Bahamas, Ragged islands, Hog Cay, Valentines Party

Once again Maxine out did herself with awesome catering for a Fun Filled Day.

Two days prior, the Cruisers got together ashore at the Hut to get the area ready for the festivities, as it was expected that there would be at least about 100 people at the Party.

Holes were dug, to plant poles using sea water and sand to ‘cement’ the poles to hold up shade cloth

One final pole was required and the girls went across the island to the seaward side to find a long bamboo pole was ashore to use as a centre pole to hold up the shade cloth

Using that long Bamboo pole

Finally all done, and the Welcome Sign hung up

On Saturday, the local fisherman ferried a Generator and all the food, made by Maxine and her group of ladies.

All the Cruisers contribute $25 per person for the Luncheon, as Maxine pays for everything herself. The locals do not pay for lunch, so our contribution is set to re-imburse Maxine. 

Carrying the Generator Ashore

Dinghies ashore, there are about 45 yachts in the bay.

Below is a sample of the various photos everyone posted to our Group page. Most are only of our Friends, as we don’t know all 90 odd Cruisers at the Party today.

Carrying the dishes of food to the fire pit to keep warm

Duane decanting Conch Fritter batter into a bowl from a 5 Gallon bucket

Karen frying Conch Fritter with Karen and Jerry looking on

Carol walking round handing out bowls of Conch Fritters to parties and tables of Cruisers

Maxine

The queues lining up to get Lunch

Maxine’s excellent Goat Curry

Dessert Tables, provided and boat made by Cruisers. I did Chocolate Brownies.

Ryan of Wabi Sabi and Jelly Bean

Dale and Debbie of MokaKat

Sam and Cindy of Bookend

Karen trying on a Junkanoo Headress

Saber and Cindy of Bookend

Karen of Persephone and me

Cindy and Ami of Wabi Sabi

Jerry of Persephone

After Lunch it was the Auction, where the Cruiser donate unwanted gently used or new item to be auctioned off either to the Locals or other Cruisers

Some of the Loot donated

Auctioning 3 Gecko Floating Air Loungers that Meshugga donated

Later in the afternoon, the music was playing and everyone was getting into a groove

Drone shot of the Valentine Party people

Fun day…..

Bahamas - Ragged Islands, Hog Cay and Little Ragged Island

After cutting the New Trail, I did the Loop walk, about 3.5 miles, and snapped some of the crazy Creepy Doll Trail Markers.

The far northeast bay overlooking a windy sea

With time in hand we sailed south to Little Ragged Island Cut.

Fishing boats enroute to Little Ragged Island

Going to Duncan Town, we went ashore south of the Airport Runway, and stopped to chat with Alma who is taking care of the new air-conditioned Arrival/Departure Lounge.

The 1.5 mile walk is pleasant, and our group chatted the whole way. 

It is always fun to see the goats wandering around.

We stopped in at Maxines Store to say ‘Hello’ as she’d recently arrived back from a long visit to Nassau to care for her aged mother.

Next stop was the Ponderosa Bar for refreshments after our hot walk into town.

Duane and Karen

Dale and Debbie

Chuck and Michele

Lunch time arrived and the Construction Workers arrived to collect their Take Away Lunches that the Ponderosa are contracted to make for them.

We left the Bar to give them space to sit and eat.

Across the street, the New Clinic is coming along well and they are busy with the Re-Bar for the roof to make the structure Hurricane Proof.

Salt Pans

The School/Hurricane Shelter is almost complete.

Conch drying on a line

Down the road, we stopped in to say Hello to my friend Myron who keeps Fancy Pigeons, breeding and selling them mostly to Nassau.

Myron and me

A fun evening of Cocktails and Appetizers aboard Mimi.

Watching the Sunset for the Green Flash

A little Black Tip Shark patrolling the reef on the side of our anchorage

We had the Cruisers in the Anchorage come to Meshugga for a Pizza Night

Next day was time to catch up on some baking, and I did my bi-annual bake of a large Fruit Cake

And a few trays of Chocolate Chip Cookies