Just a Nice Day

We get one nice day per week now, an improvement from the no nice days, week after week. “Nice” is defined as no rain, low winds. We’re not asking much, are we? We packed lunches and took off in our dinghies for Tahiti Beach, with Cutting Class. Tahiti is the go-to place when you only have a day.

The water was incredibly clear that morning, but the dinghy was speeding through the water and my slow eyes just couldn’t see everything. I imagined how nice a glass-bottomed kayak would be.

It was dead low tide at Tahiti with a nice crescent beach to wander. At higher tides we snorkel in the shallow water to find sea glass and treasures, but this day was a good opportunity to photograph the ripples in the sand.

Footprints and ripples in the sand at a very low tide on this slightly cloudy morning.
Footprints and ripples in the sand at a very low tide on this slightly cloudy morning.
And an even closer look. I think they are very cool.
A closer look at the ripples. I think they are very cool.
Three little hermit crabs
Three little hermit crabs
Two old conch shells washed ashore. They have been around for awhile.
Two old conch shells washed ashore. They have been around for awhile.
I was off wading in the water on the opposite side of the beach when I spied a dark shape swimming near. As luck would have it, I did not have my camera in hand. Dashed back to the beach blanket to grab the camera and back out to the ray. He was farther away and the photo isn't very clear. Have to take my word for it - it was a big sting ray.
I was off wading in the water on the opposite side of the beach when I spied a dark shape swimming near. As luck would have it, I did not have my camera in hand. Dashed back to the beach blanket to grab the camera and back out to the ray. He was farther away and the photo isn’t very clear. Have to take my word for it – it was a big sting ray.
Not a great day of beach combing, but not awful either. Gathered some nice sunrise tellurian shells (the pink and yellow stripings.)
Not a great day of beach combing, but not awful either. Gathered some nice sunrise tellin shells (the pink and yellow stripping) and two clean and complete crab shells.
Hanging out with our Bahama/Connecticut buddies, Marcia and Dan.
Hanging out with our Bahama/Connecticut buddies, Marcia and Dan.
Elbow Cay Lighthouse, standing tall to let us know we are almost "home."
Elbow Cay Lighthouse, standing tall to let us know we are almost “home.”

Magnolia, our Morgan buddy boat, was returning to Hope Town that day after wandering around the Exumas for the past ten weeks.

Happy hour on the flybridge, something we have not been able to do very often.
Happy hour on the flybridge, something we have not been able to do very often.
I made my "deconstructed lasagna" for a welcome back dinner. Dan refers to it as "self-destructing lasagna" which must mean he plays a key role in destructing the meal. ;-)
I made my “deconstructed lasagna” for a welcome back dinner. Dan refers to it as “self-destructing lasagna” which must mean he plays a key role in destructing the meal. 😉
Allow-calorie dinner, complete with an ice cream ending. How else would you celebrate friendship?
A low-calorie dinner, complete with an ice cream ending. How else would you celebrate friendship?

Hope Town harbor has been incredibly crowded this winter with open mooring balls in very short supply. I’m not sure if it is because there are more cruising boats and definitely more charter boats around than two years ago or because the boats are moving about as much because the weather has been so poor. We knew we were going to base ourselves here so we take our mooring for a month at a time, adding a “reserve” buoy to it when we do leave for a few days. Sometimes we worry that even the reserve sign won’t prevent someone from taking the mooring. There was no open mooring for Magnolia when she arrived, so Anthony and Annette anchored outside Elbow Cay. That’s fine for a calm night, but the winds were predicted to pick up once again. Early the next morning, Al spotted an open green mooring and quickly made arrangements with Truman, the owner.

Magnolia entering the crowded harbor. Al handing off the mooring lines to Anthony. We all feel better knowing they are safely secured and can rest after their salty travels.
Right – Magnolia entering the crowded harbor.
Left – Al handing off the mooring lines to Anthony.                                                                                   We all feel better knowing they are safely secured and can rest after their salty travels.

This was simply a really nice day, nothing extraordinary, as far as new experiences or places, except that good friends are extraordinary gifts wherever you are. Nice = extraordinary.

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