Its a small, small world!
10 February 2007 | Buenavista Cay, Jumentos Islands, Bahamas
Jim Lea
Yesterday I posted the blog early by mistake, so didn't finish the day out. We finished the day at Jamaica Cay, where in early afternoon we pulled in to a beautiful anchorage with one boat. As we approached, the skipper came out on deck. Never sure of our welcome, we approached cautiously, and asked about the holding (anchoring). With that we got a warm reception, with lots of advice on anchoring, snorkeling, what was ashore, and all. They had been there alone for two weeks, and were obviously ready to talk! I thought I saw a Canadian flag fur led, so I asked them where they were from. They are from Shediac, New Brunswick, Jeannie's home town. There names are Peter and Linda Walsh. Linda was Linda Schneider. In fact Linda grew up on Sackville Street, the same one as Jeannie. And she asked if Fraser was Jeannie's brother (as he is)! So we anchored and went over and had a great chat about friends and acquaintances. We snorkeled some beautiful coral, and went ashore to look at the abandoned remains of someone's failed attempt at a resort. There are a few boarded up buildings slowly decaying, a backhoe quietly rusting, and some concrete steps down to the beach. But it makes a beautiful setting for an anchorage, and we really enjoyed it. After snorkeling, we walked the beaches and explored the buildings, and, talking to the Walshes, watched three boats we were with in Flamingo Cay come in and anchor. So if the Walshes wanted company, they got their wish. The three that came in were the group who taught us to clean conch, so we welcomed them. They had planned to spend the night up at Man of War Cay, about 5 miles up, to snorkel for lobster, but couldn't get their anchors to hold, so gave up and joined us. And it took them some time at Jamaica Cay to get them set as well, as the bottom is largely just exposed flat rock with nothing tfor the anchor to dig in on. Because we had come earlier, we were able to set ours in sand, which, even in 20', is clearly visible. They all took off and returned an hour later with 5 lobster, so we decided it's time to try harder! So this morning, before we left, we tried again but found nothing. In the beautiful (and, for the Jumentos, unusual) light winds, we decided to head for Buenavista Cay, about 20 miles south, with a lunch and snorkeling stop at a small cay about half way down. We invited Elspeth and Peta Orme (the two girls from Tabitha) to sail with us, so we had company for the morning which we enjoyed very much. With the anchors down at Seal Cay, and lunch over, we headed off armed for battle. And we were successful!!! Well, sort of. Eric found one, and after chasing it around, I managed to spear it. So tonight's appetizer will be Broiled Lobster Tail for Five!! Buenavista Cay is one of the larger cays in the Jumentos group, and has a long sandy beach running its full length on the westward side, so we anchored off it, arriving at 5:15 pm, just in time to get settled and watch another beautiful sunset.