Exploring Manjack

Yesterday, we dinghied and snorkeled around our anchorage to see what was underwater.

Leaning over the dinghy and looking underwater using the look bucket that David made

Zooming in on a sea star using the look bucket

Sea star taken from the underwater camera (on the correct setting)

Another from the underwater camera

The sea biscuit that David found under our boat.  The pattern beyond the "star" reminds us of Petoskey stones in Michigan.

Last night's sunset and moonrise were accented by pretty clouds.

Sunset from our anchorage at Manjack Cay....

...counterbalanced by the moonrise to the east.

This morning, we ventured to the northern cove.  I was kicking myself that we hadn't brought the paddleboard up there.  Conditions were perfect.  And lord knows I need practice on that thing!

Northern cove at Manjack Cay, a peaceful spot 

A small conch that we put back in the water.  See his little black eyes peering out of the bottom?

Abandoned house for sale just off the beach

Each beach seems to have a trash pile of things found on the beach.  Since there are no trash receptacles, a heap is made and left higher than high tide.  There's sort of an unwritten rule that if you find trash washed up on the beach, you place it there.

There were thousands of tiny minnow-like fish swimming with us.  We also saw a nurse shark, so I stayed very close to shore.

Leaving the cove this afternoon

We're back on Virginia Dare, watching the weather and making a plan for the next few days when the winds pick up.  These last few days at anchor have been picture perfect....daytime high of 79, nighttime low of 71 with light and variable winds.....perfect for exploring the sea life.

Here fishy, fishy, fishy.......

This morning, we were set to traverse The Whale.....going out in the Atlantic to get to Treasure Cay and points south.......Scott flies into Treasure Cay next week (YAY!!!) and we are watching the weather and planning accordingly.  However, we finally figured out WHERE the Treasure Cay airport is......and it's very near where we've been hanging out....no need to tackle The Whale yet.  SO, three short hours out of Spanish Cay this morning, we changed plans and dropped anchor at Manjack Cay (aka Nunjack Cay).

We finally unloaded the dinghy from foredeck of Virginia Dare and zoomed off to find a reef, a beach, or some of each.  This little beach is facing the Sea of Abaco.

We went around to the Atlantic side of Manjack and found a perfect spot to snorkel and walk the beach. We love the new dinghy!

The water is about 75*F

This is for Raisa and Karen.......still hanging on to my last bottle of OPI Russian Navy :)  Miss you, girls!

The underwater camera wasn't on the correct setting today -- duh -- will do better the next time.  Mr. Barracuda.....not afraid to hold his ground!

There were lots of these hanging around us......they probably thought being near us would keep the barracuda from eating them.........maybe.

Beach walking

Nearing the end of Manjack and heading back to "our" beach

This evening's sunset from Virginia Dare.  There were three people aboard this boat from Leland, Michigan!  How crazy is that???

Man and his grill :)

Live and learn...

Beautiful day for a bike ride around Spanish Cay!  However, little did we know there was fresh tar on the road under the sand :(  :(

Empty beaches everywhere (lots of fishing line tangled in the roots of that tree)

The runway, in case you'd rather fly in

This house is perfectly perched 50 yards from the Atlantic Ocean (right) and 50 yards to the Little Bahama Bank (left)

Golf carts, tractors, pedestrians, and bikes....nice

Wrecker's Bar is not open......no drinks on the beach today

I think we'll go back to this beach

David's rear tire caked with tar and sand :(

The painstaking task of getting it out of our treads (THANK YOU, Sweetie!)

WD-40 + Goo Gone = the right combination

West End > Great Sale Cay > Spanish Cay

Monday morning dawned peacefully so we headed out of West End around sunrise, shot north toward Memory Rock where we headed east into the relatively shallow Little Bahama Bank.  The crystal clear water was between 15-20’ deep across the Bank.  Since there was no wind (again), I spent a fair amount of time standing at the bow looking for wildlife :)  Dolphins, turtles, a young hammerhead shark (4-5’), and hundreds of sea stars were spotted – and I didn’t get a picture of the shark.  By the time I saw him on our port bow, he moved swiftly toward the stern and disappeared.  You’ll just have to take my word for it!

Sunrise at Old Bahama Bay, West End

There are literally thousands of sea stars under us

I don't know what these round things are, but they move and make tracks

Took this photo from the bow of the boat through 18' of water

Love when dolphins join us!

:)

Watching the world go by

We arrived at a nice anchorage in Northwest Harbor on Great Sale Cay around 4:30.  By dusk, there were ~25 boats at anchor.  Sunset was beautiful and David grilled chicken and vegetables before it got dark.  Tio Roberto’s homemade BBQ sauce was delicious……we’ll ration it out to make it last!

Great Sale in sight

Great Sale (uninhabited) and pretty clouds to the east

Tio Roberto's BBQ sauce

Sunset from Great Sale

The sunset gave way to the moon and a star-filled sky

Most people were heading east the following morning, only about three of us were heading west.  We raised the sails early and enjoyed the quietude of the wind and water, but by mid morning the engine was back on and pushing us toward Spanish Cay.  Since winds were predicted to blow from the W-SW last night, we decided to get a slip in a marina since there were no protected anchorages nearby.  And, having seen a sailboat ON THE ROCKS, we will always err on the safe side where the weather is concerned!

Sunrise from Great Sale

Sails up, engine off!

Flying our Spartan pride!!

Making lunch....my view from the galley :)

A propos of nothing, I think Bahamian dimes are very pretty

~40' sailboat on the rocks, a sad, sad sight

Safely docked at Spanish Cay