Back on the water again, finally.......off to the Bahamas

[Chinook]

Wow, mystery ducks and monsters, and swimming pigs too? What's next, pink flamingos?

Actually yes, if you go just a bit further south. We didn't get down that far, but on one of the more remote Bahama islands (Jumentos I think), there is a large brackish lagoon which is home to a large population of pink flamingos.

[BOAT]

Okay ! so the birds are pink now! I guess I am ready for the aliens now ! So the Bermuda Triangle has space ships too?

I think maybe Captain Sumner should come back home - the more I learn about that Bahama place the more I'm starting to get a little worried about his mental health. The place is crawling with strange and unusual things! (Unless maybe really you guys are really just playing a joke on me because I am gullible ).

I think i would be going crazy after seeing that the pigs are swimming around - And you guys say California is weird? At least we don't have any sea monsters.

So when in the Bahamas what is one to do when confronted with a sea monster? Give it a banana? Rotting Grapefruit? The last time I saw sea monsters was in the Sea of Cortez in Mexico. These giant winged creatures with long tails swam in the water - the small ones would jump in the air and the locals would catch them and dry them out on fences. The really big winged creatures were so big that one time we saw one snag an anchor line in La Paz and drag a big sailboat out into the sea. That was scary. I don't think giving those big winged creatures a banana or a grapefruit would have been any help - as I recall they seemed uninterested in food or people.

I hope Mr. Sumner stays vigilant.

[Ixneigh]

Really nice write up and pictures, sumner.

Ix

[BOAT]

Really nice write up and pictures, sumner.

Ix

I liked the picture of the cove where Sumner was swimming. No pigs, no monsters. I liked that one.

[Russ]

Hi Sum,

The other night I read through your trip postings, and was enjoying the pics of the mystery ducks. I looked them up, and they are an endangered species called the Bahamian White Cheeked Pintail. Very cool sighting, and nice pictures. I never saw them when out there. Where were you at when you saw them?

These ducks?
I believe he said on Great Whale Cay.
Interesting history of that island and it's previous owner Marion Barbara 'Joe' Carstairs. She was probably the most interesting eccentric lesbian in history having many affairs with celebrities on the island such as Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich. In fact she built the "Doll House" - A seaside cottage constructed for actress Marlene Dietrich, a frequent celebrity guest to the island. I believe this is the house Sumner anchored near.
She built that swimming pool the ducks are swimming in to host lavish parties for over a thousand guests.






Quite a bit of history Sumner was walking around. Like these roads that were paved on an island in the middle of nowhere in the 1920s. 26 miles of them and cutouts for palm trees along the curbs.
This kind of exploration would be worth the trip to places like this.

[Tomfoolery]

Your friend Vincent has what I'm 99.9% sure is a CSY 44 walk-over. Most were built with a cutter rig, and I think I can just see the staysail stays. The pilothouse ketch version is my favorite boat in the world. Built like a tank for the Caribbean bare boat rental market, and having the prettiest lines ever. All three versions have the clipper bow.

Just couldn't help myself.

[Sumner]

Everybody,

I'm in Georgetown, poor connection, I'm fine and more later when I have a better connection.

Sumner

[Chinook]

Hi Sum,

Glad to hear you made it. Where are you anchored? Over on the Stocking Island side? Two suggestions for wifi connection. Try right next to the grocery store near the dinghy dock, outside, on the north side of the building. Also, across the street there is a small cafe with a screened in sitting area in back, on the water side. I got wifi service there. Also, I highly recommend the green coconut water/gin drink they fix up there. Very refreshing, and fun to watch the guy whacking coconuts with his machete during the preparation. I expect that the volleyball game is still going, over on Stocking Island. If the Family Island Regatta is taking place soon, it's well worth hanging out to watch it. Great sailing competition, and a neat festival in Georgetown.

[Russ]

Hi Sum,

Glad to hear you made it.

+1

Two suggestions for wifi connection. Try right next to the grocery store near the dinghy dock, outside, on the north side of the building. Also, across the street there is a small cafe with a screened in sitting area in back, on the water side. I got wifi service there. Also, I highly recommend the green coconut water/gin drink they fix up there. Very refreshing, and fun to watch the guy whacking coconuts with his machete during the preparation. I expect that the volleyball game is still going, over on Stocking Island. If the Family Island Regatta is taking place soon, it's well worth hanging out to watch it. Great sailing competition, and a neat festival in Georgetown.

Sumner uses his long distance connection to his 12v PC onboard. Not sure if he has a portable device to take ashore.

Refreshing drinks go well with the Bahamas.

--Russ

[Sumner]

Hi Sum,

Glad to hear you made it. Where are you anchored? Over on the Stocking Island side? Two suggestions for wifi connection. Try right next to the grocery store near the dinghy dock, outside, on the north side of the building. Also, across the street there is a small cafe with a screened in sitting area in back, on the water side. I got wifi service there. Also, I highly recommend the green coconut water/gin drink they fix up there. Very refreshing, and fun to watch the guy whacking coconuts with his machete during the preparation. I expect that the volleyball game is still going, over on Stocking Island. If the Family Island Regatta is taking place soon, it's well worth hanging out to watch it. Great sailing competition, and a neat festival in Georgetown.

Hey I was off Monument Beach the first night but yesterday moved over to the east side of Moss Cays almost straight out from the inlet to Lake Victoria and they aren't kidding about the current coming out of there on an ebb tide. I was WOT on the 3 1/2 going in and hardly made way into the current.

Also if you go just a ways in to the long dock on the right, opposite the dingy dock, you can get fuel there and fill in your dinghy or on the dock so that was convenient.

Going back to the boat the outboard died about 100 yards short and had a hull of a time paddling into the wind to get to the boat. It has a small tank and thought it went dry but when I filled it wasn't so sure. I won't go in again in as much wind, waves and especially the current again at the cut into the lake. I'll be picky about when that is. In fact not totally sure I will go back in but probably will. Maybe start heading north on Monday.

I'm still having problems on land feeling OK. I get on solid ground and I just start feeling sick to my stomach and lightheaded. I get back on the water and feel fine. I guess I'm just going to have to stay on this boat the rest of my life .

Like Russ said I'm getting wifi from the boat but do have a netbook and laptop I could take ashore but don't have the current web stuff on it. I lost the connection I had when I was a Monument but have two here that are better but at times have to switch from one to the other. Not much problem getting e-mail but uploading the trip report takes a better connection and I seem to have that most of the time here now so will try and post more, but might wait until I get back up to Black Point to post more as I plan on going back there and washing cloths and filling water and such as it is smaller and easier to do things there. If the wind goes down here I might get water as you can get it right at the dinghy dock but won't go back in until I feel better about the outboard on the dingy and then in way less wind so I could paddle back if I needed to. The wind is suppose to go down the next few days.

I'll report later on going out up north and back in here. The going out was easy but once out was a different story,

Sumner

============================
2015 To the Bahamas and back -- I hope

Our MacGregor 26-S

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[mrron_tx]

Landsickness eh ?? I think I'm starting to develop some of that Myself Seriously thinking of selling out and just floating, til I can't float anymore Good to hear You are doing great Sumner Ron.

[yukonbob]

Nothing like standing there stone cold sober wondering why eneryone is looking at you like your pi$$ up!
Am i swaying back and forth right now?

[Chinook]

Hi Sum,

We crossed the bay from Monument Beach anchorage to Lake Victoria in our dinghy once, and got pretty wet from spray on the way back, with a stiff wind blowing out there. Second time we went into town we took the Mac, and anchored in the bay in front of town. Hope you start feeling better on land. I'll be eager to read your posts about the run down to Georgetown. Good luck with the kicker motor. It's a bummer if it isn't reliable.

PS: I just finished reading your two most recent posts. I know what you mean when you comment about feeling way out there when in the Exumas. For what it's worth, I think you should take comfort from knowing that the sailing community out there, along with the locals, would respond well if you should have any sort of problem. We experienced that to a significant degree last summer when Sandy had her stroke while we were in the Broughtons, and I expect that folks down your way would go to great extremes to assist. After all, cruisers everywhere realize how much they need to depend on each other for support when challenges arise. Stay safe, and let's hope that it's you who offer help and support to others, rather than vice versa.

[Russ]

I'm still having problems on land feeling OK. I get on solid ground and I just start feeling sick to my stomach and lightheaded. I get back on the water and feel fine. I guess I'm just going to have to stay on this boat the rest of my life .

Oh wow! I sure hope the new pacemaker isn't needing new batteries. Sounds like your low blood pressure is causing you grief. Take it slow, we can wait.

--Russ

[Divecoz]

My wife suffers as does Sumner it appears from hypotension / chronic low blood pressure..spells like Sumner is experiencing are often caused/ brought on by stress and anxiety ... Take Is easy Sumner go slower dont push .. We would ALL like to see this have a fabulous ending.. Maybe From Gear Head to Novelist

I'm still having problems on land feeling OK. I get on solid ground and I just start feeling sick to my stomach and lightheaded. I get back on the water and feel fine. I guess I'm just going to have to stay on this boat the rest of my life .

Oh wow! I sure hope the new pacemaker isn't needing new batteries. Sounds like your low blood pressure is causing you grief. Take it slow, we can wait.

--Russ