Hog Cay, Ragged Islands, Bahamas

Sunset at sea......the forecast overnite was winds 12-15 knots and  3 foot waves.  Engines off just after leaving the anchorage.  About 85 miles over to Hog Cay.

 

The winds overnite were a bit stronger than forecast - gusting up into the low 20's.  Glad we had put a reef in the main.  It was not a comfortable night with lots of wind and water slapping noises.  Oh well, the price we pay for this paradise sometimes.  Sunrise as we transited the Hog Cay cut.

 

We were greeted by several cruisers with "welcome back" dinghy visits....got the boat cleaned up a bit and relaxed during the rest of the morning.  We'd been told that a new trail was cut during our brief absence!! So we went over to check it out.  Maxine had been with the cruisers, showing them a "Dilly Tree" - it's a fruit tree otherwise known as a Sapodilla tree.  Kris & Dean from Charm had earlier started a trail over to some ruins - and they expanded on this trail.  Great job and a LOT of work!

 

And they did, indeed, find the Dilly Tree!  The fruit is not ripe yet but it tastes like a sweet pear.

 

A pretty long loop trail out to the bay.

 

And out to the few coconut palms left (not native plants - left over from a plantation many, many years ago.)

 

Several ruins along the path.  Would be cool to know more about it but no one, including Maxine, knows much about the history.

 

We did go ashore for sundown....although the clouds obscured the view.  Fun chatting.

 

Back to the boat....I was informed several times at sundown that I had made a faux pas....leaving my navigation lights burning all day....hard to remember to turn them off during the daylight as they are not very visible in full sun! 

That sorted out, we had a nice big Caesar salad for dinner and another episode of Vera....and had no trouble falling asleep early after the mostly sleepless night at sea.