A Matter of Perspective

New Bight to Fernandez Bay |  1.5 Hours  |  6 Miles 

The air and water were both still as the sun rose over New Bight. So far in The Bahamas, we have experienced few days with one these conditions and definitely none with both. I took the opportunity to Be Still myself. The view was stunning from the upper deck, with the colorful sky reflecting off water so clear the bottom could be seen 15-feet down. I took a walk around the deck to check our anchor and the local wildlife. Starfish and sand dollars dotted the sea floor. With perfect conditions, I dropped the paddleboard in the water and made half a dozen laps around Crossroads. Very much a newbie at this activity, there is security in not wandering too far from home.  

Our little group had planned to meet on the beach at 9:00 to explore the area. What a beautiful ride to the sand. A short walk south past the police station took us to the sign for Mt. Alvernia Hermitage,  a miniature monastery atop the highest point in The Bahamas. Halfway to the gateway, it began to rain. Joanne and I pulled away from the pack and awaited its arrival under the shelter of the cross-topped stone structure.  

The Stations of the Cross trail led to the top on the hill. Along the way were numerous markers depicting the namesake journey of Christ. Father Jerome Hawes hand-carved the steep steps from the solid rock along with building his retreat. Once atop the hill, it seemed we entered a scene from Lilliput in Gulliver's Travels. The structure that looms massively from sea-level, is in fact, very tiny. In the chapel, a small altar held the guest book opposite seating for one. Father Hawes did not have to worry about someone sitting in his spot on the pew. We ducked through stone arches and marveled at his sleeping quarters. My great dane friend has a larger bed than did Father Hawes.

I was drawn to the juxtaposition of colorful living things against the stark, weathered stonework. We all gathered to take in the scenery, feeling rather large against the structures of man ...

... and rather small in the grand scheme of things. I lingered until all had cleared and captured a signature image from New Bight.

We descended on a gently-sloping trail through the canopy. Remains of long ago-tended gardens lined the way. Corn was tasseling and squash was in bloom. Once the pack regrouped at the bottom of the hill we headed for Olive's Bakery where we all helped the local economy with purchases of her bread, cakes, and cookies. It was Monday morning and her selection was small, but we all had more than enough. Next stop was the ruins of an old church. The skeleton of a once-grand building continues to tell its story through its windows. Some windows were well preserved with the edges of contoured millwork still defined. Other windows deferred the story-telling to what lies on the other side.

Our only disappointment of the morning was that the Fish Fry in the Cultural Village was closed. Cute and colorful buildings displayed menus that made my mouth water. Attractive seating areas were empty. Establishments with appealing names were deserted. We all waited for a while to see if the ice cream place would open. It wasn't to be for it was a slow Monday morning in The Bahamas. Time to flip the switch and appreciate all we did have. The crystal clear water softly lapping on clean, soft sand and

tropical scenery cannot be topped. It IS better in The Bahamas. We split off and headed to our motherships for lunch. We stopped by Salty Mare and enjoyed a great visit with Susie. We look forward to visiting more with her and Todd along our journeys back to Virginia. Our group picked up anchor right after lunch to relocate further north just as it started to rain. We waited until the heavy stuff passed and then followed.

It was a short trip so we elected to tow the dinghy. We kept a close eye on it on our rear view camera. Crossroads received another fresh water bath. Three cleanings in 24 hours will have her spoiled, but she is looking much more loved these days. Showers continued to pass north and south of us all afternoon, but we remained dry. Others in the group went out to snorkel around the rocks. I chose to get some more time on the board and increased the diameter of my laps while staying upright and dry. At 4:30 we all gathered at the Tiki Bar at Fernandez Bay Resort for an evening of celebrating Joanne's birthday. 

We met one of the owners who told us she and her husband had bought the closed property in October and have been working hard to get everything up and running again. The central grounds are nicely landscaped around 15 oceanside villas. We watched the sun go down and stood for our group photo before moving to the dining room for a delicious meal. Everyone was a member of the clean-plate club which included a protein, two sides, plus cake and ice cream for dessert. We departed full and tired. It was close to Boaters' Midnight and the stars were shining brightly overhead against a clear and dark black sky.

Making New Tracks

George Town to New Bight, Cat Island |  9 Hours  |  57 Miles 

Our chartplotter records all of our travels with a black line overlayed on our navigational charts. Up to this point we've been following well-traveled routes from previous trips to The Bahamas. This morning we set out to make new tracks. Our anchor was up at 6:30 and we continued south down Elizabeth Harbor. Along the way we slowed to admire the megayacht RH Three anchored at the edge of the channel. A quick Google search found that you too could charter this vessel for $115,000 a week, plus expenses. We rounded the point into South Channel and spotted a familiar silhouette in the sun's glitter. Mercator, a 53-foot Selene was coming into George Town from Turks & Caicos. Through a quick Selene-family hello over the radio, we learned that they have lived aboard for four years. We began as the caboose behind four sailboats crossing Exuma Sound. With a 15-knot wind on the beam, the sailors were happy. With our gimpy stabilizer fin, the wind-driven beam sea made for a bumpier than we'd hoped for ride. As the wind clocked around, the sailboats fell off and we were able to pull in front of them by continuing direct to our destination. 

By lunchtime, the hills of Cat Island came into view. I made a wonderful salad for lunch with the arugula purchased at the George Town Farmers' Market and some leftover salmon. It is always a nice treat to get fresh produce. They sky darkened and a dry squall rolled over us. There was no rain, but the associated gusts whipped the wind and waves up for 20 minutes. By the time we reached the bight of Cat Island, Crossroads was covered with at thick layer of salt. It took a good hour to make our way across the bight to the town of New Bight. We spotted three trawlers in the anchorage and immediately recognized the profile of one -- a Selene 53, Salty Mare. Once our anchor was set, I immediately got to work washing the salt from every surface of Crossroads. There was just enough time for a quick shower before dropping the dinghy and dashing off for sundowners on the beach at 5:15. We had a great group and a beautiful sunset. 

We also had more than enough no-see-ums and mosquitoes. By the time the sun reached the horizon, we were all in the water up to our knees so the varmints could no longer chew on our ankles. We had hopes for a green flash, but no luck tonight. We made plans to meet as a group tomorrow morning and then headed back to our respective boats. As we arrived, Todd from Salty Mare drove over in his dinghy for another Selene family hello. The boating world is a small one, and everyone knows everybody else. After a light dinner, Barry put on his IT hat and set up his computer and television so we could cast a streamed show to the big screen. We both enjoyed catching up on missed episodes of our favorite show.

A Mixture Of Clouds And Sunshine

George Town 

Wouldn't you know it? The morning after I posted about our fortunate string of colorful sunrises, the string ended. Heavy gray clouds hung over the harbor. The sky lightened, but never brightened. Storm clouds approached from the west. My mood was matching the weather. I was feeling pretty gloomy too, for today we officially (and once again on this trip) abandoned our Plan A. Our latest Plan was to continue south to the Jumentos and Raggeds for a couple of weeks with Paradigm Shift. A troublesome stabilizer fin led Barry to pull the plug on our traveling deeper into areas with limited services. Needless to say, I'm very disappointed with another "little black rain cloud" event on this trip. Several rain squalls blew through, but rainbows popped up after each passed. One was short and vibrant. One a long arch with a faint double beam above it. The final rainbow was combination of length and color.     

Paradigm Shift raised their anchor and turned south. Safe travels, friends. Enjoy every moment. I hope our paths cross again soon. Once their silhouette faded into the horizon, it was time to refocus on our latest Plan B. Following our personal storm, our rainbow has appeared. We will join with a group of boats, including Joanne and John on No Limits, and head to Cat Island tomorrow. By the time we loaded into our dinghy for a run into town, the sky was clearing, the sun was shining, and we were ready for final preparations. We disposed of a last bag of trash and picked up a loaf of bread plus a few other things at the market. Back to Crossroads we went for lunch and a final afternoon in Elizabeth Harbor. 

Time to break out the paddleboard for run No. 2. Barry and I hopped in the dinghy and towed the board to Sand Dollar Beach in hopes of minimizing some of the chop around the boats. I started in the thigh-high crystal clear water and paddled downwind to Chat N Chill beach, staying upright and dry. A highlight was moving along with a giant ray as it glided along the sandy bottom beneath me. Barry was waiting for me on the beach in the dinghy. After a short stay we headed back to the mothership. 

A group of cruisers gathered on the Sand Dollar Beach at 4:00 for happy hour. We got to meet several other couples who will join us on the trip to Cat Island tomorrow. It will be a new destination for us and we'll look on the bright side that we can still explore, even if not as originally planned. The sun sank quickly. We raced into the sunsplash back to Crossroads in time to raise the dinghy to the upper deck just as the sun sank below the clouds on the horizon. Great memories were made here in George Town. It is now time to move on.

Goodbye For Now

George Town 

We have been treated to a gorgeous sunrise each of our mornings in George Town. I have noticed that Mother Nature's light show is beginning much earlier than when we started our journey. First light now comes around 6:00 am with the sunrise following some 30 minutes later. Thankfully, I've been waking up without an alarm and haven't missed one yet. Barry prefers to review my pictures and get a few more minutes of sleep. Today's main event was a trip across the harbor to the Exuma Market dock. Glenda, Greg, and the pups met us there. We disposed of our garbage for the bargain price of $3 a bag (most places are double that amount) then headed off in different directions. The boys -- Barry, Greg, Jaxon, and Cooper -- went to fill up a gas tank at Minns while Glenda and I set off with our grocery lists. Our first stop was the farmers' market for some arugula. Stop 2 was the Shop Rite and Stop 3 was Exuma Market. Between three locations, we managed to check off most of the items on our lists. The roads were busy and a line of folks strung from the door of the clinic as they waited for their Covid tests. The newest and shiniest car on the island surely belongs to the Covid-19 Ambassador. Back to the dock we went and loaded up our purchases to take back to our motherships. As we passed by, I couldn't resist taking this photo of Jaxon and Cooper on the back of their dinghy. I love those cuties.

The exit from Lake Victoria to Elizabeth Harbor is a narrow single-lane opening under the road. We waited for our opportunity to pass through. The chop in the harbor had lessened and we had a dry ride back to Crossroads. After a quick lunch, Barry and I headed to the beach to stretch our legs. Our dinghy floated in crystal-clear water, giving the illusion that it was hovering above the land. A quick walk to the eastern side of Stocking Island put us on another beautiful beach. 

Barry and I walked for a while then followed our footprints back to the path. The colors were amazing and these photos do not capture the true vibrance of the moment.

The afternoon ticked away and we had just enough time for showers once we got back to Crossroads. We gathered for appys aboard Paradigm Shift along with John and Joanne from No Limits. We all  celebrated Joanne's birthday with song and surprise cupcakes with candles. Darkness fell and although it was difficult, it was time to say goodbye for now to our dear friends. Paradigm Shift will leave in the morning for points further south. We have spent an amazing few days together and there are plenty of wonderful memories and pictures to keep me smiling until our paths again cross. Safe travels, Paradigm Shift! See you soon. 

Off On A Grand Adventure

George Town 

A dramatic golden sunrise set the scene for a much-anticipated day of adventure. Boat projects kept the crews of both Crossroads and Paradigm Shift occupied throughout the morning. Following lunch, Barry and I took our dinghy over to Paradigm Shift where he and Greg would work on a few more projects (they never end) under the watchful eyes of Jaxon and Cooper. Glenda and I summoned her chariot (dinghy), powered by a team of 20 horses (outboard), and set our sights on the land of discovery. Through hundreds of boats we weaved, dodging anchor lines, small boat traffic, and sand bars. The destination was north -- the Salt Monument, which stands watch over the anchor-bound kingdom from the highest point on the highest hill. With great care and forethought we secured our vessel and embarked upon the latest of many great adventures together. We surveyed the scene, left then right, and identified a small gap in the foliage where more than a few had traversed before us. Brave Glenda led the way.

The melody of a lone songbird resonated in the wind. We continued to a point where that sound was overtaken by that of the ocean's surf. Intrigued, we temporarily abandoned our original mission in favor of discovering the beach. Oh, my, what a beach it was. The sand was soft, deep, and clean with a gentle slope that produced a tranquil lapping of the waves. We were captivated by the lure of the ocean and walked a great distance south, away from the monument. All was good, however, and this setting had these explorers basking in our element. At the next break in the dunes we turned right, back into the forest and refocused on our original mission.

Through the brush we went, working our way through palm fronds and sea grapes. Along the way we spotted several natives keeping vigilant watch over our every movement -- a giant lizard, a colony of arboreal termites, and the evil serpent. With extra caution we proceeded onward, undaunted. Cairns stood as evidence of those who came before us. A tiny sign pinned to a tree reassured these intrepid adventurers that we were making progress toward the summit. 

By this time I was in the lead and joyfully heralded our arrival at the top of the mountain. Glenda ascended the final few steps and we both stood in amazement at the beauty of the anchorage below us. I removed our water rations from the backpack, enjoyed the moment, then captured it with a selfie. (Without pictures, did it really happen?)

Alas, there was one problem ... we were still one peak away from our destination. Our beach walk had taken us further south than we had thought. We inched our way to the precipice and surveyed our options. We had no choice but to descend into the Valley of Shadows to reach the other side. We carefully placed our flip flops into the smallest of slots in the vertical rock face as we first descended to the forest floor before traversing the flats and finally ascending the northern slope. Again, with careful placement of feet and hands, we worked our way to where the canopy opened unto the bluebird sky. There it stood before us, the Salt Monument, erected generations ago to guide sailors into the salt ponds. We paused to take in the exquisite 360-degree view and the refreshing breeze. 

Although we had encountered nary a soul on our journey through the wilderness, it seems several folks had approached from the opposite direction. We stood proudly as a fellow explorer captured our souvenir photo. We had seen and conquered which left no other option than to return to sea level and report our findings. The tide had receded while we were away, but thanks to careful planning, our chariot was still afloat. Again, all was good. Back to Paradigm Shift we headed, this time into the wind-driven chop, catching quite a bit of splash along the way. Once cleared for entry by the two sentries on duty, Glenda and I sat on the bow in the sun to dry off while sharing notes and photos of our latest grand adventure.

After showers and a little down time, we gathered again for a little home cookin'. I had brought two chicken pies and green beans from home. That plus a salad made for a great dinner with great friends.

If There Are No Pictures, Did It Really Happen?

George Town 

We've had a busy few days in George Town. On Monday, I was finally able to pull my new paddleboard out of the commissary and get it ready for use. Back in the fall, I set this new activity as a goal of mine for this trip and to "be brave enough to suck at something new." I have been very diligent with my core and balance exercises while onboard. I felt I was ready to give this a shot now that Glenda was there to cheer me on. Greg towed us girls and our boards to a shallow, sandy area. I hopped right up on the first attempt and it felt great. Staying on was not an issue at all. My steering, however, needs a lot more practice. Glenda and I paddled around the anchorage and had a great time laughing and trash-talking each other. We managed to stay upright and dry despite a stiff breeze and several wakes from passing boats. Confidence abounding, we agreed that we didn't need a tow back to our motherships and set out under our own power with me in the lead. I heard Glenda simultaneously yell and splash. Instinctively, I turned to see what was happening. Down I went too. We had a great time, but there are no photos to prove that it happened. I am so grateful for her encouragement. We'll have to find another time and place (and a photographer) for our Dynamic Duo photo. After drying off and cleaning up, we headed to Chat N Chill, joining many other dinghies on the beach. The crystal clear water will always captivate me and lead me to take the phone out of the dry bag and capture the moment.   

Jaxon and Cooper took us on a walk around the beach and came across this interesting Lion King sand carving. We enjoyed appys (Glenda is the ultimate hostess) and a throw-together dinner aboard Paradigm Shift before calling it a night. Tuesday was oil change day for the main engine and generator. That managed to occupy most of the day and it was not until sunset that I picked up the camera.

Today's sunrise was pretty spectacular and was painted over all the sky. (Paradigm Shift is in the lower left corner.) Barry and I loaded into our dinghy and followed Greg and Glenda in theirs across the harbor for lunch at Splash. Disappointment set in when we were told they had no lobster or shrimp. What? The southwest chicken salad was delicious though. After our meal, Barry and I walked up to the store to check on some replacement parts. Along the way were vibrant bougainvillea blossoms and happy street-side artwork.

We retrieved our dinghy from a falling tide and made our way back across Elizabeth Harbor, first to Crossroads to unload then up to Peace & Plenty for the remainder of the afternoon with Joanne and John from No Limits. 

The tide had receded during our time ashore. Mother Nature left some beautiful beautiful artwork of her own in the form of ripples in the sand. The sun was getting low in the sky and our shadows were getting longer. A golden glow was settling over the northeastern shore. As we arrived back at Crossroads, a small rainbow was visible to the southeast. Tomorrow we will enjoy our final day together and be thankful for all the time we got to spend together. I'll try to remember to take some pictures.

The Best of Home

Black Point to George Town |  8.3 Hours  |  53 Miles 

We were underway before the sun rose over the trees on Black Point. Dothan Cut was free of big breakers, but we had to plow through a four-knot head current to reach the outside. Once in Exuma Sound we set a single waypoint at Conch Cay Cut and followed it right to George Town. 

Elizabeth Harbor is the current home for several hundred boats. We made our way past Monument Beach and the crowds at Chat N Chill before looking for a place to drop anchor. Searching out a great spot is akin to trying to find a parking space at the mall the week before Christmas. Thoughts of "this isn't bad" and "I think we can get closer" raced through our minds. We settled on a spot as Glenda and Greg came over in their dinghy to welcome us. We later moved to a better spot a bit closer to both Paradigm Shift and the beach. The captain grabbed a late afternoon nap and I read in the sunshine before enjoying a shower. The day closed with a wonderful dinner and conversation aboard Paradigm Shift, and a great reunion with Yorkies, Jaxon and Cooper. All is right in my world tonight. I've used that phrase in previous years for our cruising reunions and I can't think of a better way to sum it up. There's nothing better than reconnecting with the best of home, a thousand miles away. I look forward to making more great memories over the next few days.

We will remain in George Town for a few days. I'll post again when we move to another location

Overnight Run to Black Point

Bimini to Black Point |  29.5 Hours  |  208 Miles 

We had perfect conditions for leaving Bimini -- bright sun, warm, high tide, and light winds We zipped right out the cut and were on our way. A heavy morning dew meant that I could give Crossroads a good bath as we made our way north before turning east across the Grand Bahamas Bank. The beautiful weather continued and we confirmed our first plan of going overnight to the Exumas. Just before sunset we passed the Northwest Channel Light. The sun bid farewell without fanfare as we reached the Tongue of the Ocean where depths plummeted from 15-feet to 6,000-feet in the blink of an eye. We were the only souls on the water and the sky was darker than dark. My watch cycle began at 6:00 and by 7:00 it seemed like midnight. 

Around 8:15 a glorious moon began to rise. Just waning off of full, it was still at 94% brightness and lit up both the sky and water. We had great visibility all night. When the sun rose the next morning, the moon was still shining brightly in the western sky. It had been a perfect night for travel and we were running ahead of schedule. It was a no-brainer to continue further south and we decided our destination would be Black Point. We enjoyed breakfast and I cleaned up a bit before going out on Fiberglass Beach for a nap. I was dead asleep when Barry came out of the pilot house yelling, "We have visitors!" I didn't understand at first, then I saw it ...

... the Royal Bahamas Defense Force patrol boat. They had called Barry on the radio and instructed us (me) to deploy our fenders for boarding. Two very polite officers came onboard and checked out all our documentation. One accompanied Barry and together they opened every drawer and cabinet. Then they wanted to inspect our drop-in freezer. Everything that I had Tetris'd in to maximize storage, came out on the counter. The officer commented on the amount of salmon stored in the small space. He tried hard but apologized that he could not get everything back the way it was so that the lid would close. I told him not to worry about it and would take care of it when we were done. The driver of the patrol boat did a great job of keeping distance as the officers jumped back aboard their vessel. After an hour, they released us, with our souvenir Boarding Certificate (suitable for framing), to continue the 15 miles to Black Point. The only issue we had with the delay was our freezer temperature rose five degrees during their visit. We later had to run the generator for six hours to get in back down to its normal chill point. The crystal blue water reminded us, however, that no worries, all is good.

We dropped the anchor in Black Point and I went to the upper deck to take in the scene. Barry soon beckoned me to action to get the dinghy in the water so we could go ashore. I enjoyed seeing the plumeria blossoms on our first trip to land.

After a quick return back to the mother ship, we were off again for a late lunch. The grouper fingers were delicious (and made me forget all about the many packages of salmon onboard). As we returned to the dinghy dock, the fresh smell of heaven wafted out of Ms. Peermon's kitchen. We lucked out when Lorraine packaged up a loaf of her mom's still-warm coconut bread for us. We lowered it into the dinghy and got it safely home.

We took a quick sunset run around the anchorage before loading the dinghy back onto the upper deck. (Two pictures because I needed to fill up the photo bar.)  We'll leave early tomorrow morning and make an outside run to George Town where we'll meet up with the crew of Paradigm Shift. We're looking forward to catching up Glenda, Greg, Jaxon, and Cooper.

Saving The Best For Last

Bimini

Bimini displayed all of her best on our final day with her. A cloudless blue sky, warmer temperature, and a lighter breeze came together to make for a great day. After a morning of chores and a little work, Barry and I walked past my favorite, perfectly-shaped pine tree one more time on our way to the ferry dock. The water at the northern tip of the island was crystal clear. Once we crossed to North Bimini, we first went to the My 3 Daughters food truck to get lunch. We shared a delicious fish wrap and a lobster wrap while watching the boats pass. There was a little wave in the Bahamian flag today, a sign that the wind was finally subsiding. After lunch we walked over to Radio Beach, one of the most picturesque stretches of sand in The Bahamas.

Today's views did not disappoint, although the new addition of the Bimini Cruise Ship Dock kind of spoils the moment. Richard Branson's Virgin Voyages was in for a visit.

After the beach walk, it was time for some liquid refreshment while sitting by the Bimini Big Game Club's pool. The supply boat had arrived early in the day, so our last stop was at the grocery to pick up some lettuce to last us for the next week. We got back to Crossroads around 4:00 which was plenty of time to get in another visit to the beach as the high tide rolled in.

We returned to the pool deck as the sun sank low, the sky yellowed, and shadows became long. I chatted with Sarah and Bruce from Latidoods, who we had spent time with in Great Harbor on our last trip, as the sun dropped below the horizon. It was a great ending to a picture-perfect day. We will leave in the morning for points south, going as far as we either can or want to before stopping.  

Going With The Blow

Bimini (Still)   

It was a slow day for the Crossroads crew. We awoke to the persistent stiff breeze and its new friend, rain. With little else to do, I decided to dirty up every dish in the galley and made some more carrot cake muffins before my zucchini and carrots turned to mush. Once that project was completed and the clean up done, it was lunch time. I had successfully filled my morning hours. The rain stopped so I went for a low-tide walk along the beach and picked up a few more shells and pieces of sea glass. Meanwhile Barry went for his walk along the dock. He found two boats that spend the summers at Deltaville Yachting Center, and "shop talk" ensued. After my walk, I settled by the pool and enjoyed 30 minutes of warm sunshine. It was fantastic to finally see all of the blues in the water and catch a few rays. I listened to my audiobook until more clouds rolled in and it turned chilly, chasing me back into the pilothouse for the remainder of the gray afternoon. Tomorrow will be our last day here. Everyone in the marina has been here a while and is anxious to leave. In Florida, the next group of boats is staging to cross over and take our slips. In the cruising world, that's "going with the blow." 

Whitecaps On The Infinity Pool

Bimini   

Seems that while I was asleep last night Barry was busy adjusting dock lines as the wind picked up and rotated. Crossroads was being blown onto the dock and was rubbing loudly against our fenders. He also reported that the power was out at the marina for three hours and he was concerned about our freezer. He turned off the alarm clock and ended up sleeping in for an extra hour. I still had not woken up on my own. Eventually, we had a quick breakfast and then got moving on our morning walk before the weather deteriorated. When we stepped on the dock, we marveled at thousands of little fish schooling around our stern. Today we headed south down the main road on South Bimini. Along the way we saw Mike, a local who was trimming up some palm trees. We remembered him from our two previous trips to the island. Sunlight still broke through the increasing cloud cover and the Morning Glory was soaking it all in.

The southern tip of the island is vacation residential. Houses are larger and more ornate with well-manicured lots. A couple of highlights were a face carved in the trunk of a dead palm tree, a house constructed out of steel I-beams, a large painted plumeria blossom, and gardens that featured bougainvillea and many species of palms.

An abandoned marina lies at the end of the road. We took a brief look around then headed back the way we came. Barry was super excited to find a coconut and carried it back to Crossroads before cracking it open and draining the milk and saving the flesh. Just after low tide, I went down and walked the beach. All of the Portuguese Man-of-Wars that I saw yesterday were gone, but the low water exposed many new rock formations.

I picked up a few pieces of sea glass and sorted out the best. The last bit of the afternoon was spent by the pool. I finished one audio book, read two chapters in a traditional book, and tried not to be blown away. It was warm enough in the sun, but the east wind had picked up during the day and was blowing with an attitude. Whitecaps were moving across the infinity pool and breaking over the rim. By 3:30, I gave into the elements and returned to the boat for two loads of laundry and a short workout before dinner. As breezy as it is here, it's nothing like in the southern Bahamas. We'll be here a few more days before calm is restored.

Making The Connection

Bimini   

My favorite part of staying at Bimini Cove is the easy access it provides to the beach. Following breakfast, I went for my morning communion with sun, sea, and sky. The cold front that passed yesterday left behind much cooler temperatures and a stiff breeze, but also a clear blue sky. I made the day's first track of footprints in the sand as I walked south at the edge of the surf, connecting with nature.     

The wind and waves had left behind many Portuguese Man of Wars in the intertidal zone. These jellyfish relatives are quit interesting, whether they are upside down or right-side up. The air bladder assists in their migration, but probably also assisted in their demise during yesterday's storm. Tiny shells crunched under footsteps. 

High tide limited access to the spot I normally walk to further south, but it also created an interesting display of waves crashing over large boulders. Shoreline erosion is a big problem as water continues to carve away the sandstone.

I returned to Crossroads as Barry was readjusting our docklines for the changing wind direction and intensity. With that done, we walked up to the water taxi to take us to North Bimini. We noticed new construction as well as the closure of some past favorites like the Thirsty Turtle Bar/Restaurant. Trash and broken bottles lined the road often in the same places as wild flowers bloomed and snow-white egrets walked. Once we were ashore in Alice Town, North Bimini, our first stop was the local health clinic where we were retested for Covid to complete our health visas. While connected to the restaurant's wifi during lunch, we each received "thumbs up" emails saying we were negative. 

After lunch, it was on to the next item on our list -- getting the SIM cards for my iPhone and Barry's Mi-fi. We got a bit of the run-around and ended up walking the main road for a few hours, back and forth between various places of business. Place A was closed for lunch. Place B did not have any SIM cards. Place C had no cards, but could activate them. Place D had SIM cards, but could not activate them. Back to Place C. Then back to Place A to get the other card. During all that back and forth, we stopped in for a loaf of fresh coconut bread which is always a treat. A bit tired from walking, it was good to sit down for a few minutes on the water taxi for our return trip. Back onboard Crossroads, Barry got all of our devices connected to the internet, we readjusted the docklines again, and I made my way back to the shore to watch the sun set on our first full day in the Bahamas.