March 18th to April 10th

We took this picture from Big Darby Island on the veranda of an old abandoned house that has since been purchased with the island for $38M.

We met up with our friends from Never Bored at the Darby Islands on the 19th and have been sailing with them ever since. That day "Run Aground Annie" got her nickname after we got stuck in the approach to an anchorage at low tide. We waited two hours for the tide to come up, pulled off with an anchor, got stuck again, and again before getting free and into the anchorage. She lost confidence for a few days but is learning to read the water much better and has her confidence back.

We enjoyed the Darbys, spending time with boaters from two other boats and snorkeling nearly every day, appetizers and cocktails at night. One night we all played instruments and made some real noise. Bob and Carol from Time Enough II played violin, guitar and flute, Ann played keyboards and I played guitar (as quietly as possible).

We then went on to Georgetown for four days of fun on the beaches. Also, I began varnishing the cockpit rails, a job that completed a week later but only because I am low on varnish. We then started north going to little places like Rollville, Barataria, Square Rock and Lee Stocking Island where we climbed Perry Peak, at 137 feet the highest in the Exumas. This picture is of Stocking Island from the stone navigation marker high on the hill looking towards Elizabeth Harbor.

We have yet to catch fish but not for lack of effort. One day, rather than heading along the inside we went out to the sound for the deep water fishing. The wind was light with 5 foot seas plus we went out through Rudder Cut which had large standing waves. All to no avail, the wind was crappy, waves large and we caught only one tiny barracuda. Oh, well we will have another chance Monday when we head to Eleuthera.

We've been at Big Majors Spot feeding the feral pigs, going to Staniel Cay and meeting with other boaters. Today we went three miles to Sampson Cay to get diesel, top off the water tank, do internet and wash clothes. Monday we start north. Tomorrow we will head back to Big Major Spot and join back up with our traveling companions on Never Bored.

Of course we've also been snorkeling at Thunderball Cave, so named because of it was featured in the James Bond movie "Thunderball". It is protected from fishing so the fish are plentiful and tame.

Next stop: Eleuthera