December 15, 2011

We are still in Green Turtle Cay. We would like to have gone down to Hopetown by now to meet up with Uncle Bobby, but the winds have yet to quit. There is a two mile stretch that we have to pass to get to Elbow Cay that is completely exposed to the Atlantic. It is called Whale Cay Channel, most of these Cays are barrier Islands to Great Abaco Island and we have traveled within the relative safety of these Cays so far. Whale Cay Channel goes out into the Atlantic on the East side of Whale Cay. There is an inside passage, but it is heavily shoaled and there is a big rock that is called "Don't Rock" in the middle of the unmarked area that is reported to be passable. When we ask locals about going through the inside passage we sort of get the shrug and "yeah, you could do that, but", it seems like a big risk with a lot of "what if's" to us. This past week alone, there have been a number of boats that have left to head down through the outside channel and have turned around and come back because the conditions have been so poor.
There is a cruisers net that we listen to on the VHF radio that does a broadcast in the mornings and they give a daily weather report as well as channel reports. Each day they have said that the channel is too rough for safe passage. I trust that they know what they are talking about, because they get that information from boats who have or are currently trying to pass through that area.
The winds have been blowing steady at 20 knots from the NE for the past 5 days and will continue until possibly Sat/Sun. We did realize that it was windy in the Bahamas during the winter months, but we have only had one day since arriving where the winds have only been 10 knots or less. I am not really complaining, because we are still having fun and have had plenty to do within this island and with our new friends, BUT this wind is getting a little old. I just want one nice day to get down to Elbow, then it can start to blow again.
Yesterday, Deason and I took the ferry over to Treasure Cay with Stacey, Leia, and Zoey, then we drove down to Marsh Harbor to do some shopping, and such. I was able to get some holiday shopping done, and grocery shopping. I had to remember where I was for a minute while we were in the grocery store, because it was just as nice if not nicer than some of our grocery stores at home...with all the same stuff I would buy at home too. We had a great Bahamian lunch at a local favorite restaurant, and then made it back on the 5pm ferry.
While we were in Marsh Harbor, Stacey (who is also pregnant) had an appointment with her obstetrician, and I tagged along to get my BP checked as well. My blood pressure is great, my belly is getting bigger, and I am feeling the baby move around quite a bit now, all I can hope for is that things continue to go on as well as they have been!