Day 2

Wednesday
The Bight

What a mess!! We had luggage and "stores" and all kinds of things yet to find a cubby hole...

And we have two Walters on board... So Walt Croll became "Big Walt" and Walt Molden was everything else... Walt, Walter!, Little Walt, P.M. (his middle and last initials), and a few others the guys called him that I can't repeat here.  Please refer to the new "hand signals" pictures learned from our Conch Charter host, Miles...

There were more hand signals created as the trip went along but my camera lens wasn't wide enough to shoot them!

It's 7:28 am and the Politics have begun!  We will be evenly split when the Brubakers come... But for now, it was fun harassing Walter. Especially after we found the 8x10 picture of G. W. Bush he planted in our cabin just before bedtime.  Big Walt threatened to throw it overboard but Lewi said, "It's against the law to pitch trash over the side!"  And so it began...

We had a breakfast of bugs... seems the cereal the guys bought at the "superette" wanted to fly or crawl away when poured into the bowls. Walt said, "More protein - Eat it!" But the girls preferred a no-carb breakfast and we saved the cereal for the fishes at The Caves we planned to snorkel.

We waited for Miles to come "do the paperwork" and give us last minute instructions about the boat systems and then the girls got their grocery list together and caught a taxi into town to provision.  

 
(Everything in order there, Pam?)    

Taxi's are never air-conditioned on the island... unless you have a window down.  And it was obvious we were in the summer season.  But the store was cool and we were able to get everything on our list and then some.  We'd also brought meat from the States in a styro-foam container so we could save a few pennies in the carnivore department.  Getting the groceries was the easy part... hauling them all down below and getting them stowed away was another story!

   
(Peach was a big help organizing food in the frig...)

By noon we were slipping away from the dock and Big Walt was slurpin a Sharp's.

At 1:00, we were moored at The Bight on Norman's island.  Pam and Carol made sandwiches, Lewi and I hit the water, Big Walt watched everyone, then we ate and the girls and I went snorkeling the shore. 

Every anchorage we stayed in now have mooring balls that cost about $25.00 per night.  A boat boy would usually come over late in the evenings or first thing in the morning to collect.  The receipts had a number of anchorages listed and the proper one was checked off and signed by us before getting a copy. It's an industry now.  Before, all the moorings were privately owned.  Now, they're all public (for the most part) and certain people are designated per island to collect for the usage.  It seemed expensive to me but it sure cuts down on "drag" worries and that's a pretty big relief.  It also saves the coral.

(Hanging on the Mooring Ball)

The girls and I swam to shallow waters and found a sort of "mushy looking" reef and life.  Mushy with lots of grasses and particles in the water. Not pretty coral, but lively with fish and creatures.  We saw lots of Parrot fish, Boxers, Blue Tangs, purple fan coral, and even a small conch that something else inhabited.  

When we got back on the boat, everyone showered off the salt water.  
Showering on a boat is generally done on the stern.  
The heads are pretty small so it's just easier to do it outside.  
And after the first day, most clothing , bathing and personal habits begin to adhere to "Sea Rules"... 

You see something you don't like?  Don't look!

The mesh bag is tied to the stern ladder so it can't "escape" but is always handy for showering. 
Inside is shampoo and body wash which we can flip open without taking it out of the bag.
We usually soap up while we're still in the water, rinse off real good, 
then climb onto the stern of the boat and rinse off again with the fresh water hose.

   

Some of us reallllly enjoyed the show...depending on who was showering and who was watching!

(Occasionally, Sea Rules didn't apply.)

We also kept our handy dandy razors available...
 

 Next?

This is where Pam made me stop taking pictures...

After bathing, Walt made his first batch of Painkillers. 
Undoubtedly the best drink in the world... but only if Walt makes them!  

Click here for Walt's infamous Painkiller recipe!

We're expecting a Tropical Depression to whiz by tonight with winds up to 45 knots.  Conch Charters told us to take the Bimini down but the rain and wind came up before we could do it. The blow only lasted about 10 minutes so it was no big deal.  Just now, Pammy said, "It's too cold to stay outside!" and she went down below.
 That girl can get Goosebumps in 90 degree weather!

The boat boy came by to collect money for our mooring... $20.00 at that particular harbour.

Walter made delicious Painkillers and... we're feeling no pain!  
I made Taco Soup (before I started the Painkillers) and dinner is ready.  
We're all in our bathing suits.  That's what we'll be living in mostly for the next two weeks.

Next Day