Still hanging out in Man O War

We hadn't intended to stay so long in Man O War, but it sure is a relaxing place with wonderful people.......natives and cruisers alike.

The daily rain showers that Pam mentioned have finally arrived.  They come in the late afternoon and linger for a hour or two, just enough to wash the dust and salt off the boat.  We sit in the cockpit, protected by the bimini, and read or play cribbage or backgammon.  Yesterday I collected a bin of rainwater and will wash my hair with it this afternoon.  Trying something new!

Big, fat raindrops pummel the surface of the harbor

Water drips from everything

I can't believe it took us this long to pull out and inflate the paddle board, but it sure is fun!  We've paddled all around the harbor quite stealthily......the turtles pop up nearby, see you, and quickly swim to the bottom (~15').

This guy (girl?) is coming up for air

They pop their heads up three times, audibly gulping the air, then head back underwater.  Their breathing sounds a lot like the dolphins coming up for air when they swim with our boat.

This is the turtle that I thought might be albino.  He's not, but he's much paler than the others.

For a couple of days, we had been admiring Chewink, a gorgeous sailboat moored nearby.  A few days ago, the owner of the boat dinghies up to Virginia Dare, introduces himself, and says, "My wife just read on Pam Wall's blog that you procured some homemade bread in town.  I've come to see if we can do the same."  Small world.  How quickly news travels through the internet!

A few days earlier, David had written to Pam telling her how much we are enjoying the Abacos, but especially Man O War where she spent so much time.  She asked if she could publish his letter in her blog :)  After confessing he hadn't proofread it with a fine-toothed comb, he said sure.  We gave Cabot the details....and hopefully they enjoyed some bread -- and possibly cinnamon rolls!

Beautiful Chewink

These were still warm when we picked them up

Nothing puts a smile on your face like a fresh loaf of bread with your name on it!

Have to share the "good, bad, and ugly" stories on this blog.  However, there have been very few "bad" or "ugly" moments since we set sail.

David and I were invited to go snorkeling with some folks last week.  Luckily, I had been charging the underwater camera and it was ready to go when we hopped in our dinghy and followed them to Sandy Cay.  What I didn't realize in my haste to pack my bag: I didn't double lock the hatch to secure the camera's "waterproof-ness."  <big sigh>   Waterproof camera no more :(

Salt water and bubbles inside the camera.  Won't get to replace it until we get back to the U.S. in May :(

That was several days ago and it still bums me out that I didn't double check the locks.  Lesson learned the hard way....

Well, we'd been hankering for pizza for quite awhile.  Our old routine at home was to make pizzas on Friday night after work and start each weekend in the kitchen with cold beer and hot pizza pies.  That all changed when The Filling Station opened.......it became our home away from home......wood-fired pizzas, excellent beers (especially our favorite IPAs), and the best salads in town....we dined there more than once a week!  (You can be sure, it'll be the first place we stop when we get to town next month!)

I digress.  Two nights ago, we decided it was time to try making pizza.  This involves using available ingredients and limited tools/utensils/galley gadgets.  Here is our final product.  Except for forgetting to add salt to the dough <she hits forehead with palm, again>, the mushroom, onion, and grilled Italian sausage pizza turned out pretty well on the grill, turned griddle, turned pizza "oven."  It wasn't a thing of beauty, but it was tasty and satisfied our craving.

First pie on board Virginia Dare, April 19th