Keyswench After BLUE MAX ADVENTURES: 2015 - 6/23 to 6/25 - Grand to Carters to Allans/Pensacola Cay

6/23 - We left Grand at 0930 heading south in the Sea of Abaco.
(from Wikipedia) "The Sea of Abaco (sometimes Abaco Sound), located in The Bahamas, is an approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) long saltwater lagoon separating Great Abaco Island (known locally as the ‘mainland’) from a chain of barrier islands known as the Abaco Cays. Depths in the Sea of Abaco are generally a few meters, and shallow reefs and shoals can pose a serious hazard to navigation. Despite these hazards, the sea is popular with boaters and is sometimes referred to as a ‘marine highway’, offering a sheltered passage through the Abaco Islands. The majority of the largest settlements and towns in the Abaco Islands are located along the shores of the sea."
We stopped briefly at Carter's - Once a US missile-tracking station, Carters has nothing in terms of civilization but its ruins & shifting sand bars. Wayne & Laurel did a recon via the dinghy. Not much to see - we anchored here in 2007 then went aground in the sand. Embarrassing for any boater, thankfully, no one was there to see. Now, Bahamian fishermen anchor & camp there.

It was a beautiful day, a bit choppy, but a nice cruise. All of a sudden, ahead of us about a quarter mile we saw, what Wayne called, a white squall. The first thing he saw was a 'hump' in the water & looked like the water was rising up & was a yellow-white color - looked like a sand storm - & had a rainbow in the middle.

A picture is like a thousand words

See the rainbow's end in the bottom left of the picture - but NO pot of gold

Wayne slowed the boat with the auto-pilot on. As it gained on us, the sea looked white & there was a rainbow in the middle of it.

Cruised southward & anchored at 6 pm in Allans/Pensacola Cays. (from the Bahamas cruising guide) ..."Allans-Pensacola is one of the Bahamian destinations where location wins. It's at the right spot on the chart, & sooner or later most people go there after crossing the Little Bahama Bank, or before setting out across it. At one time two separate cays, Allans Cay & Pensacola Cay were linked in a spur-of-the-moment marriage by a hurricane. The end result has provided an anchorage, which, as we've said, is ever popular. The unified cay is some 3 nm long. Other than the ruins of yet another US missile-tracking station, there's nothing on the island."

6/24 EXCEPT what the tourists put there.

Hundred & thousands of minnows covered the shallow area at the beach...Scupper went fishing & actually pulled one of them out & onto the beach then proudly took it to her 'daddy'.

If you look closely, you can see the little bugger (the minnow, not Scupper)

I started making "no knead" bread which requires a 12-20 hour 'rest' - it's an artisan bread with crispy crust & soft inside. I used a bit different recipe & had trouble with the dough - it would not fold over into a ball & stay there.

So I plopped it into my round, glass Pyrex dish to rest & rise.
6/24 - Laurel & I have been reading every chance we get.

While out for another recon of the island, we stopped to meet our 'neighbors', Daniel & Laura - each on their own sailboat. They had just returned from getting 8 conch & asked if we wanted to share some conch salad - duh! does a bear do do-do in the woods??
In the meantime, the bread was ready - in the oven at 450 degrees, covered for 30 minutes then uncovered for 20 min. or until the crust is golden brown.

Daniel got the conch out of the shell on his boat & brought everything needed to BLUE MAX to fix that yummy salad. I got a lesson how to clean the conch. I now have a full bag of the throw-away conch for bait.

These are the days you dream about - so perfect & shared with new-found friends.
Laurel & I watched Mamma Mia - I think she even stayed awake for the entire movie.
6/25 Laurel decided to sail to Green Turtle Cay with Laura aboard the ANNIE LAURIE... a traditional wooden ketch built in Newfoundland. She sails it and maintains it by her self. Wayne is very impressed.
Daniel's boat is named CONCH FLYER (cuz he's a pilot). It is a Tyana built in Formosa and he also sails alone. They left before into a stormy sea before us. We pulled anchor after the storm at 1115 and passed them on the way.