Black Point

1-19-10 Happy 70th Bill!! We put together a wonderful birthday day. This morning was Ken, Cal and Bill to the dump. Then it was Bill and Ken for fuel, water at the marina dock and clean up the boat. Ken and Francie took us to lunch at Staniel Cay Marina. Of course, Skipper was there too. Then Bill and Ken had to dive to get a line that was wrapped around Release's prop. Francie and I hiked around the outskirts of the island. It was just beautiful - all sandstone ledges and caves dropping into the ocean. We met Ken and Bill on the other side and snokeled off the beach. The snokeling just gets better and better every day. The reality of island life has hit us. Water was available here at $.40 per gallon (like gold really); but no diesel and no gas; they have it but can't pump it. The power boats are lining up. The fuel boat came in this morning and filled the tanks, but there is a problem with some gasket and they can't pump fuel. Island life. Get it when you can. We are all set with diesel and water. Gas is a little iffy, but we will move on to Black Point Cay tomorrow AM. We can row if necessary. I am content that I've seen Staniel and happy to move on now. This has been a beautiful visit.




1-20-10 Well the joke is on us. Yesterday (we thought was the 20th, but Bill's watch did not roll over properly at the end of the month) was not Bill's birthday but that just gives him one more day to celebrate. With the lack of communication and the days and weeks flying by, we always have to figure out what day it is. The word is there is gas and diesel available this morning, so Bill and the rest of the Staniel boat world have taken the containers and gone to the pumps. No weight lifting necessary on this cruise. The water is shallow so it is necessary to hand carry the fuel and boat water by dinghy. Water and any byproducts like laundry is from now on expensive. Two loads of laundry was $18 in Bimini. One load was $20 here. The upside is we can now live in our bathing suits as it is so warm, and we are always playing in the water.

1-22-10  We explored Black Point yesterday on Great Guana Cay.  The island people are very enterprising and the children amazingly uninhibited.  We did laundry and watched the supply boat come in.  We are moving on to Farmers Cay this afternoon to get more protection from westerly winds coming in tonight, tomorrow.  We are in an Internet cafe now having a cold Kalik Bahama Island beer and having fun reading our email and pictures from come along with our blog comments.  We are just having the best time on our cruise.  We agree island living is the best.