Blue Bay has found a new home.

The weather was great when we returned to the Raggeds and we enjoyed staying there for a couple of weeks doing the things we have always done. Walking beaches looking for sea beans and shells, some snorkeling, and quiet evenings on the boat listening to music on the Sirius radio. We talked Maxine (the matriarch of the town) into making a lunch for us cruisers one day. There were around 12 of us that came and ate her grouper fingers, chicken wings, peas and rice and salad for only $15 each. She did all of this without running water or a functional kitchen!

Maxine told us someone gave her a zucchini and she did not know what to do with it. Being from Minnesota Nancy and I knew what to do with it and made her a loaf of chocolate zucchini bread. We didn't get a chance to find out if she liked it.

The mail boat was scheduled to arrive but never did and so without the promise of some fresh vegetables and fruit we eventually had to leave. In addition to that, fresh clothing and sheets were becoming difficult to find aboard!

From the Raggeds we started our trip back home. In the Exumas we went aground twice. The first time it took us 7 hours before the tide came up so we could float again. The second time took maybe an hour but was much worse because of current and wind. We destroyed an anchor in the process. Hope not to ever do that again. We took care of laundry and provisioning at Black Point. We enjoyed some delicious meals that Nancy did not have to prepare at the local restaurants. We topped off fuel at Staniel Cay and from there we headed to New Providence, the Berry Islands, Florida and on the way Nancy caught a 39in Mahi.

Returning to the marina we still have longer to wait for the winds to die down. All of us were trying to kick a cold so we rested for a bit. Our Sirius radio worked well which gave us music and news we had missed. Our local taxi driver took us in his 56 Ford to Guadalavaca (which means "hide the cow") where we exchanged money and used the WiFi. We would also spend time in Holguin and on the road to Holguin where we could get fresh fruit like papaya, bananas, oranges and limes, and vegetables.

The morning we left the Harbormaster filled out his forms, gave us copies, checked our passports, and the dog was brought in to make his rounds. Only about 10 minutes and we were on our way. The seas had calmed and we had a good sail back although this time we motor sailed all the way. It felt good to be back in the Bahamas. Cuba is so foreign and communications had been difficult at times.