Dog Day And Afternoon

Rock Sound 

One of our favorite memories of our first trip to Rock Sound was exploring the caves. Following breakfast we left to check them out once more. A short walk south took us to a sign marking the trail head. We descended the stone steps and walked along the ledge above the water to take in the beauty of the Boiling Hole, another one of Eleuthera's many blue holes. It was formed when the island's limestone bedrock eroded. It connects to an offshore hole about a quarter mile away, through a network of underground caves. As the name suggests, Boiling Hole bubbles and churns with the movement of the ocean tides. When we arrived shortly after 9:00, all was still and quiet.  

Beyond the Boiling Hole, the path continues to Cathedral Caves. The low light of morning filtered softly into the holes through the "roof" of the caves. In darker areas, bats swooped and flew around. I tread lightly and quietly into the large center chamber to get a better view of the trees growing up and the roots growing down. Barry stayed closer to the steps and seemed glad when I had seen enough and was ready to leave and head back into town.

We paused at a waterfront bench and enjoyed the views while checking emails. The clear water and Crossroads were out to the west. The glowing white bell tower of St Luke's Anglican/Episcopal Church built in 1863 was positioned nicely between the blue sky and pink bougainvillea. Along the main road, we passed small resort cottages with manicured palm trees, yards with flowering plants of all colors, and an odd little stand of cotton. From a low angle, the bolls seemed right at home with the fluffy white clouds. The others in our group had made an early morning run to the laundromat and to play pickleball while waiting. Barry and I walked up to the park to catch up with everyone. Seems they had already befriended one of the locals by offering treats and water. I was more that happy to spend some time with this friendly lab that was definitely not a stray. She wore a pink collar, had been spayed, was clean, and well fed. 

Barry got drafted into a game of pickleball as the group needed a fourth player. He had never played before and gave an all-out effort through several games. After about an hour, the wind had picked up enough to make hitting the ball a challenge. Everyone packed up and headed to the market to see what was available. The lab, now named "Lady," followed along with us. After the market we headed off to lunch at Frigate's along with our canine companion. She walked perfectly in stride with us -- better than any leashed dog I have had before. The scenery was almost perfect and the food was good too. 

We picked up some fresh local spinach and arugula from the farmer's market before making our way back to the dock. There I had to say goodbye to my new friend who saw us off with her big brown sad eyes. The group reconvened at 5:00 at Wild Orchids for Happy Hour. When we pulled up to the dock, Lady was waiting for us. she sat down beside me to scratch her ears and eventually nodded off to sleep. She had a big day hanging around with us cruisers. As the sun set and the moon rose, we headed back to Crossroads. I wonder if Lady returned to her house as well. Maybe we'll see her again tomorrow.