Rounding up things at Salt Pond

Sat June 29-Mon Jul 1





Saturday morning rumbled with thunder, ominous storm clouds, and changing winds. In the course of the day, the MERCY walked around on her anchor as the wind blew from every direction. Winds were out of the west long enough for the bay to get rough, and items not secured got thrown around. One item that was secured broke loose and was destroyed. I cried over the television. Rudy, the straps broke loose. I was having such fun watching GoPro videos on the tv. I stayed in a foul mood for the day.





The Good Samaritan who was flying in with the pump delayed his flight until Monday, and the afternoon plane he would have arrived on never came in anyhow.





A bunch of bad weather, high winds, rain all around, and less than a gallon total to the boat.





Sunday was a better day, with a good service at church. I was delighted to see the boys from Friday there, along with that many more young men that age sitting together in church. I got a lot of shy smiles.





Sunday afternoon I met some nice folks at the boat ramp. I went back over to the government dock to walk up and check email, and said hello to lots of people I've met during my stay. I'm starting to feel like a resident here.





Monday morning I got a text that the Good Samaritan was finally flying in, and I spent the day doing miscellaneous chores around the boat. I'm going to run in now, and post the blog, and hopefully get my pump.





Since I have lost my window of opportunity to go to Conception in the ten days waiting on the pump (the winds are high now) I plan to head to Georgetown in the morning. I may not have much opportunity to post the blog the next few days.

More explorations to the south

Wednesday, June 26


Today is my mom's 80th birthday! Happy Birthday Mom!





This morning I went in to the government dock for a few minutes to walk up to where I could get a wi-fi signal to check email. Then I went over to Long Island Petroleum to gas up the Whaler.





An hour before the expected high tide at the Creek, we ran back down there. I was disappointed to find NO access from the south deep enough for the MERCY, due to the sand shoals. I explored the area from west to east this time, and followed a narrow dug canal around. I wonder if these canals were dug for the old salt pond operations? I followed one that parallels the Creek, which is a natural channel, that curves around to parallel the west side of the bay N23 10.6' W 075 09.6' I'm going to try to find some history on these, and if I do, will reference a later post here.





The mailboat came in this evening, as it does here each Wednesday, and stays until Thursday morning. When I went to church tonight, I tied up at a parishioner's dock for the service time, leaving the Whaler a little further away from the mailboat activity.





My insulin pump has been delivered to my Good Samaritan in the States, who is flying home to Long Island tomorrow.

Still anchored in Thompson Bay

Tuesday, June 25





Today I did a few maintenance chores, and installed a couple of new LED dome lights that I've had sitting on the boat now for several months, waiting for a weather day to install them. I'm not sure why I haven't done that before today, but that project is now off my list.





I took advantage of wi-fi up at the tourism office, and caught up on some needed correspondence.





Salt Pond is a great little community. The people here are friendly. There is a great church, two grocery stores, a marine supply, the fuel dock with diesel, gas, and water, a local car rental, a Batelco tower, and a nice anchorage. I understand there are daily flights into Stella Maris, and Deadman's Cay.

Another trip in Salt Pond Cave

Monday, June 24





This morning, I loaded my back pack with lights and camera, and made one more, more thorough investigation of the Salt Pond Cave. I spent over an hour, working my way to the very back of the cave, to a room where they say an "altar" is carved. Hmmmm. OK, some people think that. I wondered if it was an area dug in to set containers for water catchment.





Whatever that area is, it is interesting. But the cave is lovely to explore. It is fascinating to look at the areas eroded by water passage at some time in the distant past, and see the cave decorations primarily away from the center chamber.





The bats were squeaking and flying this morning in abundance. I randomly shot photos, but don't couldn't capture the four or five bats I saw almost constantly flying in my visual path directly in front of me in the side tunnel cavern that connects to the sink over by the yellow house.





There are banana trees growing in the sink. There are lots of small land crabs, and some humongous spiders.





After my hour plus expedition, I returned to where the MERCY was anchored, and anchored the Whaler. I pulled myself over to the MERCY with a line I'd attached, and then left the Whaler on the hook while I took the Nordic tug to the fuel dock at Long Island Petroleum.





After I fueled, I returned and dropped the anchor on the MERCY, and my calculations worked well. I managed to grab the Whaler's anchor line with a boat hook, and retrieved the skiff without having to swim for it!





I ran the Whaler in for gas, and was told that the gasoline tank was empty. (I guess I'd asked the wrong person 30 minutes earlier.) The Ocean Energy, a fuel tanker who traverses all these islands was on his way in, and I drifted and watched the operation for awhile.





The tanker came in pretty close, dropped a man in an outboard, turned stern to the dock, dropped her bow anchor, and then the man in the skiff ran a mooring line ashore.





This afternoon I found out the insulin pump had never been delivered. UPS had some kind of problem. The internet in town seemed to be down, and I couldn't get a call out to the insulin pump company. I let that eat on me all evening, but late last night got a text from my Good Samaritan saying he had resolved issues and it should be delivered tomorrow. That is an answer to prayer!

At home in Salt Pond

Sunday, June 23

This morning I ran over to Long Island Petroleum and tied the Whaler up while I went to the Assembly of God church, just up the road to the north. This morning they began their worship service with songs I knew! Later, they sang a few more songs I didn't know, but am learning.

After church, the pastor's family invited me to their home to join them for lunch, as well as another visitor there. It was nice eating great food in a family atmosphere. I checked my email, and posted last week's blogs, though I haven't had a chance to put up any photos yet.

The pastor gave me a ride to where I'd left the boat, before dropping Victor off where he was staying.I spent some of the afternoon rearranging stores. I pulled some miscellaneous supplies from the harder to get to storage places and reloaded my front, easy accessible locker.

In the evening, I ran Mercy dog over to the boat ramp, located towards the southern end of Thompson Bay, to let her walk around a little.

Then I pulled up almost in front of the government dock, able almost momentarily to hook into an open Wi-Fi signal, sending an email.  (I hope!)

 

 

Blue holes by Whaler

Friday, June 22


Today is the summer solstice, and I am almost on top of the Tropic of Cancer. That means that today, around noon, the sun will be directly overhead. It really makes for interesting shadows!





I put the dive compressor back on the roof, since I put it on deck when expecting rough seas, like to/from Rum, and it is sort of in the way on the deck. I drained the gas out of the carburetor, and replaced the air filter in the dive compressor before topping off my SCUBA tanks.





While I was on the roof, I noticed how much dirt the solar panels had picked up overnight, from the wind blowing off the island. I'd cleaned the panels off yesterday afternoon, since an unsalted, clean panel is a happy panel. Hmmm. Guess I'll soap the boat when it rains...





Realizing that squalls were forecast for the afternoon, I took the Whaler to the south, exploring. I let Mercy-dog out at the boat ramp to walk around for a few minutes, and then we continued our journey south. I checked out one cave that didn't go very far, and meandered in a few of the coves, looking for a good anchorage for a northwest wind, in case I'm here this winter.





I found this beautiful blue hole, and I hope this photo captures my dilemma. A gorgeous sunny day, a beautiful blue hole, and a coming wall of rain. BTW, I'll give you this one, N23 15.890' W075 07.060 I looked at it from the boat on the bottom machine, but decided I'd have to snorkel it another day.





I made it back to the MERCY in time to get the Whaler tied up before it started to rain. Rain is always an event! I scurried around closing hatches, put on a swim suit, and began washing the boat down. I recirculated about 20 gallons of water until the boat was pretty clean, but there was still a little soap residue when the sun popped back out.





The solar panels kicked out about 30 amps/hr for two hours, and then it began to rain again. It was funny watching it charge at a high rate, right up until the rain hit. I recirculated about 10 gallons of water rinsing the rest of the soap residue away, and then was ready to catch water to top off the tanks. After this rinse bout, the skies remained cloudy, and the solar panels took the rest of the day off. This could become a run the generator, watch a movie night.





I added about 20 of the 25 gallons I was down to the fresh water tank, after saving out the first 10 gallons to wash the dog tomorrow....

Cape Santa Maria, Calabash Bay to Thompson Bay

Thursday June 21


This morning Mercy-dog and I went in for a quick beach romp, and to thank Don for his help, and fill him in on the latest pump shipment. Then we ventured to the north to see if we could get to the high bluffs and likely looking caves inside the next cove to the north. The sand beach closest to the bluff is rocky and shallow out from shore, so we anchored at the sandy beach further south, and began looking for a trail. We hiked along the beach and rocks until we gave up on the idea of there being any path in that direction. The tropical vegetation was too thick to traipse thru without a machete, and it was too far to cut a path anyhow. That, and I'd left the machete on the MERCY.





It was interesting looking at the tidal pools behind the rocks, and the various pieces of rocks and coral thrown asunder by northwesterly waves. I found one interesting rock I wanted to save, and can't believe I lugged it all the way back to the Whaler from the further point away that we went. Mercy didn't mind me decorating her litter box bathroom.





In the afternoon, we headed south for Thompson Bay, and Salt Pond. I cruised a meandering route, going a little closer to the coast that I had on the way up, looking through binoculars for likely looking caves.





I saw a small boat anchored alongside a small rock island, and was surprised anyone was out diving in the 20 kt wind. After I was alongside them, still a half mile away, I saw two guys get into the boat. I watched them for a little bit, and realized they couldn't get their outboard started, and then they were paddling like crazy, trying to make the point before blowing past it. I circled the MERCY around and headed towards them, and they stopped paddling and dropped anchor when they realized I was coming to them. I anchored the MERCY and took the Whaler in to take them under tow, a much appreciated gesture! One of the two young men rode on the boat with me, so he could direct me where to go. Kevin Miller, of Millers (the community) has lived there all his life. He pointed a cave out to me (without me even mentioning caves!) and told me a good spot to get conchs.





I continued on to Thompson Bay, and anchored where I had spent the time at the regatta. There aren't many places I can attend church, and look out the window and see my boat at anchor!





The NEXT GIG was anchored a little further north in the bay, a couple on a power boat who had been anchored in a couple of places around Eleuthera where I was last year. I went over and we visited for awhile off the stern.





The wind has died a little this evening, but this is such a nice anchorage, I'm protected from the prevailing wind direction.

Cave at Salt Pond, to Calabash Bay

Monday 10 June





This morning I was determined to find a cave that Pastor Jimmy had told me about. I climbed around through a lot of brambles, looking for the cave. I found a couple of caves, but none like he described.





When I met with the pastor later than morning I got clearer directions from him after I told him where I'd looked.













I moved the MERCY to the fuel dock, and topped off the diesel tanks, as well as the gas tank on the Whaler. I contemplated filling the water tank. OK, actually, I had planned to fill it ahead of time, but sort of forgot. I think it will rain before I need water.





I anchored the MERCY away from the fuel dock, and made one last, valiant attempt to find the cave, and boy am I glad I did!











The cave is spectacular! The cavern section has a ceiling 15' high, and is 100' wide in some places. Pastor Jimmy had drawn me a diagram of which turn to take, and all I can say is "Wow!" There were stalagmites, stalactites, and columns. Further back than I went, he said there is a stone they call the Altar, but, one of my lights was dimming, and I wanted a good spare to go any further. The next time I return, I'll find the stone.











































Coming out, I took another turn in the cavern section, which goes over sort of under a house. As I was walking that way, I felt like Indiana Jones. Remember the movie where he steps on something that crackles, and he's on ground covered in cockroaches? Well, I stepped on something soft, and it was bat guano. When I shone the light up, there was a dome loaded with bats! They didn't like the light, and liked the infared light on the camera even less! Allen, you should have been there!







After I returned to the boat, I got underway for Calabash Bay, on the northern end of Long Island, to be ready for the good weather to cross to Rum Cay or Conception, depending upon the wind direction. I ended up bucking a current, which put me in around sunset. My friends on the Full Deck, and Simpatico are here as well as another sloop rigged sailboat, and 130' yacht, with its assorted sportfisherman, and smaller boats.

Salt Pond Assembly of God Church

Sunday 9 June


This morning I tied up the Whaler at Long Island Breeze Resort dock, and walked up the road to the left to attend church at the Assembly of God. I met Billy and Leslie on S/V Bye Polar at the church.





The service was good, and I enjoyed the diversity of musicians there... a keyboard, a bass, 2 electric guitars, and an acoustic, as well as a drum set. I only knew one chorus and their closing hymn, and I know a LOT of different choruses! With the lyrics projected on the screen, it wasn't too hard to follow. The congregation was friendly, and like many churches, a lot better attended on Sunday morning than it was Wednesday evening. Pastor Fox delivered a timely message. There was no service that evening, I think probably because of the holiday regatta.





After service, we walked with Samantha across the street, and ate a Bahamian home cooked meal. It was wonderful. The peas and beets mix was the only like that I've ever eated, at it was GREAT! Chicken, rice, and coconut water. Mmmm! Yummy!





I returned to the boat where I had left the generator on and the air conditioner running for Mercy, since it gets too hot with the boat shut up, and it had looked like rain. When I walked in, I quickly realized I could take a nap in air conditioning, and did.