When you find yourself in the “Out Islands”, where fewer
cruisers venture, it provides both a share of anxiety and a feeling of
liberation.
On our return trip to Ragged Island and the Jumentos we were
lucky to connect with Different Drummer, My Sharonna and Scooter, all of whom
met us down there within a day of our arrival.
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| Returning from a morning of diving |
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| In addition to spearing fish, conch has been harvested |
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| The conch must be extracted and skinned-- a group effort |
Because the VHF radio (our main mode of communication) is so quiet down
there, we need only select a non-hailing channel to which to keep the radio tuned, in order to
chat with one another. Normally, a boat
is hailed on 16 or some other hailing channel, then after the response, both
switch to a clear channel to converse.
Imagine sitting in your “living room”, absorbed in whatever
task may be occupying you, and hearing your friend’s voice suddenly asking a
question or making a suggestion. We all
have a communal conversation via radio, sometimes to talk about dinner plans,
sometimes just to check in.
Its quite pleasant and easy-going, and takes some
re-adjusting to formally switching channels when we get back to more populated
areas.
Another difference in the remote anchorages is when you hear a dinghy passing-- it is most probably coming to your boat. Company!....
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| Sunset with friends on the bridge of Independence |
On our first northward leg leaving the Jumentos island group
to reach the bottom of the Exumas, we had a bit of left over easterly swells
and wind chop from the previous 5-6 days of strong NE /E winds. This put the 4-5 ft seas pretty much on our
beam, our least favorite and least comfortable ride.
Once again, imagine sitting in your “living room”, looking
out the window at some trees, which quickly become just treetops, then sky and
clouds. Then just as quickly the view is
back to the base of the trees and the view just below the window. The room, in other words, is tilting back and
forth so crazily that your not actually “sitting”, but more like wedged into
the corner, one foot bracing against the fixed table and your body attempting
to stay put as the rocking and rolling continues ceaselessly.
Oh, and add to this, the occasional need to get up, lunging
across the rolling floor like a drunken baby to capture a cabinet door that has
swung open, threatening to toss its contents out with the pitching of the room. Oops, there goes the tea kettle, now rolling
back and forth on the floor, the sponge container and soap dispenser already
having spilled over into the sink.
Of course that same crazy tossing motion is going on inside
you, as the internal organs slosh back and forth against the confines of your
body (or not!). Fun at sea!
Then, finally, you reach safe harbor and in the early
darkness of oncoming night drop the anchor, shut down the systems, and fall
into the most blessed and well-deserved sleep and dream about your body being
absolutely still.
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| Flat water - our preference! |
