More of the Story

We hung around Staniel Cay a few extra days to visit with our friends Tracey and Rex from Sandy Beach.  We were anchored off of the Staniel Yacht Club to get a decent signal and a shorter dingy ride up to the store when we see them go by.  We had a great reunion and enjoyed more than a few drinks, meals and stories.  They are on their way back north while we are still trying to make our way south.  They have a beautiful and large motor cat so they have graciously hosted the gatherings there.  Washing dishes hardly seems a pay back but the space is certainly a luxury.  We tried to say a proper good-bye yesterday but our radio is not sending and receiving as it should.  We left with a beautiful sky, fair wind and a short distance to go.  As usual, something had to go wrong and the head decided to go to the top of the list.  For the cruiser, especially of the female variety, this is a true and horrible disaster.  As the placard in our head says, there are no plumbers at sea.  The handle to flush was stuck as solid as rock and would not evacuate the bowl.  Not a pleasant situation even if the boat wasn't bouncing and pounding but it was a short distance, thankfully.  We arrived under full sail at 6 knots.  This was exciting for David but since I was at the helm and not able to see whether dark spots are grass or coral, I was not happy.  Some boys never lose the thrill of going fast and sailing on the ragged edge of disaster.  After the harrowing approach, we anchored up, cleaned up spilled coffee pot messes and YEAH, unstuck the head so all was right with the world once again.  We went ashore and joined up with Jim and Sherry to have burgers and drinks and check out the lay of the land for today.  We went back to the boat early and that turned out to be great.   The sun started peeking out from beneath a heavy cloud cover glowing an amazing shade of green.  Yes, I have finally seen the Green Flash right as the sun hit the horizon.  For those unfamiliar with this bit of atmospheric magic it is the Holy Grail for those living on or near the ocean.  I have watched thousands of sunsets and this was my first time to see that elusive flash.  David saw one years ago in Okinawa.  A group was making its way up a hill after a dive.  He turned to watch the sunset and was rewarded with a magnificent flash.
  The rest of us just made it a bit closer to the cars.  Since no one else saw it we kidded him about what he really saw while really being jealous of his good luck.  Now we both have bragging rights.  He was using the binoculars and missed this one.  A lot of others saw it as well last night, however, since there was a lot of hooting and hollering from all over the anchorage. 
Our plans for now are to see what the weather holds for us and we'll stay here for at least another day or 3.  As always, we move when the wind and waves will let us and stay put and enjoy when they won't.  We do have a sort-of firm turn around date of Jan. 31 and hopefully we will make it down to Georgetown and see what that is all about.  With two weeks it should happen but if not, no regrets.