Too Much Fun Anchoring & Fish Fork
21 February 2007 | Little Farmer's Cay, Exumas
Submitted while in Geogetown
Note: if you only have time to read a little, read the last paragraph! You will laugh - guaranteed!
We had spent the night at Galliot Cut in anticipation of traveling on to Georgetown today but when we woke up the wind was blowing 18 from the south - which would have been on our nose so we decided to go to Little Farmer's Cay instead.
It wasn't far and only took an hour or so. We knew we would need to pay close attention to the depth sounder but I guess we didn't do a good enough job because we quickly were stuck in the sand. It is always a little upsetting to see the depth sounder go from 3 feet below the keel to 0.0! And the wind was pounding the waves against our beam rocking us and pushing us even deeper into the sand.
Kirby set about readying the dinghy to take an anchor out to kedge us off. He needed to put the motor on, the fuel tank onboard and then get the Danforth anchor and rode ready. I kept looking at the depth sounder hoping that the pounding waves would break us loose rather than bury us deeper. Finally he was ready and off he went. Again I stared at the depth sounder and just as Kirby got the anchor out of the dinghy and started letting out the rode I saw - 0.2 feet! I rammed the motor into reverse and then into forward and saw 0.3! I was very hopeful to say the least and gunned it again! The boat was moving and I didn't have Kirby on board with me! I was rather worried that I would find another high spot but the water just kept getting deeper. Kirby had turned to look at Tobias and saw us moving away without him. He gathered the anchor and rode back up and then came roaring over. Was I ever happy as he climbed aboard the port side and tied the dinghy up. We worked our way over toward some rocks that looked real scary but that was the deep way in to the mooring field. We picked up a mooring ball, made it fast on the bow, shut the engine off and took a couple of deep breaths! That was more excitement than we needed!
After an hour or so we decided to head into town to see what was what there. We were greeted at the dock by a large man who shook our hands, welcomed us to Little Farmer's and directed us to Ocean Cabin where we needed to check in and pay for our mooring. Ocean Cabin is a lovely restaurant filled with an assortment of sailing paraphernalia collected through the years. Flags and burgees hung from the ceiling, locally made baskets decorated the walls and the book exchange was full of colorful well-worn books. We checked in, signed the guest book, checking out who was there before us that we knew and had a cold Kalik - the local beer.
On our way back to the dock we decided to check out the grocery to see if they had anything that we needed. They did - canned tuna and a bag of flour. (I have learned to make Pita Bread and we are addicted - it is so good!) There was a very friendly lady eating her lunch as she stood and visited with us. Kirby asked her what kind of fish she was eating and she replied that she didn't know but it sure was good - and the next thing I know there is a forkful of fish in front of my mouth! Now how does one handle that??? One opens ones mouth and graciously accepts what is offered! Then she got Kirby! That was the first time I have been fed a bite of food from a strangers plate in my life! Cruising is all about Firsts!