April 20 - Happy Birthday to me! After topping off the water tanks we left Chub at 0730 with 6 packages of fresh dolphin in the frig - thank you to the M/V Mi-C-Shell - and motor sailed to our anchorage off Nassau, Rose Island. We went to a marina in Nassau last year but we didn't need supplies and we don't really like Nassau (noisy, dirty, lots of crime) - so chose to anchor out. There was large trimaran from our home town, Islamorada, in the anchorage with us - S/V Southern Cross! It was a motor sail day - took 8 hours. Dakota did NOT get seasick - hooray - I think she got her sea legs and I kept her distracted most of the day with new bones and toys. We were up and out of Rose Island by 0830 (after a beautiful evening, dolphin for dinner and a full moon! ). That was the optimum time to leave to put us on on the "dangerous Yellow Bank" for the best viewing of numerous coral heads! It took us about an hour to cross over the bank. The heads appear as dark black splotches in the crystal clear waters (the rumor has it the water is 30% clearer than your bath water!) so I stand on the bow and call directions for Jack at the helm. The first time you do it it is a little scary. Now that we are old hands at it - not so bad! Sunset on the beach at Highborne Cay, our first stop in the Exumas. Still eating dolphin......Highborne is a beautiful island with a marina and store and one cottage for rent. You can also get fuel and water and drop off trash - at $5 a bag! The various stores throughout the islands are serviced once a week by "the mail boat", a freighter that comes from Nassau with mail and supplies! Precious fruits and vegetables! We picked up some romaine for $7!! Time to start growing sprouts! We stopped into the marina to call home and report in that we were safely in the Exumas. Our cell phones don't work there so use a Batelco card (Bahamas Telephone Company). There are Batelco towers on some islands, but not all. Internet service is available at Highborne but only if you are in the marina. Winds were projected to be WNW the next day and we were anchored on the West side of Highborne so needed to move on and find protection. This chain of islands is located on the Bahama Banks on the West side and Exuma Sound (the Atlantic)on the East side. We have discovered that while cruising here the weather is EVERYTHING! We monitor various VHF channels for weather reports and listen to Chris Parker and his Caribbean Weather Service on SSB. You must often move from the West side to the East side and then back to the West side as the fronts clock around. Fortunately, we didn't have too much of that this year - because we left later, April vs. February. Last year we had 5 weeks of 25 knots or greater! We had only a little rain this year and mostly ESE winds 12-15 knots, perfect! But, since this little front was coming we headed to Norman's Cay and the inside anchorage there. Norman's Cay is the former home of Carlos Lederer and his cocaine cowboys! His airstrip is still used by the dozen or so families that have private homes there and it also services the one little bar/restaurant, The Norman's Beach Club formerly McDuff's. We made reservations for dinner - they welcome dogs! Hooray! And headed for the beach. Lovely dinner and Dakota made friends with the owner's dogs, Pepper, a chihuahua and Salt, a yellow Lab! And - we enjoyed getting our email on the free WiFi they provide to cruisers! Isn't that a nice touch?! That full moon continued to rise all orange and pink and gorgeous. Lots of new friends here, great hiking and shelling, clear, clear water - so easy to see those 6 foot black sharks!!! Will post some pictures now of these areas. One may need some explanation - it's our "upside down dog" asleep under the salon table after a long day on the beach! Also, please note the 2 rays swimming in the water on another picture!