Breeze On

We left the Thompson Bay anchorage yesterday morning and sailed-SAILED!-ten miles N along the coast of Long Island to anchor at Dilda Rocks. It was a treat to be able to raise and lower the mainsail again without any trouble. Once we were anchored George ran the water maker and I did a few loads of laundry. We normally hang the bed sheets on the jib sheets (lines) on the foredeck. The wind was blowing the sheets so much, though, that the blowing sheet would pull the clothespins off. We eventually had to hang the sheets from the bimini in the cockpit, and even then they would become disconnected.  Today we had a lovely sail from Long Island to Old Bight, Cat Island. Once again we appreciated being able to use the mainsail. We initially had seas of five feet in the deep water of the Atlantic Ocean but because the waves were spread ten seconds apart the ride was quite comfortable.                              ...

Today was a day of running errands in preparation for leaving Thompson Bay tomorrow morning. George dropped me off at the rock wall to dump garbage and pick up a few groceries while he went to Long Island Petroleum for three cans of diesel. Late this afternoon we joined Dee & Ron and Jean & Michael at Sou’ Side for a drink and to say goodbye (again!) The last time we said our goodbyes we weren’t sure we would meet up again and it just so happened that we did. This time it seems even less likely that we will cross paths again this winter. But you never know… Yesterday, after the NW wind had finally subsided and shifted to the N making the harbor was much calmer, we dinghied over to Tiny’s where we met the gang for lunch. George is going to miss Tiny’s pizza.  Basil’s dock, the private dock we have always been allowed to use as a dinghy dock, has still not been repaired after being damaged by Hurricane Melissa. We have seen some cruisers walk on it anyway. No way are we even ...

The NW wind has made the large harbor here at Thompson Bay choppy at times but we have still been able to get to shore both yesterday and today. Yesterday we dinghied into the cove with Dee & Ron and Jean & Michael and walked nearly a mile to Sou’ Side for lunch, then stopped at Hillside Food Supply for groceries. We were grateful that the stock at Hillside was much better than that at Exuma Market in George Town, where the produce section is bare at times. Early this morning we dinghied back to the cove and walked the mile to the farmers market. Once again I was pleased with my purchases—callaloo (a green similar to spinach), arugula, scallions, coconut tart, eggs, local honey, and sapodillas. I also tried a few things that were new to me—fever grass (similar to lemon grass), and Malaysian apples. Early this afternoon I baked a batch of brownies. I baked the first four brownies in the solar oven—that is all that will fit at one time—but clouds rolled in so I baked the rest in ...

Yesterday, our last full day in George Town, was beautiful and sunny. There was a little bit of wind but light enough to take the three mile dinghy ride into town. Our original intent was to take our two bags of trash to the garbage truck and then have lunch with friends. In the morning George was working under the v berth trying to chase down the reason our water pump comes on now and then when we aren’t using the water. I had my ear buds in so I didn’t hear someone calling “Breeze On, Breeze On!” George got my attention and we both went up into the cockpit to see a Bahamian, Rodney, in his pump out boat. For a fee Rodney will pump out your holding tank but he will also collect trash and pick up and deliver propane tanks. We already had our two trash bags in the dinghy so we handed them over to Rodney and paid him the same $10 it would have cost us to dump them at the garbage truck. What a great service! We had a delightful lunch with our friends, two of whom we haven’t seen in three ...

In the two days since our daughter and son-in-law left we have stayed on Breeze On. Well…there is one exception. George got into the dinghy this afternoon to help our new neighbor attach his mooring line.  It remained windy yesterday, and today we had just enough wind to discourage us from taking a potentially wet dinghy ride. In the meantime, we have been busy with chores. Today George ran the water maker and filled the water tank while I did three bucket loads of laundry.  I am still a big fan of our clothes spinner.  I forgot to mention in my last post that our daughter and son-in-law brought the leaf spring that we needed for the mainsail track (plus a spare) and George attached it and the new feeder track. Breeze On can be a sailboat again.  Some of the laundry drying on the lifelines. George has just finished running the water maker and is removing the hose from the water intake on the deck.  The water tank is under our berth. George props it up so he can ...

We had a wonderful time this week with our daughter and son-in-law. As often happens, we had the worst weather of the winter so far, but they were great sports about it. Granted, even though it seems cold to us it is much warmer here than their home in Massachusetts. We spent a few nights near Chat ‘n Chill where we went for a hike around the southern end of Stocking Island then lunch at Snappy Turtle. Next we moved over to Red Shanks for better protection from the W and NW winds. From there George took Pam and Brad over to the Man ‘O War Cay sandbar at low tide. Then, before returning to Breeze On, they did a reconnaissance run over to Brown’s Marine where their taxi was to pick them up this morning. We enjoyed games of Mexican Train and spent time planning our upcoming trip to England and Scotland to celebrate our 50th anniversary this year.  This morning Pam and Brad donned our foul weather jackets and pants and secured their luggage in garbage bags. They and George took a very ...