Pipe Creek

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Pipe Creek

Kayak day

The weather is really getting good and [as you can see] Mel is making the best of it.
She and some of the girls on the dock went out on a Kayak expedition.



When the conditions are right; you can't find a more interesting place to Kayak than here on Pipe Creek. Pipe Creek runs in between the little Cays and holds gin clear water the whole way. Coral heads are everywhere and the fish look to be suspended in air as you glide over them.

Mel and the girls had a great time and even brought back some Conch.

Today is looking to be another great day.

Who knows what it may bring.

Adios,


Istaboa

Return to Compass Cay

We left HighBorne early putting Istaboa in Compass on a nice rising tide. Everyone was glad to see us and collect their supplies we had brought from Nassau. Tucker welcomed us home which made us feel good.
They had already put together a party and we had just enough time to make up an appetizer.



On a spring hightide at the Marina's fish cleaning station the tide rises above the walk. If you throw out a few scraps of fish the sharks will become playful and let you pet them. Sometimes they will lay across the walk to be fed and have their back scratched.

As you can see.

Mel has a deeply seated fear of Sharks. I am hoping this will ease a bit now. She says next she will get in to swim with them. We'll see.

Then everyone shows up with a dish and the party begins. Compass Cay is a great equalizer. Folks on megayachts, folks on small boats, and everything in between socialize with no prejudices. The talk is usually about some beautiful place they have in common, they have found, or they want to go. Not much about politics or the economy is uttered, which is nice. We simply don't think about those things while we're here.

So today is nice. A lite breeze is blowin and a few clouds will help keep the temps down. It looks promising.

Until later...

Adios,

Istaboa

Back in the Exumas

Nassau was nice but busy and we are happy to be back in the Exumas. The weather is predicted to cooperate for a couple of days so the running around should be pleasant. After that a blow is expected so we will hunker down somewhere.

The above pic is, "Octopussy"; at one time the fastest Megayacht in the world. Top speed 53 knots!!
That's 60 MPH on a Yacht that is 143 feet long! I met the Captain and he told me they usually only run around 30 knots and only burn 500 to 600 gallons an hour.
Hmmm.... Istaboa usually burns 5 to 6 gallons an hour.

We are looking forward to seeing our friends at Compass and delivering their supplies. Compass is a magical place. If you can... you should Google Earth (Compass Cay, Bahamas) it is unbelievable.

Net for now but not for long.

Adios,


Istaboa

Nassau revisited

Once again we are in Nassau. Our problem has been fixed so we now have a guest head for all of our friends who may be interested in visiting.
We have found that contrary to popular belief, you can find about anything here. I had parts shipped in only to find out the servicer I used was a dealer and had them in stock. From clothes to gourmet groceries can be procured and the prices are not that bad... sometimes better than the states.


That's why this is a major re-provisioning stop for many of the large yachts like these.
We had seen the above sailboat at Little Pipe Cay during our harrowing dingy ride back from Sampson. She's a beauty. Well over 100' ; she has a crew of 6.

This boat stops at Compass often and is a major sucker-upper of internet bandwidth while there. Oh well... Net neutrality huh... We met the crew and they were nice young folks.



I just threw this picture in because... she's beautiful. Looks to be an old Trumpy restored but we're not sure. She was coming in to Higborne Cay Marina for the night.

So anyway..... Nassau has been fun again. We got hiking sandals for the many trails we found. We got wetsuits for snorkeling at Warderick Wells. (It's still a bit chilly) We are loaded up with supplies for the Compass Cay Crew. We now have two heads. (bet that sounds funny to you non-boater types) And... last but not least we bought some fancy Rum from the Bacardi store that supposedly you cannot buy in the USA. (Tried some last night and it's really good. (I'm thinking Cuban Cigars...))

Tomorrow's weather looks like a go... so.... We are heading south to pick up where we left off.

Be back when we find bandwidth.

Adios,


Istaboa

Back in Highborne with Exodus

So we left Compass and made the short run to Highborne.
All the crew at Compass gave us a shopping list of things to bring back. Everything from Tequila to Turkey.
When we got to Highborne our friends Arnie and Susan were already there and invited us over for cocktails.
We first met Susan and Arnie a few years back in Eleuthera; at anchor in the harbor at (the now and forever changed) Royal Island to be exact. Susan had instigated a dingy party for all the boaters in the harbor. She took her dink out in the middle and dropped anchor and everyone else dinked over with their drinks and goodies and rafted up to her. A good time was had.
We seem to be connected to these folks in a six degrees of separation sort of way... but I guess if you do this long enough all us cruisers are.
They are heading back to Royal Island and we are heading to Nassau so we said our "See ya laters". We are sure our paths will cross again.

So for now...

Adios,


Istaboa

Happy 15th Anniversary

We beat the odds and quite a few competitors also.
I'm proud to say we did it the right way.
Congratulations.

Food of the Gods

"Octopus in garlic sauce? Hmmm...", I thought as I stood in the isle at the grocery store in Nassau where I was looking for Sardines. "Could it be any good?"

It Was!! Now we are back in Nassau and I will pick up some more. This will definitely be added to my Foods of the Gods list.

Istaboa

Wow!! What a SportFish.

When things got quiet after everyone left Compass we saw this yacht pull up. She's looks to be about 110 feet and is a stunner.
As we were walking Radar late that afternoon we decided to wander over and take a closer look. They had a crew of 5 and they were all busy at either cleaning the days catch or cleaning the boat. They had some nice Wahoo.
The owners stepped out of the cabin to talk and were very friendly. They told us her name is Contigo and the boat was custom built in Seattle and shipped over here. They said they were from Nassau.
We later found out the people we were talking to are the Bacardi Family. Yep... The owners of Bacardi Rum. Nice down to earth folks.
You never know who you will meet on Compass Cay.

Adios

Istaboa

Killer Whales in the Gulf of Mexico?

Who new? Turns out they are there all the time.
Good article.
Orcas in the Gulf