April 24 2015 Great Harbor Island

Jeff and Judy headed over to the gas dock rather early today, 8:30.

I untied his lines and off they went while I was trying to decipher the weather reports and reach a decision about heading to the ocean side or staying put here.

We figured out the NW winds would be tolerable here and I didn't want to be beaten up running the 9 miles to the ocean side anchorage with large swells.  So Jeff and Judy decided to stay as well but headed about a mile in towards the far northern shore near Rat Key to escape the bouncing from the NW winds and swells.

We don’t bounce that much being too bulky (fat?) to be affected much by 3 foot waves.  So we stayed put.

We napped (Mary) or putzed (me) until 2:30 when I figured if we were going to the marina to dump our garbage we’d better do it soon because it was rough and the dinghy, capable as it is, can make a ride pretty wet and uncomfortable in heavy seas.  Winds typically strengthen for a short time a the sun sets.

I gently woke Mary up and we loaded the dinghy and headed in to the marina which is maybe a mile away.

Marina let us tie up in a 60 foot slip

The dock master told us to tie up in a big slip equipped with a ladder which we did.  Mary discreetly placed our stinky garbage bag in one of the garbage containers and I talked with the dock master about staying and directions to the beach.

She just gave me a map and didn't charge us anything.  And here I brought several hundred dollars with me anticipating large fees.  

I quickly studied the map and or some inexplicable reason I turned the wrong way and headed to Bridget Bardot Beach.  It’s a beach where she is reputed to have worked on her overall tan for many years and for all I know maybe still does. 

Once I caught my error we reversed course and headed back towards Sugar Beach on the other side of

Walking back from my navigational error

the island.  One couple I briefly exchanged a few words with in the office were driving towards BB beach and offered us a ride which we declined citing walking as a good exercise. I had mistakenly thought they were boaters.  Turns out they just flew in from New England.  Oops ..  And yes, they own their own jet.

There is a green here.  

We walked for about a mile past what appeared to be a golf course but one which has abandon the more traditional manicured look for the camouflaged green look whereby the greens are not discernible from the surrounding terrain.  The surrounding terrain is pretty much patchy scrub grass with what looks like trip vine and bush like weeds.   

Even though my clubs are aboard I didn’t pursue any golf today. 

We passed two squished snakes of unknown pedigree which lent credence to my decision to forgo golf in favor of a beach walk.  The snakes were on the road right in front of one of the greens.  I like to hit my golf balls in the trees, water and heavy undergrowth.  Perfect habitat for our slithering brethren.  Beside there wasn't one person any where remotely near the course.  I dont think golf is a favored local activity.  

Did I mention we will be anchoring here tomorrow because we delayed our plans to do it today based on the weather?  Winds should be clocking around to a more southerly flow and this anchorage should offer adequate protection for us.

I never dreamed that winds, tides and wave periods would be come such an integral part of out lives.  Who knew.

There was a surprising amount of traffic on the narrow (but paved) road.  It is odd that here on an island with maybe 800 residents there are trucks, SUV’s, a hot rod and numerous other cars.  The island is only about 7 miles long and maybe a mile or two in width.

Walking on the road towards the beach a kindly lady slowed down and asked if we were exercising or needed a ride.  We said exercising and she immediately replied the beach was right up the road.

Beach access along a path next to this place

To access the beach there, is a path through brush and between some sumptuous houses.    It was maybe a 1/4 mile hike.  But once we reached the beach it was, well gorgeous.  Brilliant turquoise water with deeper blue out beyond the beach.  Just like a magazine ad.  And the sand is soft and sugary much like the sand beaches at Destin.  

We lingered for about a half hour before heading back.  We met another couple who heading to the beach.  Seems it’s a popular place.  There are several condo/villas on the southern side of the bay and the beach rings the whole bay which is maybe 2 miles.  

Abandoned club house of some sort

Walking along the road we, again, passed this abandon club house or building whose purpose I cant fathom.  There was a bridge over the road we took which appeared to be integrated into the house.

Back at the marina we stopped in at the store so Mary could refuel.  Very nice man who, I think, runs the marina. 

We also met another couple in there who are anchored out on their big catamaran well south of us.  They are from the states and stay down here for the high season running a sort of kayaking/wind surfing excursions where you stay on their big boat and they take you to various islands around here for kayaking adventures.  The high season runs from May through November.  I thought it would have been November through April.  

We were invited to the Marina’s Friday night party with lots of food and drink but we declined and juts headed back to the boat.  It was very rough out past the nice little protected basin.

We finally talked with Jeff and Judy.  We seemed to have missed each other all day on the radio and the phones.  We each have BTC (Bahama Telephone Company) phones and can make calls to one another. 

Given the lure of the weather and the anchorage we decided to leave tomorrow for that beach anchorage and stay for a few days until the weather gets bad early next week.