Here's what we've been up to the last few days ...

Dec 29
It was a fast ride down to Georgetown, in the company of a fleet of boats that came out of all the cuts between the Cays as we sailed south. Everyone had the same idea: move to GT ahead of the next cold front, expected for the New Year's weekend. Everyone was comparing fish stories on the radio. "We caught a yellowfin tuna!" "We caught a mahi mani!" Well, we caught one too, a big one, but he got away--taking the lure and hook along with him, when the lead line parted. Better luck next time.

As soon as we anchored off the town, we went ashore to get some errands done ahead of the norther. Time seems to stand still in GT, or maybe even go backwards. Everything is a bit dilapated, with few signs of renewal since our last visit three years ago. In fact it seems pretty much as it was our first trip here, 23 years ago when Halekai was brand new. It's our sixth time here since then.

After putting the laundry in a machine at The Corner Laundromat, Burger headed for the hardware store while I went to the BaTelCo store to top off the data chip. We met at the Exuma Market to buy a few things. Who did we find there but Maryann of s/v Straight from the Heart, one of my faithful volunteers from the SSCA Annapolis Gams I organized years ago. We recognized each other instantly and had a catch-up chat.

We then had an early supper at the Exuma Yacht Club restaurant: fish n chips and conch fritters washed down with Pink Radler, a mixture of grapefruit juice and Kalik beer. Very refreshing! "Radler" was invented by German racing bicyclists who mixed beer with soda (A "Radler" is a biker).

Dec 30
We moved Halekai across the way, first to Monument Beach (photo), then to Volleyball Beach at Stocking Island, and went ashore for lunch at Chat n Chill, still there after 18 years of multiple hurricanes. Service was very slow, but the food was good. While waiting we were kept amused by people-watching. Instead of the usual cruising crowd it was filled with young resort tourists brought over by water taxi. The taxis caused such a wake in the anchorage that we moved over to Sand Dollar Beach in the afternoon.

Dec 31
Sure enough the front arrived as forecast, and we're now bouncing around in 30 knot winds that keep it breezy and bug-free aboard. Not sure we want to venture off the boat today as it would be a wet dinghy ride. So Burger is attacking to To Do list, changing the engine impeller, while I write.

Instead of partying ashore tonight, we'll have a fancy New Year's Eve dinner of roast duck breast and gnocchis, and of course champagne, though we'll pop the cork well before midnight. In fact we probably won't make it beyond "Cruiser's Midnight," which is 9 pm. Somehow when it gets dark so early, by 6 pm, most cruisers are ready for bed by then.