As Georgetown marked the southernmost end of our trip this year, our northward march begins. Thankfully it’ll be a slow march, as there is much to explore on our loosely-scheduled route up the chain. One flip-flopping piece of news is that we just got confirmation that there is in fact room to store at the boatyard in the Abacos, so our journey will be all Bahamian, and no Intercoastal Waterway, a fact that we are excited to relay.
Leaving Stocking Island, we stopped for two nights in Emerald Bay, about 12nm north, to tuck into a marina so that Andy could utilize shore power to equalize our batteries. Once again we were treated like kings by friends living nearby, and we were not at all sad for the opportunity to swim in their fabulous infinity pool overlooking the ocean between stints of playing on the beach. We’ve been so happy to spy familiar faces from home while here, and are so humbled by the generosity shared by so many. We SALVio-ians are a lucky bunch.
Valentine’s Day aboard is always fun, and as the decorations from each year return and more are added, the boat is beginning to look like Cupid vomited down below. (He also leaves plenty of chocolate, so it’s worth the clean-up.) In addition to the day’s regular activities, Violet planned an ornate wedding for two of her stuffies, and with crafting help from a very crafty and patient friend, decorations were made, an altar was put together, and even an officiant was born out of felt, a couple of beads, and some embroidery floss.
Because this melded Great Exuma tribe that we had was so incredible, not only did we have great attendance, but we also had wedding cake: cupcakes were made for the occasion by another enthusiastic and dear wedding guest. Violet was over the moon with it all, and the final product was absolutely precious. The cockpit was filled with attendees, both human and stuffed, and the dock had its rows of guests as well. Tentee the officiant did a great job (despite “having been born just yesterday”), and the cake was delicious. Grass (hummingbird) and Mercy (felted pig) will now live happily ever after, and have an anniversary that they’ll hopefully be able to remember!
After the big ceremony we shoved off and headed just a bit further north to anchor off of Black Cay. The winds have fallen out, so it’s nice to be anchored in such flat calm after weeks of winds, and our low-wind goals are snorkeling, snorkeling and more snorkeling. Ironically we headed to one such spot, and were so taken with the ocean beach on the other side that our first opportunity for sea glassing and body surfing took over the afternoon. Snorkeling was forgotten. We did however, see more pigs on a nearby beach. Pigs on a Beach- all I can think of is Snakes on a Plane, for some reason.
After school this morning (Frrrriiiiiiiday!! And no, we didn’t tell our kids that their counterparts don’t have school today, and no, we didn’t tell them that they had a snow day on Wednesday…. cruelty!) we’ll head up the chain for some actual snorkeling, though exact Cay destination is not yet known. My guess is that it will be a beautiful little island with one or two pristine sandy beaches, some great coral heads nearby, and if we’re lucky, an ocean beach for gallivanting. Such is life!
