Wind, Water, and Waves

The Bahamas experienced strong winds and some heavy rains this week, just for a day or two. Our friends in Georgetown, in the Exumas, had a much rougher go of it (gusts over 50 knots with a reported 100+ knots by Chris Parker in Spanish Wells) than we did in protected Hope Town. We are just glad to hear that our boat buddies are all ok and survived the ordeal, and with humor.

It was “blowing a houlie” here as our Brit sailing friend, Sue, on san cles says (I love that phrase although I have no idea what a “houlie” is) We saw constant mid 20s with gusts in the 30s, in the protected harbor. There was a moored boat here in the harbor that dragged and hit two other boats, so we heard.

The rains, they came a pourin’ down. Al had removed the sunshade (aka water collection tarp) because of those high winds, but then decided to put it back up. Free water, you know? Our tanks were half full after 5 weeks in the Bahamas so we still had about 125 gallons left.

Putting that tarp back up again, even though it is already raining. Determined guy.

filling water tanks — Setting the system back up again. Dan loaned Al another hose to improve the collection system. Throughout the day of rain, Al would change into his wet nylon shorts, run outside, check everything, also pour buckets of collected water into the tanks, and then return and change back into dry shorts. Result = another 70-75 gallons added to the tanks.

We were stuck on our boats for two days, unless you had a desperate reason to go to shore (like a dog to walk) or couldn’t take any more “together time” in small quarters. We did fine, but by evening, we braved the elements just for a change in companionship. One night we went to Cutting Class for dinner, and on the second evening, Sam and Kayda joined us for my leftover “deconstructed lasagna.” Good friends don’t mind leftovers. 😉

My "deconstructed lasagna" = ziti instead of flat lasagna noodles, turkey, veggies with all of the cheeses dumped in and stirred lightly. Bake in oven. That only works on a cooler day on a boat. Sam and Kayda brave the elements to join us for dinner. — My “deconstructed lasagna” = rotini instead of flat lasagna noodles, turkey, veggies with all of the cheeses dumped in and stirred lightly. Baked in oven. That only works on a cool day on a boat.
Sam and Kayda brave the elements to join us for dinner.

The next morning was a different and much improved weather story – sunny and no humidity. A great day for a bike ride – get some exercise and take a look at the ocean side of things. We biked south to Abaco Inn and Sea Spray Marina. I took many photos of the ocean waves from there, which were big and rough. No boats would be going through any cuts today. The Whale, Man O War, Tiloo, North Cut were all declared to be unsafe for passage by the Cruisers’ Net. Somehow the photos don’t show the power and majesty of the ocean’s waves. And the sound!

View from the road's edge near Abaco Inn. The block are cut from coral. — View from the road’s edge near Abaco Inn. The blocks are cut from coral.

You can see how the winds are blowing the the top of the waves off.

My favorite photos are closer looks at the “curls”. These pics are zoomed in.

It's easy to forget how powerful Mother Nature can be. Very glad that we weren't out in any of it. — It’s easy to forget how powerful Mother Nature can be. Very glad that we weren’t out in any of it.

Al walked down to the sand to get a closer look and found this little plastic boat washed ashore. He tried to send it back into the ocean water. Wonder how it fared?

The Abaco Inn, where we had our Christmas dinner.

This little curly tail lizard stops on a doorsill. Biggest one I have ever seen, and chubbiest. He must get some good meals hanging around here. — This little curly tail lizard stopped on a door sill. Biggest curlytail I have ever seen, and the chubbiest. He must get some good meals hanging around here.

On the way past Sea Spray - ~A dock that extends out to White Sound ~ a line of conch shells decorate the edge of Sea Spray ~ this sailor culture sits up on a deck of house and overlooks the Atlantic Ocean — On the way past Sea Spray –
~A dock that extends out to White Sound.
~ A line of conch shells decorate the edge of Sea Spray.
~ This sailor sculpture sits on the deck of a house and overlooks the Atlantic Ocean.

Al take this own look out over the Atlantic Ocean. — Al takes this own look out over the Atlantic Ocean.

Biking along on a road cut out of the rock.

We never made it to PapaNasty’s barbecue on our first trip. When we heard he was closing up and returning to the states in January, a group of us made a trip out to it before Christmas. Yum. Yum. While we were biking down that way, why not stop one more time for another barbecue?

Anthony Baker

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