The Exumas

We have some complaints about the Exumas. We were told to come down here first, enjoy the good weather, then go to the Abacos later in the season, because its too cold in the Abacos. Well, its too friggin' hot in the Exumas. Yes, that's only one complaint, but I am hot and sweaty, slightly irritable, and I am guessing that all our friends and family in snowy, cold, Canada, are feeling very little pity for us.

However, they should have a little pity for us, I am still broken. My back is turning me into "No-Fun Robby." I want to do everything, run around, have fun, go diving; but I can't, its all I can do to walk around a little bit. Recovery is always a pain, no pun intended, but here, with so many things to do, its just not fair. Mommy, why can't I go out an play with the other kids........

Anyway. I left off the last blog entry as we had just got to Black Point settlement. So far it is our favorite-est place to be. The anchorage is huge, the people friendly, the water free, the stores and restaurants, perfect. If there was a little better snorkeling and fishing near by, we would stay the whole time, right there.

With me being all busted up, we were not very active for the 6 days that we stayed. As previously forecasted, we did not partake in the superbowl parties, but it sounds like the game was a flop, and the food mediocre. We did manage to get 3 loads of laundry done, which included all of our bedding. You know your cruising in paradise when 3 1/2 weeks of laundry is only 3 loads. It is amazing how long you can wear the same shirt, or the same pair of shorts. We bought fresh fruits and vegetables, twice, as we were there for two mail boats. Ate at restaurants 3 or 4 times, and abused the free internet as much as my back could handle.

One day while we were there we went for a walk with our friends from Serenada and Slow Waltz. We took a lunch and headed down the road looking for blow hole, and a road that was supposed to take us all the way to the end of the island. Well, the blow hole we found, but the end of the island eluded us as the road went from paved, to gravel, to sand, to a path, to where are we exactly!!!! It was a little rough going, and eventually we realized that it was time to lunch and turn around.

The girls heading out. A pretty good road so far.

The anchorage. We had over 100 boats there for a couple of days.

The ocean side of the island is gorgeous, if not wild.

Windy today. The waves were a little big.

Yeah, I don't see a road.

Hey girls, find that road yet.

Welcome to one of the Black Point Bakeries. This is Grandma's. The house behind the popular restaurant Loraine's. This is Loraine's mother baking bread in her kitchen. Serena had been making her own bread, but for $6, grandma will do all the work for us. We bought 2.

Full of water, full of food, and running late for the Farmers Cay Festival, we reluctantly left Black Point. Its only a 9 mile ride so not a real big trip, but the wind was right on the nose, as usual, so we tacked back and forth, being a motor sailor. I wasn't really up for working to hard, still very tender.

We arrived at Little Farmers Cay and dropped the hook just to the west of the runway and north of the other 40 boats in the anchorage. That unfortunately put us right on top of a shoal. But, luckily we draw less than 4 feet, and we have 4 feet of water at low tide. Mind you, you would have a hard time passing a peanut butter sandwich between the keel and the sand. We stayed on the boat because I was crippled up, and we knew today was going to be a little hectic with the festival going on.

We left the boat this morning meaning to check out the town and see what was going on. The mail boat had come in, so we ended up shopping for fresh fruits and vegetables again. Take it when you can get it, because tomorrow you may not get anything. Its a cute little town, and right now the population is about quadruple normal, with all the cruisers and Bahamians here from other islands for the festival.

And here is the grocery store. IGA it is not. The mail boat comes in about once a week depending on the needs of the settlement, the availability of the boat, etc... It brings all the goods required to keep the island viable, especially food. Once the fresh goods are off loaded into the store, it opens, and everyone rushes in to see what they can get. There is no use bringing a list, because you get what is there. Then there is the big lineup as the girls at the counter add everything up on a piece of paper and take your money. Many things come in bulk, and if you want a lb of cheese from the block, you'll have to come back later after its been cut.

Today we got strawberries, grapes, bread, and crackers. We went back later in the day for bologna, because it needed to be sliced off the block first. We hadn't intended to go back to the boat so early, but the groceries needed the fridge. Leaving the boat late, we knew that we wouldn't make it to the men's best buns and legs contest, so I didn't bother to wear my good shorts. We ended up making it anyway, but I am glad I didn't enter. Mr. silver speedo below was the sure fire winner. Its hard to tell, but the guy behind him in the picture is Bob, and the guy to the right in the picture is Al, both from our yacht club in Trenton, so at least CFBTrenton was well represented.

Afterwards was the women's wet T-shirt contest. They had a hard time talking the girls into it at first, but we ended up with 8 contestants, including Serena. Not in a million years would I have ever expected her to join in. She didn't win unfortunately, but got a free rum drink for her troubles, and a fresh water hosing, which was nice in the heat. The winner had a T-shirt that when folded from the bottom up, revealing a picture of a pair of breasts. It was really cute, but there was talk of a disqualification because she was apparently wearing a bra underneath. All in good fun.

Then we watched the plunger contest. A man and woman team were required, but I didn't think my back would tolerate the game. The woman tied a plunger around her waist, and tried to stick it into the toilet paper role that was being held between the mans legs. Then she had to run to the end of the lawn keeping the TP roll on the stick, drop it, and the man had to run over, pick it and run back to the starting line with the roll between his legs. No hands. Not as easy as it seems. Below is Bob and Monique of Last Waltz, from our yacht club at home.

Looking out over the runway to the boats anchored around Little Farmer's Cay.

The Bahamian Air Force? No, just a couple of 4 seater planes. The transportation of the small Bahamian islands.

Tomorrow is the sailboat races, and ironically, we are anchored right in the middle of the course. Front row seats. That means we'll probably spend the day on the boat unless something drags us away. I need the rest anyway, because it sounds like the following day might be a good day to make the big jump to Georgetown.