After departing Half Moon we visited Rock Sound Eluthera. Sorry I did not take many pictures but I did get one of a public phone booth.. yes they still have them here!

We departed Rock Sound for Spanish Wells. We have never brought Magnolia here but have taken the ferry here from Nassau and Harbor Island.

Entering the harbor at Spanish Wells.

This is a new car being delivered to the island. The family that runs this ferry appear Amish or mininite  and have been known to break out in hymn as they make their way.

This is the fast ferry arriving from Harbor Island and returning to Nassau

This is my Valentines present for Annette…it’s a love knot! She is really the family knot tyer but does let me tie a bowline now and then.

I was dressed to the 9s for Valentines. Long pants, first since my cousins wedding last fall!

Friends we met in Hope Town were making their first trip beyond the Abacos. It was lovely to share Valentines Dinner with them and two other couples.

This girl is are favorite though…she makes the best chocolate shake in the Bahamas!

Rather than becoming obese in Spanish Wells we departed to the Abacos a 65 mile ocean passage. We had a rolly passage but the real fun was entering the inlet at Little Harbor with breaking waves. Ever ride a 44 foot, 15 ton surfboard…trust me you do want to!

After a good night’s sleep we continued to Hope Town where our friends on Kindred  Spirit  and Cutting Class welcomed us with open arms and lovely evening. PICTURES COURTESY KINDRED SPIRIT.

We will be here in the Abacos watching for a weather window and for the South Carolina to warm up a little before we head back across the Gulf Stream. Vessel and crew are happy and well.

Remember how I was saying how the Cruiser Community just solves problem? Magnolia was the benefactor of that problem solving yesterday. I outboard dies completely unexpectedly on Cat Island so when we arrived Rock Sound getting the engine back online was priority #1. After getting Magnolia settled in went about changing filters and spark plugs and to my surprise that did not solve the problem. As I was preparing to pack up and go into, research mode Myron & Dina of SV Hold Fast pulled up and without moments hesitation Myron went to work. Dina kindly gave me a dingy lift to town for fresh gas while Myron pulled the carburetor apart. By the time we returned with the fuel the engine was back together. A couple of pulls on the starter and we were back in business. It is days like these we are so grateful to be part of this community…it really thrives on being able to pay it forward. BTW, this afternoon we will be making a bracket for a third boat out of some high pressure fiberglass plate that I keep in spares…it’s going to be a good day!

After a couple day visit at Cat Island we sailed out of Fernandez on our way up to Eluthera. It is a 70 trip which requires heroic efforts to complete in 1 day. The compromise is making a stop at Little San Salvador Island, known as Half Moon Cay by Carnival Cruisers everywhere.

The island is privately owned so we are not allowed to go ashore while there is a cruise ship here. Makes sense that you would not want cruise boat people hanging with us scanky sailboat cruisers. 🙂 The down side of this anchorage is it is rolly as all get out so as soon as I finish this post it will be shower and bed for this captain.

I forgot, topped up the outboard tank out of my Jug yesterday and just as I was about to pick up guests on the beach to bring back to Magnolia
the outboard died and had to row back out. Was not able to get restarted so obviously that will be priority #1 when we arrive in Rock Sound. Hoping some fresh gas, a couple filters and a couple of spark plugs will resolve.

Now off for that shower, it’s going to be a full day tommorow. PS Another door to door sail today. What is the MPG on 1 qt of Fuel for 45 mile? Love it

It may look like us but it’s not, it’s Kelly Nicole a sisters ship to Magnolia. Paul and Debra left from Rochester NY the yer before us and followed there progress closely to learn what we could. We finally me them face to face last year in Eluthera and finally this year got to hang out share some laughs. They though are continuing down the Thorny Patch through the Mona passage and onto the Caribbean. They’re crazy!!! 🙂

We are always excited to visit a new place but with that newness certainly  ones some anxiety. Never fully know where everything is, how good the holding in the anchorage is. This was our first visit to Long Island and it was also one of the islands most impacted by hurricaine Joaquin. We brought a number of construction supplies, household goods and also school supplies but until we arrived we did not really know how else we were going to be of use.

The great thing in this community of cruisers is if there’s a problem someone always steps up and it gets solved. It does not matter if it’s hurricane relief of a boat cat that is sick it gets fixed. (the cat thing is true) In this case it was organizing work party’s where they are most needed. First day we spent cleaning up the church rectory for the Anglican Church in Clareancetwon.

The “group” works hard but also enjoys a cold beer. In this case it was on the way back to the harbor at Bling Bling Bar and Carly Wash. This stuff can not be made up!

When not working ashore there is always something to to aboard Magnolia, like polishing the brass.

A couple days later we were called back into action to clean up the yard and boats of the local youth sailing club. It was really hot in the sun that day so missed the picture until the group got a cold beer later.

The crews of Kelly-Nicole and Magnum rented a car for a day of touring the island. First stop was the Blue Hole where Free Diving competitions take place. People hold there breath and dive as deep as they can. The Blue Hole itself is lime 600 feet. I think people dive down about 200 crazy !

It became even crazier when Paul found the Memorial to all the people that dies here diving!

As we drove down to the south end of the island Annette read aloud how the road ends abruptly. We all kinds of chuckled until we got to the end and really did have to get on the breaks. There were lime no signs or indications the road was going to end…it just doesn’t and very abruptly too!

We had Kelly-Nicole over one evening and when I offered Paul a Scotch and Cigar well we were able to fully endorse our Man Cards!

We truly enjoyed our stay in Long Island, helping where we could and spending time with friends. It was nice to be there, next atop, Cat Island.