Lynyard Cay, Abacos, Bahamas

Rita invited us over to their house for lunch so we walked the mile from the marina.

I'm including photos of Rita's orchids for Sharon since I know she enjoys them.  

There are dozens of them all around her house.  And they're all blooming at the same time!  She says she puts them outside in the garden for the summers while they're away - then brings them inside when they arrive to the Abacos.  Lovely and delicate.


In the afternoon, Dick and Lindy arrived in their plane to the Scotland Cay airport.  Will and Rita have 2 golf carts so we all greeted them and carried their luggage over to our boat.  We said our thank-yous and goodbyes to Will and Rita (although we likely will see them again).

In the afternoon we went over to the lagoon for some sunshine.

A stranger offered to take a photo of the group!

Others enjoying the lagoon at almost low tide.

The next morning, we sailed over to Hope Town.

Climbed the lighthouse.

Fun viewing the town from the top of the lighthouse.

On the dinghy.

Just did a leisurely tour of the pretty little town.

And back to the boat for a few more hours sailing south to Lynyard Cay for the evening.

 At Lynyard we went ashore for a little beach combing.

Found some neat sealife.  A pretty little starfish.

And not sure what this is - but I have an empty shell on the boat of this variety.  This one was occupied by it's owner!

 It was "stuck" to a big rock - when we pulled it loose you could see the large suction cup-like "foot".  Pretty cool - we put him back in the sea.

Back to the boat for a relaxing evening - played some cards until all were sleepy.....

All for now!

Scotland Cay, Abacos, Bahamas

Rita stopped by this morning in her golf cart and asked us to join her at the lagoon.

She has kayaks there and we enjoyed paddling around on the flats.

Here's Rita on her stand up paddleboard.

We paddled out towards the incoming surf...but turned around when the kayaks started getting tossed around in the waves.

I saw a "dark spot" in the water - turned out to be a pretty ray.

In the evening we took a nice long walk on the beach, picked up some sea glass and shells.  Tomorrow Dick and Lindy arrive!

Scotland Cay, Abacos, Bahamas

The day started off very ominous looking!  A front that had been causing rough weather in the States made it over to the Abacos and brought wind and lots of rain.

So, I made more bagels while we waited out the storm.  By afternoon it had mostly passed and we pulled anchor.

We moved over to the private island Scotland Cay to await Dick and Lindy's arrival.  We had been invited to visit with Will and Rita who we had met in the Ragged Islands.  They own a vacation home on Scotland Cay -- and they have an EXTRA slip in the marina --- and a landing strip right next to the marina.  What more could a person need???

 A pretty green turtle right beside our boat.

He was just slowly swimming - not like all the frightened ones we see out in the mangroves that zip away as soon as they see you.

We took a little island tour with Rita and Will.  This is the view from their lovely home out across the Atlantic.

Over to the landing strip.

There are lots of planes here because it's Easter weekend.  Will says normally there are few planes.

A pretty sunset.

At the end of the tour, Will and Rita came aboard for a glass of wine.  Lovely of them to host us here! 

Marsh Harbour, Abacos, Bahamas

We're back in Marsh Harbour.....seems like a broken record?  When the winds clock around strong to the south and west, Marsh Harbour is really the only protected anchorage.  No worries, it's pleasant here.   I spent a good part of the day trying to read "The Sympathizer" a Pulitzer Prize winning fiction book about a Vietnam era spy....but at about a quarter of the way thru I gave up!  I don't do that often but sometimes you just have to say "life's to short to read un-interesting books!"

Near Marsh Harbour, Abacos, Bahamas

At Lynyard Cay, Sojourn and Laura Belle took a short walk over to the ocean side for a bit of beach combing.

There are pretty limestone formations - here is a natural "bridge" - the ocean surge splashes thru this open area.  I did not walk on it as it appears to have a crack!

Picked up lots of small sea glass.

The Sojourn and Laura Belle "in repose".....

Beautiful beach here.

 But winds are forecast to be heavy for the next few days, so we decided to head back towards Marsh Harbour.

Always enjoy seeing the whimsical buildings along the Bahamas.

Tiloo Bank

Sailed 17.7 of the 18 miles with engines off.

And had a pleasant "race" with Salty Dreams on the way back to Marsh Harbour!

Lynyard Cay, Abacos, Bahamas

Today we sailed about 20 miles south to Little Harbour.  On the way, I was playing my long-running Words-With-Friends game on my phone.  The game I have going with Sharon provided an amazing set of letters for me!!  Cool to be able to play the word Sojourn!!

Had a wonderful sail for about 4 hours, only had to turn on an engine to make two turns that were dead into the wind, but otherwise it was engines off.   Laura Belle, our friends from Oriental, NC are a few miles behind us.

Laura Belle coming into the anchorage at Little Harbour.

Just a leisurely visit.

To Pete's Pub.

And beachcombing looking for sea glass and shells.

A walk to the ruins of a lighthouse.  Not much there but what looks like the lightkeepers house.

Laura Belle and Sojourn.   Kay and Bruce came over for snacks and we had an enjoyable evening!