The Bahamas, aaah!

The water in the Bahamas is truely amazing. It's as clear as tap water in shallow places.The shades of turguoise and blue make you want to get out a paint brush and capture the beauty. The Bahamas are easy and relaxing. We first stopped for one night near Crooked Island and then went to Clarence Town to get fuel. We walked around the little settlement in Clarence Town and swam in our own private anchorage surrounded by coral and beaches. The photo above is from Conception Island where we stopped next. Conception is an uninhabited nature preserve. 

George Town, in the Exumas was our next stop and we ended up staying there 10 days. Our friend Herman is there for the summer on his boat White Wing. Larry on Restless another Tampa resident was there, too. They showed us around George Town and the nearby beaches. We all went the the Bahamas Independence Day celebration on July 10th. They celebrate the night before and raise the Bahamaian flag at midnight. The whole town turned out and they had Rake and Scrape music and a small Junkanoo parade. The dancers and drummers in the Junkanoo group move so much it was hard to get a clear photo! The group had elaborate costumes, dancing girls and men playing horns, drums and cowbells. Simply put, It Rocks! We will definitely be heading back to the Bahamas for a full fledged Junkanoo parade. 

George Town has some gems. J & K computers is located in a historic house and run by a lovely couple Julius and Crystal.  They have computer services and sell drinks and groceries so you can have a snack while working on your blog. 



  

On the last day we were treated to a visit from a pair of wild dolphins that swim with people. For hours a mother and her calf swim next to you just out of arms reach. They turn their head and look at you when you dive down and swim along with them under water.

One advantage to cruising is that your plans change with the weather. After having two going away parties we reluctantly said good bye to our friends on July 15th. 

We sailed to Staniel Cay which  took one day. It is just as beautiful as the rest of the Exumas. Years ago, the locals put their pigs on a separate island and fed them by boating over from the main town. The pigs learned to swim out to the boat when ever they heard an outboard motor. Now the pigs are lucky enough to be fed many times a day by tourists. The Thunderball Grotto is in  Staniel Cay, too and it's a great snorkel. It was used in the James Bond movie, Thunderball.

This is the Atlantic beach on Staniel Cay. We did a little "End of the Trip" ceremony and talked about what the cruise has meant to each of us. We left Staniel Cay Tuesday July 24th and sailed straight to the Florida Keys. We are now anchored in Marathon.

We are leaving the Keys tomorrow and will be home in St Petersburg Monday morning, weather permitting.

The next blog will be our last. It will include photos and an short article with some of our thoughts on the trip for those thay may be interested.

All our best,

Frances and Al