Hog Cay, Ragged Islands, Bahamas

I was pleased to hear from my "shopper" at the Super Value store in Nassau....she was shopping for my mailboat order of fresh veggies that I had sent in about a week ago.  The mailboat (the Captain C) will be here in the next few days - it will be so nice to have fresh stuff again!!

Showers in the morning....clearing and bright sunny later.

 

 

Still choppy overall so we opted for just some "exercise snorkeling" on some protected little coral heads.  I tow the dinghy behind me so we can just swim forward without worrying how far it is to get back to the dinghy.

Just fun coral and a "nursery" of little fishies.

I couldn't believe this green turtle let me get this close!!

It was a real treat to just hover over him for quite a while.

He eventually decided maybe that I was a threat and scampered away like lightning had struck!

Pretty soft coral swaying in the currents.

Louie and Deb on 360 had told us that there was a good sized lobster hiding in those heads....nice one!

Another rain cloud passed over....and we were treated to a pretty rainbow as we were heading back to the boat.

Nice conversation at the cruiser hut for sundown but no green flash!

 

Hog Cay, Ragged Islands, Bahamas

 Just a regular day…some year end paperwork, visits with Jerry from Bluejacket and Louie/Deb from 360…reading and a nap….a bit of rain…we went to shore an hour early in the late afternoon to get some exercise moving some sand back towards the cruiser hut. 

Nice sundown gathering with a couple of other boats. 

Hog Cay, Ragged Islands, Bahamas

We moved an hour north back to Hog Cay because the winds were turning east for the next week or so. The Southside Anchorage will get rolly in those winds.  We still hesitate to go in our favorite spot (the cut between the Raggeds) because of the mosquitoes…we will give it another try in a week or so if no more rains.  

Kindof a lazy day....did some reading and baked yet another loaf of bread....

By late afternoon there were 5 other boats in the anchorage.  We knew everyone here - Invictus, Blue Jacket, Maranatha, 360 and Cerulean (crew from Ada, new boat).  Great to see Jerry and Donna since it's been a couple of months!

Almost everyone gathered for sundown and a quick catch-up. 

Pretty sunset and almost no bugs.....

We had almost given up on a green flash but there was a pretty little emerald green "button" at the very point of sunset!

Southside Anchorage, Ragged Island, Bahamas

 Nothing really to report today!  Rainy and overcast. 

I made a couple of batches of cookies. Found a really simple ginger snap recipe that made really crisp cookies using corn syrup in addition to regular sugar. Read a bit. We were treated to a colorful sunset. Will move back to Hog Cay now that the winds are turning back directly to the east. Don’t want to go back to the protection of the cut yet as the mosquitoes are still crazy there!

Southside anchorage, Ragged Island, Bahamas

 We did some 1st of the month paperwork....then we defrosted the freezer and did a bit of organizing there. (Things tend to get lost in the deep freeze!!!)

The sky was overcast so we didn't get out snorkeling until late in the day when the clouds cleared.

 

 We had a nice long snorkel - nothing edible was taken.  Enjoy the photos.....

Little video of a green turtle we surprised....

 

Southside Anchorage, Ragged Island, Bahamas

This anchorage continues to be great with winds fairly low and little to no roll. 

Mid-day conditions were just right for a trip to the south end of Little Ragged for snorkeling. 

Louie and Deb from 360 joined us for the fairly long dinghy ride.

We timed it just right for an almost slack tide so no current to speak of.

Beautiful day snorkeling!  A graceful French angelfish.

Sooooo many lobsters!

An elusive ocean triggerfish  

Duane is very particular now, only taking really large lobsters.

Louie graciously gave us a nice hogfish!  They already have one from yesterday.  I already have lobster to eat for the evening so this one got cleaned and temporarily stored in the freezer.  A nice day!

Southside Anchorage, Ragged Island, Bahamas

 Just a really nice snorkel day..

Lion fish....

Fairly large trumpet fish.

And a cute little green turtle hiding in the reef.

Deb and Louie came over for a nice visit at sunset.

Southside anchorage, Ragged Island, Bahamas

 We were down to just one carrot and about 1/8 head of cabbage for fresh produce....I'm working on a mailboat order from Nassau but that won't arrive for another week or so.

Maxine called and said she had some vegetables delivered on the once-a-week plane to Ragged Island.   So we told her we'd be walking in to Duncan Town this morning.   (About 2 miles, one way).  Just as we got the dingy anchored and began walking, Marvin drove up and asked us if we wanted a ride.  He said that Maxine had told him we'd be coming in and to keep a look out for us.  Good fun and entertainment on the drive to town.

 

Across the runway, no scheduled planes flying in today.

Had a nice visit with Maxine...not a lot going on in town.   Marvin had told us that it's been at least 4 months since any workers have been on the island.

Marvin hung around and offered a ride back as well.  Much easier travel than on foot!!!

Back to the boat - it's just Sojourn and 360.  So far the NW winds are as predicted with almost no swell (this anchorage is known for a nasty swell in certain wind directions!)  As far as we've heard, Invictus is the only boat still over at Hog Cay. 

Back to the boat with a very nice haul.  Quiet night.

X

Southside anchorage, Ragged Island

 We motor-sailed south of Ragged Island…there are some mild west winds forecast and those can be uncomfortable at Hog Cay. We pulled in fairly close to the shallow shoreline. It’s often rolly here but so far it’s very pleasant. We can always just go back to the cut if it gets uncomfortable during the day. 

Today we’re going to walk in to Duncan Town to Maxine’s. She called yesterday to tell me that the plane had arrived from Nassau and that she had some fresh veg for me.  I’ve got an order in for the mailboat to bring an order for me but that won’t arrive for another week or so.