HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

A quick blog ---- I'm out of internet in 30 minutes!  (yes, you buy it buy the hour here...)
We walked around Warderick yesterday, clambering carefully over the jagged coral walk.

We climbed to the top of the ridge to look over at the other side of the bay

Then we walked to Lucky Spot Beach, our favorite at the park.

Next a walk through the Palm Trail (they weren't kidding!)

and on to the beautiful bay.  We just love it here.

AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!!!

Iguanas, beautiful scenery, and Warderwick Wells

From the Nassau anchorage we headed south to the Exumas. We tried to catch dinner--- thought we had some luck as something took the line and pulled hard about 2/3 of the way through our trip. I brought the fish back to about 100 yard of the boat when the line snapped --- the rascal took the lure and all. In fact, he bit the lure off….

It was probably a barracuda, something we don’t want to catch anyway. Glad he got away.

First stop, Allen’s Cay, with the prehistoric iguanas! Here's a web page on them http://www.iucn-isg.org/actionplan/ch2/allenscay.php

They are actually the most beautiful colors. Look at this guy's pink ridge.

Unfortunately, they are harassed by tour boats from Nassau. $100 gets you a fast ride from Nassau to Allen’s cay, 10 minutes with the iguanas, and back again.

We were treated to a spectacular sunset.

Next, to Normans Cay. We managed a wonderful sail today. Often we have to motor or motor/sail to make a 50 to 60 mile passage.  Today we sailed! The private island of Norman Cay used to belong to a drug lord who had his own air strip here. Now it’s almost deserted, homes and all.

A long walk along the only road

And runway

and terminal

Complete with welcome sign

Today there is a small resort with 3 cottages and a bar, McDuffs

But not open on Mondays

The only excitement is a downed plane in the shallow bank

And a MOST beautiful one-palm tree island!

and the palm tree island with Latitudes in front of it!

Onward to Warderwick Wells Park! Exuma’s only land and sea park. Another sailing day! Here is the circle of boats at the moorings in the narrow park mooring area.

We walked today only as far as the mangrove area. At low tide it’s dry

At high tide, the water begins to come in.

The little mangrove baby plants await the water

Here is a good idea of the water level range in the mangrove area. The water reaches almost to the leaves during high tide.

Today we plan to hike and explore the park more with our friends Coleen, Ailena, and Bruce.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!!!!

Christmas Eve in Nassau

oh, yes, it's Christmas Eve in Nassau.  Complete with party hats with lunch.

Santa came early this year - We  lucked into an empty tour bus at the far western end of New Providence Island, near our boat.  The driver picked us up after we flagged him and took us into Nassau (21 miles) for a mere $4 each.  Lots of shops, but the first thing we did was to take a taxi to Paradise Island, to the renouned Atlantis Resort.

See that little archway in the center?  The suite in it is $24,000 per night, with a 3 month waiting period....there's too much money in this world...  Atlantis was recently renovated at a cost of about $500M (owner paid) to include exclusive rooms and a huge aquarium.
We entered through the main entrance, taking the opportunity to get our picture taken in King Neptune's Chair with Heather and Ken.

Then through the casino (no, we didn't drop any money there!), past the glass sculptures.  Here is the sun...

and the moon

and the volcano

Each valued at over $1m....

We headed to the aquarium, passing the best no smoking sign ever...

Fish are terrible...

Lots of fish in the aquarium, but mostly behind somewhat dirty glass.  Pictures were hard.  Here are a couple of jellies, great pictures, nasty creatures.

The many aquarium sections all had the sunken Atlantis theme -- ancient ruins under water -- nicely done.

Back over to Nassau proper for some lunch (first picture) and some exploring.  Lots of big cruise ships -- four in the harbor at this time -- makes us glad for our small, private boat.

We also visited the straw market, some booths closed for Christmas Eve.

Next, a beautiful Catholic church, with wonderful stained glass windows.

Then we walked up to Fort Fincastle, one of four old forts in Nassau.  We didn't get a good picture of the fort, but it's surrounded by tourist junk tents, always ready to make a good bargain with the "pretty lady" or "nice gentleman".

From there, we manged to catch a jitney (cheap bus) back to our dinghy (well, actually Heather and Ken's dinghy) and make it back to our boats before dark.  A Christmas Eve dinner, a little Christmas music, and we'll see you on Christmas!

we're in New Providence

Ho, ho, ho!  Looks like we'll have internet for Christmas!  Thanks, Santa!  We are at an anchorage at the west end of New Providence Island, on which Nassau is located (about 10 miles from here, on the north side).  We will be here through Christmas riding out some (more) windy weather.

But last night - The last blushes of pink vanished into the darkening layer of clouds. Nearest land was 15 ft down or ten miles away. The lights? Our Christmas lights, 5 masthead anchor lights, and Christmas lights on one other boat. Of the 9 boats that bolted from Bimini this morning, on the first mild day in the last 5, 4 went north around Bimini, 5 went south and then south west and west into the Grand Bahama Bank. Like sheep gathering for warmth on a cold night (actually about 65 degrees) all five anchored within 150 yards of each other – on the banks. There’s just no place you can get to in daylight, going west from Bimini. The wind was forecast to be mild, promising  easy night. It was a bit more than mild -- 10 to 15 kts, producing a 2 to 3 foot chop -- not bad, but not exactly placid!

The “banks” are great shallow areas, with depths ranging from a few feet to 20 ft between the groups of Bahamian Islands, and the ocean abyss -- typically thousands of feet deep. The Gread Bahama Bank is surrounded by Bimini, the Berry Islands, Andros Island, an area of maybe 75 miles wide by 150 miles long. The Yellow and White banks lie south of Paradise Island (Nassau), and lead to the Exumas, stretching south for 150 miles. The banks are free from ocean swells, acting more like a shallow lake with wind driven chop.

  That bit of green - Joulters Cay - is the nearest land.  Each square is about 5 miles (that would be almost an hour for us....)  Depths are in meters. We crossed onto the dark blue abyss today, the Northwest Channel to New Providence.

It was a bumpy crossing today from the banks to West Bay, but a profitable one.  FISH!  Our first one of the Bahamas.  He was a nice size Skipjack Tuna (aka Oceanic Bonito).  He went after my big mahi rig, that 15" rascal! 

Referenced as "very dark and not to most tastes, but very nutritious".  He's sitting in a wine/lemon/paprika soak right now; Ken will grill him tomorrow for snacks on his & Heather's boat for the 3 "dark" fish eaters.  Not for me, thank you.
Weather is supposed to get really bad the next couple of days.  Don't know if we'll be off the boat or not.  But we should be able to be in touch!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

We are planning to leave Bimini on Monday morning around 7 a.m. and may well not be in internet range until after Christmas. So, until I write again, we both want to wish everyone a most Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  The very best to everyone!
Love,
Bobbie & Luke

Junkanoo!

But first ---  the high winds and heavy rain were over with by Saturday morning, but boy, the waves and rough sea were still present.  It will probably be Monday before we leave, waiting for the right wind and for the seas to calm.

Heather, Ken, Lois, Howard, and we all started the day with a walk to the northern end of the island.  First, Bailey Town, slightly more affluent than Alice Town, at the southern end of the island.

Then we made it to the very posh Bimini Bay Club at the far end of the island.

                                

On the way back we encountered a small herd of goats, roaming free in the street.  That seems to explain a little about the very strange "hamberger" meat that we got the first day...

We also saw how the palm trees produce fruit.  First, there is a large, brown, "leafy" pod.  Out of that comes a stalk with multiple smaller stalks, looking like some kind of octopus.  Then, a coconut is produced at the base of each of the small stalks.  Very interesting!

Folks here are getting in the spirit --- after all, this is Christmas week!!

At the Alice Town community center, some of the guys in the Junkanoo band were getting in a little early practice.  These drums are not steel drums but are made primarily from plastic bins.

We had dinner and waited till dusk, when the party began.  Junkanoo is a Bahamian celebration, usually seen on Dec. 26 and Jan. 1.  This "first anual" one was really for the children in the community.  The ones in Nassau and other larger cities are apparently real parties, a mix between Mardi Gras and Christmas celebrations.  The origional plan was to attract young people from all of the islands to help them meet and hopefully mix some of the families that are prominent on each island.
There was the usual children and church choirs singing carols, Santa giving each child a gift, a children's raffle (pretty nice stuff --- skateboards and a bike!).  And, of course, the lighting of the Christmas tree.

We noticed a fire at the back of the community center and went to investigate.  Seems the drums have to be dried out and the GOATSKIN tightened before a performance.  Those goats are multifunctional!!

The 10 cruisers at Junkanoo were certainly the exception, but we were warmly welcomed...

Then the Junkanoo parade!  The two settlements each have their own band and followers.  The noise!  oh, I wish I could have a video here!  It was great, loud, rhythmic beating of the drums, horns, and whistles, all in company with exuberant dancing.

 It was a lot of fun. I'm not sure it got me in a Christmas mood, but it sure created a festive mood! We 11 cruisers enjoyed it --- here's our group picture.