Staniel Cay and Sampson Cay again

Staniels Cay Pirate Trap beach
June 7, 2009

June 3-5, 2009

     We fueled up at the Farmer's Cay Yacht Club and exited Farmer's Cay cut which had high standing waves and a very brisk current.  Once clear of that we proceeded to Dotham Cut back to the Bank inside and to Staniel Cay.  We stayed at Staniel Cay for several day exploring its beaches.  We did find a better grocery store on the South Staniel Cay.  It had much better

produce that the two smaller stores near the Yacht Club.  When the fishermen were cleaning up their catch that evening, we saw many sharks and a ray waiting to eat the leftovers.  We rented

a golf cart for a day and further explored both N and S Staniel Cay. the beaches on the Sound side had reefs offshore. I had a delicious Conch burger at the Yacht Club.   We ate dinner there one night, too.   I had rack of lamb and Charlie had cornish hens; both were delicious. We met several couples vacationing there.  One was from Indianapolis, Decatur township.  the other was from Texas.  We also went to the Cafe Thunderball Friday Bar-B-Q and met several Germans, a Canadian and a transplanted German now living in Norway.  They were on a Moorings charter with a captain out of Marsh Harbor in the Abacos but exploring the Exumas.  We traded book

recommendations.  Charlie took their picture but he cannot download his pictures onto my computer and his is nonfunctioning at present.  We found two unusual beaches on Staniel Cay.  One is called Pirate's trap beach near Cafe Thunderball and another at the southern entrance to an inlet on the sound side of the cay called Jessie's Kitchen area.  During our stay at Staniel Cay thunderstorms were scattered but prevalent daily causing us to close up the boat and then open it up repeatedly. June 5 is the Bahamas Labor Day.  Unfortunately rain at Staniel Cay dampened the festivities somewhat.  There was a Regatta in Long Cay to which many in Exuma go to see.    

June 6-7, 2009

      We left Staniel Cay and went north to Sampson Cay again.  the marina was full!  So we had to anchor out not far from the marina.  We went to shore to do laundry, get on the internet and to attend their Saturday Beach Bar-B-Q.  The interior beach at Sampson is beautiful.  It almost drys to sand at low tide.  We met several interesting couples while there.  Two were on their way to Georgetown.  They were from Ft. Lauderdale and Stuart, FL

 cruising in large motor cruisers.  Another couple is from Dallas and on a 66 ft. motor cruiser in the marina.   One of the nicest things about cruising is the people you meet along the way.  They always seem to enrich the experience.     We are again ashore amid storms.  We came to buy some groceries of which they have a small but very good selection here.  If it clears up we will probably go exploring nearby beaches via dinghy. 

     We will leave here tomorrow and go further north.  We haven't made up our mind just where we will land tomorrow.     

June