We were up at 5:15 am to make sunrise Easter service on the beach at Orchid Bay Pavilion. This required the sleepy Captain to get up at this ungodly hour, a dinghy trip with headlamps through the dark 2 foot seas to the dock, a 1 mile walk and then when we were lost in this gated community, a golf cart trip with Edna to the beach pavilion. It was certainly all worth the effort to praise the Lord on this special day and see the cross backlit with the cloudy sunrise.
On our way back to the boat, we stopped at the Art Café for a well-deserved nosh and coffee. We listened to the Cruisers’ Net and heard the weather forecast for the next few days. Decision time—should we do the often treacherous Whale crossing today in easy conditions or continue to stay on Guana or Treasure Cay? Practicality ruled the day and after having 2 cups of high test coffee, this decaf gal was pumped-- I felt that I could even swim the Whale today.
We left the Guana mooring at 9:30am so that we could make the Whale crossing at slack tide before 10:45 high tide. With N/NW 15 knot winds and 1-2 foot seas on the front quarter, the Whale was definitely at a “Favorable 4” out of 1-5 (“flat as a shingle”) and no mix master seas like we experienced on 3/14. We were again joined by a whole flotilla of sailboats and we fit right in as we had our riding sail up to help steady us.
We journeyed 18 miles to Manjack Cay which is a secluded protected anchorage with miles of pristine ocean beaches and very few homes. Bill and Leslie own most of the land, welcome trespassers and ask only that dogs be leashed so that their chickens can roam protected. They have a hydroponic garden, offer a free strong internet signal to boats anchored in the bay and have cut trails to the ocean through the thick mangrove forest. We met another land owner, John from Michigan, who was walking the “Root #1” trail looking for more poisonwood to trim back. Be wary of this tree as it can cause a massive allergic reaction and his antidote is Crystal deodorant from health food stores rather than dosing with prednisone.
After this discussion, we preceded very carefully single file to the ocean beach about a mile further. It is so refreshing to meet people who will share their corner of paradise with all of us. The anchorage filled up with 17 sailboats and 3 power boats. It was good to reconnect with Bob and Lorraine from “Scaramouche” and Mike and Lorraine from “Elizabeth Rose.”
On our way back to the boat, we stopped at the Art Café for a well-deserved nosh and coffee. We listened to the Cruisers’ Net and heard the weather forecast for the next few days. Decision time—should we do the often treacherous Whale crossing today in easy conditions or continue to stay on Guana or Treasure Cay? Practicality ruled the day and after having 2 cups of high test coffee, this decaf gal was pumped-- I felt that I could even swim the Whale today.
We left the Guana mooring at 9:30am so that we could make the Whale crossing at slack tide before 10:45 high tide. With N/NW 15 knot winds and 1-2 foot seas on the front quarter, the Whale was definitely at a “Favorable 4” out of 1-5 (“flat as a shingle”) and no mix master seas like we experienced on 3/14. We were again joined by a whole flotilla of sailboats and we fit right in as we had our riding sail up to help steady us.
We journeyed 18 miles to Manjack Cay which is a secluded protected anchorage with miles of pristine ocean beaches and very few homes. Bill and Leslie own most of the land, welcome trespassers and ask only that dogs be leashed so that their chickens can roam protected. They have a hydroponic garden, offer a free strong internet signal to boats anchored in the bay and have cut trails to the ocean through the thick mangrove forest. We met another land owner, John from Michigan, who was walking the “Root #1” trail looking for more poisonwood to trim back. Be wary of this tree as it can cause a massive allergic reaction and his antidote is Crystal deodorant from health food stores rather than dosing with prednisone.
After this discussion, we preceded very carefully single file to the ocean beach about a mile further. It is so refreshing to meet people who will share their corner of paradise with all of us. The anchorage filled up with 17 sailboats and 3 power boats. It was good to reconnect with Bob and Lorraine from “Scaramouche” and Mike and Lorraine from “Elizabeth Rose.”
