The tour of Cat Island was fun. There is not much to see between New Bight where we were anchored and the north end of the island. I had completed my continuing ed for my Florida real estate license and had faxed my answer sheet that morning to FL. We missed a call on our cell phone on the ride up north and needed to stop at a Batelco office as we couldn't figure out how to return the call on our phone. We stopped in Arthur Town at the north end of the island and found out how to make the call. The fax had been fuzzy and they wanted me to fax it again. I asked if I could just read my answers to them over the phone and they agreed and told me I had passed. We drove on to the far end of the island on a dirt road past Orange Creek and had lunch on the deck of a lovely resort overlooking the bay. The resort is owned by a German couple who came to the island on vacation and decided to stay. They told us that Irene had done major damage to the island which we had noticed. There are many abandoned buildings missing roofs and walls with the windows boarded up. On the drive back we took a winding dirt road about 5 miles to the Atlantic side and walked the beach looking for hamburger beans, heart beans and sea glass. This was our first hunt, although the couple from Maverick were experts, and we found two beans and some sea glass. We were told that you can polish the beans and make jewelry out of them as well as the sea glass. We got back to our dinghies after dark and the next morning returned the car got diesel and water in our jerry cans as well as some produce and hauled it all back to Spunky and took off by 10 a.m. Since we had seen the island by car we decided to sail directly to Little San Salvador where we arrived early afternoon. It is a small island owned by Holland America Cruise Lines and is where the cruise ships come and drop their passengers for a few days of organized fun on the beach. Cruisers are allowed to walk the beaches with permission but are limited as to where they can anchor when the ships are in port. We arrived as a huge ship was departing. The staff for the most part comes in by boat when the ships are there to man the resort and most all leave as soon as the ship leaves to return to their homes on other islands. The night was very rolly and uncomfortable which upsets Moose so I slept with him in the cockpit and we left at first light to sail on to Rock Sound in Eleuthera. The first 10 miles of the 42 mile run was like sailing in a washing machine. The ocean swells were off our port quarter and the wind was coming from the starboard side, but after we turned north into the lee of the island the seas settled down and we had a great sail almost all the way to Rock Sound dodging coral heads and sand bars.
Rock Sound is a nice big bay (about 4 miles long) with protection from wind in most directions. It is a cute town, the largest on the island with a population of about 400, with good groceries, diesel at the gas station and a laundry. We heard on the weather report that another front would be moving in by Sunday and we would have to find shelter from the NE winds 25 to 35 knots. After much discussion, we have decided to remain here for what could be as much as 10 days or more rather than race to the next protected bay which would be quite a distance away in Hatchet Bay or farther up in Royal Island. We have boat chores to take care of like changing the oil and fixing our stern ladder steps and we would miss the opportunity to leisurely explore the island if we left tomorrow. We are not in a rush so we will stay here through the front. Several other boats are making the run to Royal Is. and Maverick had already gone on ahead as they were meeting company in the Abacos and needed to hurry along taking advantage of the weather window between Wed. and Sunday when the next front will hit.
Last night we had drinks with some other cruisers at the open air restaurant across from where we are anchored. Moose was welcome and allowed the little boys(5 or 6 years old) who belong to the staff to take him for walks around the grounds until I "rescued" him and then he sat at the bar on a bar stool while we visited. It was a long day and we all were very tired.
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