Another day near Staniel Cay

Seafever
Mon 15 Mar 2010 23:08
24:11.054 N
76:27.043 W

We're still near Staniel Cay, tucked up behind Big Major's Spot to escape a strong NW wind. Tomorrow the wind is
supposed to slack to manageable levels and we'll move on to Black Point, a few miles farther south. In this anchorage, also waiting out the weather, is everything from our wooden, homebuilt boat to mega yachts, one at least 100 feet long, and a new arrival--a mega motor trimaran that must be at least 80 feet long and looks like a giant white birthday cake. In between the two extremes are some "modest" (all probably in the 30-40-foot range) sailboats, both monohulls and catamarans as well as a few cruising trawlers.

We didn't write a blog entry last night as we were invited to dinner on board the Aldora, a 45-foot catamaran sailed by
our new friend Jeff and his two boys Roger and Elliot, ages 14 and 11 (also known as Kook and Tootie). The boys are
brilliant amateur naturalists, and know the names of many things we're still learning about. They've been cruising here
in the Exumas nine times already in their lives. They took us on a scrambling tour of goat paths and goat caves on this
island. The goats are more shy than the pigs, and take some stalking. Roger keeps goats back home in Maine, and knows
everything about them. Jeff is a very experienced sailor and we've been learning endlessly from him. We're going over to
their boat again for dinner tonight, bringing some of our barbecued pork and spaghetti sauce.

Yesterday we snorkeled Thunderball grotto again, but with a huge crowd of people, unfortunately. Not nearly the same
experience as the first time. Isabel is writing a blog entry on that and will post it soon. Rosie is writing an entry on
all the boat names we've seen and heard.

Today, after several hours spent on schoolwork, we all snorkeled right here in our anchorage, where there is much coral
growth, some of it enormous elkhorn coral that spreads 10 feet wide and 6 feet high. Then people alternately read and
worked and played here on the boat.

We also met Steve Johnson, who runs a kayak expedition tour here. He and his kayakers are camped on a beach nearby, also
waiting for the strong winds to slack before they head north among the cays. All in all, it's not a bad place to have to
wait out the weather.

We are all happy and in good health, settling in to a rhythm of life here.