12/17/12 We left Nassau next for Allen’s Cay. David on s/v Mist sailed along with us. Allen’s Cay is known for their iguanas.
Coral heads as we approached Allen’s Cay. We have read about them and when you see them, you know it. We are always on the lookout for these dark, dangerous spots.
Sailing into the bay, we could see the famous iguanas on the beach. We wasted no time in getting the dinghy in the water and headed for the beach. (See Cole’s post on the iguanas). There were some good snorkeling spots here as well with beautiful coral heads and fish. It is hard to believe Christmas is just around the corner. We put a Christmas tree and decorated it on the boat.
X-Mas tree on Truansea.
Lone palm tree on Allen’s Cay.
12/19/12 We headed for Norman’s Cay to get protected anchorage from the high winds forecast coming up. We tried to get into Norman’s Pond, which is very protected, but kept getting stopped by the sandy bottom. We knew it was a shallow entrance and several people told us we could make it with our draft. The channels are ever changing and evidently it has filled up enough that 5’ drafts can no longer make it in. We anchored near the submerged plane wreck and dived it at slack tide. Beautiful fish, coral life, stingrays and nurse sharks are living in and around the wreck.
One of my favorite fish.
Plane wreck we dove at Norman’s Cay.
After snorkeling, the boys (and us) head for the fish books to identify what knew sea life we saw.
Mark cooking on our camp stove in the companionway.
12/20/12 The next day we went to Warderick Wells Cay. You can anchor here, but have to anchor a ways out so we picked up a park mooring ball to be close to the beach and hiking trails. Their mooring balls are regularly maintained so we felt secure here as well with the winds picking up. Warderick Wells is part of the Exuma Land and Sea Park which is a no take zone. Nothing living or dead may be removed from the park. There was beautiful, diverse snorkeling spots here which we went to on several different days. Our favorite spot was called Ranger’s Garden.
Whale bone skeleton at Warderick Wells Cay.
The hiking at Warderick covers diverse terrain. We made driftwood placques to leave at BooBoo Hill to appease the wind gods, had fun sticking our heads over the blow holes, made a palm hut, did beach combing and hiked a variety of trails.
The legend of Boo Boo Hill.
There are a variety of beaches here as well. The kids made a palm tree hut on one of them.
The park warden hosts a Christmas dinner at his house every year. He cooks the ham and turkey and everyone brings a dish to pass. Needless to say, the food was fantastic and the cruisers company was even better.
Cole climbing a palm tree. He keeps me supplied with coconut milk!
12/27/12 Our next stop was Cambridge Cay and our friends Graeme and Laura on s/v Sweet Chariot joined us. We snorkeled five different sites here, one with a cave, another plane wreck and our favorite place was called The Garden. It was the most beautiful spot we have been to yet. The best part of it was we saw a sea turtle. We watched him peacefully munching sea grass then swam gracefully away.
A different kind of school…
Cole snorkeling.
12/28/12 On to Big Majors Cay after stopping at Staniel Cay to top off on diesel, gas and water, then spend some time seeing the area. We rang in the New Year’s here with some fantastic new cruising friends – Laura, Graeme, Sean, Candi, Nick, Morgan, Chip, Eleana and John.
Cruising friends on Eleon. Logan, Eleana, John and Cole.
Pizza birthday party on Eleon. Chip is a fantastic cook!
The starfish are big and beautiful. David, Logan and Cole.
The winds picked up for a couple days. We are glad we purchased a Rocna anchor and 70′ of chain.
The Rocna anchor buried to the bar. I love to see it buried (helps me sleep better).
The famous Thunderball Grotto (for all you James Bond fans). Unfortunately the club is still not open.
David rowing to Truansea for supper. “The real deal sailor,” as the boys call him. He taught us to play Rummy 500 which we thoroughly love but changed to Rummy 300.
We walked to the dump to drop off our garbage and Mark found a few parts needed for the boat!
The colorful houses are so much fun. Maybe we will update the color on our Mossy Cup Street house when we return to Idaho! What do you think Paul & Mary?
Mark with the catch of the day, 2 lobster and 1 conch.
New Year’s Eve party. John, Morgan, Nick, Cole, Logan and Eleana.
Catamaran after a collision during the New Year’s Day regatta.
01/02/13 Off to Black Point on Great Guana Cay.
Logan doing school work on Truansea on the way to Black Point on Great Guana Cay.
Cole hard at work.
01/04/13 On to White Point to anchor in a bay with boat friends and do some snorkeling and fishing. We explored the beaches and did some hiking as well.
01/06/13 We headed back to Black Point on Great Guana Cay. The winds are supposed to pick up so we are holing up here until the winds drop back to my comfort level. It looks like the winds will stay for a while and we may be here over a week.
This is Cole’s favorite spot on the bow of Truansea.
Blowing of the conch shell is a tradition at sunset. This is the conch Mark caught a few days ago. The shells all make a different sound. It is somewhat like an elk bugling.
Cole & Logan blowing conch shells.
Cole’s perch doing dishes.
Breadfruit on a breadfruit tree.
We are all happy that some cruising kids are holed up at Black Point with us. They love to dive off the bow of the boat, swim around to the transom, walk the side decks to the front of the boat and do it all over again and again and again! Happy,tired kids and parents at night.
Class on the telegraph machine on Truansea, incorporating the pony express and morse code into it. The kids are going to send morse code messages by flashlight back and forth between boats tonight. Nick, Elana, Cole, Logan, John and Morgan.
Fair Winds ~ Christine
Truansea 
My kids cracked me up. When they saw the pictures of your boys doing school work it reminded them they cannot escape school, even when living on a yacht in the Caribbean. When they first saw your thread they thought your kids were getting a year long vacation without having to go to school LOL!
Awesome!! Beautiful!!! Live every day to the fullest.