When we woke up, we didn’t know it would be our last day here. Maybe David did. We have been thinking about a potential crossing window on April first but then we thought about waiting.
But now, the weather report is telling us that there may not be another sailing crossing day for weeks and that the weather here will not be good either. There might be an opportunity for a motor crossing next week but that window looks more and more narrow with a bad front approaching, and while we do rely on our motor, having wind to sail gives some peace of mind.
I am sad to leave as there is so much more to see but I am usually sad to leave where I am and I would probably never be ready to leave here. I have loved this trip so much and am so lucky to have had this opportunity. My sadness transforms to gratitude as I adjust to these new plans.
I am so grateful to all of those who have supported this dream. especially my Dad, and his friends, especially Stirling. I am forever indebted to our siblings and our children, daughter’s included, Sara, Becca and Sharon. Also a shout out to Morgan and Michelle who have watered our plants and done mail calls with us. And to all of the boaters who have helped us on our journey, we appreciate you so much, especially Jeff and Deb, who have been with us us since Coinjock 2024 and are with us still, and Fishes, who are far away but continue the journey with us.
Most of all, I am grateful for David, who runs the What If’s and worst case scenarios over and over in his mind, trying to find a solution for each potential disaster before it happens. At the same time he keeps a constant check on the weather, manages the motor, raises the main, lifts the anchor through the bow roller both ways, keeps us from hitting rocks, boats, reef and sand bar, and still manages to love these moments with me.
It is still windy but we were determined to venture out on this day. It is a good day for hiking and for going into the mangroves in the dinghy as it is very calm in there.
Unfortunately, the mosquitos also thought it would be a good day for us to go hiking. After a short distance on the trail, we turned around and went back to the boat. We returned with long sleeves and pants and bug spray which made all the difference.
We headed to the main rocky road and easily found the trail to the ocean beach. The trail goes through the thick forest and starts out rocky and rooty. About halfway, it becomes more sandy. At the end of the trail, I looked for the bromeliads and air plants. There were not as many as last year but I found some.
At the end of the trail they are still building a restaurant. They have made progress but still have a lot to do. We still do not understand who will come there or how they will arrive. The rocky trail over a mile long and the ocean beach surrounded by rock and reef seem to be the only access points.
We walked the beach in the wind. Seaweed came tumbleweed when loosened by our feet. I went for a swim in the beautiful ocean.
We hiked back and David explored a new dock that led to some boats in the mangrove. It must be the neighborhood marina. We marveled at how they built it. The large boat was in there that we saw last year. We did not see any people.
We went back to the boat to stare at the weather again. We looked at all the apps, the emails. We spoke to Chris Parker, Jeff and Deb and other boaters. We still could not decide.
The tide rose enough to do a trip through the mangrove. The wind was not affecting the turtles there. They scurried in front of us and popped their heads up all around. We ventured way back in the mangrove trying to find the boats from the water. We finally did.
Sometimes we would stop for a moment and just look down and fish would appear. We saw many kinds. We saw a lemon shark. a small nurse shark and another kind of shark. And we saw so many turtles.
We went across the flats as we came out of the mangrove and saw a larger shark there. Then David saw a large wake in front of us. We crept toward it and all of a sudden a huge eagle ray flew past our boat. It is such an amazing place.
Back at the boat, we had dinner in the cockpit. David went to sleep and I made a birthday cake. Tomorrow we will listen to the weather and likely sail to Great Sale Cay, staging for a crossing on Wednesday. We should have a nice downwind sail to Great Sale.
