MIDORI ADVENTURES

LIVING WELL and MIDORI departed Black Point Settlement on Great Guana Cay this morning (Feb 8) at 7:30 and arrived at Little Farmers at 9:40. It took us 2 hrs. to travel 10.91 nautical miles. The wind being on our nose, we motored only.

With MIDORI'S 4' draft, we chose the shallower route that took us to the main channel between Great Guana and Little Farmers Cay and after several passes, I managed to pick up a mooring ball. The current was quite strong due to the outgoing tide and Farmer's Cut is just around the corner. LIVING WELL has a 5.5 ' draft and they chose the outside route and came in around the south end of the island. (Very quickly, apparently, as they had almost 2 knots of current pushing them). They also picked up what appeared to be a mooring ball. It seems that we are in the mooring field operated by the Farmer's Cay Yacht Club, and they have picked up one managed by Ocean Cabin. So, first we dinghy across Big Harbour to the Yacht Club to register and then walk south to the centre of town to find Ocean Cabin.

This is a lovely island, with its sheltered Little Harbour and Big Harbour and surrounding aqua water. Most of the 55 residents are descended from a woman named Chrisanna, a freed slave from Great Exuma. She moved to Farmers Cay with her two sons and daughter, who bought the island from the English Crown and willed it to their descendants as generation property. Although modernization has made its mark with telephone, electricity, town water, a clinic, a marina, two restaurants, a liquor store, a grocery store, an airstrip, and paved roads, the ancient charm remains.

We just missed the island's biggest event, Farmers Festival, held on the first Friday in February, (5 F's). Bahamians from other islands as well as cruising visitors get together for food, music, dancing, various contests and Bahamian C-Class racing.

As LIVING WELL checks in with Terry Bain at Ocean Cabin, we pre-order four lunches, and then do a short circle walk about.

It is not quite time for lunch, so the "boys" (Steve and Brian) walk to the government dock while Mary Ann & I check out the grocery store and liquor store. No fresh produce here either - the supply boat is apparently due this evening. The boys seem to be taking a long time to get back. We see a boat that looks remarkably like LIVING WELL moving and being moored to a ball just outside Little Harbour, but decide it can't be - besides, it is towing a hard bottom dinghy. Turns out it was! LIVING WELL had actually picked up a reef marker and a local by the name of Aiden, took the boys out in his little skiff to move the boat and tie up to a proper mooring ball.

Now for our lunch. The lobster, cracked conch, coleslaw, peas and rice and Bahamian mac & cheese were delicious! Terry, world traveler and philosopher, kept us entertained throughout the meal with his jokes and conversation.

After lunch, the boys walk back to the Yacht Club to bring the dinghies around to the government dock. Mary Ann and I watch two stingrays patrol Little Harbour. We return to our respective boats for an afternoon siesta. We spot ATTITUDE on a mooring ball nearby and invite them to join us on LIVING WELL for Happy Hour, but they have a prior commitment.

Later, under a full moon, we "feel" rather than see the arrival of a big boat. We look out to see the supply boat has finally arrived! It is lit up like a cruise ship and we watch for awhile. Not only are they delivering supplies and mail, but they are hoisting up a couple of sailing sloops to take back to their respective "homes".

There is a northern front predicted for the Bahamas by Sunday. We decide to press on to Georgetown which is approximately 44 nautical miles away.

Stay tuned,

First Mate Lynn

Note: Please see two new links to the right of the page for Exuma Land and Sea Park and Sampson Cay Club.