December 30, 2011

Friday December 30, 2011

I slept hard last night, so hard before I opened my eyes I thought I was at home in my own bed.  The boat was so still, a feeling I hadn’t felt since we arrived in Normans Cay.  There is something to say about rain, boat and beach when  all are combined.  “SAND”  Lots of it.  Everywhere !  It was even in our clothes I have been trying to dry for days.  By the time we pulled anchor we were one of three boats left in Norman’s Cay.  Everyone else was heading towards their next destination.  As we were leaving we passed over a reef.  I was standing at the bow of the boat in awe at the colors I hadn’t seen before because of the rough waters.  This morning it was like glass.  I looked down and right in front of Casa Mare was a Spotted Eagle Ray, about 5-6 feet in diameter.  What a monster!  It was easy to find in the book I received for Christmas because of it’s markings.  No doubt about what it was.  My heart pounded for a long time!  That was a first for me.  We headed for Shroud Cay which is known for some beautiful dinghy rides through the creeks.  Halfway there, with no wind in site, Fred said, “We need to make a decision”.  “Decision?” I thought, the one thing I am really bad at.  I already had the answer before he told me the problem.  “You’re the Captain”  I said.  We reluctantly passed by Shrouds Cay and headed to Warwrick Wells in order to get a mooring ball by 3:00.  I spent most of the time below, putting the boat back together after a few days of being “rained in”.  Those clothes I washed a few days before were “still” wet.  We hung them out side for two days, then brought them inside and hung them over every place we could find a spot.  This morning they were still wet so I re-hung them outside.  By the end of the day, they were still damp.  It’s hard to dry clothes down here.  We pulled into Warderick Wells and I was awestruck.  Each day is better than the last!  Fred said I needed a lesson on catching a mooring ball and I strongly disagreed.  I thought he should do it and let me watch since I have never seen that done before but that didn’t happen.  He gave me a lesson at sea and when we pulled in he said look for Mooring #12.  There it was!  It reminded me of one of those red and white bobbers you put on a fishing line except it was really big.  “Look for the ring” I thought it was going to be on the top of the ball but it didn’t take me long to figure out that it was actually attached to this cork like bobber next to the ball.  I swooped it up on the first try, whoopee!  I think it is much easier to grab a mooring ball than to snub an anchor.  Our spot is beautiful, pristine and we even have our own private beach.  We took the dinghy to check in and got some literature on the park.  Never can have enough of that!  I keep saying this but...this is the prettiest so far and I think I wan to just stay here!  We met some Canadians (lots of  Canadians down here) and they told me they fly from Canada to Nassau  6 (yes six) times a year and pick up their boat which they leave  Nassau?????  and come here because they love it so much.  I thought about asking them if they had any “Gray Poupon” they could share but thought it best not to.  Mercy!

We explored the area with the dinghy and then came back to have dinner and do some internet stuff.  Got to talk to Mom and Dad tonight on Skype and that was a huge treat!  We missed Dad’s birthday (Dec. 28th) and wanted to sing Happy Birthday to him.  It was good to hear their voices!  If anyone knows anything about Skype cameras, please go over there and fix their camera.  They can hear and see us but we can only hear them.  The camera isn’t working or something.  I also received some really sad news.  Lois Olson from Boone, NC passed.  Her daughter Becky Gaffin,  is one of my best friends and Lois was my Mom’s best friend.  Even though she had cancer and I knew this was coming, this hit me really hard tonight, .  She was a very special lady.  I am grateful I went to Boone, NC earlier in the year to visit Lois and Becky.  She will certainly be missed.  My heart is so heavy.  I wish I were there for Becky.  She and Jeff certainly were there for me when my son Phillip died.

Tonight I will just pause and reflect.  Goodbye for now, my friend, Lois Olson.  It’s comforting to know we will be together again someday!  Thanks for being such a special part of my life.