ÿþ<!-- saved from url=(0054)file://E:\SplitWebsite\ladyoflorien.me.uk\page108.html --> <!-- Generated by Developer Tools. This might not be an accurate representation of the original source file --> <HTML><HEAD><TITLE>February-March 2009</TITLE><!--Serif WebPlus 8.0 HTML Export--><!--Supports HTML 4.0--> <META content=text/html http-equiv=Content-Type> <META name=Generator content="Serif WebPlus 8.0"> <STYLE type=text/css>#Footer-P { TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt } #Normal-P { TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt } #PPStyle5-P { TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0pt } #PPStyle7-P { TEXT-ALIGN: right; MARGIN: 0pt } #PPStyle3-C { FONT-FAMILY: Arial, sans-serif; COLOR: #0000bf; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-WEIGHT: 700 } #PPStyle4-C { FONT-FAMILY: Arial, sans-serif; COLOR: #0000bf; FONT-SIZE: 12pt } #PPStyle6-C { FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, serif; COLOR: #0000bf; FONT-SIZE: 12pt } </STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY leftMargin=0 link=#0000ff topMargin=0 bgColor=#ffffff text=#000000 vLink=#800080> <DIV style="POSITION: absolute; WIDTH: 508px; HEIGHT: 263px; TOP: 13px; LEFT: 13px"> <TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=508> <TBODY> <TR> <TD vAlign=top align=left> <P id=Normal-P><SPAN id=PPStyle3-C>February-March 2009</SPAN><SPAN id=PPStyle4-C><BR></SPAN></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=508> <TBODY> <TR> <TD vAlign=top align=left> <P id=PPStyle5-P><SPAN id=PPStyle4-C>The weather was not always kind in the Bahamas this winter and we found ourselves resident off Long Island for a long time with very strong trade winds. Even simple dinghy trips required full waterproofs and the skipper focused on the reliability of our 5 HP Suzuki 2-stroke outboard. This had developed a tendency to stall in rough seas and water in the carburetor float bowl was suspected.<BR>The outboard was brought safely to the steering binnacle and investigated. There was water in the bowl and all the jets were cleaned. The integral fuel tank and fittings (not in use) were completely blocked and corroding so these will be replaced in the winter. The result was a vastly improved engine with perfect reliability restored. Thoughts of replacement receded again and other items rose up the wish-list. We have to budget for new standing rigging soon...<BR></SPAN></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV> <DIV style="POSITION: absolute; WIDTH: 184px; HEIGHT: 123px; TOP: 13px; LEFT: 525px"><MAP name=map470><AREA <a href="Page108/SaltPond.jpg" target="new" alt="One of the old salt ponds on Long Island which are no longer in use" shape=poly coords="183,0 0,0 0,122 183,122 183,0"></MAP><IMG border=0 src="Page108/saltpondsm.jpg" width=184 height=123 useMap=#map470></DIV> <DIV style="POSITION: absolute; WIDTH: 184px; HEIGHT: 123px; TOP: 138px; LEFT: 525px"><MAP name=map471><AREA <a href="Page108/LimestoneTower.jpg" target="new" alt="A limestone tower on the east coast of Long Island" shape=poly coords="183,0 0,0 0,122 183,122 183,0"></MAP><IMG border=0 src="Page108/limestonetowersm.jpg" width=184 height=123 useMap=#map471></DIV> <DIV style="POSITION: absolute; WIDTH: 184px; HEIGHT: 123px; TOP: 271px; LEFT: 13px"><MAP name=map472><AREA <a href="Page108/LimestoneWhirlpool.jpg" target="new" alt="This perfect chamber has been formed by the circulation of the trapped stones in the base with the waves" shape=poly coords="183,0 0,0 0,122 183,122 183,0"></MAP><IMG border=0 src="Page108/limestonewhirlpoolsm.jpg" width=184 height=123 useMap=#map472></DIV> <DIV style="POSITION: absolute; WIDTH: 184px; HEIGHT: 123px; TOP: 271px; LEFT: 200px"><MAP name=map473><AREA <a href="Page108/LimestoneTower2.jpg" target="new" alt="Another of the limestone towers on the east coast of Long Island" shape=poly coords="183,0 0,0 0,122 183,122 183,0"></MAP><IMG border=0 src="Page108/limestonetower2sm.jpg" width=184 height=123 useMap=#map473></DIV> <DIV style="POSITION: absolute; WIDTH: 322px; HEIGHT: 259px; TOP: 268px; LEFT: 388px"> <TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=322> <TBODY> <TR> <TD vAlign=top align=left> <P id=PPStyle5-P><SPAN id=PPStyle4-C>We did lots of exploring on the east coast of Long Island on foot from Thompson Bay. The coastline is rugged with weed covered sand beaches and lots of flotsam and jetsam. In some of the bays there are huge limestone towers eroded into strange shapes and whirlpools caused by pebbles rotating in holes in the limestone with the action of the waves.<BR>There were some sheltered bays and on sunny days it was enough to encourage Angie and Harriet in for a swim. The Skipper and Skip were much more circumspect and happy to remain on lifeguard duty. Maybe another time they might be tempted...<BR></SPAN></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV> <DIV style="POSITION: absolute; WIDTH: 184px; HEIGHT: 123px; TOP: 396px; LEFT: 13px"><MAP name=map474><AREA <a href="Page108/EastCoastBeach.jpg" target="new" alt="Skip and Angie sitting on an east coast beach" shape=poly coords="183,0 0,0 0,122 183,122 183,0"></MAP><IMG border=0 src="Page108/eastcoastbeachsm.jpg" width=184 height=123 useMap=#map474></DIV> <DIV style="POSITION: absolute; WIDTH: 184px; HEIGHT: 123px; TOP: 396px; LEFT: 200px"><MAP name=map475><AREA <a href="Page108/MateDip.jpg" target="new" alt="Angie and Harriet went swimming" shape=poly coords="183,0 0,0 0,122 183,122 183,0"></MAP><IMG border=0 src="Page108/matedipsm.jpg" width=184 height=123 useMap=#map475></DIV> <DIV style="POSITION: absolute; WIDTH: 185px; HEIGHT: 123px; TOP: 524px; LEFT: 525px"><MAP name=map476><AREA <a href="Page108/OffRacoonCay.jpg" target="new" alt="The remote anchorage in House Bay off Racoon Cay" shape=poly coords="183,0 0,0 0,122 183,122 183,0"></MAP><IMG border=0 src="Page108/offracooncaysm.jpg" width=185 height=123 useMap=#map476></DIV> <DIV style="POSITION: absolute; WIDTH: 508px; HEIGHT: 262px; TOP: 522px; LEFT: 13px"> <TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=508> <TBODY> <TR> <TD vAlign=top align=left> <P id=PPStyle5-P><SPAN id=PPStyle4-C>Finally the weather settled in early March and we were able to set out for the Jumentos and Ragged Islands. These form a crescent south of the Exuma chain and stretch down to within 60 miles of the east end of Cuba. They have a reputation for remoteness and beauty with little shelter in the event of cold fronts passing through.<BR>The only access from the Exuma Sound area for boats of our draft is from Thompson Bay through the shallow Comer Channel. We passed through this at night and then through the northern Jumentos to the ocean waters of the Crooked Island Passage. We crossed the deep water and headed way to the south in the island chain and the Nurse Channel to the south of Channel Cay. The passage was a dead run all the way with preventer on the main and the genoa poled out to weather.<BR>It was a great sail and the Nurse Channel worked well for us. To the west of the islands we worked down to anchor in House Bay at Racoon Cay.<BR></SPAN></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV> <DIV style="POSITION: absolute; WIDTH: 184px; HEIGHT: 123px; TOP: 649px; LEFT: 525px"><MAP name=map477><AREA <a href="Page108/SaltPond2.jpg" target="new" alt="A salt pond behind House Bay" shape=poly coords="183,0 0,0 0,122 183,122 183,0"></MAP><IMG border=0 src="Page108/saltpond2sm.jpg" width=184 height=123 useMap=#map477></DIV> <DIV style="POSITION: absolute; WIDTH: 184px; HEIGHT: 123px; TOP: 779px; LEFT: 13px"><MAP name=map478><AREA <a href="Page108/StrangeBeans.jpg" target="new" alt="Beautifully coloured beans and pod on Racoon Cay" shape=poly coords="183,0 0,0 0,122 183,122 183,0"></MAP><IMG border=0 src="Page108/strangebeanssm.jpg" width=184 height=123 useMap=#map478></DIV> <DIV style="POSITION: absolute; WIDTH: 509px; HEIGHT: 132px; TOP: 779px; LEFT: 200px"> <TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=509> <TBODY> <TR> <TD vAlign=top align=left> <P id=PPStyle5-P><SPAN id=PPStyle4-C>There were few boats here and the main inhabitants were goats. The vegetation was quite different in places and we saw large cactuses for the first time. In the past the island contained salt ponds and salt was exported through Duncan Town to the south. Now the islanders visit only to shoot the odd goat for a feast - a bit worrying when you may be exploring the island at the same time. The beach on the east coast proved to be an excellent source of  sea beans .<BR></SPAN></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV> <DIV style="POSITION: absolute; WIDTH: 148px; HEIGHT: 30px; TOP: 916px; LEFT: 13px"> <TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=148> <TBODY> <TR> <TD vAlign=top align=left> <P id=Normal-P><SPAN id=PPStyle6-C><A href="page107.html">Previous Page<BR></A></SPAN></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV> <DIV style="POSITION: absolute; WIDTH: 149px; HEIGHT: 31px; TOP: 916px; LEFT: 285px"> <TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=149> <TBODY> <TR> <TD vAlign=top align=left> <P id=Footer-P><SPAN id=PPStyle6-C><A href="page109.html">Next Page<BR></A></SPAN></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV> <DIV style="POSITION: absolute; WIDTH: 167px; HEIGHT: 28px; TOP: 916px; LEFT: 542px"> <TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=167> <TBODY> <TR> <TD vAlign=top align=left> <P id=PPStyle7-P><SPAN id=PPStyle6-C><A href="index.html">Return to Index<BR></A></SPAN></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV></BODY></HTML>