2012-02-20 Moving, Scrabble Volleyball, Grumpy old men
The weather has once again forced us to give up our beautiful little anchorage and move to another where we’ll be for the next few days. Mind you, we’ll be closer to the “action” at Chat ‘n’ Chill (Volleyball Beach). Coming into the anchorage we had called up the pump out boat (to empty the holding tank) and he followed us in so it was a case of quickly choose our spot, drop and then set the anchor so that we could hook up with the pump out boat. Well, we got a great spot and set the anchor perfectly in an ideal position near our friends, Graham and Nancy on Finisterre, with no boats close.
Had a burger at Chat ‘n’ Chill and then Mary joined Nancy and some other ladies for a few rounds of Scrabble. I sat in the shade watching a game of volley ball and eventually joined in a game or two. This is non-regulation volleyball, played 9 a side with some fancy rules. Thoroughly enjoyed myself without making a hash of everything 
After that we joined Graham and Nancy for snacks and sundowners on their boat
While we had been on the beach the expected wind shift had come and when we got back to Amanzi all the boats were lying differently to when we arrived. I was still happy with our position although we were a bit closer to another trawler but in no danger of getting too close and connecting. Well, obviously that’s not what the boat owner thought when he returned from wherever!! Everything is different at night and everyone seems a lot closer that they really are. Suddenly we saw him shining a flashlight on us and then hollering our name. So I went to investigate and he rudely yelled asking if I thought we were too close. I looked and said no, at which he, once again rudely, proclaimed that he had no insurance and wished me a good night!!!!! I mean, really, if he had wanted me to move he could have just asked!! However, for the next couple of hours he seemed to be standing in his cockpit looking at us and intermittently shining his flashlight in our direction. This was quite upsetting for us but I had no concerns about our relative positions. Eventually, we decided to go to sleep but Mary decided to sleep on the salon so that she could look out every so often!!!
Needless to say, the night passed quite uneventfully but when I saw our neighbour peering at us out of his salon door – still dressed in the altogether – I decided to up-anchor and move elsewhere. Grumpy old man!!! Oh yes, we also noticed that there was a wetsuit hanging in his cockpit which we thought was him in the dark – gotta laugh at that!!!
2012-01-21 Tanning, Scrabble, Reading, Entertaining
This morning we took ourselves off to the beach and just indulged in some sun tanning before lunch. Then it was off to Volleyball Beach (Chat ‘n’ Chill) where Mary enjoyed a few games of Scrabble while I sat in the shade reading my book. I chose not to participate in volleyball as I had slightly twisted my back in the dinghy on the way back to Amanzi last night.
Later, back on Amanzi, we readied ourselves for a visit by Graham and Nancy of Finisterre. They were due at 5-5.30 but eventually arrived at about 7.30. By this time the pizza Mary had prepared and cooked was way past cold and we had eaten half as we thought they had forgotten. It appears they had got waylaid on another trawler and this delayed them. By the time they arrived it was pitch dark and I saw this dinghy zooming by us shouting “Amanzi….. Amanzi…!!!” Called out to them and they saw us.
We actually had a great time with Nancy telling us about her adventures in El Salvador as a 22 year old nurse way back in 1955 (or thereabouts). This she did while her “man,” whom she later married, was in the Korean war!! What courage and sense of adventure she had. She eventually came to head a charity hospice and her efforts were recognised in a personal meeting with Pres. George Bush the first!!!
The warmed up pizza went down well with some white wine and rum and they eventually made their way back to their boat at about 9.30. Remember, Graham is 83 and Nancy is 78!!!!!
2012-02-22 Time in which to do nothing.
That’s what today has really been about – actually having time in which we don’t have to do anything. This is a rare and precious commodity! Just doing nothing is quite difficult as there are always projects on the “to do” list. So did a bit of reading, watched some of the sailboat “racing” organised by the cruisers and also fixed (yes… there’s that word again!!) a catch on the dinghy motor that was stuck. Mary has also been trying to get some emails done, but the WiFi is so flaky that I found it almost not worth the effort of trying – it’s just so frustrating.
This evening we may or may not go to the pot luck sundowner on the beach – a regular Wednesday evening activity. In the meantime it’s hot as hades today with little or no cooling wind – not that we’re complaining!!!!!
2012-02-23 On the move…….
Last night we again went to the beach for a pot luck sundowner party. The different types of food that the cruisers can put together is amazing. Mary had baked chocolate brownies and they didn’t last more than 5 minutes. Spoke to a number of people including Arthur and Mamiko of Matane. We met them way back in fernandina Beach and have bumped into them on a few occasions since then. They are off to Cuba soon and then onto Panama with no firm plans after that.
Talking to a number of cruisers, one gets the impression that everyone is always having one or other boat related problem. Yesterday we heard of a lady who had taken their dinghy – alone for the first time ever – to town and had somehow flipped the dinghy in the tranquil waters of Victoria lake!! It seems that the old adage that the definition of cruising – fixing boats in exotic places – is certainly true.
Today the weather has forced us to move again to our usual hidey hole when the wind turn south. We’ll be here for a day or 2 before my sister, Estelle, and her hubby, Alastair, join us for our return leg to Florida
An advantage of being here is that we have reasonable WiFi and clean water for water making
and we are unlikely to cross paths unless they come to NZ or we go to Canada. They are continuing their adventure by going further south, while George Town is our turnaround point and we’ll be heading north. Thanks for your friendship, Steve and Amanda. We’ll be following your adventures on your 
16 Feb 2012 – Beach Party
We’ve been in George Town for a week now and are just chilling out – well trying to. It’s pretty warm here and I’m just contemplating having a swim off the back of the boat.
If you’ve been watching our movements you’ll notice that we have just moved again today, back to our original anchorage. It’s just a case of going to the best spot to get the best protection for whatever wind is going to be blowing that night. The winds tend to clock round here so we’ve come back to our original anchorage as the winds are due to blow S, SE and SW for a few days. On Sunday they head N again and then it’ll be back to Sand Dollar beach where we spent the last few nights.
In fact we should have moved yesterday already but there was a pot luck dinner at the beach last night and we were keen to go. It was great and we had a good time but what
a night! The wind picked up and there was not much protection from the swells that came in. So I spent most of night trying to sleep on the couch while Lance bounced around in the bedroom!
And I have to say that my whole psyche is changing – I’ve always been a night owl but on this trip I seem to be so often longing for 6am and daylight!
We also listen to a weather bulletin every morning at 6.30am so it’s always an early start. No wonder we’re exhausted by 8.30pm!
Anyway back to the pot luck dinner – it’s amazing what lovely finger foods can be conjured up on boats for these occasions. It was also wonderful to catch up with both old and new friends. We met up with Mik and Joe from Asian Lady – we met them way back in Elizabeth City on the ICW. We also reunited with Nancy and Graham from Finnesterre – we were in the marina next to them in Nassau and Susan & John from Smooch with their dog Checkers. We met up with them at Staniel Cay. She said that after we’d left Staniel Cay, Checkers kept wandering back to the dock where we’d been – perhaps he liked the children.
Arthur and Mamiko from Matane have also been in George Town for a few days and were anchored right behind us last night. As we decided to move today we have had to do a rain check on a Japanese dinner they were going to share with us tonight.
We are all still here for another week though so we’ll no doubt touch base again.
In addition to the food and camaraderie last night there was also some music provided by two cruisers with guitars. We were the last few to leave the beach and they were still going strong.
Another dinghy ride in the dark back to the boat – but all went without a hitch. Although the suction cup end of our dinghy light went missing somewhere – however we went looking for it this morning and found it easily.
There are only three other boats in this lovely secluded bay and we’ll soon be heading to shore for walk.