17-18 May 2012 Treasure Cay, Abacos

18 May 2012

If I could only say one word about today, it would be WOW!!  I can think of a whole host of other words to describe the beautiful day we had, but it would offend the ears of some of our dearest friends and relatives.  So, the most powerful word I can utter is WOW!!  Renne’ was thinking of a short story she could write describing two couples on a sailboat who go through a raging storm in the Bahamas.  As they each awoke, they discovered they were washed up on a beach of pure white sand with translucent waters of turquoise as far as the eye could see.  Palm trees swaying in the gentle breeze, people around the beach, not many, but some, all enjoying the water, beach scenery, temperature, breeze, serenity.  And somewhere in the scene, each discovers they did not survive the raging storm, but had lost their lives when their sailboat careened out of control against the rocks.  But all were there, and each discovers they have arrived in Heaven.  That was today.

It rained this morning and cooled the temperature a bit, although this afternoon, it reached a scorching 84 degrees.  By 1000, Renne’ was on her way to the grocery store nearby, but stopped at the marina gift shop, and when I caught up with her, she sent me back to the boat for 10 each of her Nighty Night Sailboat and Nighty Night Sailboat Goes to Spain.  By the time we left, Renne’ had placed most of them for resale, and her second long term customer.  They want to know immediately when she publishes Santa Finds Nighty Night Sailboat and the one to follow, Nighty Night Sailboat in the Bahamas.  She is a happy camper – or should I say Sailor/Authoress.  She has been spending 2-3 hours a day lately, working on the illustrations, and both should be near publication as soon as we arrive back in the States.

The grocery store here is extremely well provisioned, and she bought shoulder steaks of lamb, avocado, and sliced turkey leg.  Tonight, we had the lamb steaks, grilled, with grilled mixed vegetables.  What a feast.  Then we topped it off with a dessert of pumpkin roll, made by our friends, Art and Brenda Flynn. Whew!  Could today have been any better.

We also moved the boat out of the marina into the anchorage.  I changed the anchors yesterday.  I put the good 44lb Bruce on the all chain rode, using it as the primary anchor.  I changed the Danforth Anchor to the chain and rope rode as a backup.  We set the anchor and it held beautifully.  We are not too worried about dragging this evening.

Just after anchoring the boat, we met a couple who motored by on their way to the Crealock 43 pictured below.  They own the CareyAnn, and are Mike and CareyAnn.  They were with our other friends from Boca Chica, John and Dotty and Chuck and Cathy!  This is a very small world.  Anyway, while talking with them, this fuel ship enters to refuel the fueling dock.  We were all concerned about how he was going to get turned around, but the bow thruster sure did it's job!

We will be up early tomorrow morning, as high tide is at 0745.  We probably won’t leave until close to 0930, as Renne’ is interested in going back in for more lamb and veggies.  We want to repeat this meal again.

Last night, Art and Brenda were over for dinner.  We tried a new recipe layering potatoes, onions, carrots, green beans, garlic, and then ham slices.  We opened a can of ham, and sliced it very thickly.  Then added about 1-1/2 cups of vegetable bullion.  Put it in the pressure cooker and cooked it for 15 minutes.  I quick cooled the pressure cooker under water and served the meal.  It was absolutely outstanding.  We added no salt or pepper as the bullion and ham seasoned the entire meal!  What a feast we had last night.  I made an Apple Crisp, using green Granny Smith Apples for dessert.  We sent half of that back with Brenda and Art.

After dinner, the four of us met at the bar, The Tipsy Seagull, here at the marina and listened to some great singers.  Thursday nights, just about the entire island meets here at the bar, which sponsors a pizza night, with pizza ovens, mixes, fresh dough, and pretty reasonable prices.  The pizzas looked as good as any Papa John’s I have ever seen.  

 We are going back over this evening for much the same in the way of music.  We were really disappointed that the other three boats chose to go to Marsh Harbor for the same three days.  They missed a great time.  The three other boats (Last Dance, Fair Haven, and POWMIA) left today to head home.  We on the other hand are going back to Great Guana Cay tomorrow morning and will enjoy Nipper’s Pig Roast and the beach on Sunday.  From there, the plan is to head for Man ‘O War Cay, Hopetown, and then south to Spanish Wells.  We have another two to three weeks here in the Bahamas before we have to head home.  Maybe a month.  Depends on how long our supplies last.

So meet us at the bar tonite for Sundowners and Killer Music.

We look forward to seeing you guys.

JonNe’