Staniel Cay – should we stay or should we go

After getting up and checking weather for the next few days, we were a little undecided about how long to stay in this area. We definitely want to take time to explore, including some snorkeling, but the weather forecast over the next few days is a little unsettled. We could hang out here because it appears to be fairly well protected in any situation (it might require changing anchorages, but that is certainly doable). However, we are faced with the situation of having to be in Georgetown no later than 1/17. When we checked in through immigration in Bimini, they only authorized us to be in the Bahamas for 30 days. There has been some inconsistency with the Bahamian policy lately and different officials are giving authorization for different amounts of time – some for as little as 30 days and some for as much as 180 days. Unfortunately, our luck of the draw was only for 30 days before we have to request an extension. We tried to extend it in Nassau, but we hadn’t been in country long enough to extend (you have to request the extension within a few days of the expiration). Unfortunately, the only Immigration Office in the Exumas is in Georgetown. The next 2 days are supposed to have light wind, but increasing by Wednesday night. We don’t want to miss a good travel window, so we might head out tomorrow. Once we get the immigration thing taken care of, we will have a lot more flexibility. However, for now it is frustrating especially knowing that other boats that cleared the same day we did got 180 days. Oh well, enough about that.

We spent the day exploring, first by dinghy, and then later walked into town, had lunch, went to the Pink Pearl Grocery, the Blue Wing Grocery and the Isles General Store. We also bought bread from the “the bread lady”. She sells it from her kitchen. We met several other cruising couples and enjoyed sharing stories. In the evening we went back to the marina bar for happy hour, then back to the boat for a quiet night.

Some of the small islands in the Staniel Cay area

Resort on Fowl Cay -- bring money !!

Shoreline and caves (Thunderball Cave area)

More of the many caves in the area

Swimming pigs on Big Major's Cay.  If you bring
food, they swim out to the boat

Pigs returning to the beach.  These were huge animals.

Flowering palms

A bunch of bananas

Heading for the Pink Market

We came across a mother and her baby chicks -- cute

Heading for the Blue Market

Buying bread from the "bread lady".  This was her son
who was very friendly



The very yellow bread house



Enjoying ice cream at the General Store

Entering the Staniel Cay Yacht Club for happy hour