Another Enslin Visit

Wed 28th Feb 2024 - Chris and Magda arrived and we picked them up at the airport as we still had the rental car for a few hours. We stopped at a beachside bar for our first cocktail before heading back to the marina. Had a good lunch at our favorite resort poolside restaurant.

They arrived! Rum punch at Timmies

Hellooo! What a shitty view.

Hmm, not sure wot this is about.

Emerald Bay Marina, Great Exuma.

Thu 29th Feb 2024 - We said goodbye to Doralyn and Mike and our other boater friends at the marina and set sail for Williams Cay in the morning. Magda and Chris went with Rob on a dinghy ride for some sightseeing and to do some fishing. 🐠 First sunset on anchor did not disappoint. 🌅

Oooo, that water

Chris punishing the fish, or is it the inverse?

Magda and Chris… they look happy

Off on a dinghy adventure Williams Bay

Who said we don’t catch fish! Here’s the proof, at least an inch long.

One of many sunsets, do they ever get old?

No green flash, it’s a myth

Fri 1st March 2024 - We took a dinghy ride this morning to go for a walk on shore but a No Trespassing sign had appeared on the beach since we were there less than 2 weeks ago so we didn’t go on shore. Apparently it is private property now. 🤷‍♀️ Magda and Gerda did some yoga on the boat. 🧘 Day ended with cocktails, some turkey chili and rum cake.

Home

Travels

Water color is beaut.

End of another gorgeous day

Sat 2nd Mar 2024 - Rob baked us a sourdough bread 🥖 and then supervised Chris washing dishes after lunch. 😂 We tried again to go onshore at a different beach later in the day but this time we’re were stopped by some young man on a jet ski telling us it was private property. 🤦‍♀️ So weird, what changed in 2 weeks? Watched some water sports for entertainment. After dark, some successful fishing was done on board. There is some squalls in the forecast on the ocean side so we were waiting for that to subside before we go somewhere else.

What was I thinking baking sourdough bread

Dinner on Muti

Good job Chris! Rob supervising our guests working.

Williams Bay landing

Fish!

Evidence!

Sun 3rd Mar 2024 - We had a bathroom incident this morning, Chris and Rob spent the whole morning working on it but finally got it fixed. 🚽🙈🙊 We were able to sit down for the pancake breakfast we had planned in the early afternoon. 🥞 Better late than never! Magda and Gerda tried a new curry chicken on the boat for dinner which went down well, though Rob said to please add more spice next time. 🌶️

Chris the plumber. Wot a shitty job.

Mon 4th Mar 2024 - We had a loose plan to head to Cat Island today but got a weather report overnight that mentioned squalls with thunderstorms and lightning in the vicinity so we had to change our plans. We went a few hours south, back to Emerald Bay Marina for the night. After lunch at our favorite place we went for a long walk along the golf course and on the beach. ⛳️🏝️ Mike showed Chris how to clean a coconut with a machete. Some squall activity expected overnight.

Palapas restaurant with Mike & Doralyn (JST)

Chris & Mike about to kill a coconut.

Grand Isle golf course - good place to destroy a perfectly good day losing golf balls

Chris ready to play, couldn’t find a willing partner.

Ocean Bight beach

Still walking

Still walking but a lovely sunset.

Tue 5th Mar 2024 - Not much squall activity overnight. We decided to head out to Calabash Bay, even though we were going into the wind we didn’t think it was too much wind to be uncomfortable. How wrong we were. 🤦‍♀️ After about 2 hours of bashing into 4ft waves that were coming at intervals of 2 seconds we decided to change course to head up to Cat Island instead. Once we did this we were able to sail without using the engines which was awesome! 👏 Some fish even decided to bite. 🐠 We arrived and anchored south of the settlement, watched another beautiful sunset from our front deck and had dinner on the boat. 🌅 There was NO wind, it was a quiet and beautiful evening.

Ooo, good catch.

The ‘chicks’ chilling.

The ‘okes’ chilling

Oh my…

Just…

Wed 6th Mar 2024 - We took a dinghy ride along the shore and in the lagoon, then did a beach landing with our dinghy (newly christened as “Dolly”) and went for a walk (or in Chris’ case swim) along the beach. 🏝️ Later Chris found some Sand Dollars for Magda just by diving down behind the boat. A lovely day, very little wind and some cloud. 🌤️ After some negotiating (mostly “you scared, bro?”) Rob and Chris jumped into the water from the top deck. Same as they did a couple of years ago, but now they are older and were exhausted and had to rest on the front deck afterwards. 😳🤣

Shark bait

Cat island - sand dollars

Chris goefing

Chris & Magda

Cat Island - the Bight

Beaching at the Bight

The merman swimming

Chris being taken advantage of again, forced to drive.

Something out there?

Boys leaping off the top deck.

Too late, the waters cold!

Chris never naps (apparently)

Thu 7th Mar 2024 - We left early to go to the settlement, a half an hour trip north. Pulling up and putting down anchor was a teaching moment for all on board. ⚓️ Once we were there we went onshore and walked up to the Hermitage monument, it was as lovely as we remember it from last year. Then we headed to the pub, waited for at least an hour in the shade for it to open, had some fish and chips and cocktails. Since it’s Magda and Chris’ last day on anchor we went for a long dinghy ride before heading back to the boat. Watched another gorgeous sunset on the deck. Tonight is barbecue night since there is no wind. Our first time using the barbecue since we owned Muti; another milestone!

Hello!

Chris working again, bringing up the anchor.

Cat Island

Magda’s peaceful place.

The Hermitage - built on the highest peak in the Bahamas, wot a view.

At peace

Just chilling

Bitterly cold, yum.

Girls drinking rum punch again.

Fish!

Chilling on Muti

Another superb sunset

Still no green flash

Finally got the Bbq fired up.

Fri 8th Mar 2024 - Woke up early to get going as we had a long day headed back to Emerald Bay Marina, we left as soon as it was light enough. There was almost no wind when we started but after a couple of hours we hoisted the big sail and were able to switch the engines off. It slowed us down a bit but we weren’t in race as Rob says (though Gerda disagrees on this point 😁). A lot of fishing going on during this passage as the water was deeper crossing over to Big Exuma island, but no catching. 😞 Magda and Gerda did another yoga session on passage. Arrived in the afternoon and Chris and Magda took us out for a lovely meal at the resort. Hung out in the cockpit for their final night with us having some cocktails, Magda and I finally couldn’t keep up with the boys and bid adios.

Wassup?

Pensive Chris.

Wtf?

Chris working again.

Black sail up, sweet!

Yoga time!

Chris working again, bringing in the beast sail.

Docked - Emerald Bay Marina

Dinner at 23 North

Yum, yum

Rob being ridiculous, he doesn’t know how to play chess

Sat 9th Mar 2024 - Warm morning, it’s going to be a scorcher today. Doesn’t help being the marina as you don’t really get that breeze one always gets on anchor. Had a great breakfast on board, not only did Mike and Doralyn come but Doralyn brought some of her delicious zucchini bread. Afterwards we went for a walk to the cut to see a beautiful sailing cruise ship and then joined Chris on the beach where he went for a swim. 🏖️ We all had lunch together at our poolside beach restaurant before we took Chris and Magda to the airport. ✈️ Picked up a few provisions on the way back from the airport and just relaxed on the boat in the evening. Without our friends. 😒 But hopefully a good time was had by all.