Heading North

Heading North

Postings have been rare this season and so I am now playing catch up.  There are a few more picks and words on the Raggeds before we start back….

First Duncan Town was as friendly and interesting as we had been lead to believe it would be.  Even the trip into the town is interesting.  The route follows a 2 plus mile canal through mangroves – lined much of the way with discarded (harvested) conch shells. 

At the end of the canal the colorful buildings are perched on the rocky (ragged) peak of Ragged Island.

The hospitality exceeded even the glowing reports in our guide book. The first lady we met helped us find all our needs – lunch, grocery and even spare parts.  She never just gave us info, but guided us around and checked back to see if we needed anything else. Everyone we met was equally friendly and helpful.  Our town tour included views of the local salt flats – and we even got a few samples to take home. 

 The highlight, however,  was our trek out to Persus Wilson’s former bar and grill that has a DC3 built into the roof. Even pictures do not do justice to his clever construction.  He personally gave us a tour which was a special treat since he has been recovering for almost a year from a chemical poisoning. He is finally on the road to recovery and he graciously led us around his interesting property and even gave us a lift back into town.

LUNCH stop - THANKS Erika!

Duncan Town is so welcoming to cruisers that they have built a TIKI hut on Hog Island for cruisers which is equipped with lounge chairs, grills, tables and all manner of décor. On Hog Island we also found many well maintained and well-marked trails.  The trails were cleverly marked with trash (or treasures) from the beaches.  The amazing variety of junk that was used and recycled keep us on the trail and amused during our walks on Hog.

Looking ahead for a good weather window to head north, we started back up the chain with stops again at Flamingo and Water Cays.  The commercial fishermen at both locations were kind enough to supply us with great seafood – either for cash or an exchange of services.  We also met Adele and Herman with their grandson Toby on a unique steel two masted schooner. The wealth of interesting folks is a giant part of our enjoyment in cruising.

Birthday party for Alan

Toby getting a conch cracking lesson

Our return took us across the banks with a quiet night behind Great Exuma Island where again we had excellent cell connectivity – only a 300 email download.

Another day landed us in Blackpoint for a visit with Ida for laundry and a haircut. We then made a stop at Staniel Cay for water and were delighted to hear from Kim and Cathy – who were nearby – all the wind had prevented them from heading north. A mini-reunion was needed to exchange notes and catch up……liberally accompanied by good food and beverages.

entertainment in the Staniel Cay anchorage

Our serious northerly trek began with a few days at Hawksbill Cay – a stop in the Exuma Land and Sea park – our first visit there.  We enjoyed a few hikes and Steve found some nice spots to snorkel as well. This island was occupied for many years and has the ruins to prove it. The beehive oven with the neighboring conch pile reveals their clever use of local materials in home construction. Thankfully the paths were clear which again made us marvel at the hardy souls who inhabited these lands in the post-Revolutionary War era. However, the beaches and the water were spectacular.

 Our route back stateside was almost a reverse of our trip over.  We hopped to West Bay – an anchorage on the west end of New Providence Island and waited for some calm winds before heading across.  We had hoped to spend a night on the bank but opted to just anchor for break of four hours before continuing on into the St Lucie Inlet and a mooring at Sunset Bay Marina in Stuart, FL. The break gave the severe thunderstorms a chance to dissipate and the waters to calm – which seemed to happen as we enjoyed excellent favorable winds to cross the Gulf Stream.  Crossing when winds are opposed to the current or of any strength makes for a rough trip - that means NO fishing. Needless to say, Steve likes to make sure we cross in calm weather to keep the freezer stocked.

This old guy gave him a fight

Even part of a moon helps light the night

Checking in was facilitated by our Local Boater Cards and only required a phone call to legally clear us through. Time to catch up with no more excuses……

the condition of our flag suggests the winds we have endured