We ended the day yesterday by getting takeout at Sam’s barbecue, which is a simple shack by the waterway. The grill and seating are outside under the trees. We ended up with quite a spread, as we each shared in the five dishes. Before that, I buckled down and finally ran my new deck wash wire and got it connected to the DC panel switch. I verified the switch does deliver 12 volts, but the deck wash was still dead. On to the next step.

Today we took two dinghies over to South Bimini and the Bimini Sands Marina and Resort. The harbor and resort are very nice with floating docks and fuel. I think a west wind is unusual, but that wind direction is bad for the harbor - the channel goes straight west into the ocean. Unlike North Bimini, where we are, there is little development near the resort. Our primary goal was to walk the nature path. We found it and it was a great way to learn about plant and animal life on the Bimini Islands. From there we walked on until we found the shark lab and ran into the ocean again. We spent 2-3 hours walking. Time for lunch.

After lunch, we found a newly arrived boat from Florida. It was Canadian and Keith felt they had run into that boat earlier in their travels. We talked to the person on board. When you check into a country, one person checks into customs. All other crew must remain on the boat until customs has been cleared. The boat flies a yellow “Q” flag during this time. Boats are moving now and coming across the Gulf Stream. Our resort is noticeably busier.

When we got back to the boats, Keith and Lyn grabbed their three small dogs and we were off to the nearby sandbar - it was low tide and the sandbar was now dry. The life on a tidal sandbar is interesting, with live conch, crabs and other various sea creatures and plant life, and the dogs loved running around, especially in puddles. After awhile, they had no fear and lost all discipline, so we couldn’t get them to come back. They found their way to the nearby island with trees and claimed it for themselves - we now know it as Dog Island. At high tide, the sandbar is underwater and it is a real island surrounded by water. But back to the rambunctious dogs ... to restore order, Roger and Keith had to traipse through the field of water grass out to the island to try to corral the dogs. At first, things were not going well for the humans. Finally, they were each able to grab one dog and carried them off. The third dog then also capitulated and followed meekly behind, and order was restored. The insurrection having been squelched, the dogs returned to their former mild mannered and obedient selves and jumped in the dinghy, ready to go home and plot their next takeover adventure.

At our cocktail hour, the boat we had met earlier joined us and told us of their previous journeys - this was not their first crossing and Bahamas trip.