Enroute to Buena Vista Cay, Ragged Islands, Bahamas

Up at sunrise, several boats leaving today with favorable winds.

What If is going to Georgetown to retrieve their watermaker part.  They'll rejoin us later.   Persephone is going to bona Vista I believe, and Breeze On is heading to Long Island.

The anchorage looks a little lonely back.in the mist!

Beautiful sail now, wing on wing going about 8 knots.

Hog Cay, Ragged Islands, Bahamas

To start the day, Jerry and Donna picked me up for Donna's water aerobics.  We've been getting together about every other day.

Good fun and you certainly can't beat the view!!

Laundry and water making day.

 Laundry all done, clean sheets on the bed, time to go snorkeling.   Ed and Cathy joined us.  The winds have turned just north enough for us to brave the south reef at Maycock Cay.

Lobster hunting Duane!

Got one!

Ed a-hunting as well.

Dinghies going back across the cut, the winds had picked up a bit.

Just the one decent sized lobster but fun snorkel.  This went in the freezer as Cathy already had our dinner in the works.

After the usual cruiser hour (actually more like 2 hours) at the hut, back to What If for a great meal and game of cards.   Whew....cruising is hard work.

Hog Cay, Ragged Islands, Bahamas

Took advantage of the overcast skies (no rain, fortunately) to dinghy to the next little cove and follow a trail over to the ocean-side of the island.

Starting the trail, looking back over the anchorage.  Sojourn and the rest of the boats are on the other side of the treeline.

 One of the cruisers - Bernie on Countess Cosel - works (as a hobby of sorts) to keep the "cruiser trails" marked and fairly clear of growth.   This trail takes about 1.5 hours to walk.  The markers are just pieces of bright rubbish that he collects on the ocean shore side.  These bits and pieces get blown away during bad storms, so they are constantly in need of attention.   We're glad to have the trails to follow!

Saw a huge termite mound.

And a little salt pond.  There are ducks in there but hard to see.

And some cool cacti.

Beautiful ocean side.  Looks stormy but really wasn't.

The sun would peek out.

And then quickly be shaded by clouds.

 All the way back around the bay to the dinghy.

And here are my little "treasures" that I picked up along the way.  The pretty yellow clam shells are still attached to each other.  I'd never seen any quite like those.  (The coral piece is long dead, so don't fuss at me for uprooting coral!!)

And as usual, the 4pm social hour at the hut.

Someone noticed a pretty rainbow forming.

And it grew into a doubloe rainbow.  Quite spectacular!

And before long it was time to retire to our boats for the evening.....

Dinner was on Sojourn with a jambalaya recipe that I admit was pretty tasty!  Cathy brought a equally tasty apple cake.  A couple of games of "Golf" and we were all ready for snoozing!

Hog Cay, Ragged Islands, Bahamas

Seems like the east winds want to stick around for a while now. A bit unusual for the weather pattern to be unchanged for 10 days.  The strong east winds mean that we are most comfortable staying  exactly where we are.  We COULD travel, it just would be very yucky.  So we're enjoying our relaxing days.

Sunrise was a bit muted this morning.

Getting better as the sun rises!

Better!

Hog Cay, Ragged Islands, Bahamas

Went for a fabulous snorkel nearby.  Pretty large starfish.

And a fairly friendly sea turtle....most are skittish and swim too quickly.  This one obliged me with a slow swim.

And a cool little school of fish avoiding a nearby large barracuda.

Another potluck for dinner at the cruiser hut.

Beautiful peaceful sunset.

Hog Cay, Ragged Islands, Bahamas

Went out for a snorkel....was pleasant but not spectacular.

We did come upon this odd crab - it appeared to be about as big as your hand.

I hovered over it for a good while until it finally decided to move a bit.  Interesting little legs.

And a pretty French angelfish. 

That's about it for the day - dinner on What If was a fabulous  Gnocchi with spinach and glazed carrots.  And mint Oreos for dessert!!

Hog Cay, Ragged Islands, Bahamas

Took a little walk to the windward side of the island with Karen and Gerry from Persephone. 

The wind had the seas churned up - much different than the protected anchorage just on the other side of the hill.  That's the incredible thing about Hog Cay - even in 30 knot winds from the east, the anchorage is pretty much flat.

Selfie on the beach.

Karen and Gerry.

View from the top of the hill.

And approaching the "calm" side anchorage.

Treasures we found while walking on the exposed beach.   The round/heart shaped seed pods are aptly called Sea Hearts.  The odd shaped seed pod is called a Stinking Toe seed or West Indian Locust.   Just neat to see what washes up on the Atlantic shoreline.

Sundowners as usual in the evening at the cruiser hut and dinner on What If.  A pleasant relaxing day!

Hog Cay, Ragged Islands, Bahamas

We'd decided last evening that we'd do a potluck tonight.

In order to have a bonfire, we needed to gather some firewood.....we drug dead fall out of the sandy dunes.

Karen and Gerry from Persephone taking a load to the cruiser hut.

Ed loading up a bunch in his dinghy.

A group effort - unloading it and dragging it over to the fire pit.

A nice big pile good enough for several bonfires.  (The wood is not the "best quality"...burns sortof like pinewood.)

Gerry putting the final touches on the firepit.  Good job!

And before long it was time for the potluck.  Great assortment of food and as usual, nobody brought the same item.

Fun relaxing conversation until after dark.

Had to include a photo of Cathy's foot.....she cut it pretty bad doing water aerobics yesterday - stepped on something sharp in the sand.  She's trying to keep it dry and let it heal.   Bummer!