Cruising on a boat, the bad days are really bad and the good days are really good. Luckily the good days outweigh the bad by a factor of about twenty to one. Sometimes the bad days are due to things totally out of your control but sometimes they are somewhat self inflicted.
For example, we anchored out at Blackpoint Settlement for a couple days last week. The anchorage was a little rolly but we figured it was worth it because we could get the dinghy down, go to the little town and have lunch and get some provisions. We found a great restaurant with arguably the best grouper in the islands. Unfortunately the supply boat had not arrived yet so the market was picked clean of any fresh vegetables or fruit. That was Saturday and they expected the supply boat the next day. So back to the boat. We had dinner on land the next night and left the dinghy down in anticipation of hitting the market first thing in the morning prior to making a run to Cave Cay marina ahead of the really big blow from the west expected that evening.
By Monday morning the winds were starting to kick up and the boat was rocking and rolling like a bad amusement park ride. Just getting on and off the dinghy was a bit of a challenge but we did it and grabbed some provisions to see us through the next week. Back at the boat the real challenge was to get the dinghy back up on top without serious injury. We did it but not without some bumps and bruises as well as a few choice expletives during the process. This was self inflicted as we weren’t going to starve if we didn’t get provisions.
Onward to Cave Cay and a marina to shelter us from the west winds blowing in. Every time we enter a new to us marina it is with a little trepidation as you never know what to expect. The channel entrance was narrow and shallow so we were trying to get there close to high tide. That also meant we were one of the last boats to come in to what turned put to be a full marina. We ended up on a short side dock about twenty feet from the shore with no electric or water hookup. The up side was we were with a fun group of people who partied every evening. So we socialized a little and met some new friends.
The weather calmed down after three days and we headed out to Farmers Cay with the intention of having lunch and looking around. Unfortunately it was a little rough and remembering the last dinghy retrieval we opted instead to go down to Georgetown about 45 miles south and put in there for awhile.
We’re now sitting at anchor at Sand Dollar Beach just across the channel from the town of Georgetown. Chat & Chill (an iconic Stocking Cay restaurant) is a short dinghy ride. It’s calm, quiet and the water is beautiful. I think we’ll stay here for awhile.
