January 7, 2012

Saturday January 7, 2012

As planned, at 9:00 AM we pulled anchor simultaneously with “Wind Lass” and headed for Dolphin Cut.  The passage through there seemed a bit narrow wide enough to get through and we were going to the sound side of the island and sail on the outside towards Adderly Cay.  Photo opt I thought.  I made my way to the bow of the boat and hung tightly.  These waves were a lot larger than they looked a few minutes ago.  “Mercy”  I thought, “I think I will go back to the stern”.  Too late.  Fred said hang on and every appendage coming from by body found something to clamp onto.  Up, down, left right pounding into each and every wave and swell that was in our path.  Although I was pretty confident I would not be swept off deck, I made myself a promise to never do that again in anything bigger than a wake.  My camera was hanging around my neck and I somehow cupped it under my left arm pit for protection from the splashing waves.  I wish I had a lifeline on.  I have to admit after we got through I thought it was fun, but that never entered my mind as I was going through it.  It was rolling out there.  “Wind Lass” hoisted her mainsail and Fred hailed them to see if that helped.  Pete said the only reason he put it up was to keep the boat steadier.  Too late for me though, I was already into the box of gingersnaps feeling nauseous already.  We ended up motoring all the way.  Usually on a longer trip like this, I grab the opportunity to tidy up the cabin a bit but this morning I had to do it in shifts.  When I came below, I noticed the table was wet.  Yikes...out laptops were wet also along with everything else including the cushions.  This is the first time we didn’t place the computers in the V-berth and forgot to batten down (and lock) the hatches.  These waves coming across the bow made it into the cabin.  Took care of that and got my clothes put away from washday yesterday.  Back topside.  Came down and tried to finish putting the other stuff away and soon I was topside again.  The third time I grabbed the gingersnaps.  Never got sick, just queasy.  Entering Adderly’s Cay was pretty interesting.  There is a Adderly Beacon light at the point coming in.  I thought it was a light house but it wasn’t.  The beacon is 20’ above high water.  The water is prettier, the further south we go.  We are swinging on the hook, the day is young and the weather is perfect.  We are going to dink it over to the Cay and explore.  We can take things from here, so my hopes were high for some great finds.  After we were settled, Dee and Pete picked us up and went to Leaf Cay, found a beach and Dee & I explored a bit while the guys stayed back and chatted.  There were plenty of sea fans, most were mangled getting washed over the rocks.  I found a few nice ones in tact and packed them in my backpack.  This is where I found my first Hamburger Bean.  We ended up so far around the island the guys decided to dink it over to us but the waves were too rough for them to get to shore so they turned around and we walked back around to the dinghy.  We stopped at Normans Pond Cay, and took a short walk.  The view was spectacular.  Much of this beach had plastic on it which washes up from the sea.  I don’t think I have ever seen so many flip flops.  Seriously.  I almost wanted to get creative and nail them to a tree and call it the “Flip Flop” tree.  I found a small plant that closely resembles an amaryllis although none were in bloom.  I have seen these at other islands but this one was waiting to be adopted.  It was small enough to dig it up with my fingers.  We were joking about it as we walked and I nonchalantly said “hey, if you see any flower pots, grab it.”  No sooner did I spit those words out of my mouth, there it was...a 4” new plastic green flower pot.  We all howled saying this was like dumpster diving except on a beach.  They had it all!    That was my find of the day!  I needed one for the new bulb I dug up earlier.  Then we started discussing how Fred needed to pick up some of the wood laying around to ’expand’ the boat.  Fred said, “a greenhouse addition is what I need”.  He is such a sport.  He keeps me laughing. His knee is getting better but the meds he is on makes him tired.  He is in the cockpit taking a nap.  Stasia enjoyed lying topside this evening and watching the schools of fish swim around.  It’s quiet here, 3 boats anchored and nothing interferes with my serenity with God.  A conch horn blows in the distance, signaling sunset.  Another beautiful day to thank God for.