Little Ragged Cut, Ragged Island, Bahamas

 We had a lovely snorkel - 

 

 

A ray resting on the bottom.

 

The winds are still pretty high but we went snorkeling at low tide.  This means the waves can't quite break over the reef.  This keeps keeping the silt in place and gives us pretty good visibility.

 

The Nassau grouper is a protected species - you can't take them for 3 months Dec-Jan-Feb.  As a result, they seem to "know" that you can't touch them and seem to be perfectly comfortable just staring at you.  (Haha, I'm pretty much sure that's not true but it sure seems that way!)

 

Yeah, we'll be back for you March 1!!

 

Off to the next reef.

 

Amazing difference in the reefs just a few thousand feet apart.  A lovely trunkfish.

 

Loads of fish activity.

 

And lovely new-growth coral.

 

On the swim back to the boat we passed over a bed of conch.  Can you spot them?

 

I put a red star on each of the conch.

 

And here's one hiding in the silt.

 

Turned it over with my spear pole.  Just lovely creatures.

Another cloudy sundown.  The weather is not looking great for a trip to Inagua.....

Little Ragged Cut, Ragged Island, Bahamas

 We're in a little bit of a holding pattern - hoping to get a weather window at the beginning of the week to head south/east to Great Inagua.....not a lot going on.

We had a nice rain shower to wash off some salt.

 

Faint rainbow as the storm passed.  Note the empty anchorage! 

 

We did go ashore for a cloudy sundown.  Coming back to the boat the full moon was rising.

Little Ragged Cut, Ragged Island, Bahamas

 The anchorage cleared out this morning!  Bluejacket waving goodbye for a while.

 

Everyone except Sojourn and Meshugga went over to Hog Cay...

 

In the afternoon we took the dinghy out for a walk on Ragged Island.

 

Beautiful "ragged" scenery.

 

And a couple of pretty bays....

 

Nice 3 mile hike to stretch our legs.

Getting back to the boat late we decided to forgo sundown on the beach and we stayed in for a quiet evening.

Little Ragged Cut, Ragged Island, Bahamas

 I spent most of the morning doing business taxes - filing W2's and doing quarter/year end tax filings.....

But we did hop in the dinghy to go rescue this aluminum buoy that Russ on Spirit told me about on a nearby shore.  One of these days I'm going to make some sort of "yard sculpture" out of these cool finds.  

 

And then in the afternoon I made another loaf of wheat bread.  This one turned out pretty good!

The normal gathering on the beach for sundown, but it looks like most of the crowd is leaving - today it will be just Meshugga and Sojourn in the cut!

Little Ragged Cut, Ragged Island, Bahamas

 Went out for another relaxing snorkel.  Pretty calm conditions despite the windy weather.

Saw a couple of graceful spotted rays....

 

More pretty coral and a nice size trumpet fish.

 

And 3 lobsters for the freezer!!

Little Ragged Cut, Ragged Island, Bahamas

 We went for a nice snorkel...

 

Lots of nice fish and the water was fairly clear.

 

Nice size triggerfish.

 

 In the late afternoon, I got out the sewing machine to repair a torn seam in the enclosure.

And we had another low-key gathering on the beach for a sundown chat (no actual sundown visible due to clouds!)

Little Ragged Island Cut, Ragged Island, Bahamas

 Hope everyone had  a Happy New Year's Day!

All the boats (8 now) from the anchorage gathered mid-day at the beach for a potluck/cookout.

 

What an amazing plate of food out here in the middle of nowhere!  Collard greens/black eyed peas & cornbread for good luck plus a variety of colorful other side dishes.  Very yummy!! 

As usual, chatted away the early evening by a bigger bonfire.  Good fun and good company!

Little Ragged Cut, Ragged Island, Bahamas

 We braved the stronger winds for a snorkel just for some exercise....

Beautiful graceful ray.

 

We didn't stay in the water too long as the current was too strong.

 

Decided to take a walk on this barrier island instead.

 

Beautiful and desolate.

 

Back in the water, we stopped at a different reef. 

 

Still too much current but lots of life.

 

After dark, everyone gathered on the beach for a New Year's Eve bonfire.  Russ from Spirit had gone to great pains to set up the wood to light it.  (The stuffed monkey on top was not harmed!)

 

The gathering spot is looking pretty well outfitted with tables and lighting strung from bamboo poles.

 

Great bonfire!  We sat around an chatted for several hours.

 

Close to 9pm, Russ and a few others fired off some expired marine flares.  (There is virtually no way to get rid of them in the US - no one wants to take them - we've asked the US Coast Guard, West Marine, the Boy Scouts, the local hazardous waste folks - no one is willing!)

 

Fun to watch and a good demonstration in case we ever need to fire one in distress (although we don't think they are a really effective communication tool....)

So, Happy New Year!  We all wished each other the same as we departed for out boats.  I expect few stayed up until midnight though!