Proverbially Thinking

George Town   

Woohoo! We were pulling up anchor as the George Town Cruisers Net broadcast began at 8:00. By noon we were going to be anchored off Lee Stocking Island and meeting Paradigm Shift for dinner. "Were" is the operative word here. As our anchor came to rest in its cradle, something was wrong. The outer roller was cocked at a disturbing angle. I took the helm as Barry came to the bow to take a look at what I was seeing. We both agreed that it was a major issue that would affect our ability to anchor for the remainder of our stay. The decision was made to turn around and head back to the George Town anchorage. Making a U-turn was not as simple as it should have been. The Inagua Spray was on its way to the Government Dock. The rule of gross tonnage says you let the big guy go first. We pulled to the side and watched as it passed by. It was fully loaded with a draft of nine feet in about nine feet of water. It left a milky trail of disturbed sand in its wake. 

We anchored just north of Chat N Chill beach. Once the bridle was applied and the stress taken off the anchor chain, we could diagnose the problem. We had lost a bolt out of the anchor roller, causing it to sag. We brainstormed and came up with a plan to remove all these important parts without losing them in the water. Barry climbed over the bow rail and sat atop the spare anchor. A dock line was tied around the roller, the cotter pin was secured with a string, and for good measure, I held an inverted umbrella below the anchor to catch anything that may have fallen. We breathed a sigh of relief once all parts, and Barry, were securely on the foredeck. We dropped the dinghy and headed to the Exuma Market dock in Lake Victoria. Surely we could find a 1.5 inch, 3/8-inch flat head bolt at Top II Bottom. Nope. They suggested we try Minn's. Nope. Next option was Brown's Marine, a good 3.5 miles away. We elected to make that trip by dinghy. It was a beautiful day and it was a nice ride. We went under the bridge to Crab Cay and wound our way through the shallows to Brown's. They had the bolt, except it was too long. The super friendly staff had one of the yard workers cut four to size (we replaced the other three old ones as well). 

I waited outside while the work was being completed -- in the warm sunshine and under a palm tree. It could have been much worse. With our bolts in hand, we headed back to Crossroads. We were oh-so-close to the picturesque Man-O-War Sandbar, but the tide timing was off for a visit. Maybe next time.

We had a late lunch and I read as we waited for the sun to get a little less intense. The waves reflected off the rocky face of the shore to our port creating a relaxing white noise. By 3:30, Barry was back in his spot, and we went through the same procedure in reverse. As we finished up, the Inagua Spray fittingly passed alongside us as it exited the harbor. 

The sun was strong today until the very last moment. While not the dinner we were hoping for, the  baked grouper I fixed was pretty tasty. After dinner, the scissors came out and I gave myself a haircut. This may have been a reaction to stress, but we have now been underway for two months and I was getting quite shaggy. As of tonight, I believe we're going to stay here in George Town while a frontal system moves through. Today, I kept thinking of the old Proverb. Maybe its best if I don't plan for a while. 

What A Difference A Few Weeks Make

George Town   

The weather is such an integral factor in our memories of an area. On our first extended visit to George Town this year, the gusty wind and choppy water were unrelenting. This stopover we are treated to an entirely different experience in Elizabeth Harbour. The water is so calm, that we almost forget we're on a boat. The lack of breeze has us fussing about the heat. There is no fussing, however, about the views. The beach around Da Sand Bar was beautiful this morning. Barry said he thought all night about our generator issue. A call to his friend Ian (a former service manager) helped confirm our testing procedures. After breakfast, he went back into the floor to investigate a little more. I was sous mechanic, handing towels and flashlights as needed. When not needed, I tried to delete some of the photos taken over the last week. They sure do accumulate quickly. Boats continue to come and go in the anchorage. This trawler caught our eye because it has four tiki umbrellas on its bow. All of a sudden my Fiberglass Beach isn't so impressive. On our previous visit, the water was very cloudy from the combination of wind and waves. Today, the water was perfectly clear.    

Just before noon we went to the upperdeck to lower the dinghy. We were surprised to find the remains of a silver-dollar sized crab on the deck. I don't think of crabs being in the Bahamas. The dinghy was pulled around to the stern of Crossroads. We hopped in and headed across the harbor to Splash restaurant at Hideaways resort. Their swinging bar is a big attraction. I was happy with my Pink Sands and a delicious Southwestern Chicken Salad. We enjoyed the view from the patio and, as a bonus, I got to share it with Aunt B via FaceTime. 

We walked up to NAPA and picked up a few things before returning to Crossroads. I read on the bow and watched the small fish swimming alongside our hull for a few hours before getting my shower and watching the sun set on another day. One thing that has not changed is the anchor light display in the twilight. There are still close to 400 boats here in "the city." Tomorrow there will be at least one less. Our generator is running and we are working on a final fix that will be made when we arrive in Spanish Wells. We will depart early in the morning for one of our favorite spots, Lee Stocking Island. 

One More Trip To The Big City

New Bight to George Town |  7.5 Hours  |  52 Miles  

We were both up before the sun this morning, preparing Crossroads for departure. I was outside removing the window shades when the sun finally rose above Como Hill and The Hermitage. There was not even a hint of breeze in the anchorage and the water was as smooth and clear as glass. The sandy bottom was easily visible ten feet down. We took a bag of trash ashore at 7:00. The sun was still low in the sky and casting long shadows. Peering out into the anchorage the word for the day was STILL. 

I cannot recall more than a couple of days like this in our previous three visits to The Bahamas. The reflectivity and clarity of the water were off the charts. 

We raised the dinghy and anchor and were off by 8:00. While the generator worked last evening, we were not confident that we had solved the issue. We could head north and not reach the next parts store for six weeks (in Spanish Wells), or we could head west and find a parts store tomorrow. We chose to head west and back to George Town. For much of today's trip there was no wind or worse yet, no apparent wind. Even I found it a little warm in the sun and retreated to the shade of the pilothouse. I kept busy by reading and fidgeting. I gave the captain a break for a few hours and took the helm from the flybridge. Open water navigation involves staying on course and not hitting anything. On our entire straight-line crossing of Exuma Sound, I saw one boat and one strange marker with an attached radar reflector. We followed previous tracks into Elizabeth Harbour, but this time anchored at the north end near Starfish Beach. Da Sand Bar was a busy spot. I finished another book (I've lost track of what number), this one suggested by Dana on Tumbleweed. This anthology of poems by the late poet Mary Oliver=, centered on the beauty and complexity of nature and was a nice change from what I have been reading.

The one poem that struck me the most, is entitled The Sun. I have not found "a word billowing enough" to describe these daily light shows that we are privileged to witness. Once darkness fell and the anchor lights from 350 boats lit up the harbor, we returned to face anew our generator issues. Turns our our gut instincts were right: we had treated a symptom last night, but not the cause. Tonight we believe we have tracked down the cause of our overheating issues. The radiator overflow connection was plugged. It is now unplugged and everything seems to be OK. We will still head into NAPA tomorrow to pick up some replacement parts. Fingers crossed, this issue will now be behind us and we'll be cruising to our favorite spots in the Exumas soon.

Note: We had a couple of folks ask about the green flash. I doubt I'll ever be able to capture one with my limited camera equipment. Click on this link for some photos and more information. 

All's Well That Ends Well

New Bight  

Shortly after last night's blog post, our plans for today were changed. The generator suddenly cut off and we were forced into diagnostic mode. After ruling out both a clogged sea stainer and a broken impeller, we agreed to call it a night and start fresh in the morning. I woke to a chorus of roosters ringing in the day. Large clouds filled the sky and blocked all but the streaming rays of the sun. Following breakfast, the floorboards came up and the tools came out. Barry had a good idea that our thermostat had stuck and proceeded to disassemble the generator. And, since he already had everything apart, there was no time like the present to do some additional maintenance by changing two hoses and changing the antifreeze. By 9:00, he had confirmed his diagnosis, and we were heading ashore with slim hope of finding a replacement. Our first stop was the service station. While he was inside gathering information on the next place to visit, I visited the church ruins next door. We were here last year, but I still find the windows captivating. 

Our next hope was the New Bight Food Market, another mile and a half walk down the road. The distance passed quickly as there were plenty to look at along the way, from the stonework and statuary at Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic Church to several ghost buildings that have held their ground through the years, but have also seen better days. I found the pump installation to be quite interesting.

The stars of the show were the plants. Bougainvillea, cotton, primrose-willow, morning glory, butterfly pea ...

prickly poppy, oleander, yellow bells, a Julia butterfly, and sea grapes had my head turning on a swivel from one side of the road to the other.

We reached the well stocked food market/hardware store and I waited outside as Barry went in to see what they had. I was impressed by the recycling container out front. Barry emerged with a shake of his head -- no have. No one has that kind of part on the island. Much like the Kalik sign touts, "It's a Bahamian Ting." We retraced our steps and headed back to the dinghy by way of Olive's Bakery. She was not open. This was not our morning. The cloud cover was still heavy, compromising our solar panels' production just when we need it most. On a good note, the water was like glass when we returned to the dinghy. Back onboard, Barry worked on the thermostat and got it to move more freely. He reassembled everything and we headed back to shore to give the adhesive time to set. It had turned into another beautiful afternoon. The sun was out and our solar panels were recharging Crossroads' batteries. 

We went to recharge our batteries as well by climbing up the Bahamas' highest point to view The Hermitage. Father Jerome built many churches around the world, but this is his most famous. We visited The Hermitage last year, but it is one of those places that you don't mind seeing multiple times. It was a warm uphill walk with the full strength of the sun on our backs. The hand-carved vertical steps led us on a path inspired by The Stations of the Cross.

Markers and details lined the trail to the top.

Barry signed the guest register located in the small chapel. A lone periwinkle blossom occupied a crack in the stone. The strong sunlight allowed for photos in one direction only. We were the only ones atop the mountain and explored the various buildings while enjoying the breeze. A less rocky path led us down and returned to the main road. We tried Olive's Bakery again. She was there and we picked up two items. Maybe our luck was picking up. We went back to the Fish Fry area, hoping to celebrate with some ice cream, but the place was closed. Oh, well. We walked along the beach back toward the dinghy.

We met Maya from last night as she was playing in the water. We also saw sponges and three different types of starfish before we got to Tingum Dem Beach Bar. Barry ordered a couple of Pink Sands and we enjoyed them at a waterside table. Back on Crossroads, he started the generator and everything seems to be working fine. We enjoyed another sunset and green flash from the upper deck before dinner and a piece of Olive's almond pound cake for dessert. All's well that ends well. 

Dolphin Tales

Conception Island to New Bight, Cat Island |  6.1 Hours  |  41 Miles  

The West Bay anchorage off Conception Island was a bit rolly last night. Low ocean swells were rapping around the island causing all the small boats to bob and weave. I doubt Skat, which arrived overnight, was affected by the swell. We were underway before 7:00 and almost immediately picked up a dolphin escort. The cloud cover was thick and we spent the first hours of the day in the pilothouse.

I finished Book 7, another one that had been sitting on the shelf at home since our printing days. I could find many similarities (on a much smaller scale) in the growth of Kinko's and our Insty-Prints/Allegra. Two quotes that stuck with me were, "Sometimes in life, you have to forget who you were, and learn to be happy with who you are." and "It's not the things you do, but the things you don't do, that drive you crazy." Once again, it was interesting to read another interpretation of life, leadership, and business. At 10:30 we heard some loud splashing outside. I poked my head out the door and spotted a pod of eight dolphin gliding through our bow wave. They stayed with us for 15 minutes before peeling off and going wherever dolphin go.

The clouds were moving out and the sky took on a more familiar look as we rounded the tip of Cat Island and turned north toward our anchorage. As the water shallowed, more dolphin came to visit just after 11:00. This time there were over a dozen that put on a show in front of us. I was on the bow and Barry even came out of the pilothouse to take a closer look. This was by far the largest single dolphin gathering we had ever seen. A few even jumped out of the water in acrobatic fashion during their half hour performance.

Soon we were pulling into New Bight at the southern tip of Cat Island. We dropped anchor in direct line with The Hermitage, which we visited last year and hope to do so again during this stay. We took the dinghy down and came ashore to stretch our legs with a quick walk around the area. As the sun began to set we stopped by the Fish Fry to get some dinner. The owner thankfully advised us against sitting outside for dinner to watch the sun set. She said the mosquitoes would carry us away. Instead we opted for Take-Away and waited inside her restaurant as she prepared our meals. Barry chatted with a local man and I made friends with Maya, the owner's daughter. The soon to be five-year-old is a budding artist (who loves to draw turtles) and singer. We played together and I even agreed to let her try on my sunglasses. We carried our meals to the dinghy just as the sun dropped below the horizon. True to the warning, the mosquitoes descended upon us and chased us into the water. We were very happy to eat onboard Crossroads. A shout-out is deserved for the packaging used for our meals. Our sandwiches came in pressed paper containers and were placed in a biodegradable and compostable bag. It is refreshing to see Bahamians working to Keep Bahamas Green.

Exploring Conception Island

Conception Island  

My bioclock is pretty much in sync with Mother Nature. I usually awake on my own as morning's first light brightens the sky. From the pilothouse bench, I watch the colors emerge from the blank canvas much like the old-school days of developing photographic material. Eighteen boats were in the anchorage to start the day. The megayacht Helios and the National Geographic Sea Lion had both departed overnight. Barry had run our mifi up our mast and we were able to pick up enough signal to collect our morning weather reports and texts, but not enough to complete our normal social media surfing. At 9:30 we loaded into the dinghy and set off for the south side of the island and the entrance to the inland creek. The sea was calm and it was a short and dry trip. We surfed into the creek on a breaking wave and immediately entered yet another version of a tranquil tropical paradise. Clear water, bright sunshine, deep blue sky all magically combined once again. Conception Island is a sanctuary for migrating birds. Most fittingly we were greeted by a pair of birds within the first hundred yards of our trek.  

We arrived on a rising tide which had already flooded some interior areas. Mangroves lined both sides of the creek. Their "knees" extend above the water line. We navigated by the color of the water, with the lighter areas being shallow, and the darker areas deeper. The sun was shining brightly and there was a steady 15 knot breeze to keep the temperature cool. It was my kind of day. 

It seemed every angle warranted a photo. We traveled up and down the many branches and tributaries. In some open areas the wind kicked up a little chop. In other areas, the water was nearly flat. In still other areas, the water had a turbid green cast. I am always amazed by the little mangrove saplings that sprout in isolation in the middle of the water. Two other dinghies had also made the trip, but there was plenty of space between us. We spotted many of the much anticipated turtles darting around. They move quickly and, since they are not used to being fed, dart away from our passing boat. 

The speedy little turtles were usually found in the cloudier water, making it a challenge to capture a photo while in the dinghy. With much leaning out over the bow and a lot of luck, I got a few images that looked like flippers and a shell. I sat the underwater camera aside and went back to taking above-water shots. That's when the biggest turtle yet came swimming along. Luck is when opportunity meets preparation. I picked the underwater camera back up and just started shooting. Very lucky, indeed.

At the farthest reach of the creek, we could see the masts of sailboats in the anchorage. There was a large mound of mangroves that rang loudly with the sound of birds. We stopped the dinghy and just listened. Birds are a rare occurrence in much of the areas we visit. It was a treat to hear so many singing in unison. We also saw a few large white birds flying along our path. I could have stayed in this area all day, but it was time to head out. We wove our way around the sandbars until reaching the mouth of the creek. The breakers warned us of the rocks in our path. We watched, waited, chose our spot, and accelerated through the breakers.

We returned to Crossroads to have lunch and then change into the proper attire for the afternoon. We zipped toward a small island off the northwest corner the main island in search of a few reefs and coral heads to snorkel. We beached the dinghy on the undisturbed sand.

A short walk led us to the rocky areas where fish like to hide. I went in while Barry stayed ashore. The snorkeling wasn't the greatest, but I did spot a few sergeant majors ...

and some live coral heads. I dropped my mask, snorkel, and fins in the dinghy and we relocated back to the tip end of Conception Island. 

We found the trailhead and crossed to the Atlantic shore where we found totally different topography. The sand was courser, and more orange in color. Rock formations guarded the ends of the crescent-shaped beach of Babbie's Bay. We walked to the far end to the cliff with the large vertical face ... and the assist ropes. Afraid that making the climb in flip-flops would be unwise, I kicked them off and went up barefooted. Safely at the top I looked back to Barry on one side and out over the beautiful reefs on the other. Barry asked if the view was worth the climb and I responded, "Absolutely." He was soon on his way up to meet me.

The view was pretty special and we were both glad that we made the extra effort for a birds-eye view. I descended first and awaited Barry's arrival on terra firma. We retraced our steps and eventually made it back to Crossroads in time to catch the sunset (with another green flash) as dinner was cooking. As the sky darkened, Venus and Jupiter were again visible just beneath the moon. I was sorting through the hundreds of photos from the day and was getting very sleepy. It was only 8:30 (Boater's Midnight), but it was dark and my mind was telling me it was time to call it a day. Without the trappings of the internet, it is much easier to follow Mother Nature's clock. Tomorrow we will move to New Bight on Cat Island, where we will once again have cell service.

Our

Heading East to Conception Island

Calabash Bay to Conception Island |  3.1 Hours  |  21 Miles  

The sunrise on departure day was as dramatic as we've seen on this year's journey. I watched from the pilothouse as a blaze erupted in front of Paradigm Shift. Just before 7:00 we began checking off the To-Do List -- remove the sun shades, bring up the dinghy, and raise the anchor. Glenda caught the shot of me on the bow raising the hook. Even though I had on my headset to communicate with Barry, I could still hear Cooper's barking serenade as the chain clanked through our windlass. Good boy! I gave one final wave, thankful for the opportunity to travel with Paradigm Shift and Asanté for a few days. We exited the anchorage and turned to north. We rounded the northern point of Long Island and spotted the Columbus Monument atop the steep cliff face. Very quickly we went front turquoise 15-foot deep water, to 3,000 feet of dark blue water. What did Columbus think when he approached this beautiful island so many years ago?

Our destination was Conception Island, part of the Bahamas National Trust (like the United States' national park system). It is an uninhabited sanctuary for birds and turtles. It also has no cell tower, so going in we knew that were would be off the grid for a few days. We spotted land seven miles out and took advantage of the last moments of connectivity to check emails, make a few calls, and to resolve the most pressing topic of the day: What is the easternmost point that Crossroads has visited -- Conception Island, Burlington (VT), or somewhere in Canada. Our thoughts turned to a classic West Wing episode and an alternate map using the Gall-Peters Projection for a more accurate representation of the earth. Since degrees of longitude are closer together at the poles, Vermont is technically our furthest point east. Shortly after that we lost connectivity and eyed the lightening blues ahead of us that signified shallow water. We pulled into the anchorage and dropped the anchor in time for lunch. We lowered the dinghy and spent the afternoon walking up and down the entirety of West Bay Beach. There were a few signs ashore that occasionally caught our attention, but the view of the water was hypnotizingly beautiful. 

Again, I took way too many photos. Each one, however, captures something a little bit different. There were 18 boats in the anchorage, including one mega yacht and the National Geographic cruise ship Sea Lion, but our footprints were the only ones in the sand. 

The crescent beach became narrower and we eventually turned around to ensure even tanning, front and back.

With our walk complete, it was time for a little fun in the water. I found a sea fan in the surf. The park is a "No-Take" Zone which prohibits collecting shells and other natural specimens. I was perfectly happy just soaking up the sun and floating in the incredible warm and calm water. Back on Crossroads, I watched the activity of dinghies, kayaks, and paddleboards moving about and made plans for tomorrow. Large inflatable boats from the Sea Lion were shuttling passengers ashore for cocktails on the beach. On his way back to a large Kadey Krogen close to us, Steve stopped by in his kayak to say hello. Another small world moment followed. He and his wife Kate are on Off Trail whose home port is Norview Marina in Deltaville. Plans were quickly made for appys aboard their boat. We chatted for a few hours about all the commonalities in our stories. The sun set and the moon rose with Jupiter and Venus in tow. It was quite a celestial sight, but I did not have my camera. We returned to Crossroads for the night under a black ceiling dotted with the glowing stars of the Milky Way. Views like this are only available by getting away from civilization and we're thrilled to be here (even if its not our easternmost point). 

Goodbye For Now

Thompson Bay to Calabash Bay |  3.5 Hours  |  24 Miles  

Our anchor was up just before 8:00. We joined Paradigm Shift and Asanté in our little Selene parade out of Thompson Bay. Today's weather was perfect for us trawlers -- low seas and low wind. In fact, it was a bit too warm today. For most of our trip north, we were moving at the same speed as the wind and cancelling it out. We're used to seeing 0 knots of apparent wind during summers in the Chesapeake Bay, but not here in the islands. Our tattered Bahamian courtesy flag was given the day off and hung limp from the halyard. 

But, oh my gosh, was it a pretty day on the water. We were in 10-15 feet of water that just glistened in the sunshine. Paradigm Shift led the way. 

Asanté followed off our port stern. I kept busy snapping photos, hoping for an accurate capture of all the incredible blues.

We anchored in Calabash Bay, a bit south of the Columbus Monument we visited yesterday. The Cape Santa Marina Resort lines the white sandy beach. The water was too beautiful to stay onboard so I dropped my paddleboard into the water. Full confidence in my new knee and balance were initially lacking so I made a dozen laps around Crossroads on my knees, straying a bit further each time. Glenda snapped the photo as I paddled toward Asanté. Once I got comfortable, I made a pit stop and picked up the camera to snap a photo of the mothership. I was feeling good about my balance and finally got the nerve to stand up, only to find the board was not as firm as it should have been. It was another "What the ..." moment. Back to Crossroads I went and pulled in to the pits. In the quiet, Barry and I could hear the hiss. A little soapy water on the seam revealed a leak. That was definitely the last thing I wanted to see. The afternoon was getting late, so I brought the paddleboard back on the deck. We'll deal with the leak another day. It was time for a shower.

We all gathered aboard Paradigm Shift for appys at 4:30 and enjoyed the last hours of a beautiful day and our wonderful time together. The sun set behind Crossroads and shortly thereafter it was time for goodbyes. It truly has been a special opportunity to meet up with Glenda, Greg, Jaxon, and Cooper so far from home. But just as our paths crossed, it is now time for them to diverge. Goodbyes are never easy, but we'll see each other back in Virginia, if not before. I managed a few last hugs (and ear scratches for the boys) before hopping into the dinghy for the ride home. A small sliver of a crescent moon rose in the sky. Tomorrow the three Selenes will go off in different directions. Paradigm Shift and Asanté will stage to pick up guests. We hope to take advantage of this calm weather and will head to Conception Island for some snorkeling and turtle chasing in the National Park. There will be no cell service there, so the next post will not occur until we return to civilization in a few days. Hang with me, I hope I'll have some great photos and stories to share.

A Quick Tour of Long Island

Thompson Bay  

Long Island spans some 57 miles from north to south, although nowhere is it wider than four miles. That is a large territory to explore today in our allotted seven hours. Blaine and Nancy (Asanté) picked us up in their dinghy at 9:30 and we sped over to Basil's dock. It was high tide and the water was up approximately three feet from when Barry and I were there yesterday afternoon. We walked around the corner and picked up the Nissan X-Trail (similar to the Rogue) that we reserved yesterday from Olivia at Seaside Car Rental. It was a right-hand drive configuration for driving in the left lane. The "Keep Left" sticker on the windshield and a small wide angle mirror mounted on the left front fender were helpful aids for Barry, our designated driver. Our first stop of the day was the Tourism Office where Lilly provided us with a map, visitor guide, and recommendations to make the most of our day. We decided to head south along Queens Highway. Nancy called to arrange a tour of Hamiltons Cave and we made that our first stop. We met Louise Cartwright, a retired school teacher, at her home and she led us by car to the cave entrance. Along the way we passed several sapodilla trees loaded with fruit. At the entrance to the cave, bananas hung in bunches from bending limbs. Louise handed us flashlights and explained how the Lucayan Indians lived here about 500 AD. Artifacts were discovered in 1936. The property is privately owned by her and her husband Leonard, and is truly a natural wonder. It is carved out of the limestone and is very spacious. Light enters through holes in the ceiling and the roots of fig trees descend to the cave floor. 

Louise told us how the cave never floods and is still used as a hurricane shelter. A small saltwater reflecting pool is fed from the ground. This is The Bahama's largest cave system and we were told it still has not been fully explored. The tour lasted about 45 minutes and then we were off again.

Our next stop was Dean's Blue Hole, the world's deepest saltwater blue hole with an entrance below sea level. It plunges 663-feet and actually gets wider as it gets deeper. A well-traveled road led to a small parking lot right at the powdery beach. The turquoise lagoon is surrounded on the other three sides by a high rock formation. The dark blue marks the deep water. As pretty as the view from the beach was, I knew it was even better from atop the rocks. I climbed up the rocky path as everyone else talked about whether they would join me.

Oh, my, what a view! Stunning, amazing, captivating ... I'm at a loss for adjectives. I took a few photos and returned to the group. After seeing the pictures they, too, climbed up for a better look. Barry and Blaine made it to the top.

I walked in the shallow water and watched a brave soul/fool jump from the high rocks into the water with his mask and fins on. Needless to say, when he hit the water, he was separated from his gear. While I was watching the jumper surface, Barry was watching me from above as I strolled along the beach.

We finished up at the Blue Hole and turned our attention to finding lunch. Lilly had recommended Lighthouse Point in Clarence Town so we took the long, straight road back down to Queens Highway. Lighthouse Point is at Flying Fish Marina. We sat outside on the patio and enjoyed the beautiful scenery and a delicious meal. We did not have time to further explore Clarence Town or points further south. We saw several stately churches, but will have to catch them on another trip. The hours were ticking away and we needed to reverse course and head to the northernmost point of the island.  

Queens Highway took us through many small villages, all named for the families who settled them. We passed a high school as the uniformed students were being dismissed for the day. Yes, they were loading onto a regular, American-style school bus. It should not have surprised me to see this, but it did. Overall the roads were in good condition. Barry did an excellent job avoiding the potholes. The most difficult thing for him to adjust to was the turn signal lever and wiper lever being reversed. Our wipers got quite a workout today, although nary a raindrop had fallen. We are all creatures of habit. Asphalt eventually gave way to hard packed gravel. We followed Google Maps until its' guidance ended. We were prepared to have to walk the last mile as some travel guides had mentioned, but that was not to be. We turned onto the best road we had traveled all day and it led us straight to the Columbus Monument. We were amazed at the beautiful and substantial infrastructure that had recently been constructed -- a large parking lot with curb stops, wide concrete sidewalks, poured concrete steps with handrails. The sign noted its opening on December 18, 2020.  

At the top of the steps we were once again surrounded with Nature's beauty while standing in front of the stone marker. This monument is "dedicated to the gentle, peaceful, and happy aboriginal people of Long Island, The Lucayans, and the arrival of Christopher Columbus on 17th October, 1492." Today, we were also happy people who were by this point getting a little tired. 

On our way back south to turn in the rental car, Barry spotted an ice cream shop. We couldn't resist pulling in and having an afternoon treat. We each had a scoop of hand-dipped coconut-pineapple in a cup. It is not uncommon to have no idea how much something will cost. Usually we underestimate. These cups were only $1 each. More reasons to be happy. We recrossed the Tropic of Cancer as we neared our destination. A quick fill up of gasoline ($6/gallon, not outrageous) later, we dropped off the car and took the dinghy back across the bay. We settled onto the flybridge just in time to watch the sun set on another day.