Big Major to George Town

We sat out a blow tucked behind Big Major with a large number of other boats. We had spent some lovely afternoons visiting with friends on a beach on Big Major = away from the swimming pigs. One evening Pirate and a couple of other boats had a bonfire on the beach. It was a little chilly that evening. Bob made some great vegetable beef soup to warm us all up and Janie had the makings of S’mores. It was a lovely evening.

Friday night, there was a happy hour and band for dancing at Club Thunderball. We went with Janie and Jim and heard a local band playing Jimmie Buffet music. The place had a nice turnout. We heard that it was the bands first public appearance. We had a fun time dancing to the music with the expats, natives, and other boaters.
The window opened finally on Saturday the 28th for us to leave Big Major and head toward George Town. It was a calm lovely day to be cruising the lea side of the Exumas. Jim and Janie on Pirate decided to also make the trip with us. We decided to anchor at Musha Cay, the Cay owned by David Copperfield where he runs a wonderful resort for the rich and famous. We went with Jim and Janie in their large dinghy to explore the islands nearby. We found some beautiful locations where we might anchor when passing this way again. Unfortunately, we didn’t see anyone we thought might be famous.


Pirate anchored next to us at Musha Cay


Boats at anchor in Elizabeth Harbor

Sunday morning we were underway at 7 AM and heading out Rudder Cut on the Exuma Sound side of the islands. This can be pretty tricky, so you want to make this when the weather and water are calm. It was a little rougher than the trip we made last year, but overall tolerable. I spent the day working on a cross stitch birth announcement for our newest grandchild born on February 26, Joshua Andrew Kingsbury. We can’t want to see him on our trip home. We were happy to hear that mother and grandson were both doing well.


Beautiful red sail on Windswept


Entering Elizabeth Harbor by Monument Beach

We arrived Sunday about 2 PM and anchored off the only marina in George Town. We put the dinghy in the water and headed in to town looking to do some shopping. Unfortunately, all the stores were closed, so shopping had to be delayed until Monday. We did find Rita-Kay and Clay on Carleigh there at the dock and had a chance to catch up with them a little. We also got to spend some time with Dee and Ed off Sea Fox X.

The rest of Sunday, I did laundry at the marina Laundromat. What a challenge that was. Out of 14 washers, they had about 4 working. Two worked just by pushing in the coin slot without coins. Of the 14 dryers, there were 5 working. One of the ones I use I had to hold the door closed the entire 45 minutes so it would work! They could really use an appliance repairman here. Bob spent the time I was at the laundry, ferrying water from the faucet at the Exuma Market dock, 10 gallons a trip to the boat.

Monday we got up early and were at the market at 8:15. We pretty much had the market to ourselves, so it was easy getting around. We got our groceries and headed back to the boat and unloaded, then headed back in. I took the computer to a little hut where they have stations for about 5 people to use the Internet at a time. I got caught up on email, while Bob walked to the second supermarket to see if they had any of the items on our list that we were not able to get at the Exuma Market.
We also finally had the chance to deliver the school supplies for the Seven Seas Cruising Association “Bahamas Project.” We walked to the primary grade school at 9:45 and met with the principal. We agreed to have the books at a water sports dock next to the school at 10:30 and she would meet us there with some of the bigger children to carry the books boxes to the school. Bob and I had to hi tail it to make that time. We loaded the 20 boxes into the dinghy and headed back in to George Town. I have some photos of the process of the kids carrying the boxes. We have enjoyed meeting every child. There cannot be any sweeter, courteous, children anywhere else in the world. We hope to participate in this project next year as well.


Students are arriving


Students carrying the books


Principal on right



Later in the day, I met up with Janie and we were “shopping” in the straw market and a couple of little stores that have t-shirts and other souvenirs. Janie had purchased a fake so she could clean some beaches while she was here. Here is a photo of Bob and Janie doing their best imitation of the famour painting "American Gothic" by Grant Wood. If you think their expression is funny, you should have seen Jim's expression when he saw that Janie bought a rake!


Bob and Janie as "American Gothic"





Monday night we said goodbye to Sea Fox X, Carleigh, and Pirate, and left Tuesday morning for Long Island. We may or may not catch up with them again this trip, but will try to. We needed to leave for Long Island because we had a weather window and we have my daughter, Mindy and her husband Jim, arriving at Long Island on Saturday for a week’s visit.