"Dave, do you hear that ?" I asked,
"Yup" he said, "sounds like a kid..."

And it was a kid, or rather a baby goat, or better yet we saw a few goats ashore, right abeam of Banyan.



For a moment there we thought we might be anchored back home, on the edge McNabbs Island, watching and waiting for the deer to come out as we had our evening meal. Today it was goats with our coffee. My my, but times they be a changing...

Christopher Columbus introduced goats to these islands back in 1493. I wonder what they think of their new home ? I wonder what else Christopher Columbus brought ashore ?

We relaxed into our morning coffee as we watched the cruisers start to leave, and the current fleet around here is once again, on the move. For the first time since our voyage began, Dave and I are starting to feel like we're settling in. No "need" to move, no "have to" do anything...sure, there's a few items on our to do list, but it finally feels like we're HERE and we are slowing down.

And then the phone dingled an incoming text. Sheryl was asking if we would pop in for birthday cake later on. Absolutely !!

The two boats that had enviable spots in the bay and closer to shore were on the move, and Dave and I jumped at the chance, weighed anchor, and drove in to claim our new digs. Unfortunatley Wi-Fi was just as spotty here. No matter, we still had our prize from Oceans 7, and we got our "work" done. I stitched some canvas that had come undone but the sun was already shining too hot on the bimini glass to be shined and waxed, and so that chore shall remain undone for another day.

Deliverance is a boat service, catering to the boats that happen to be in the Cooper, Peter and Norman Islands.



They come by every day of the week, including Sunday, carrying a surprising lot of provisions, like ice and pop and fruit and vegetables and sweets. They will pick up your garbage bags. Story goes that almost 15 years ago, a fisherman would be making his rounds and the boats would request that he bring them this, that or those things. And he saw a "need" in the community, and proceeded to create a business that fulfulled that need. You can call them on the VHF, and with reasonable notice, they will bring you "anything". From fresh roasted chicken to boat parts. And there you go, today they were bringing a "made to order" birthday cake to Distant Shores for Paul's birthday.



Chocolate, our favourite !! Nothing like an afternoon break for some sweets.

Given that we all had some extra sugar to burn, we went ashore for a look-see and a walk. What a bit of a shock... from our rugged and hilly terrain of a harbor, we walked across the way a bit, and quite literally, the time it took to blink, the sandy scrub gave way to a picture perfect, well tended, manicured garden of beauty, an oasis of flowers. The rocky reef beach gave way to a dirt road, then a paved road, that even had some passing cars, and then signs of life: tourists with beach towels and cameras in hand.

This be the Peter Island Resort, where you can pick up a mooring ball for $65 a night, or enjoy one of their slips for $125 night. And then some. They have villas to rent and the beach bar looked very inviting, only open three days a week, I forget what day, Wednesdays, Sundays, with reservations required. This is not a place you would wear only your bathing suit to. The beach boasted such a fantastic view that I know we could have easily laid here for days and weeks and not move.

We enjoyed the Peter Island Connection,



as we lay on the beach beds and chatted some time away. I had to give my head a shake for a moment, as my brain had to register how surreal this all was. Dave and I. On this fantastic beach. In this oasis of an island paradise. The view beyond astounding. With each other. In the very surprising turn of events that had us chit-chatting with Paul and Sheryl Shard of Distant Shores. Unbelievable.

On the way back, we chatted with this fisherman who was sitting and waiting and hoping for one more big score of the day. He was fishing for tuna, who were busily feeding off the "fries".



The water was just boiling with the feeding frenzy of the jumping tuna and the tuna would herd the fries toward shore, where there was no escape possible, except the nets were waiting for the poor tuna. The fisherman had already caught a spectacular catch that day, and was back for a hopeful second catch, admitting with a shy grin "I just be bein' greedy".



"My father use' to have a home, up 'dere on de hill", as his head nodded up towards the high cliffs, "he woul' sit up dere and see de clouds of fish, ya? Comin' to shore, ya? He signal de family on de beach to get movin'. "



The sunset, without the barge, was spectacular, and we reflected on the day, and the connections we had made, how each person has a story to tell, if only but we would stop for a moment and listen.