Staniel Cay, Bahamas N24° 10.412' W76° 26.851’
10 March 2009 | 24 10.412N 76 26.851W
Randy
Two days of snorkeling at Thunderball Cave here have been fantastic. Forgive the numerous pictures, but this is such a beautiful place and there are so many more pictures that it was hard to decide which ones to include. The water is still not very warm, but it is worth it. In addition to the cave, we went out to Big Rock Cut at the north end of Staniel Cay and drifted with the current back in while floating and snorkeling. I am sure the current was at least 4 kts at one point and it felt like we were "flying" over the bottom, which was probably actually about 30 ft. deep at one point. We saw lots of fish, and in particular, we saw a manta ray and a HUGE grouper that had to be 4 - 5 ft long and probably the same in girth - maybe 300 - 400 pounds. Another couple who we met (Richard and Nicky) from a boat named Hello Texas, as well as the folks from Sol Surfin' and John Ray were there, and a couple of them saw a loggerhead sea turtle swimming right underneath them - about 4 - 5 ft away. I missed that, but that's OK. There was so much to see that my head was on a swivel all the time.
We went to shore and picked up a few things like bread and vegetables (for Nikki) and other miscellaneous items. I am really glad I spent the time to provision well before leaving Florida, as everything on the islands (except liquor) is extremely expensive.
Nikki went for a run today and I rode the bike beside her and we got to view a lot of the island that way, which was great. People here smile so easily and are so nice and welcoming, that you just have to love them. We went to the post office to mail a few things and the post mistress, a nice little old lady who probably had had a stroke at some point told us she was out of stamps and would not have anymore until the weekly mail boat arrives on Saturday. We gave her the required $3 and she promised to mail the stuff, and I have no doubt she will do just that. And by the way, very few stores are open on Sunday. We tried to fill a propane tank yesterday and were informed that they were all out and there would be no more until the mail boat arrives on Saturday. And that is just the way things go here. Nobody gets too excited about anything. But we do have propane and should be OK until we arrive at Farmers Cay in a week or so.
There are many good ideas that have been started (construction projects) that look like they are works in progress that have been going on for several years. Everyone is on island time here and the sense of urgency and frenetic pace we Americans seem to live by just isn't the way it works here. These people don't have much in the way of worldly possessions and by our standards, seem to eek out a meager existence, yet they seem as happy as anyone I have met. This takes a lot of getting used to, but I have to say that it is good for me in that I am constantly thinking about my priorities and that is good.