating.

We went into town and bought homemade cinnamon bread and whole wheat, right at someone's kitchen in their home. They had a sign at their tree at their door, mmmmmm. We went out for lunch too today, first meal out since Nassau. Ben, Sam, Tyler and myself had fish but Jalyn had a hamburger, the biggest I have ever seen. Everyone is so friendly here. We saw the tiny airport and know where we are going tomorrow morning to send off everyone. We will have a week “holiday” before other 2 sons arrive with their buddies. What fun awaits them ( and us!). We haven't seen them since Jan. 3 so I miss them! It will be a return this time, from here to Nassau with a night at Atantis for the guys to experience.

It is very expensive here so I must do some special meal planning ie: Spaghetti etc. I did provision the freezer well so that is a blessing. Meat is scarce.

We did go to a nearby island and saw the swimming pigs!! Yes you heard me! Staniel Cay is famous for the pigs that swim in the salt water as you throw out your carrots. And there were about 10 tiny piglets on land learning what they have to do. I have pictures, unfortunately internet here is like dial up (or at home in Metcalfe hahahaah) so no pictures. I may send a odd picture here and there separate.

We are enjoying ourselves and hope you are all well at home.

Happiness Can Be a Secret Place—Somewhere To Go To In Your Hour of Pain, Where a Moment's Peace Can Fill Your Heart. (author unknown)

STANIEL CAY, PIGS AND THUNDERBALL

We travelled from the Exuma Land and Sea Park to Staniel Cay on Thursday. We figured that there is so much to see and do here that we skipped Compass Cay. Staniel Cay is known for the James Bond movie titled Thunderball. All of it filmed right here. Today we did snorkel right in the Thunderball grotto (cave)... it was awesome! When you snorkel you always compare what you see to the last place your best snorkeling experience was. Many years ago, my best experience was on Barcardi Island in Santiago de Cuba... now I will be comparing all my future snorkeling experiences to this location. There was so many fish and coral that I did not even know existed. If someone had one snorkeling experience in their life, this is the location, I am not exaggerating.

We went into town and bought homemade cinnamon bread and whole wheat, right at someone's kitchen in their home. They had a sign at their tree at their door, mmmmmm. We went out for lunch too today, first meal out since Nassau. Ben, Sam, Tyler and myself had fish but Jalyn had a hamburger, the biggest I have ever seen. Everyone is so friendly here. We saw the tiny airport and know where we are going tomorrow morning to send off everyone. We will have a week “holiday” before other 2 sons arrive with their buddies. What fun awaits them ( and us!). We haven't seen them since Jan. 3 so I miss them! It will be a return this time, from here to Nassau with a night at Atlantis for the guys to experience.

It is very expensive here so I must do some special meal planning ie: Spaghetti etc. I did provision the freezer well so that is a blessing. Meat is scarce.

We did go to a nearby island and saw the swimming pigs!! Yes you heard me! Staniel Cay is famous for the pigs that swim in the salt water as you throw out your carrots. And there were about 10 tiny piglets on land learning what they have to do. I have pictures, unfortunately internet here is like dial up (or at home in Metcalfe hahahaah) so no pictures. I may send a odd picture here and there separate.

We are enjoying ourselves and hope you are all well at home.

Happiness Can Be a Secret Place—Somewhere To Go To In Your Hour of Pain, Where a Moment's Peace Can Fill Your Heart. (author unknown)

MORE PICS OF FUN TIMES

Jalyn was the only one who could blow the conch shell 

at sunset! A tradition for boaters here

A hammock attached to the dingy davit!

A three man kayak can hold four passengers!

PICTURES FROM LAST BLOG

SAND DOLLARS COLLECTED AT A BEACH

AT THE LAND STRIP ON NORMAN'S CAY,
BEN AND SAM
TYLER AND JALYN

EXUMAS CAY LAND AND SEA PARK

We are now on a mooring ball in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park at the Warderick Wells anchorage area. This is a wonderful area to be in, there is no other place on earth that has this many turquoise blues... this is what I read before we arrived and I totally agree. We left Rose Island and travelled on the Bahama Banks to arrived at Allen's Cay on Monday afternoon. Here is where Iguanas come out at the beach awaiting your arrival. They are hoping you are bringing some small pieces of compost to “share” with them. They are NOT tame, Ben, Sam and Ty and Jalyn did not feed them. This was the introduction to the Exumas, Bahamas. Tuesday, we travelled to Norman's Cay. This is full of wonderful beaches and a sunken airplane. This is where the drug runner Carlos Leder lived during the old days of the Bahamiam drug trading. Leder's operation was eventually infiltrated by “the feds” but not before there were (supposedly) a bevy of murders when cruising boaters came too close to his operation. There was a Johnny Depp movie called “Blow” many years ago about this drug lord. AND filmed on this island.

We left this morning with a reservation for a mooring ball (instead of anchoring and damaging the coral) in this sea park. This is paradise here! The kids have seen stingrays and so many fish that I haven't even seen before. I have snorkeled in so many places over the last 20 years. Every second boat here is a Canadian boat. None with a hockey stick as their flag pole though, we do get laughs and a conversation breaker for sure.

The internet that we paid for here is limited and will not be able to download pictures, but will try just one. We will download many pictures in Staniel Cay on Friday. We are headed to Compass Cay to swim with the small nurse sharks there tomorrow (yep that is right?).. Jalyn might just take pictures if I am correct. … but Tyler and Ben and Sam are eager to see these small sharks that seem tame at the marina. I saw a travel show featuring these so I want to see for myself.

We are eating, swimming and drinking well and no worries, kids fly home Sat. from Staniel Cay connecting in Nassau to the reality of snow in Ottawa. They will have many memories and pictures to share with their friends.  

ROSE ISLAND

Rose Island is an island close enough to Nassau that we can quickly go to Nassau to pick up or drop off our guests. This island has 2 kinds of beaches, one on the nice calm waters and one on the other side of the island where there are waves galore...of course depending on the winds and weather.

Sam in the distance, and I went walking along the beach to collect sea glass which is glass that is smoothed out from all the crashing of the water and waves. We found a few nice dark green pieces. Rose Island is beautiful to kayak around which Sam and I did to get some exercise. We snorkeled again and just enjoyed the sun and water.
We walked into Nassau where the cruise ships dock, over 2000 passengers with 900 crew members per ship, so imagine if there are 4 or 5 ships in harbour, today there were two. We bought some rum and the Bahamas's famous Rum Cake, even got ourselves some samples, mmmmm. Of course I bought the Chocolate Rum Cake.

Ben and Sam enjoying themselves in the Sand and Surf on Rose Island

Yesterday there was a huge yacht that anchored near us from St. Vincent. They had 2 Seadoos and all the toys that come with a huge yacht. Their anchor was so small compared to our BAA (Big Ass Anchor). Well, sure enough after a couple of hours that anchor of theirs started dragging and did not hold their big yacht. BUT, no one on that boat seemed to notice, finally after what seemed a long time, a crew member came out and pulled that small anchor up.

Big Yacht heading to the rocks on shore

We were about to hail them on the VHF Radio but thank goodness they came forward to pull that anchor. It would have not been pleasant.

We pick up Ben and Sam's friends tomorrow and head back to Rose Island, if it is not too windy. The boat will rock like crazy on the way back, we hate to give our guests a rough ride the very first day, but that is the way it goes sometimes, only a short ride.
"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday."
--John Wayne