February 29 Pre-race day

Feb 28

Today we went to the Skipper's meeting to find out our PERF rating for the Big Boat race tomorrow. We have a handicap of 375...the biggest in the fleet. If we were racing to the first crossing the line instead of a ties race, we would have to start today!!! Mark and Gail are going to race with us on our boat. Ross asked if we needed crew but he was too late.

The Baseball game was preceded by a Walk for the Cure, starting a Red Boone, so we wolfed down some rice and chicken before heading out.  Quentin had to sprint to the ball park since he was playing.

The game was a riot. I actually thought we were close in score but someone was cheating marking the score and the umpire was one of our so...

It was a great 

Quentin the designated runner for everyone

And then batted too

racing to the base

team picture....both of them

Yukon Burbins...jeans didn't fare so well, nor did the shoes

Great crowd

 me and everyone had a lot of fun. YUKON BURBINS...the sponsor , owner of BalSoud taxi, scooter rentals and electronic repairs and sales, sponsors the team... his taxi used to be a YUKON. Now he drives a SUBURBAN! 

Trip up north to the farms Feb 24

FEB 24

We went out to the country with Cordell. This was more a site-seeing trip than a work crew trip, but we saw the whole northwest end of the island, and met some interesting people. We saw Cordell's "tree nursery". Amazing!! And the seeds we've been saving for him have all sprouted...the grapefruit and orange seeds and pomegranates. I hope the apples can acclimatize too!

We went to help collect some dirt from Sandals backyard, where they save pots and soil for him. We had a great day exploring the north end and seeing the beautiful beaches up there.

We brought John from Cookie Monster with us and he and Quentin got to taste real coconuts. Quentin climbed the tree to get some and use the machete to open them. Cordell also picked a papaya for us. Can't wait until it's ripe!

We got back to Georgetown around 2:30 pm and Gail was handing out cards for the Poker Run so w sat there for awhile and waited to see if John's parents were there, but we can't raise them on the radio. So Rick and Quentin took him over in the dinghy. We probably should have moved the big boat but I have to be back here by 9am tomorrow because Jillian has kindly agreed to get up and drive me to the College for my presentation.

So...t

Moon set...

...and sunrise

Visiting a family farm

Small pot hole farming

Cordell's tree nursery

Picking coconuts

Opening coconuts

Drinking coconuts

Eating coconuts!

omorrow...

Feb 25 Thursday, I guess..

Feb 25

School teachers' day...I can tell you I dreamed about this all night...guess I was worried about doing a presentation in front of live people, none of whom I knew!  I managed to arrange a ride for the 5 miles to the College of the Bahamas where the teacher's conference was being held. The owner of Red Boone was lending Jillian his car to drive me. I would find my way back. Everyone hitch-hikes here.  When I got to Red Boone Choppy was not there. Jillian had called him a he was at the south end of the island. I had lots of time, so I wasn't worried. And just then, Cordell drove up. I asked if he was going home but he was staying in town all day. He said he would drive me up there but first he had an errand.  He told me to wait and walked to the Bank. As luck would have it, Choppy came rushing up and said, Get in, I have to go the north end of the island I'll drop you off. "So I did!

When he dropped me off, he said he'd be back in an hour and pick me up if I was ready. When the session was over, I decided to start walking figuring he would see me on the road. Unfortunately, when he stopped to se e if I was ready, I was next door at the Meat market getting a bottle of water, and he missed me.  So I walked about 4 miles, not knowing what the signal was for wanting a ride. I got as far as the car rental place and Emmet was getting ready to deliver a car downtown, so he gave me a ride the last 2 miles.  I was fine, just hot and tire, but I was completely justified after that eating the fries and drinking a beer!

The presentation was well received, especially the already prepared 22 lessons! As I was leaving one of the pre-school teachers stopped me and asked me to help with an Island Pre-School Day. 75-80 rug rats...I mean...pre-schoolers will be gathered at the Park and she wants to set up an art station where they can do some painting or craft. Would I help? How can I say no, so if we are still here I will do it?

Quentin has a busy week ahead of him as well, helping with the stage setup this morning, and the Kid's Games today. Although, he got out of that commitment because he was working longer at the stage than anticipated. Tomorrow morning he's needed at 7:00 am. Tomorrow is also the Variety show where he gets to enter the conch blowing contest!!

Today I entered him in the fun Volleyball tournament; the baseball game; the Coconut Challenge with his friend Richard from Vivens Aqua, me and Mark from C-Soul.  He is also entered in the blind dinghy race, the kayak race and the make-your-own sail race.

Cordell's breadfruit trees are here so we will be helping him re-pot and get them set up for sending to the other islands. When the Regatta s over, there are a lot of boats going to Long Island for a rally, and we are all taking breadfruit trees with us, to re-grow the trees on the islands.

Next few days are a whirlwind of activity, but if you want to see some of the things happening, check out the videos on cruisesailboat.com. Stephane is videoing the regatta for the website.

Quentin has gone to shore with Lee from Alesto, the electrician he has been helping. Lee is parked in front of us so he will bring Quentin back tonight in time for supper, and we can go to the Rake and Scrape with Mark & Gail.

Later...

Feb 22...Saturday? Sunday? ...whenever

SO, Quentin called this morning to tell the Regatta chairman that he wanted to be included in the kids' races. I think she is so used to hearing about how helpful he is with everyone, that she assumed he wanted to help her, so he is now helping with the kids races instead of being in them!

He went up Dolphin Leap's mast the other day to get the halyard that was stuck, but the guy didn't lock it down so Quentin has to go up again when the winds are better.  Probably today.

Nauticuss [formerly Flamingo from Owen Sound area] arrived last night! Ross parked beside us and came over for coffee and told us all about his adventure coming down...mostly high seas and single handing!!! Brave man! While he was here, another coupe dinghied past his boat so we waved them over. They were talking about their Whitby's [boats] and where this couple, Brian and Lauren on Nightingale 2, were heading.

After they left, Mark came over bearing gifts...a super charge and a generator. He and Rick managed to get the batteries up to about ...well, whatever...I don't understand the electricity paradox so I've given up trying to explain it! Anyway, between Stephane, Mark and a lot of advice from a lot of people we are slowly rejuvenating our not-so-dead batteries. It's amazing how much help boaters are willing to give each other without even asking!

While they worked on the batteries I transferred Blacklist season 2 and some other shows that we had downloaded onto a flash drive for them. Then we all went to the beach to hear Cordell talk about herbal medicines...extremely interesting and helpful!!!

We walked the beach after his talk, came back to the boat for supper. Quentin invited Connor over from HI-5. Connor is his Rubik's cube friend and they played with their cubes, the tablets and watched movies that Connor brought over, while Rick and I went "next door" to C-Soul for movie night. Gail made pumpkin pie with an almond crust for desert. It was awesome. I have to stop cooking like I am camping and start doing the things I know I can do, like making my own corn tortillas and biscuits and muffins, although I think I've put some weight back on so I better start swimming and walking more. If only it would warm up!

Feb 22...something about this date...but I can't remember what...Today we are going to go swimming on the coral head and have a beach picnic. Not sure I like that idea...hate sand in my food! Quentin may be hanging out with Connor today, or we will take them with us swimming. Later...

Mast monkey

He said it was a little windy up there!

Feb 20...?

Good morning: It's Saturday, right?

After we moved the little boat off our bow, we turned on the engine to head over to drop off Quentin for baseball and pick up the laundry. That was Thursday, but I had no classes because they were in exam week.

When the engine turned over there was a definite rattle/squeak that wasn't there before. Rats, rats, rats!!! Rick cleaned the junk off the motor lid, opened it and listened. I KNOW his hearing is going because he pretended he could hear it, put on his glasses, poked at the belts and said, "Huh, it'll be fine."

Ok, I'm sick of being always the one hearing the noise, smelling the smell, complaining about stuff that isn't working, so I said nothing. Off we go.

We got over to Kidd Bay and our favourite spot was taken...there was a big trawler in there, so I head across to the spot in front of the Exuma Yacht Club, and just as I cross in front of the bridge to Lake Victoria, the engine dies.  There is wind pushing us toward the docks and the bridge and we are right in the path of the dinghies and sport boats that run in and out of the Lake. Well, at least they have to slow done now before getting in and coming out.

Rick is on the bow and turns to yell at me because he thought I cut the engine too soon. I yell at him before he gets a chance and tell him to drop the anchor... right THERE!!   TOLD YA SO!!!!!!

Quentin comes out and asks the intelligent question: "Are we out of gas?" He runs down to the galley to check the gauge which doesn't work anyway, and says we are, but we tell him that gauge doesn't work. So he scoops all the crap off the fuel fill, opens it and dips the tank. He used the wrong end of the fuel stick gauge but luckily the tank is so dry he can't get a reading anyway.

So now I know what the engine sounds like when the fuel is running low. I just don't know why the engine panel with all those amazing little red icons DIDN"T TELL ME!!!! We had two full jerry cans of diesel on the boat and we haven't added fuel since we got here, but heck we're just running the mile across the harbour and back, and running the engine to charge the batteries, and heading out the sound to empty our tanks...shouldn't need fuel?!?

We got our shopping done, came back over to the island, and Quentin did some work before going ashore. Beguiler was having problems with his dinghy motor so he called and came to get the 8 hp to take his 15 into the shop. He wanted to borrow the 5 hp but it was way too rough and the 5 hp is too small for his dinghy. It would have taken him all afternoon with the 5 hp. More about that later...

We had dropped off the parsley and melons for Stephane and came back to the boat, when C-Soul called. They were trying to decide if they should move closer down to the town site. It was pretty rough up north at the beach in the northeast winds. They came down and parked beside us.

Stephane had called a little earlier to tell us to come for supper, and we went over to spend some time with him and Angelica. It was great evening. Quentin can talk to him quite easily in French and it's getting better. Sometimes I can catch what they are saying and even add a few words.

Feb 19

Today Dad would have been 90 years old. Miss you Dad!

We had coffee with C-Soul until around 10. Quentin had come back to the boat to do some more work, and called us to say Stephane was looking for us, so we went over to help him out. I found a Spanish-to-English dictionary that I took over to Angelica. It's backwards for her but she says it will help her learn her English. 

Then we came back to the boat to get some work done, but ended up going to shore with Mark and Gail. We met Pearl over there and spent a couple of hours talking.

We are NOT getting any closer to solving the battery issue, mostly because "we" are not actually looking at the problem. But...tomorrow is another day, right?

Today we were supposed to go up to Rolleville with Cordell to tour the top end of the island and check out his farm. But today is too windy to cross the harbour and leave the boat for that long so we'll have to do it another day.

Back to Beguiler...Rob brought the 8 hp back and told us about his harrowing trip over...he got just out into the channel when the 8 hp motor died [the one we had just had tuned up] and he ended up rowing across the harbour to the Lake Victoria, to get to Minn's, the motor repair place. He made it just in time, and they fixed both motors right there...he had a dribble of diesel fuel in his gas tank and it was too rich for both of the engines. They are both fine now and well oiled!!

Conch horn duet

C-Soul & OtherGoose...together again!

So today I have some work to do to get the list ready for the scavenger hunt and get it printed.  I SERIOUSLY need to clean/organize this boat!!! And today is going to be windy/stormy so we aren't going anywhere...no excuses! Ttyl.

Thursday..sometime in Feb??

Feb 18

Yesterday we went to the beach to hear a talk by the SSCA [Seven Seas Cruising Association] about anchoring in Florida [if/when they pass the law] and to convince us to join. Then there was a talk by people heading to/coming from Cuba, and one for the Great Lakes [whoever they were they didn't have much information].  We got the call from C-Soul and went down to visit...they were the very most northern boat in the anchorage. It took us a half hour to reach them from the beach!

So fridge is fixed...fan motor died and Rick replaced it. Still working on the exhaust fan from the toilet...it had fallen over and was blowing but not doing anything. The smell was vile! So we are [slowly] fixing that.

Batteries are still not working properly but we are not finished trying things there...more battery cables and re-configuration might help. So would having someone come on board to look at what we have but...it's not worth the argument.

Quentin spent all day and last evening with  a bunch of the kids, Cookie Monster kids playing cards, having dinner, and a good time.  They brought him home around 8:45.

This morning we had an unexpected visitor...one of the boats in the anchorage dragged and we caught it just before it hit us. I called on the radio to see if they were awake and suddenly there were four dinghies coming from all over to help out!! What a great place this is! We got a scratch on the bow but that was it. Quentin and Rick fended them off 'til they managed to throw on clothes and get on deck. We would have done a lot more damage to them than they could do to us.

Today we go to town then we will be back for the day...tomorrow Quentin doesn't have any school but I need to go for the GT primary school, if winds are ok and I can cross. ttyl

Feb 16-17 Good morning

Feb 16

School today was the Grade 9's again. Today they were a little more into what we were doing. We did what I call "community art". I tried it because we once did it in a writing class and the results were hilarious and very interesting.  I just adapted the procedure. Everyone had a piece of paper, put their name on the back and drew one line on the front. It got passed to the next person who drew another line. THIS repeated until it had been around the room twice. When everyone got their own back, we all tried to see if there was a picture there.  Ideally each person would have tried to make a picture out of what they saw as the paper moved around, but it didn't quite work out the first time. SO when they got their pictures back, they tried to find a picture and using only the line s on the page, outline a picture. They could add lines but no erasing! On mine I outlined some palm trees and a sailboat. When I showed them that, they all wanted to do it again...and that's the objective!

I found out that the rest of the week is parent teacher interviews and mid-terms, so I don't need to go in there again this week, but I have t go to GT Primary on Friday. We also have to go back over to town Thursday for baseball, but that's ok.

Quentin has found a bunch of 13-16 year-olds here now. They finally started arriving. They use a special channel on the radio to stay in touch and they all pick each other up in their dinghies. We are close to shore so he either gets a ride or kayaks in. SO when schoolwork is done in the am, he's off for the day.

If it's not one thing...last night we all suddenly smelled a plastic burning smell. We checked all of the electrical plugs and wires. Nothing seemed to be wrong and it went away. Awhile later it came back as the fridge cycled up...great!  So I turned it off and left it overnight. Grrrr.

Feb 17

There were dolphins around the boat this morning. I was up at 5:45 again taking morning pictures and was surprised to see the number of people moving around this early. They were fishing

This morning the fridge is not quite defrosted which is good...there is no sloppy mess to clean up. I pulled the ice out and we will disconnect it and check the compressor this morning before we plug it back in. Of course there was no wind last night and it is dead calm this morning so the wind generator will not be putting out any power today. I hope the sky clears or we will be running the engine today as well.  So...on to the chores. Ttyl

Rope burn playing Tarzan

6 am today

dead calm this morning

NO wind no waves...no power!

Dolphin alert at 7 am

More pics from weekend

Here are some pics we didn't post yet

Passengers to Chat n'Chill

Quentin juggling coconuts..ouch!

Towing the kayak - he fell out but I missed the photo op

Kids night on the beach

Newly installed old wind generator

Feb 13-15

Feb 13-15

Tuesday Feb 16 6:30 am

The last three days have been very uninteresting .We came over to Chat n' Chill after we had breakfast at Red Boone. Rick and Quentin wanted a big breakfast but all they had was breakfast burgers and omelettes. He didn't like his ham and cheese and egg burger.  When we finished breakfast Jillian came by and said she was going to look after 3 of Choppy's kids and take them over to the island, so we offered her a ride since we were going anyway. Rick got the dinghy motor back [they put the throttle on backwards when they tuned it up], and then we loaded them onto the boat and headed over.  Rick took them to shore while I did some clean up and then we went over too.

Quentin is hooked into a couple of other boats with kids he can hang out with. These guys are all home schooled 5 days a week and they get a free afternoon every day. He was off with them all day.

On Sunday morning we went over to Jasmine City to visit with Bicher and his crew. They were heading back to Boston. They will be back in a few weeks so we will visit again.

We are registered to enter the big boat race during the Regatta. Rick didn't really want to but we thought it would be a gesture of kindness...if we come in last someone else doesn't have to be.

We went over to see Cordell and find out if his trees had arrived. He is expecting them on Friday so we may go up there on the weekend and help.

Sunday got stormy and yesterday we had really high winds. Unfortunately they are not helping charge up the batteries. We still can't make the batteries take a good charge. So we will get hold of someone else who might have a solution. It's something in the generator that reduces the charge coming through. We walked the outside beach yesterday. The winds were so strong that the sand was stinging the skin.

Today [Tuesday] is baseball practise and school but I think I might back out of baseball.  They have enough women and if can't pitch or catch, I don't want to play any other position.

The weather she has been odd this year. People are cranky because they can't swim of fish or snorkel. I know that sounds insignificant to you guys shovelling snow, but when you come down here to get away from weather, it's no different than getting snowstorm after snowstorm. We all donated stuff to the Red Cross when we got here...most of it heavier clothes for the locals, and now we don't have any!

So, getting ready for school, and a quieter day. Winds are down to 10 knots right now. Ttyl

Wild surf

Dull pictures from salt spray on the camera lens

Feb 11-12

Feb 11-12

Well, the dance was a bit of a disappointment. The guy who organized and dj'd the music must have been a fringe student, or he was a lot younger than he looks! The music was NOT my idea of rock and roll. There were a couple of Beatles songs sung by the newer bands; there were some Don Henley and others I didn't recognize but the songs were not the familiar ones ...they were the flip sides of the 45's or the B side of the albums.  Most of you are too young to know what I mean.  Anyway...no Stones, no ACDC, no Heart....

We didn't wear shoes...beach dance right? No, it was on the deck...pretty hard to dance when there are loose screws and potential slivers. The place was packed but we met up with Jasmine City's crew and Anneteak, and a few others. The juggler was there so Quentin had some fun playing with the light balls. [There's a new Christmas present Mom and Dad...Amazon.com about $30.00]

I missed school today... we were in the midst of installing the wind generator, and on the beach side, so I couldn't get over there, but we went to another lecture on batteries and solar and wind. After the lecture, Rick talked to the electrician who apparently was also a battery salesman. He told Rick basically our batteries were probably due for replacement and next time get Trojans, not the junk we got. He said don't worry about overcharging with the wind because we couldn't make them worse and it might make them better. Nice, 'cause we need to spend another thousand on batteries right now.

Beguiler brought over a step stool so Rick could finish the installation without falling off the boat. We'll take it back today.

Feb 12

Today was a "Fun Day" at the Primary school, so there was no need for me to go there today. The Grade 5 teacher is a retired teacher who came to the Bahamas to teach in the 90's and retired when she hit 65, came back and then retired again after a year and is back. She is 70 this year and really NEEDS to retire. NO patience at all with her students...always yelling and sounds angry all the time. She told me she doesn't make near the salary the other teachers do. I got all this is about 3 minutes, along with complaints about spending all day making popcorn for them, and please feel free to show up whenever I want.

The other two classes at St. A. were fine. They were actually engaged in making Valentine cards, but the simplest ideas had to be explained over and over. Maybe I'm not a good teacher? It was fun and chaotic, but I'm getting used to that.

Last night after supper we went back to the Rake and Scrape.  We weren't that interested in going but  I had made a sing for Choppy [owner of the Red Boone and we are anchored about 30 feet from the bridge so it was either go and listen or from the boat. Anyway we went.  I dragged out my Lakehead University Sweatshirt...not going to be cold.

 

We no sooner walked up the dock to the Red Boone when some accosted us and said "Are you really from Thunder Bay?" It turns out his daughter just graduated from Lakehead University in the engineering program and the law program and now she is working in Sioux Lookout. So he talked to us for awhile. Then TE AMORE talked to us. They are from the same boat yard in Fort Pierce and we met them when we were getting ready to launch. They are friends with MODAKI. They met when Modaki was stored in Nova Scotia.

Now here comes the crazy part: they were sitting with people off the boat ZINGARO, [David and Allison] also from Nova Scotia. Allison was talking to us and mentioned that she lived on the Digby side of NS. Rick said, "Susan's cousin lives in Aylesford on that side." Allison said, "So do I. Who's you cousin?"

She knows Margaret! The world is getting smaller...6 degrees of separation!

We didn't stay long after that and were home before 'midnight'. ttyl

Feb 10 Happy Birthday Little Brother

Feb 10

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK!

This morning we got up and had a great breakfast...bacon, eggs pancakes. Rick had to make it but still...we keep thinking how good a Huddle House breakfast would taste!!!

Quentin took the dinghy into the dock and got water for us. While he was gone Bruce and Gayleen [Pearl] came over for a visit. Bill [Skeeter - Thunder Bay] borrowed our diesel tanks. He couldn't get to the fuel dock because of all the mega ships in there.

After lunch we went over to the Volleyball Beach to listen to a guy talk about the sting rays here and the studies being done through the island and how the rays are indicators of healthy ocean environment where they live.

He talked for an hour then the Volleyball for Beer games started. Quentin was on the winning team so he won a beer.

We met a family on Cookie Monster who have a 11 & 13 year old, and their mom so he went swimming with the after the game. They brought him back to our boat at the same time as we got back.

In the meantime we talked to this scientist until 5:30 pm! He is very interesting! He had three grad students who were his assistants with him; one of them was a graduate student from Guelph University!

Tonight we are going back to the beach for a dance with -- dare I say it -- 60's-70's rock n' roll music! We hope to meet up with Stephane and his girlfriend and Bicher and his wife. We won't be too long because we have baseball in the am and it is too cold...ok, not for you, but down here we are all wearing coats!!!

PS.  The music was awful...ok, not awful but the guy who DJ'd this must have been a fringe or alternative student during high school and college/university because he was playing not quite rock n'roll ...his Beatles music was not originals and any groups that were recognizable were slightly off, like the flip sides of records!

Ttyl J

Add caption

Feb 8-9

Feb 8-9

This morning we met up with Beguiler and walked across Crab Cay. We walked up to the fort and through the ruins. Then we followed one of the roads to an aqueduct channelled through the rock. It is about 25 feet wide and winds about 500 feet into the island...to nowhere! NO idea what is was for. Just down the shore from it is a resort of sorts...big Thailand style building and behind it two huge thatched roof buildings. Didn't see anyone there.

We followed another road to an abandoned cement plant and then down another road passed a lot of pipes and stacks of equipment. There were 3 big cement cisterns that were dated 2007...not installed, just sitting on shore.

There is a lot of wasted construction here on the islands. Crab Cay has a beautiful bridge connecting it with Great Exuma. There is a security guard sitting at the bridge and no-one can pass over it. The island is private. It was sold to a company who said they'd develop it and didn't finish.

We walked for about 3 hours then went back to the boat for lunch. After lunch we started up and left the anchorage to go back to Georgetown. We managed to get anchored around 4:30 so I could catch up with he blog and the email. Quentin took me over to another boat in the dinghy so I could get a big plastic box they were giving away. I will use it for art supplies for the school. After that we went into town to the Rake and Scrape and to get a burger for supper.

Feb 9

This morning Quentin is going to play baseball before school and I have one class. When I come back to the boat we are going to finish the installation of the wind generator. Stephane says once it's working we will stop worrying about finding a quiet spot when the wind blows...we'll WANT the wind to pump up the batteries!! I can't wait to see it working!!

We are still waiting for Modaki, Pearl and C-Soul to get here. Anneteak made it in on the weekend but we keep missing them! Sure wish Windreka and Magic were on their way.  We are planning to head over to Long Island after the regatta with the "flotilla" that usually heads over there for a week to end the regatta. I think it would be good since we've never been. Weather dependent, of course!

ttyl

Feb 8

Feb 8

Today we hiked around Crab Cay with Brenda and Rob from Beguiler. It is an interesting island and they showed us as much as they knew about it. We saw some really cool sites.

Impending storm missed us

Really neat tree bark

Fort back gate

Kitchen?

Staircase to large building

Sat- Sun 5-6

Feb 6

Sitting here in Red Shanks means we have no internet connection which sucks since I can see the tower in Georgetown! But we are just too far away. SO posting will have to wait until we get back to town,

Beguiler is in here and Rob and Brenda came for coffee in the morning. We sat for a couple of hours just talking. Rob was going to fix his lazy jacks so Quentin volunteered to go up the mast. After lunch Rick pulled Quentin over in the kayak and then went around the bay in the dinghy. He cheked out the two wrecks in here...hmmm this is supposed to be a  haven in a storm. Why are there wrecks in here???

I managed to get a bunch of lesson plans done and tried out a couple of ideas to make sure they will work.  Then we had supper when Quentin kayaked back from Beguiler, and went over there after supper to play cards. We played a game called "Sequence" It's a card/board game and all ages can play. Brenda and I won three and then let them win one each. LOL

Feb 7

Today is supposed to be the windy day with 35 knot gusts which is why we are in here.   And because we thought it would be interesting.  But everyone must have been gathered in Georgetown because we heard Elvis, the Harbourmaster trying to get all the boats to move out of the Channel going to Kidd Bay and in front of the Yacht Club.

Today all the bars are opening up with specials too. It's Super Bowl Sunday, and they all are vying for the American football fans so everyone is offering free food and huge TV's to see the game.

But in here we will finish our chores...wiring the wind generator; cleaning up the cockpit and go exploring if we have time. Quentin and I need to get the List ready for the Scavenger Hunt. I'm hoping that Modaki and C-Soul are getting closer. The Regatta will be starting on Feb 26 so the need to be here to get involved.

The wind has swung around to come out of the west sooner than we thought and we are starting to bounce a bit. Last night it was so calm I had to get up to make sure the dinghy was still attached to the boat. I couldn't hear that "sloppy dog licking" sound it makes in the waves. It's bright sunny so we will just need to deal with wind today. I should do a bit of laundry...it will dry quickly!! ttyl 

Feb 4 Happy Birthday Rick

Feb 4

Happy Birthday to my soul mate of 46 years. Crap, are we getting old?

Today I went with Quentin to baseball practise from 9:30 til 11:00 am. Quentin is pretty good: he's got a great arm. Considering that the youngest was Quentin, I would put the average age of the team at 55 years old, and amazingly I was fine! Can't hit a ball to save my life but my pitching was as good as it ever was when we played slow pitch when Liz was 10...oh, yeah, none of you ever played baseball with me except Rick and Ted. Anyway, the "coach" is a tyrant but it's his equipment, so I'll probably be in the outfield. When I asked if he wanted to know what I could do, he said, "Doesn't matter. I and ["joe"] get first choice of positions and then it's first come..." I might even be lucky enough to be a spare. Problem is they need women, and there's only two right now who are showing up.

Class this afternoon was a nightmare...it's me, not the kids. I don't have the control the teachers have and I can't handle the noise level from the younger ones. That's Grade 5-6, so the Grades 4's are even more scary!  But the Primary School only goes to Grade 6 so I don't have much choice there. I think I might have to scale back and just provide lesson plans for the teachers. Tomorrow is all day...

Feb 5

Feb 5

Today was a good day. Quentin went to school and I went to the Primary School. The grade 8 class was working on their math... they are getting ready for Nationals...the entrance exams for high school. So I went and sat in the yard at the picnic table waiting for the next class. The principal came by and said she would talk to Customs to see what needs to be done to get the supplies in without duty or VAT.

I asked Michael's and Curry's to donate old supplies but they declined .Thanks to Sue Allison I was able to contact manager of the Owen Sound Artist's Co-op, who spread the word and Kelly is collecting the supplies for me.  You guys are awesome.  The schools are s excited to be able to get some art supplies.

The whole day was fun, and several teachers [not even of the classes I was teaching] came up and thanked me for volunteering. That makes it worthwhile.

We moved into Redshanks for the next three days. It's at the bottom of Great Exuma and there are only a few boats here. There is supposed to be a big wind over the next three days...or not, but we can sit in here protected from everything. It looks a lot like a Thunder Bay anchorage...no beaches and rocky shores, but we can swim and kayak in here without fear of being run over!

We are still working on getting the wind generator up and running. The batteries are working really well [thank you, Stephane!!]  Once we have the wind turbine working, we will be GREEN!

SO the next couple of days will be maintenance, homework for Quentin and lesson organization for me. The Cruiser's Regatta starts on February 26 and runs until Mar 6 and we [Quentin and I] plan to participate in as much as we can. We are thinking about the big boat races too...someone has to be last, and it will give the other boats a chance to place LOL.

Ttyl J

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Feb 2-3

Feb 2-3

Yesterday I went to school for 10:15 am and had a great class with the Grade 9's. Quentin went to practise for the baseball game before he went to school. We picked up our laundry and brought it back to the boat. He stayed there all day and we picked him up after school. Apparently he did well for the baseball team.  They were practising for Regatta. We have a game against the Bahamians.

Then we moved over to Monument because we were finished on shore. We had rice and peas and sausage fried and made into a pan fry. It had mushrooms, onions and red peppers in it but Quentin ate it anyway.

FEB 3

Today Rick and Quentin went to the beach today to learn ho w to make conch horns. Quentin's works really well and he knows how to blow it.  I left them there and went to Jasmine City to help Stephan alter a motor cover but my stupid sewing machine is broken. For some reason the upper thread is not catching the bobbin thread and knotting it in the fabric. Crap! We spent about an hour trying to get it to work, then we borrowed a Sailrite from another boat and couldn't make that work either!

Rick and Quentin came over to Jasmine City to tell us they had picked up a spinnaker of sorts from Bamboo. That's the boat that was damaged beyond repair in the storm. He only paid $6.00 for it and Stephane said we should take it out and hang it on Jasmine City to see if it would work. But when we opened it up there were a couple of holes in it that would shred if we sailed it so I will repair it when I fix my sewing machine! I have material that will do the job.

We left Quentin on the beach to play volleyball and came back to get the wind generator working. We are tucked against the hill and the water is fairly calm. Stephane is over at the town because he has to go to the airport. Over there the winds are 35 knots, so Rick went over to stay with Jasmine City until he comes back.  Quentin and I stayed here.  I need to get some art ready for tomorrow. ttyl

February 1

February 1

OMG time is going so fast!

We went to the meat market today. Quentin wanted to be able to ride in the back of a pickup truck legally, so he came with me.

When we were done we set out for the ocean side to "empty the head". No more explanation required.

On the way out Quentin was trolling and caught a 20 inch barracuda!  We are going to take it to the baby osprey that was rescued after the mini hurricane knocked its nest over.  That storm that came through here about three weeks ago was given a name so I guess mini-hurricane is an apt description!

While we were out cruising, we heard someone call Water Music...can't be our old boat!! But we'll look for it when we get back to the harbour. I think it was here last year too.

I managed to get some work done yesterday and Rick finished cutting the pole for the wind generator.  We went to the beach and met Betty and Rusty. Betty is the lady we rescued the other day. We had a long talk while Quentin played volleyball and climbed all the trees he could find and was travelling back and forth in the tops! He got to meet Cordell and we are going to arrange for Q to help him pot trees on Thursday.

Of course, now we have other issues. While travelling out and back today we noticed a strong vibration in the motor ... or the propulsion system. I'm not sure what it is 'cuz I'm just a girl, right?

 Rick thinks it's because there is a nick in the propeller. I sure hope so!! We have another prop but we can change out the prop if we can beach the boat. The prop we have has a line cutter on it, which is not critical until we are back in the ICW. Maybe we can just sand out the nick! I'm willing to stand in the water with a piece of sandpaper and do it by hand. I've had lots worse jobs on this boat!!

Anyway, my turn at the helm. We're getting ready to anchor and it's not even dark yet!!!Gotta get that fish to the osprey before it's no good.

OK, so ospreys don't eat fish unless they are already filleted and de-boned and apparently they don't like barracuda. SO Quentin had to throw it away...but someone ate it...nothing gets wasted in the sea,

When we got back to the Georgetown side, Jasmine City was over here too, and Stephane texted us to go for supper. That was great...he had it already made. I had just started cooking the chicken so we took that and dessert.

We didn't come home until after 10:00 so I hope Quentin can get up for school tomorrow LOL! He wants to be there for 9:15. I don't need to be there until 10 and he wants to stay all day. We'll work on the boat while we wait for him.

His first EVER fish!

Squirrel?

early morning traffic running past Jasmine City and Plan B [another Canuck]