Great Harbour Cay, Berry Islands, Bahamas

 Our Bahamas winter is really coming to a close...

Kris & Dean from Charm gifted us a load of brownies several days ago.   But those are long gone (and were delicious!)   I had a craving for something chocolate, but my "snack stockpile" has dwindled to absolutely nothing....and since we're so close to heading back to the States and cheap food, I refuse to pay $8 for a small package of Oreos.  

And there is this problem that I am ovenless. I remembered my sweet sis talking about making microwave "mug cakes" so found an easy recipe online.  Amazingly simple - just flour, cocoa powder, sugar, milk and chocolate chips.  Microwave for 2 minutes.  Done!

 

I actually had a bag of white baking chips so I used those.  Really, really good!!

We called the customs agent to ask about clearing out of the country this weekend.  He encouraged us to come on in to the marina office and do the paperwork.   Royce from Cerca Trova rode in with us on our dinghy to do the same.  Easy peasy - although there was a small problem with the way I filled out the new "Click To Clear" document online which the agent easily fixed.

 

Back out the narrow cut.  You can barely see Sojourn anchored in the foreground.

 

Strange water coloring - yesterday this water was brilliant blue in the bright sunshine.  Storm clouds were moving in and gave the water an odd appearance.

 

Royce and Jennifer from Cerca Trova invited us over for an Indian meal - so I volunteered to make some naan bread and humus.

First the humus - made using my Nutri bullet - just canned chickpeas, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and tahini. 

The naan was simple too.  After rising an hour.

 

 

Rolled thin.

 

And simply fried in an ungreased hot skillet.

 

Sliced into manageable pieces for dipping.

 

The skies were very threatening and we briefly thought about postponing the dinner, but we decided after looking at the radar that it was safe to leave the boat.

 

Glad we did as the storm clouds mostly passed and we had a nice long visit on Cerca Trova and a yummy meal!

Great Harbour Cay, Berry Islands, Bahamas

 Beautiful sunrise.

 

Mid morning we set out to go around the island - there are some strong winds coming and we need more protection.

 

Not a breath of wind....

 

About half way to the other side of the island, we have to go around Great Stirrup Cay - also called "Coco Cay" by the cruise lines that own it.

 

Looks like Disneyland over there.  (We've never been on a cruise). Feels so strange to see this in the middle of remote, mostly unpopulated islands.

 

Did I mention that the winds were calm?  This is a photo of the sea bottom while we were motoring along.  Amazingly clear and calm.  (Obviously no sailing!)

 

We anchored near the narrow channel going into Great Harbour Cay.  We'll ride out a little storm for  a couple of days then we'll be on our way to Jacksonville!

Hawksnest Cay, Berry Islands, Bahamas

 Before I start with the fun, I'd like to send out the best of wishes to Ed and Cathy as Ed recuperates from his open heart surgery yesterday in Jacksonville!

In the morning, Cerca Trova called on the VHF saying they were headed our way from a few miles south - and would we like to join them for a snorkel.  Sure!  They appeared around the cay shortly and anchored near us.

 

And off we both went in search of a spot to snorkel that a buddy had told them about.

 

But we looked and looked - could not locate the coral....but it was a pretty place.

 

Lots of birds - we had heard them cawing in the night last night - and now we see why.  There appears to be a rookery of some nature on the small island with hundreds of these dark birds.

 

We gave up on snorkeling and went back to the boats.  Sails up for a 9 mile trip north to the wide open bay near the airport on Great Harbour Cay.

 A few years ago when we were on the other side of Great Harbour Cay, I'd really wanted to explore the "shark creek" - a tidal creek that crosses the island.  But the winds had us pinned down and it's complicated by the fact that you MUST go near high tide.  But this time everything was right for exploration!  Into the dinghies with Jennifer and Royce.

 

We are a couple of hours before high tide, so we had to briefly pull the dinghies along the sandbar.  With the rising tide, this area will be deeper when we return.

 

Beautiful going into a little tributary in the mangrove.

 

Just exploring the peaceful creek.

 

From above I could see a moving shadow - sticking my camera under the water gave a nice shot of this turtle.

 

The mangrove started to close in....very shallow - Duane had the dinghy motor tilted up so we didn't scrub bottom.

 

Cerca Trova was wondering if we should continue!

 

 

After about a half hour, we came to the opening on the other side of the island.  Time to turn around as the tide was about at it's highest and we needed to make sure we could get back over the sandbar.

 

On the way back I saw another shadow - this time got an up-close shot of the turtle.  Doesn't look real does it?

 

So peaceful!

 

And near the mouth of the creek I did spot a baby shark!

 We attempted a visit to the little beach bar for a cold beverage but they were closed.  Back to Sojourn for an early night.

 

Soldier Cay, Berry Islands, Bahamas

 We were up at first light to lift anchor for the 10 hour sail west to the Berry Islands.  But the anchor was stuck on a rock!  After trying to dislodge it by powering around using the boat engines unsuccessfully, Duane donned his snorkel gear and we took the dinghy out to the anchor.  He dove down and hooked a long dock line around the anchor.  Then we used the dinghy to pull the anchor forwards.  It dislodged easily - so we got the dinghy raised and engines started quickly as we were then drifting a bit.  Not the leisurely start to the morning we had planned!!  By the time we departed almost all of the other boats were on their way, most appearing to be heading to the Abacos.

 

We had a lovely day - wing-on-wing sailing with one engine running at 2000 rpm.  The winds were supposed to be 15 knots and seas 4 ft.  The reality was that winds were 8-10 knots and seas were just a 4 ft swell so very benign.   We drug fishing lines all day but didn't get a single nibble.

 

Arrived at Soldier Cay after about 11 hours.  Lovely here but we're a bit tuckered out and will not go ashore.

Egg Island, Eleuthera, Bahamas

 By mid-day, there were 5 Mantas in the anchorage at Meek's Patch.  Neat to see so many.  Photos from Charm and Breathe - 

As we're preparing for the final run back to the US, Duane installed our new Volvo water muffler that we picked up from Sangaris in Staniel Cay.  Yes, he's tucked away down below the starboard berth.

In the late afternoon we pulled the anchor and had a slow sail over just 6 miles to the Egg Island anchorage.  It will just make tomorrow's sail only 10 hours vs. 11 hours.   We were shocked to see 14 boats anchored in the tiny little spot.  I guess lots of folks will be heading west/north tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow's sail will be a bit lumpy with 4' seas but we're taking the last opportunity with 10-15 knot winds for the next few days.  After tomorrow the winds die down and we'll stay anchored in the Berry Islands for a few days waiting for the winds to come back.  Then we'll check out and be in the US, probably within the week. 

Meek's Patch, Eleuthera, Bahamas

 The "pig beach" was extremely busy....loud music and an amazing number of people.  Not our scene at all, so we did not go ashore.   It seems like there are lots of places now that have "installed" pigs on uninhabited islands as an "attraction". 

There are several other Mantas in the area - Charm -

 

And Hahalua

Charm invited us over for supper - we had a yummy meal and chatted the night away.  They even gifted us a batch of brownies for our travels this coming week since our oven is kaput.

 One last group shot before we part company tomorrow as we head north.  Charm will be staying in the Bahamas for several more weeks but we'll see them again soon at our dock in Oriental as they are planning a visit.