You Lookin’ At Me?

Island isolation is still working well for us.  We are concerned that the Bahamian government might be planning to ‘roll up the welcome mat’.  As with everywhere, changes are coming every day.  In one of the last announcements by the Prime Minister, it was revealed that the government was working on a plan to ‘encourage’ cruising boats to return to their home country.  We completely understand their concern and do not wish to overstay our welcome, but if we don’t go into any of their towns, or burden their resources, we should be fine staying where we are for at least another month (or two)...or until the tell us to leave, whichever comes first!

Our final ‘preparation’ for this ‘lay low’ plan was to make a trip back to the nearest town to fill up those gas cans we found and repaired.   We took the Whaler so that we could take the 11 mile route instead of the 30 mile route, which would have been necessary for Right Hand.  The trip into town was fairly quick and easy.  With masks and gloves we ventured to the fuel dock and the marina grocery store.  The store was out of eggs and flour, but I was able to score 5 apples and some candy bars.  During our return trip is where we ran into a slight problem.  The outboard started acting funny and would ‘power down’ once we were up on plane for a few minutes.  We were NOT in a good place to be adrift in a dinghy (of course we would have anchored in shallow water to avoid being blown out to sea).  We decided to change our course and attempt to weave our way through very shallow sandbars to cut the trip in half.  We had to go very slowly (which the engine liked) and at one point we both got out to lighten the load.  I pulled and Keith pushed over the final sandbar and we were home!  The trip definitely took on the feel of a Survivor challenge instead of a Swiss Family Robinson expedition, but in the end it worked out fine and we were able to acquire an addition 18 gallons of gas (and 5 grainy apples).

The garden is doing well, but as the plants get taller I will definitely need to address their vulnerability to strong winds.  We did get a pretty strong storm a few nights ago with winds up to 45 mph, and I only found one basil leaf on the deck the next morning. 

Yep, he’s looking at me!  Conch have eyes on stalks, and I have noticed lately that the conch hanging off the swim platform are usually looking at us as we come and go in the Whaler.  I find this slightly disturbing since I know I will soon be eating these creatures.  Keith doesn’t help the situation, because for some reason he has a need to name them.  It adds a whole new dimension when I am preparing to clean and cook ‘Larry, Moe, and Curly’.

We enjoy hiking across the island to the east side.  In some places the path is open, but Keith took a machete to clear some of the vegetation in the overgrown areas.

That path looks a little tight.

Ahhhh, the other side

On this day it happened to be low tide when we arrived, and what a difference the tide makes.

Now we can go around this rock outcropping instead of over.

There was still the need for a little climbing on rugged rock surfaces, but we were able to get to 3 different beach areas on this low tide trip.  To my AACPS friends...did you notice the ‘Be Kind’ finger cloud?

Small trails👍  Also, during low tide there are numerous pools of water left behind.  The assortment of animals trapped in the pools is amazing.  These snails must know that this is the time to move...before the waves start pounding again.  

All of this is underwater, and inaccessible, at high tide.

The hole in the face of that rock goes all the way to the top, so when waves crash into it at high tide the water shoots out the top...cool!

Starfish are huge here!

I’m not sure what to say about this.  I originally thought it was a sea cucumber, but it doesn’t feel like a sea cucumber!  Sea cucumbers kinda feel like starfish...not quite a rigid, but leathery.  This guy was a BLOB!  He felt like firmly set jello jigglers!  He was more elongated in the water, but folded himself up accordion style when Keith lifted him out of the water.  This scrunching up action must require the expulsion of water, because a steady stream came out of him until we returned him to the water.

Still enjoying good conchin’!  I have been using conch in many of my standard crab recipes, and it has been very good.  I do need to be a little more adventurous in cooking and attempt some of the Bahamian conch recipes. 

Had a great view of the Pink Supermoon.  Happy perigee-syzygy everyone...look it up!

Cloud formations have been very active this week, which makes for an interesting sunset.

Stay safe and enjoy the sunset, wherever you might be!