Samson Cay has a nice marina with a decent bar, restaurant and laundry. Although we anchored outside our patronage was welcomed just as if we stayed in the marina. From our anchorage we had easy access to Pipe Creek to the north and Staniel Cay to the south. We dinghied several times to Staniel Cay to refill our propane tanks once, enjoy lunch and visit the swimming pigs at Big Major Spot (another cay). One day while Ed and Ken went after elusive prey (which they did not find), Ann and Belinda went snorkeling on their own to Thunderball cave where one of the final scenes of Thunderball, the James Bond movie, was filmed. It is very scenic and filled with fish.
At Samson Cay we ran into our first non-sailing sailboaters/cruisers. They have been on their boat for years always motoring or sometimes motorsailing with the mainsail only for stabalization. They do not go out in waves over 2 feet which means winds under about 12 knots. I am sure their are more boaters like them. We often hear questions on our radio when we listed to the subscribers question Chris Parker, the weather guru.
We left Samson Cay for Blackpoint on a close reach with light winds. We did not care, it was only about 10 miles so we were in no hurry. At BP we ate dinner at Lorraines cafe and then visited the Garden of Eden the next day. It is a rock and wood garden with pieces that you resemble human and animal shapes. They also have many fruit trees that grow out of small holes in the rock. He and his wife have carefully nurtured them. We cruisers visit and give them a small tip.
Our next stop was Galliot Cay prior to exiting the Exuma Banks for Exuma Sound. Ed speared his first lobster of the year, woohoo! Fishing was disappointing on the way to Lee Stocking Island. It is a nice anchorage with good protection. We stayed for 2 nights enjoying a tour of the marine research facility and hike to the highest hill in the Exumas (137 feet). We learned about corals, lobsters and grouper. Unfortunately, the facility is underfunded currently, both private and US federal dollars are going elsewhere.
Our next stop was Georgetown, site of the Cruisers' Regatta held on Stocking Island directly across for GT. We attended Chris Parker's weather presentation on Saturday, shopped on Sunday and attended the opening of the regatta which featured the "No Talent Show" plus dancing. The show was humorous and well done but a cold front came in so they delayed the Tuesday and Wednesday events.
We are not the type to stay in GT all winter so we left as soon as the weather calmed down. Meanwhile we enjoyed a rocky anchorage not wanting to venture out in the dinghy to get wet. Cabin fever set in so we put on our rain gear and went to Stocking Island where we ate lunch and hiked with friends we had not seen in a year. That was a great tonic and use of our foulies! Next stop: Thompson Bay, Long Island
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