Nice stroke Mr. Pig
We left Emerald Rock around 9 am last Saturday and headed south east to Cambridge Cay, the southernmost part of the park. The wind was strong and on the nose as we headed into the cut leading into the mooring field and the current was running rapidly. Just as we were approaching the turn into the harbor we encountered a dive boat that asked us to keep clear, so we skirted them and lost concentration long enough to run aground as we entered a narrow passage to the mooring field. We spent five hours waiting for the tide to finish going down and then back up, but it wasn't an unpleasant experience. Sam snorkeled all around us and assessed the situation, so we knew which way to go when we did get off. We picked up the mooring at 5:30 and watched for the green flash as sunset-no dice. We had hoped to hike a bit on Cambridge, but didn't get a chance.
Next morning we were off in quieter wind headed for Big Majors Spot - the home of the famous beach pigs. We dropped the hook at 11 and joined about 20 other boats already there, including C-400 Runaway, Matt and Marty Miller from Solomons, MD. They were anchored in almost the same exact spot two years ago! They headed over to Thunderball Grotto at the same time Brunelle's crew did, so they checked in with Dan. I was aboard Brunelle with a napping Oliver so they stopped by on their way back to Runaway to chat. When Dan and the kids got back from diving on Thunderball grotto there was still time for a trip to the beach for Ben to "dig". They swung by the pig beach, where they were greeted with lots of grunts and anticipation, but alas not scraps, and then went further on to a quiet little beach for Ben.
Here's a week with Ben followed by....
a week with Oliver
Monday meant an early run to the airport to send Julia, John and Betty's daughter back to DC. Dan rode along in our dinghy as a dry run for the trip tomorrow for our crew. There wasn't a breath of air this morning, unlike any day we've seen in either of our experiences here in the Bahamas. We spent most of the morning swimming off the stern of the boat. Ben got very good and very brave about swimming all around. Oliver enjoyed it too. We made an abortive snorkel run in the afternoon, we couldn't seem to find the spot we had visited two years ago, so it turned into a scenic tour of the area. It included us running out of gas in the dinghy about a quarter of a mile from the boat. Sam took to the oars and got us halfway home when a Boston Whaler came by and offered a tow.
We borrowed Andiamo's dinghy on Tuesday morning to get all six of us and lots of luggage ashore. We made it in plenty of time and joined a crowd of about twenty people waiting for Flamingo Air and Watermakers Air to show up. The Hinckley crew made it onto the first plane and so did all their luggage and we headed back to Brunelle to prepare for tomorrow's crew, Patrick and Rose. We headed to Samson Cay at about 11. We had heard that Tuesday was free water day and all sorts of other deals. The trip was only 3 miles, so we arrived in time for $2 lunch specials and joined Pekabu III (who have been here at Sampson for two days) Andiamo and new friends from Jubilee for a leisurely (actually incredibly slow) lunch! It was so slow the chef came out and told us there would be no charge. I was able to do two loads of laundry while we waited to order and be served! Two more loads and we are ready for tomorrow. It was early to bed as we were both beat.
Sampson Cay is a beautiful spot and we enjoyed our short stay, but we're off for Staniel Cay to pick up Patrick and Rose. We haven't been able to get on the internet here even though they offer it, so I'll just keep updating this until I can send it. ~~~_/)~~~M&D
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