Wayward Sun Sailing

So, since blog pictures of me are rare - the picture above is from a blowhole at Blackpoint just a reminder that I do exist, at least I existed until Blackpoint (finally remember how to download the pictures from my phone - duh).

We got into Thompson Bay, Long Island around 2pm (sounds like the same time each day, hum). All in all a decent trip over and the water is just such an awesome turquoise color all the way from the comer channel to Thompson Bay. Had our anchor beer(s) and just about to start dinner when we noticed a boat coming in. Here it was Mahi - they had told us they were going south from Flamingo, but had changed their minds and decided to head to Thompson Bay also.

Can't say we are not super happy to be here, as beautiful as the Jumentos and Ragged Islands are there is something about being able to buy groceries again (more eggs!) and normal communications being restored. Plus, with our draft we are limited to when we can cross the comer channel, which literally can have us trapped there if the weather had not cooperated during the good high tide times. So all is well and it is nice to be back.

Stopped over to see Mahi Monday morning and made plans for dinner ashore with them. Next it was just grocery shopping, trip to the liquor store (wine was at an ultimate low) and a walk to the marine store, which was very nice. Dinner was just burgers and fries at Sou' Side grill with Mahi, had a good time and so nice not to cook for a change.

Supposed to go on a hike with Carla first thing Tuesday morning, but Joe stopped over and said she didn't have a good night and wasn't up for it, but he'd drive us and pick us up at the hiking point. They had rented a car for the day while we were at dinner the night before. So accepted the ride and nice hike to the Atlantic side; however the highlight was actually the ride in the car! It's been almost 2 months since we have been in a car and it was like we had never been in one before. We did do the 1.5 mile walk back instead of calling Joe, it was a nice day and nice breeze blowing keeping us cool. Plus, good excuse to stop at Sou' Side grill for a well deserved beer and met some more very nice cruisers. Later that day a cruisers get together on the NW beach around 4 PM which is a perfect time for us. Very nice crowd and had a nice time.

Omg, I forgot to mention the most important part of the day - Capt’n changed the starter right before HH on the beach. Hopefully that is the end of the main engine occasionally not starting when we turn the key.

Well weather forecast is better for sailing on Wednesday than Thursday so decided to head out for Gtown a day early. Had a nice downwind sail, but rolly and downwind is always a handful since, of course, the autopilot refused to work in the 2'-3' swells. With over 20 knot winds forecast we were wing and wing with the mizzen and genoa, which, for any one that doesn't know, it is one sail on one side and the other on another side making it look like two outstretched wings. That being said, the wind needs to stay directly behind us and with the swells it's not easy to do at times esp. when hand steering. We do have a whisker pole we can use with the main to go wing and wing, but it is huge and it tried to kill the Capt'n last time we used it so haven't tried again since then. On the way to Gtown came across a boat called 2 Outrageous coming through Hog Cay Cut and they asked if we knew the other WS. They had seen them in the Jumentos and told us Capt'n Tim had lost his spear. Seems that he was spear fishing and did snag a fish, but a bull shark had other ideas for the fish and he had to drop his spear and give it up. They said Capt'n Tim went back to get it later and the bull shark was guarding it. Supposedly he was going to try again, but that's the last we heard - can't wait to see them again and hear the whole story.

Did catch up with All In in Gtown Thursday and then had a nice HH with them and another couple on their boat. They were heading out Friday for Long Island so I'm glad to have a chance to catch up with them before they left. Friday was calm so got the laundry done in the morning, but not until after our normal laundry day spat when the Capt'n drags his feet to get moving. This time he was lucky "his" waterproof bag of clothes made it into the dinghy and not into the water. I hastily tossed them into the dinghy where they landed fine, but he wasn't happy and yelled they "could" have went in the water - to which I replied - who cares they were your clothes. The shock on his face ended that little spat. I had actually tossed mine in the same way earlier, but they had landed in a little safer spot. Needless to say 24/7 on a sailboat has it's challenges.

Today (Sat Mar 2nd) is a fund raiser BBQ at Peace and Plenty so we'll head over there around noon. Julian had showed us pictures last year (we had just missed it) of it and it looked like a good time.

A cold front (CF) is forecast for next Wednesday, but luckily bringing only high N and NE winds, which we are protected from here. Next weekend will bring back SE and maybe some fair conditions for a week. I'm hoping I can talk the Capt'n into going over to Cat Island, so far he's not interested, but we'll see. Maybe WSC will be back by then and want to go too that would help.

Other than that - not much in Gtown, but the norm so probably won't post again for a bit.