Exile: Hope Town and Beyond, Feb 2018

We had planned on leaving for points south from Lynyard Cay, just next to Little Harbour but the winds were not favorable and wouldn't be for at least a week so we headed back to Hope Town and took a mooring in the harbour to await better weather. Once secure, we headed straight to our favorite beach bar, On Da Beach, for the best fish melt sandwich on earth. We watched friends race in a sunfish regatta (way to go Pete) and went to a weigh-in at a fishing tournament at Sea Spray with Pete, Linda and Scout. A couple of days later we sailed to Man O War Cay for lunch and ran into friends Leanne and Jon, who we met this year in Little Harbour. We enjoyed a cold one at the Dock and Dine and decided we'd race together on their catamaran in the upcoming Hope Town sailboat race. We had a great time and finished somewhere in the middle of the pack. I know we'll be seeing them often in the future!

On Da Beach

Leeanne and Jon aboard Lord Charlton

Jeff, manning the "whisker pole"

Mama and her two week old chicks

One happy manatee

Conch pile

The weather was looking agreeable to leave the Abacos and work our way down to Spanish Wells, so we met with friends Joe and Ellen, whom we met a couple of years ago, for lunch at Firefly before we left. Small world... Ellen is a fellow alumni of Lyman Hall High School and they have a house in Old Saybrook near my brother and sister in law. They also have a beautiful home in Hope Town where they escape to during the cold CT winters.

Joe and Ellen

We anchored at Lynyard Cay once again, to await a morning departure. We caught a 46" Mahi on our way to Royal Island, where we met up with friends Julie and Mike who have an Oceanis 45 like ours. It was a great meeting place and we shared appetizers, cocktails and many stories before heading our separate ways in the morning. We were lucky to cross paths since they were heading north to the Abacos and we were heading south to Exuma. Always a fun time.

A cuttlefish, the first I've ever seen, was enjoying the shade of our dinghy

Mike and Julie

The next day we arrived in Spanish Wells and took one of Bandit's moorings as we have done in the past. We rented a golf cart to ride around the island, revisit the Sandbar on Russell Island, enjoy a great lunch at The Shipyard and purchase some groceries.

Oh, and we stopped to visit some locals along the way. They were looking for some handouts, of which we had none. But a pat on the head and a chin scratch was enjoyed nevertheless.

More please?

No matter which island we visit, you can always find a beautiful beach. Spanish Wells is no exception.

From Spanish Wells, we planned on crossing to Highborne Cay to catch up with friends aboard Kristine, who we met in St. Augustine during our lengthy stay from November thru mid January. As mentioned earlier, it's always fun to cross paths with people we know and we spent a few days together there, beaching, biking, hiking, and enjoying dinner together. The North Beach there is a great place to kayak and swim. Kris and Tom and their Captain Scott are a great bunch to hang with and it's nice to have a girl-time beach buddy on those days we just want to chill.

Scott and Kris

Kris and Tom

More goats and a feisty male enjoying a few tidbits from his keeper

Oh, those kids....

And then there's Loo. Sweet Loo.

Who wouldn't want to stop at this stop sign? The view is beautiful.

Stay away from those trees! Much like poison ivy & oak

View from the open fitness center called the "Crows Nest"

We said our goodbyes to Kristine and left the marina shortly after they did. We sailed a few hours south to Shroud Cay, a favorite place of ours to anchor and explore. It didn't disappoint. The creeks are fun to dinghy through and the view from atop Camp Driftwood is 360 degrees of gorgeous.

Feeding our Romora "pets" who hang out under the boat awaiting scraps

After a two day stay at Shroud Cay, we sailed to Warderick Wells, another favorite place of ours in the Exuma National Park. We were lucky once again to obtain a mooring ball in the north field, which is closest to all the trails and beaches. It is truly a special place and we never tire of the blow holes, trails and the hike to Boo Boo Hill. Years ago we left one of our driftwood "signs" which has either been buried by many more or been blown away by a hurricane or two. The tradition continues.

From Warderick Wells we sailed four hours to Big Major just north of Staniel Cay. This is where the swimming pigs live to eat. There are so many people going ashore to see them (even many, many paying tourists) that they want not for food. The locals have even placed a water tank on the island so they have plenty of water to drink. Last year Jeff and I brought gallons ashore for them and they would simply open their mouths as we poured it in. Hopefully they will have enough water this year to avoid becoming ill. We didn't visit them this year and instead opted to do laundry and some provisioning. We had dinner at the Yacht Club with friends Miles and Laureen on Ariel and set sail two days later to stop in Black Point, and then anchor just south of there. Nothing could be better...