Bird's Eye View: Exumas

Our hood from above. Beautiful from every angle — more BLUE!



Great drone video of Compass Cay, Shroud Cay, Big Majors Spot, and several other points of interest around the Exumas and Pipe Creek area.


Thanks to Michael Leonard/Bahamas Charters for the video.

The Smoke Has Cleared

A big fireworks display ended the 4th of July celebration at Compass; one of the large yachts put on quite a show last night.
On the beach less than a 100 yards away, for more than 30 minutes, we got the rocket’s red glare and bombs bursting in air.

A great show with paradise in the background.




Transition time for us staying on the island. All our friends from Jupiter are leaving and heading back to The Bluffs. Flowergirl and Dusty Seas will be making way towards points north tomorrow.
It was fun sharing time and Compass Cay with them all.

Cheers,

Istaboa

Happy Birthday, America

Thanks, GT

Radar's Day At The Beach

Radar loves the beach and always has. Muddy, not so much, never did. (though he's acquiring a taste for salt water)

So with nothing else on my busy schedule, I grab Radar and a camera; we're off for a walk across the island to the ocean side...  leaving little Mud on board to enjoy Mel's company and Istaboa's A/C.

On this afternoon, it's just two old boys out to enjoy a walkabout Crescent Beach.

Since a pup, Radar's been coming to Compass Cay and he knows exactly which path will eventually lead to the beach. With a spring in his trot he leads the way and only stops to look back and tell me to hurry up.

He always enjoys our time alone, as we once were.



I've said this several times, Crescent Beach at Compass is one hell of a beach; while walking the water's edge you'll most times be completely alone.

But just look at it.

The Planetarium

A fellow named Dave, on a boat named Livin' Large, is quite an artist. Dave built this mobile that we all call the Planetarium. He also constructed Hester's Livin' Large Gym that I put up in the last post. 

I've never met Dave, I don't think, but he's obviously a talented/creative dude with a lot of time and energy. All on the island appreciate his work.

Amazing!!

This day is a hot day and it's a long walk, but Radar is clearly up for it. He may be getting a little older, but a walk to the beach? He's always ready.

You can see the happiness in those eyes... the boy truly loves this stuff. 

Radar, once again, is telling me to hurry up.  My boy's still lookin' good, isn't he?

Below are a few photos from one of Radar's first trips to the islands.

That same, hurry up!, look.

Elbow Cay 2007's Cruise

So it's established, Radar is absolutely nutty about the beach.

He's calmed down a bit since those days back in '07, (we all have except for poor Muddy), but he can still bust a move when he wants. These days, Radar likes to go in about chest high to cool off and search for things that crawl. He doesn't bother them, just watches.

And check out that swagger, he's on his beach and he knows it.

Beach Dog

This, my friends, was a nice day. Just an old boy and his dog.

We sat under the Tiki Hut for a while enjoying the view, the shade, the breeze; hell, just the pure unpolluted sound of the surf was amazing enough...  then we hiked back to the boat to wash off the sand and salt. We didn't see another being until we got back to the marina.
Solitude if you want it.

 Radar, cooling his heels before heading back to the boat.

One last shot: Where it all started.

Sadie and Radar

An early morning on the Tennessee River. This was Radar's first boat trip. Little did he know what was in store for him. Such a cute little guy and what a beautiful girl Sadie was. Sweet, sweet Sadie

Here's a link to another good day on the beach... Tahiti Beach

This shot warms our hearts and puts a lump in my throat...

Adios,

Istaboa

When In The Islands •

• and need a gym  ≈  No problem

Hester's Livin' Large Gym¡

Lot's of changes and improvements at Compass since our last stay.

You'll never have to wait,

It's nice to be back.

Momentary Interruption

Hearing the young fellow, who's supposed to be finishing up our house project, saying, "Don't worry, it's all good. Enjoy your trip in the islands, I got this.",  didn't sit well with us. I hopped a plane and I'm now back in Jupiter. Probably a good idea I did. It wasn't bad, but all good?? Not entirely true.

I'll take this opportunity to pick up a few things while here.

Flying up to N. Eleuthera so the plane could refuel before returning to Ft. Lauderdale, we flew low over some of the shallows and uninhabited islands; it was incredible.
A nice clear day and a low tide allowed us to see that nature truly is the ultimate artist.
The patterns and colors created by current, waves, and time make for some amazing visuals.
Of course, I didn't take my good camera, but I managed to use my phone to do some video.
Using an app called Capture, (YouTube App) I easily mashed up a little video. It was fun to play with; by the time I landed in Ft Lauderdale , it was done and almost completely edited.

Bahamas Fly Over




It feels so weird to be in our new house without Mel and the boyz... like I'm staying in someone's home and they have the same tastes we do.

Won't be here long.

Island LIfe

We've been tied up at Compass for a few days now and Crew Istaboa is getting on with the business of being in the islands and what all that entails.

When at Compass Cay and part of the family, everyone pitches in. It's a family run island and sometimes the staff thins out and comes down to one or two. So all us longtime Compass Cay patrons help however we can. Tuck has a way of extracting our individual talents and using them in ways to better the island. Maybe mechanical, maybe technical, maybe helping tie up other boats when they all arrive at once. There's no payoff for these acts of kindness other than being guaranteed a slip during busy months and maybe fresh fish or lobster, but most of us chip in because we have the time and we see help needed. And, why not?

Our first day back, Tucker and I loaded up a family of folks in his Albury to take to Staniel and catch their plane back home. The kids seemed so depressed about leaving; I really felt sorry for them.
After dropping them off, we motored on to Black Point to drop off a letter. Tucker wanted to show me his home so we walked the short distance to the house where he raised his family.

A pic was from several years ago; Tuck and me going out fishing. The Albury appears to be floating above the water, huh?

Walking around these islands with Tucker Rolle is like hanging with the King. The rich man on the fine yacht or the poor man sitting quietly under a shade tree, they all smile, wave, and speak when Tucker walks by. He's a revered native of the Exumas and folks from all walks of life speak to him with respect and admiration. Tuck always takes time to kindly respond to them.
It was interesting to see his modest home, Tuck picked a few Mangoes from the trees in the back yard to take back to Mel. He then handed some money and an envelope to one of his daughters and quickly fixed the hot water heater before we left to walk back to his boat.
On the trip over, we discussed our mutual business and our thoughts on how things should be; it's interesting that two fellows from different backgrounds and worlds can think so much alike. I guess, bottom line, we want the same thing so going about making the same situation better in a similar fashion is not so odd.

So, yes... we're throttling back and easing into our island mindset... like putting on an old pair of flip-flops.













But, there may be disruption soon... we'll see.




Adios,

Istaboa

Re-entry: Mood Indigo

Mood Indigo.. Duke Ellington (or sort of)

You ain't seen blue; no, no, no.
You ain't seen blue,
Till you've had that mood indigo.
You ain't seen blue; no, no, no.
Bluer than blue can be.
When I get that mood indigo

We've been in the islands for a couple of weeks now, and if asked to describe what we see, one word would do it. BLUE
Crossing the Gulf Stream is blue, then crossing the Bahamas Bank is a different blue, hanging around Great Harbour Cay it got even bluer, Nassau loses a bit of color till you pull out of the harbor then — there it is again— BLUE. The further south you go, the bluer it gets
Then you get to the Exumas and the color pegs the limits of the spectrum. There should be a Crayola Crayon named Exuma Blue. It's impossible to describe... You have to see it with your own eyes.

Waking up rested, our first morning at Compass Cay, I've slept the sleep one only enjoys at home. After walking up the spiral steps to the Pilot House I turn to see what this day looks like and in my mind I say a quiet, ° wow °!

 ° wow °!

 We forget.

Just how

Beautiful it is.


A nice surprise — After crossing the bank and within 5 miles of Highborne, we hear a conversation on the radio then a sign off of, "Irianna, clear'.
Again, boat neighbors, from The Bluffs Marina this time. Tim and Valerie lived next to us for a few months after buying Irianna.
They later came by to visit us at Compass. It was interesting catching up with them and hearing about their trip to Europe. Irianna will be moving around the Bahamas so we'll probably run into them again.

MV Irianna

So, It's all good... the weather's cooperating. ESE winds make for enough breeze to stay coolish and allow for smooth water around Pipe Creek. Catching up with old friends and making new ones. Relaxation is the rule.

And more blue.


Adios,

Istaboa

There's No Place Like Home

Another sloppy run across Yellow Bank to The Exumas and Compass Cay.

It feels good to be back at Compass. It's been 3 years so there are lots of folks to catch up with.

But for now, there's a salty boat needing attention.

Then —— relaxx... zzzzz

Cheers,

Istaboa

Another Day In Nassau

The decision to leave on the high tide this morning quickly became yesterday's plan. And, as our plans usually go, things change. The good fortune to have free and consistent high speed internet at Bay Street Marina was enough incentive for us to give Nassau another day. We'll take this time to do a few fat up/downloads (update charts and insurance forms) before we head off to the Exumas where very expensive satellite internet is the only option.
And, we should know.

 Atlantis
Game of Thrones, Yes?

Yesterday was like a cruiser's rendezvous.
Just next to us on a beautifully restored blue Tollycraft was a former Nordhavn owner whom I spoken with several times. a few years back Greg had considered buying the former Istaboa before deciding on the Tollycraft.

Next, waiting for marina transportation to the Fresh Market, Mel and I bumped in an old buddy, who for years, kept their boat just 2 slips down from us at Pickwick Lake in Tennessee.
Doug and Pam are on their new boat, 'Just In Time', which is the perfect name for a retired FedEx employee's vessel.
It was fun to see the Duncans again; we last crossed paths at Compass Cay 3 years ago.  They gave us a tour of their new boat, (yacht), and a beauty she is. It's always a special reunion when we run into old friends from the lake days.

This morning, 'Just In Time' stuck to their plan and departed Nassau for Eleuthera... I got a couple of shots as they were leaving the harbor.

Nice Boat

Nice Folks

Today, there will be more time to tie up loose ends then maybe walk down to Potters Cay for lunch.


Adios,

Istaboa