Life, down the Exuma chain of cays

We left HIghborne Cay Marina after 4 nights. Expensive but wonderful.  Since then:

Traveled with our two buddy boats to Shroud Cay. Easy trip, only about 20 miles (finally, short distances!). – Two nights there on a mooring ball.

We are now in the Exuma Cays Sea and Land Park.  They have mooring balls in many locations; some reservable a day ahead, others first-come-first-served. No phone or Internet access there, of course.  We spent a day taking our dinghy up tidal creeks (only deep enough at high tide) for several miles into the interior of Shroud Cay – it is sort of a bunch of cays with these rivers between them.  Absolutely beautiful.  And what pretty beaches!

Then yesterday we moved about 17 miles to Warderick Wells, the HQ of the ECS&L Park.  Got to sail for over an hour without the engine!  Then it was tack all day, or run the engine and go straight upwind (as usual) – guess which.  On another mooring ball here.  Some Internet, no phones, water, outhouses, supplies, fuel – just a ranger station and many mooring balls.

Yesterday (Thursday), while picking up their mooring ball, Joanie on our buddy boat (sv-Pelican) injured her thumb severely – got it caught between the line on the mooring ball and a dockline.  They got a ranger to take them by fast motorboat, 20 miles to Staniel Cay where they flew to Nassau. She had 8-9 fractures in her thumb; got through the surgery okay yesterday at the hospital in Nassau and is doing well (considering …). They will stay in Nassau – for observation – until Monday morning. Hopefully they will be back here (Warderick Wells) sometime late Monday.

We (Ihana) and our other buddy boat (Rag Doll) will be taking care of their boat – charging batteries, etc.  So we are here at least for the next 3 days.  But what a beautiful place to be in!

Today we (Ihana & Rag Doll) hiked up Boo Boo Hill, the highest point of land on the cay.  All you could see in any direction was more cays, ocean, the Exuma Banks, lots of masts, and the ranger station.

Dinner last night on our boat with the Rag Dolls;  sundowners together again tonight.  It is sure nice to be traveling with other boats – we get to share supplies, boat-sit when necessary, and especially have Keith and Joanie (who have been here to the Exumas before) to plan the tours and decide the best places to visit, anchor or moor at, get supplies, etc.

It's interesting traveling like this – supplies (like food, water, diesel) are few and far between.  We wonder when we will run out; rationing some of it; sharing when necessary.  Should be okay when we get to Staniel Cay – it's only 20 miles away, and has everything we really need, and restaurants!  Looks like the weather is holding – February so far turned out to be a lot nicer than January.

Meanwhile, more buddy boats:  Laurence and Joan (Tranquillity) are past Eleuthera and probably on Cat Cay, and plan to be in George Town by Monday (or thereabouts).  Frank & Diane (Utopia) made the crossing from Miami to Bimini yesterday; they are planning to make the next jump to Nassau tomorrow and the next day.

So, here's the fleet:  Ihana & Rag Doll – here at Warderick Wells. Pelican – boat here, crew in Nassau. Tranquillity – nearing George Town.  Utopia – in Bimini, bound for Nassau.  Spread out all over.

Pictures – we have lots of good ones.  Will upload as Internet permits.