Lets see, the last time you heard from us we just arrived in the Bahamas and were on our way to Black Point Settlement on Great Guana Cay. Well, we made it there the day before Christmas, did some laundry and filled the water tanks. On Christmas morning, we FaceTimed Erica, Robert and the boys and watched them open their Christmas gifts. Later in the day we went to shore for Christmas dinner at Lorraine’s Restaurant with our friends Donna and Jerry on S/V Blue Jacket along with about 30 other cruisers. Donna and Jerry introduced us to a really nice couple, Doug and Jean. They built a house on Great Guana Cay several years ago. It actually looks like a sand castle. It was a thrill to be invited to the castle for a happy hour. This is a place we have seen from the water and have always wondered what it was like on the inside. It was beautiful.

After leaving the small bay at Great Guana Cay, we went back north to Staniel Cay and anchored off of Pig Beach. So, of course we went into shore and said hello to the pigs. It was sad to see that the older pigs were no longer there to greet us when we brought our dingy to shore. Many of the pigs died last year. There are several stories about how they died. Some say they died from lack of fresh water and from eating too much sand, others say that the pigs were killed. Even though it is sad that some of the pigs died, it is nice to see that the pigs are being taken care of. They now have a shelter for shade and fresh water to drink. In addition to visiting the pigs, we had the opportunity to snorkel inside the Thunderball Grotto, where we saw lots of fish and a couple of adorable turtles that I got to swim with.

After leaving Staniel Cay we sailed 20 miles south to Lee Stocking Island. There we spent the night before moving further south to Emerald Bay Marina on Great Exuma Island. This is where we spent New Years Eve while waiting out a cold front. During our four day stay we made new cruising friends and had lots of fun playing Mexican train and eating great pot luck dinners in the beautiful Marina Lounge.

Once the cold front blew through we moved on to George Town and are now anchored at Sand Dollar Beach at Stocking Island. For the past several days we have been riding out windy and rainy weather which is forecast to continue for the remainder of this week. I really am not complaining, at least we don’t find ourselves in below zero temperatures and we do not have to shovel any snow. Actually, it is nice to have the rain clean the salt off of the boat.

We hope that everyone is happy, healthy and staying warm.