Emerald Rock to Little Farmers Cay

       We hated to leave the Exuma Land and Sea Park, but decided we should start south to meet up with Rob and Carol again.  We had a beautiful sail from our mooring at Emerald Rock to Big Majors Spot.  As we approached the anchorage, we were reminded of Shaw Bay!  It was just as crowded.  There was still plenty of room, so we dropped the hook and noticed several boats we had been acquainted with while in the park, and we also saw Runaway, a C400 from Solomons, (MD).  We had been following their blog as they preceded us through the islands.  We were glad to finally catch up with them and swapped drinks, stories, and C400 improvements we each have done.
        We spent three days at Big Majors as it is only a short dinghy ride to Staniel Cay where we could get ice, fuel, some food supplies and lots of local color.  Two Bahamians came alongside with a boat full of conchs and lobsters and we decided we couldn't resist the lobsters.  We got one LARGE one and split it for dinner. Not exactly Maine lobsters, but very good.      
    Right off Staniel Cay is Thunderball grotto, made famous in the movie.  It is great to snorkel into the grotto and see all the fish and amazing colors of coral all lit from the openings to sky above.   We also enjoyed meeting the "residents" of Big Majors, several "wild" pigs.  They are well fed by cruisers who take their food scraps ashore.   We met another 400 owner, who bought his boat from Ron Marcuse.  We had sailed with Ron in NJ while awaiting a new engine in 2003, so we knew the boat. 
    On Wednesday we headed on south to Little Farmer's Cay to await the arrival of Rob and Carol's daughter Elizabeth and her husband Ray.  The sail was as good as they come, an easy reach through gorgeous water along Great Guana Cay.  We had a short wait to get around the southern end of Little Farmer's Cay, as we found the edge of the sandbar and it was (full moon) low tide.  We made it to the moorings across from Little Farmer Yacht Club in time for dinner with Rob and Carol.  Rob had picked up a large red snapper from the local fishermen and we grilled it with great success. 
     It's now 9:30 am on Thursday and the plane just landed with Liz and Ray, so we hope to be going ashore and maybe sending this at lunchtime today.   We plan to head to White Point on Great Guana where we'll have a picnic on the beach and if Liz remembered the Hershey bars, we'll make s'mores. ~~~(\_~~~D&M
Google Earth track file for 3/8
Google Earth track file for 3/11

Suuuey, pig pig pig. We didn't have any food for them but they didn't mind welcoming us ashore.

Thunderball grotto was beautiful. We saw the turtle later on while snorkelling.

Dinner Bahamian style