2001 - 6/8 - 6/10 - Georgetown, Exumas

At the BBQ, we met a couple on ISLAND TIME, another dark blue-hulled trawler. (one thing about boaters, rarely do we remember names, but ALWAYS remember the boat name) Turns out we met their daughter at the Keys Boat Works in Marathon at the beginning of the trip. She told us to be on the look out for her parents. Small world, isn’t it! The food was good & cooked on various grills next to the outside bar - the flies were overwhelming. We met two other couples heading for the Caribbean – the girls, both nurses, one was from Canada the other on a 6 month LOA from Fishermen’s hospital!! I couldn’t believe it. She wants to work in St Croix. (?) Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to talk with her about her plan as the music was too loud and they were leaving the next morning. We moved to the bar. The place was filling up fast with lots of people. Where have all these people been all day-not in town for sure? Wayne got real cozy & having a blast with several women who just arrived from Minnesota. Everyone was definitely in a party mood. One of them reminded him of his sister…yea! Right! Meanwhile, I spotted this rather gregarious guy, stocky with dark hair and eyes wearing one of those huge foam hats. Other than looking like he belonged at Fantasy Fest, he looked awfully familiar.Wayne thought he looked like Poncho Via. We concluded he has one of those faces who always looks like someone you know.Well…the more I watched him, the more I was convinced that I knew him. I got up enough nerve, approached the bar and asked him his name - Ron Sanchez who was married to Frank’s (my "X") cousin, Marie!  We just couldn’t believe that after all these years of not seeing each other, we meet in a tiny bar in the middle of nowhere. He picked me up & swung me around the dance floor. Shoulda seen Wayne's face! priceless. Ron was always my favorite of all the cousins - sorta outsiders cuz we weren't really family, only married one. He is currently “Captain Ron” aboard a 70-ft sport-fishing vessel out of Ft Lauderdale. We had a ball!!! Never got to bed until 3:00 am – but it sure was worth it. It was one of those nights when everything just clicked. 

                   
 Saturday, 6/9  Sunny with scattered clouds, hot, humid. Studying the charts, Wayne found a “blue hole” situated between Great Exuma, Burrows Cay, George Divine Cay and John Divine Cay.We marked the GPS and off we went in the dinghy –but forgot a compass. But we finally found it. It was awesome and scary at the same time. The water was really cold coming out of this underwater cave.Wayne dove down several times and reported seeing bunches of fish hanging out under the ledge of the cave. Oh…to have had my pole and bait. Saw 2 tiger sharks in the shallows, one was probably 5 ft long! When we returned we moved BLUE MAX to Gaviota Bay & took the dinghy to Sand Dollar Beach on Stocking Island.

Sand Dollar Beach on Stocking Island

Princess Molly

This is where the Chat and Chill ‘restaurant’ is and the “famous” Volleyball Beach is located. I went to the beach on the Atlantic side and ran into Geneva who had just spent two hours wandering and shelling. Wayne went to see Fred’s 44’ DeFever. Now this beach was truly beautiful. Even the path that leads up and over to the beach was incredible.The water was clear, cool and calm. There were a few scattered beach goers who left shortly after I arrived. I skinny dipped and Molly stayed in the shade of an umbrella that I brought along.(what a princess) There were a few homes around the Turtle Lagoon.

Turtle Lagoon

  Since I didn’t ask Wayne to pick me up, I waded across Turtle Creek in thigh-high water, circled the cove and met Wayne,

Turtle Lagoon

Pete, Geneva and Fred at the Chat & Chill for happy hour. They had drinks already - I got a very large, rum punch.

Chat N' Chill on the beach - That's Pete waving

After all, I needed to catch up! I met two physicians from Naples. One was originally from South Africa with a very sexy accent; one of them lives in Royal Harbor with is girlfriend who is a nurse. We know many of the same MDs still working at NCH.  It’s a very small world indeed! Everyone ate at the Chat & Chill, except us. We decided to eat on the boat.  It seems every time we eat out, we experience stomach distress with diarrhea…Are we in Mexico - what's up with that?
The wind died and it was very hot, but with two fans running & your body temperature dropped I needed a sheet. What a wonderful life. Sunday, 6/10 - Cloudy, still and hot. WOODJA came by on their way to Long Island and dropped off borrowed tools (Wayne’s got nice tools you know).We were also getting ready to go when Fred called to say he was in town & did we need anything. He also wanted to return Wayne’s hat which he left on Fred's boat. By the time Wayne showed him all around the boat, it was after 11:00 – & since Wayne wanted to go to the Salt Ponds on Long Island, which takes 6-7 hours, it was now too late to go. I really didn’t want to stay here another day. Phil and Janet aboard SNOWBIRD invited us over for coffee and cookies. Learned she’s been sailing just about forever, mostly alone, and raised three kids aboard-I thought that was pretty amazing! The coffee was good, especially mixed with the rum. Never did have the cookies…

Sunset from volleyball beach