Thursday 4/12 Staniel Cay

Th 4/12/12 brief stop at Sampson Cay then on to Big Majors anchorage at Staniel Cay

We left the Compass Cay anchorage this morning, bound for Sampson Cay Marina where we bought gas for the dinghies.  It was flat calm today, barely a breath of wind.  The ocean was like glass, and crystal clear.

 We anchored the boats off Sampson Cay, then hopped in the dinghies to go in for gas.  This was another upscale and uppity marina, probably no boats were less than 60 ft.  It took some time to get waited on at the pump, which did not please the guys.  A lady was cleaning a really nice dolphin fish they had caught, and the nurse sharks and a ray were begging for scraps. We paid for the gas, bought some ice cream bars and sandwiches, and were on our way.

 These are the kinds of boats we’re seeing now- Oh, the money.  This was probably a 100 footer.

…and another.  Look how small the people are in their 'dinghy.'  They just keep getting bigger...

 …and this was at least a 350 footer, private yacht.  We saw the helicopter come in for a landing on their deck.  Ridiculous.  It was at least a 300 million dollar boat, that would cost 20 million a year just to maintain it and pay for the crew.  We saw the nanny off the stern with two little toe-headed kiddos.  Here’s the summer job for Emily!

After we settled in at Big Majors Anchorage, (there must be at least 30 boats here), we took off in the dinks to go find the Thunderball Grotto.  It’s a snorkel spot that was made famous in the James Bond movie ‘Thunderball’ with Sean Connery back in 1964. 

 It is the coolest dive I have ever been on, bar none.  It was way better than the sea caves on Norman Island in the BVI’s.  This was looking up from inside the cavern. 

We took corn to feed the fish….tons of tropicals.  So beautiful.  I could dive this place again and again.  All of our kids would have loved it.

We dinked along the shoreline as we made our way back to the boat.  The beach right next to our anchorage had the wild pigs. Sure enough some of them started swimming out to the boat looking for a handout.  I had some stale chips and some celery that was starting to go bad, so we went back to Marquesa to get the chow. 

Oh, I forgot to mention, in this anchorage, though we have travelled well over 300 miles now, we ended up right ‘next door’ to our neighbors from Banana Bay, Steven and Pam on Tide’s In.  Same neighbors, different hood- small world.

So, back to the pigs...were they ever beggars!

 It got a little dicey when one tried to jump in the dink.  He had his elbows on the tube, and his snout in the chip bag, growling and rooting around.  Scared me!  I jumped up on the seat trying to get away… I had no where to run, no where to hide.  Donnie had is arm around his neck and thumping him on the head trying to get him out.  I'm sure it must have looked hilarious...me screeching and Donnie trying towrestle a pig in a headlock!  He was afraid his feet would punch a hole in  our dink.  We found out later that the clinic in town gets most of their business from pig encounters.

 There were pigs everywhere!

 No more food, time to get out of there, before they eat us, too!
Honey, hurry up and start the motor, they're coming after us!!!

We made a plan to meet up at 6pm, and Matt and Karie picked us up in their dink to go into Staniel Cay.  It’s a very small island, only 14 children attend their school, grades 1-7.  One teacher, and one principal. The people were so friendly, though.  These cottages are for rent if you're interested. :)

As we came to the dock, we had our very own guard shark to watch our dink.  No need to lock it up!  Kind of like having a watch dog, only different.  Nice touch, Staniel Cay!

We were on a quest to find the yellow house, where Rhonda bakes fresh bread every morning. We did find the island’s only church. Services start at 11am.  It looks like we are in for a big blow for several days, so I am hoping we get to stay put for awhile so we can visit this church.

Found it! We met her nieces, Bernadette and Nettie, and they took our order.  They have white, whole wheat, cinnamon raisin and coconut bread.  It will be ready at noon tomorrow!  I have the mango jam all thawed out J

We roamed around the island, found a few places to get internet, and a few ‘grocery stores’ (i.e., shacks) and then we settled on Staniel Cay Yacht Club for dinner.  We didn't have reservations for dinner, but we were able to eat off the lunch menu, which was fabulous.  Donnie had a conch burger, Karie had lobster salad, and Matt and I had the grilled grouper sandwiches.  The conch fritters were delicious, too, so tender.

This place was founded in 1958 by a man names David Hocher who raised his family on the island.  There were neat old photos on the walls from back in the day.  They fed the cast and crew of Thunderball when that movie was made in ’64.  The bar area is covered with burgees…made me wish I had one from Muncie Sailing Club to hang up!  We found one that said McD, and who was the hostess of the restaurant, but Rhonda- the bread lady!  So, we got her in the pic with us J  She rings the dinner bell at sundown, and then you are seated for your meal.  It was a cool tradition…

Every island we travel to is even better than the one we just came from.  I am looking forward to staying put here for a few days to see all there is to see.  The wind is going to continue to build over the weekend, so we are not planning to move anytime soon.  All is well aboard Marquesa.  I have enough food squirreled away to stay out for a month- no worries.  We still plan to be home the first of May, but we will not make a crossing until we have the best weather window.  There’s no reason to take any chances, so we will get ‘in position’ the early in the last week of April, and wait it out.  At least that is the plan for now, but when you are cruising, all plans are written in sand, lol.  I can now say I am loving the cruising life, after the rough adjustment I had in the beginning, and I am amazed that there are hundreds of other boaters out doing the same thing.  You do form your own community out here, as you leave one place, but cross paths again with ‘new friends’ on down the way at the next island or anchorage.  We’re having tons of fun! G’nite y’all.