Sitting on the Ball in Emerald Rock mooring field, on Wardrick Well Cay

1/2/2010    Not much to do this morning but catch up on the blog and relax.

After Romeo’s chair started sliding from one side of the room to the other he went out side and worked on a different way to tie to the mooring ball, so there would not be as much rolling and his chair would stay in on place. He put it on the  windward side of the  boat to reduces the movement. It worked great and it was a lot more comfortable the rest of the day.

This is the standard way to tie to a mooring ball.

Going on a hike so put the ball back in front.

The only boat on a Emerald Rock mooring balls, its our own private Idaho.

No one on the beaches except Triple A.

Eastern shore found an old metal ball, doing a little digging on it to see what it is.

Met some friends a long the trail

Crab not to happy about John Doe poking at him.

Very friendly bird.

This is the first snake we have see in the Bahamas.

Many rats scurry around as they walk the trails.This guy probably weighs 2lbs

Crab in one of the many nature wells on the Island

  Headquarters at Wardrick Wells

Notice all the boats lined up they all congregate together LIKE SHEEP.

After a 3 hour hike to headquarters and back its time to go back to the boat. Romeo is really tired from staying up all night waiting for the front to come. Both of them are a little burned out, from the party and from not sleeping well. It will be an early night!!!!  

Another day comes to a end.

Just make a decision, Back to Wardrick Wells Cay

1/1/2010 Rocky, Romeo’s older brother told him years ago, lets do something even if its not the right thing. Got up early and discussed were to go to wait out the front. Perfect weather conditions for one day to go anywhere within 35 mile. Romeo and Juliette talked while about going back to Normans Pond and a few other area farther South, but after seeing what is ahead of them, a lot of busy Islands and tourist traps for cruisers’.

Romeo decided to go back to Wardrick Wells and enjoy the Park.

Romeo turned on the motor and the sails for more speed, don’t catch fish unless going around 7 knots. Had to go out more than 4 miles to past the no fishing zone of the park, so Triple A could fish. No new years luck came there way, no fish again. Sailed all the way in going 2 knots into the Park and got back to the Emerald Rock mooring ball around 1:00pm.

Triple A swan to both of these beaches and back to the boat, it was a long way  for her to swim. Romeo watched in the boat thinking she was swimming to one beach close by,  but Triple A  just kept swimming to the next beach, she made it back to the boat safe by herself.

 

Triple A’s swim to the beach took about about an hour and Romeo hangs back to decompress.

They felt happy with the decision to go back to the Park and be safe on a mooring ball for the next few days and why not have internet while waiting out the front.

So they had a little New Years party of they own and a large shark is swimming all round the the boat and Emerald Rock mooring area.This is in the same area Triple A, had just been swimming for the last hour, scary thought swimming with shark in a water with you. Romeo decided they should swim together and carry a knife from now on. The shark is in the picture in the middle about a inch from bank, they never have a camera out in time for sharks. The shark was around 7 or 8 foot long and looked very dark in color you could not miss him and he was swimming in very shallow water we did not see a fin out of the water like the movies, if you were in the water there would be no sign off him until you bumped into the shark. Romeo did not think this was a nurse shark, but he will talk to the camp host and see if they know what kind of shark it is and if safe to swim with.

They both monkey around for awhile. After the near death experience it felt good to be healthy and alive.

 

Better start working out in case we have to fight off sharks.

After the party and dinner and desert, home made Pineapple upside down cake.

Juliette went to bed and Romeo stayed up and did the storm watch.

After hours of 15 to 20 knot wind, boat is rolling and surging up and down all night. Nothing is changing and  the up to 40 knot squall winds Chris Parker, said might happen, did not hit Wardrick Wells Cay. Romeo felt comfortable with the mooring ball holding and goes to bed after 12:00am 12/2/2010 CHEERS!!!!

How our garden grows, Happy New Year 2010, heading to Compass Cay, Bahamas

12/31/09  Our garden tomatos, onions, garlic, basil and lettuce

 

Happy New year, getting ready to go for a swim to the dock before departing.

 

Romeo getting last minute work done and studies the weather on the internet and a quick call to the parents before setting sail to Compass Cay. Another storm on the way and need to seek protected shelter for the next 4 or 5 days.

Arrived  Compass Cay at 3:00 pm, and the marina no longer lets people anchor in the small harbor and they do not have mooring balls for rent. Romeo decides to head thru Pipe Creek to find a place to anchor. Pipe Creek is busy as #ell. Boats zipping around everywhere, very strong current and wind funneling thru the creek, and boats anchored in all the best locations, it was like being on the Kenai River in Alaska, during King season. After going all the way thru Pipe Creek to Sampson Cay, were we were told to anchor in the middle of Pipe Creek, by John in Rock Sound. Romeo still can’t find any protected anchorage, welcome back to the real world. After several hours and personalities starting to break down. Romeo goes out side of the protected Pipe Creek to the Western shore next to Kemp Cay and Rat Cay and finally anchors for the night, just before sundown.

Not the best way to end the year, but tomorrow is  another day. Happy New Year!!!!!!