Big Surprise

The days are getting a little slower, and that's just fine.

We crossed to Long Island after leaving Great Exuma (about 25 miles) and anchored for a pleasant afternoon & night at Hog Cay. Actually, it was not completely pleasant, because there was a constant surge and roll at anchor due to constant swell wrapping around the cape at the north end of Long Island. One instance where a catamaran would be more comfortable.

After moving around somewhat constantly, we were ready to sit quietly at anchor for a few days, and swim, read, and loll. And Thompson Bay/Salt Pond on Long Island fit the need, with a fairly protected anchorage. It’s a pretty quiet place, with one surprisingly good grocery store, and a small beach bar. And it is south of the Tropic of Cancer, about 40 miles southeast of Georgetow on Great Exuma, so works for us, and maybe we’ll go in to the cruisers happy hour this afternoon.

You have, I’m sure, noticed the single most common thread amongst anyone’s account of cruising. That would be the constant need for boat repair and maintenance. Kind of reminds me of British sports cars I used to own: fix this, and that breaks…. Actually, maybe more like the Fiats I used to have, because the current issue on big Surprise is electrical. The solar panels are pumping out the amp/hours, and most things are working, but there is an intermittent and elusive issue with all things electrical in the forward cabin. Lights on, lights off, flickering lights, maybe now maybe later – you get the picture? I’ve spent two days trying to isolate the issue unsuccessfully. Sometimes full voltage, sometimes 5 or 6 volts, sometimes no volts with no pattern emerging. Clearly a corroded or bad connection somewhere between the circuit breaker and the v-berth. Somewhere, I suspect, in an entirely inaccessible spot.

But I won’t complain, because the alternative to chasing electrical gremlins in sunny 80 degree weather is shoveling snow back home. And a cold Kalik beats hot chocolate any day.