Good weather and internet finally!

Sign post on Volleyball Beach, Georgetown.
Bottom sign points to Today Show, 1080 miles

We have been having fun in Georgetown but the wind has been very strong almost every day.  Our most difficult night on anchor was when the winds started gusting over 40 knots.  We think the anchor may have slipped a little but ultimately our 45 lb Manson Supreme anchor held our 24,000 lb boat securely for the night.  Now when it's blowing 25-30 knots we are much more relaxed when we hear the loud whistling of the wind through the rigging!

Maryanne's happy to finally swim and snorkel
off a beach.

We participated in the fun and games at the Georgetown Cruisers Regatta Week.  Maryanne was happy to discover that she could do a creditable job of playing bocce in the tournament.  I got lucky with a good partner and made it through the initial match ending up in the semi-finals and the championship match.  I am now the proud owner of a Georgetown Regatta first place flag and a fifth of rum - prizes for a first place bocce finish!

We have been taking hikes across Stocking Island.  Maryanne finally got a chance to swim off a beach after one of our hikes.  All our swimming prior to this has been off the boat.

Maryanne at Chat 'n Chill with Hugh, a talented local cruiser,
giving a concert on the deck behind her.

We had a nice surprise today.  For only the second time since we arrived here the wind was mild.  We moved our boat over to the other side of the harbor and filled our water tanks using our five 5 gallon water jugs.  Our tanks hold about 160 gallons of water - that means we have to make many, many trips to fill our tanks!  We bought groceries at the Exuma Market and carried 5 gallon diesel fuel jugs from the gas station to our dinghy to fuel up Symphony.

Maryanne on the jungle path to the other side of Stocking Island.
You should see her climbing up the rocky path!

Chuck standing in a heart on the "Table" a rock formation on
Stocking Island below Monument Hill

Our other good news for the day came from Chris Parker who is forecasting a break in the strong winds this weekend.  We'll have some rough weather tomorrow but this weekend we should be able to sail out Conch Cut into Exuma Sound and up to Cave Cay or Galliot Cut to get back onto the protected Exuma Banks.  Ultimately, we're hoping to sail back up to Warderick Wells and then back out onto the Sound to Eleuthra.   If all goes well we should be able to sail north to the the Abacos.