Smiles

 The Pearl (Jennifer)

Greetings from Hopetown!  Buccaneer and I are enjoying regular exploration walks, swimming and meeting new and visiting old friends in Hopetown.  There is a rake and scrap band playing at the Hope Town Inn and Marina later on today and burritos on the menu for dinner.  There seems to be a supply of flour tortillas and fresh vegetables here- I am a very happy sailor!  I scored an avocado today- actually I couldn't help myself and bought 2!  Traveling the Bahamas has taught me how lucky we are to have farmers markets, stores with stocked shelves and regular fresh produce deliveries.  Most groceries here will get a delivery of fresh food 1x per week.  The fresh food is typically from the US or Canada and has come way of a larger Bahamian port.  I don't even want to think of the carbon footprint of these items.  The Harbour View Grocery here buys what it can from local growers- I just bought some orange cherry tomatoes that come from a Bahamian hydroponic grower- they are sweet and juicy.  The food goes quick, if you don't get there the same day, you are out of luck.  

Tortola and Rum Tot, there is a story here.  Remember when we met you?  Patsy and Mary were racing to the Blue Store?!  Ah, the memories!

Anyhow, simply said, we are well nourished- food, friends, activity and sunshine!

Love, 
The Pearl

Our Durango sailing friends Trisha and Hank on s/v Adventura sounding their conch shells at sun set in Wardwick Wells!

There is a tradition, as the sun sinks below the horizon, sailors sound their conch shells like a horn.  The sound from each shell is unique and dependent on the skill of the sailor.  Trisha is holding a Queen Conch and Hank is holding a male conch shell.

Can't wait to see you in Durango!

If you have been to the islands, you know there is driftwood everywhere!  Cruisers overtime have found many fun, creative things to do with the driftwood.  In Wardwick Wells, they allow you to place your boat or house name on a piece of driftwood and leave it on the top of Boo Boo Hill on the island.  We borrowed paints from Trisha and Hank on  s/v Adventura and Coach put his artist hat on.  

While the paint was drying, a front came through and Captain used the free water to wash Kluane. 

The final product.  Sandy K and Patti donated some of their balloon pins for us to share with the kids and adults we met in the Bahamas.  We thought they make our sign authentic.

Kluane's sign makes her journey to the top of Boo Boo Hill.

Buccaneer planted the sign!

Thunderball Cave- where the 007 1965 was filmed.   For you trivia lovers-
 Thunderball grotto also known as “James Bond Cave” or “Golden Grotto” – the battlegrounds of the infamous underwater fight between the man himself and a small army under the rule of his arch nemesis, eye-patch wearing Largo. 

Kluane motoring around the crown of thorns to a spot between the Majors.

Marlene and Mark on s/v Puffin joined us between the Majors for the passing front.
We had a great time talking hockey, boating and sailing!  

Another Romora!

Our friends David and Barbara on Podjo!

Buccaneer and Mark going fishing!

Kluane on the backside of Black Point, Great Guana.

Who can name this fish?

Holes in My Soles

The Pearl (Jennifer)

Hello again!  Here we are in Black Point on Great Guana Cay- this is our most Southern Point for this trip.  Black Point is a small settlement that has an amazing laundromat.  I know that doesn't sound important, but trust me, it is.  Black Point also has great homemade bread (Lorraine's mom).  Oh, and there is Internet almost anywhere you go in the settlement. 

Here are some work and play photos!

The Pearl 

A sister ship!  s/v First Light is a 35' Hallberg Rassy.
 We were super excited to meet Jennifer and Harvey and talk about our boats!
They win the award for the best refrigerator!

Buccaneer dropping anchor.

Local fisherman often come by after a day fishing and spearing to sell their catch.  
Check out the lobbies!

You can't see it here, but I've worn a hole in both of my Chacos in 5 months exploring the Bahamas.  

Color of Water

The Pearl (Jennifer)

Wardwick Wells North Mooring Field turned out to be one of our favorite spots in the Exumas.  Jennifer, Andrew and Henry were so welcoming, helpful and kind- Thank YOU!  

We would leave Wardwick and somehow would find our way back.  Kluane and her Captain move with the wind.    So you will see our time in the Exumas involved a lot of back and forth- we ended up in Wardwick three times, Staniel Cay area three times and Black Point on Great Guana Cay twice.  This strategy gave us ample time to really get to know a place, the people and time to sail!

Did you ever take a photo of a landscape- a tall majestic mountain or a beautiful, stunning sunset and then look at the photo later and feel it isn't quite what you saw?  Much of what we are seeing in the Bahamas is amazing- the wildlife, the water, the people, the boats, the sunsets.... I hope to be giving you a small glimpse of the amazing country we are exploring!

Enjoy more of the Exumas!

The Pearl

There are rays everywhere here!

One of my favorite views!

Ok, this view isn't so bad either (he, he).
Buccaneer, er Captain, is pulling the dinghy!

The amazing thing about Wardwick Wells North Mooring Field is you can get your 5' draft sailboat into a place that has water just below your waist in places.  In this photo, you can see the different colors of the water.  Reading the water is very important in sailing in the Bahamas- the dark water is typically deeper, the lighter water shallower, the clear water is sand- very shallow and black oil slicks (Thanks Tonya) are coral heads- avoid these at all costs!

Couldn't resist!

Longest book I have ever read.
All in all a great read, Scarlett was a handful!
On second thought Rhett was too!

Kluane at Wardwick Wells during low tide.
Check out the left of the photo- the sandbar is exposed.

 A typical anchorage (Big Majors outside of Staniel Cay, Exumas)

Blues, Birds and Lizards

The Pearl (Jennifer)

Hi Friends,

I am sitting at Captain Jacks getting caught up on email and Facebook.  I'm seeing my WRW friends are well into the cycling season- I love to see your smiles ladies!  Buccaneer and I swore we saw Laurie B and Susan H walking along the dock together... seeing visions of WRW!  

There is a front off of Bermuda that will cause us to spend a few more days here in Hopetown.  We will then move back to Marsh Harbour to get some groceries, do some banking, errands (hoping for a haircut) and then off to Green Turtle.

Buccaneer and I met a lovely lady, Kathy while we were in Green Turtle in November!  She was visiting from Nova Scotia.  Kathy is back in Green Turtle and we are super excited to be reunited for our marathon walks and adventures!  Hugs Kathy!

Back to getting you up to speed, rewind back to the Exumas.

Enjoy!

The Pearl

Another poser, I liked the tree!

The Exumas water is the prettiest I have ever seen-
shades of blues, turquoises and emeralds!

A conch shell

We have a few tablespoons of the above left, 3 cans of green chile and ample supply of red chile powder.
Thanks Cecilia for the NM treats, we are really enjoying them!

Not sure what he is, but we thought he looked a bit like a roadrunner...

The Land and Sea Park, Wardwick Wells Exumas

The Pearl (Jennifer)

Ahoy!  Buccaneer and I just arrived back in the Abacos yesterday.  We spent the night anchored off Tilloo Cay in a beautiful spot.  We are excited to be back in the Abacos.  We are moored in Hopetown on Elbow Cay.  Our first stop was to say hello to Will and Muffin on Antares, then we were off the Vernons and the Harbor Grocery to stock up on a few essentials we have been without (Vernon makes a killer chocolate mousse pie and excellent sandwich bread)!  We also heard that Moonraker is headed to Hopetown- can't wait to see Donna and Bill!

I have a few more posts to get the blog caught up- so we will rewind and go back to the Exumas to Wardwick Wells with our friends Tayna and Jay on s/v Minx.

Enjoy the posts!

The Pearl

Feeding the Romoras
(they stick themselves on sharks and larger fish to get the scraps as they eat)

Kluane on a mooring ball in Wardwick Wells Sea and Land Park

Competition for the gecko at Geico, he posed as soon as I got the carmera out!

Sea star

A bit of creativity when it comes to exercise, I call this walking through the "snow".
 Instructions, wear your shoes, go about 1 foot out into the water and walk normally.  It feels an awful like walking in deep snow.. . and is a heck of a workout!

Exploring. One of our favorite things to do!

Wardwick Wells has trails that lead to the numerous beaches.
Buccaneer and I hit them all- trails and beaches!  Our favorite swimming beach is the Lucky Spot!

Buccaneer and I walked to the Pirates Lair and visited Tayna and Jay over in Hog Cay.
Thanks for the snacks, refill on water and good company.
Good thoughts to Dexter on this day!

One of our favorite spots- its all ours!

Pearl with Tayna and Jay- our last visit for this cruise.  s/v Minx is heading back to the States.
No goodbyes, we will see you again soon!

The Pearl and Buccaneer feeling at home in the Pirates Lair

Exumas

The Pearl (Jennifer)

Ahoy!  We have made it to our Southern-most spot- Black Point on Great Guana in the Exumas.  Those that have really been paying attention, we have been here before- they have a great laundromat and a fantastic community!  We will be heading North over the next few weeks- hoping to stop in at all of our favorite spots (Captain Jacks, Dock n'Dine, and MAXWELLS)!  We are having a great time and have much to share with you... here are a few photos of the start of our time in the Exumas.

Fair Winds and Clean Diesel (yes, I am a sailor now)!

Mucho Love,

The Pearl

We've been showing a lot of photos of the beauty of the Bahamas and a lot of FUN!
I thought I would pepper in some "work" photos- being on a boat is a lot of WORK too!
Here is Buccaneer  early am, bringing up the anchor!

Hatchet Bay, Eleuthera entrance/exit.
They blew a hole in the coral to make the anchorage!

Meet s/v Minx!  We met Jay and Tonya in Hopetown, Abacos and have been having a great time with them!
Jay is very talented, he can drive the dinghy and carry 2 cups of vino (with no spillage).

The Exuma Land and Sea Park in Wardwick Wells

Buccaneer swabs the deck each morning there is dew on the boat (and when it rains- free water)!
We found the mop floating in the water outside of New Plymouth, Abaco.

Our buddy boaters Jay and Tonya on Kluane at Highbourne Cay!
Check out the post made by Tonya.