The Exuma Land and Sea Park is a set of multiple islands along a 22 mile stretch, where there are wonderful anchorages, remote bays and fabulous beaches. We got a mooring ball at Warderick Wells and did a lot of snorkeling, grilling, hiking and stargazing.  Boo Boo Hill is a high point on the island where people leave remembrance signs. 

Dive pictures of the sunken plane in the cove by Norman Cay.  Norman’s Cay was used as a stopping point for drug transportation between Colombia and the US in the late 70’s and early 80’s. The operation was headed by Carlos Lehder of the Medellin Cartel.  The plane is a remaining relic of the era and the stories of how the plane crashed vary but there is a book you can read and of course Google will give it's opinion on the crash.  Anyway we snorkeled the site several times.  With the clear water and growing coral and fish, it was a super fun site. 

As we were anchored in the bay, we took the dinghy around to the Bank side of the island to MacDuffs for a great dinner.  The ride home was a bit darker and harder to navigate than we thought.  Could have stayed here for a lot longer but again the winds are changing so we have to move to find a safe harbor.  

Staniel Cay is a popular little slice of heaven.   A small marina and a couple grocery stores as well as a good restaurant at the yacht club where we had a couple lunches and dinner at.  Mark and Sue were able to enjoy Staniel for a day before flying out on a small plane to Nassau.
Beautiful beaches, the Thunderball Grotto cave (from the James Bond movie) to snorkel in, swimming and feeding the pigs (fyi, pigs do swim) and can't forget the sunsets.  I can take endless pictures of sunsets as each one seems to be the best during the moment.  I guess that's the way God intended it.  

After 3 nights we moved south & found a remote bay just north of Little Farmers Cay on Great Guana Cay.  The other 2 boats there were people were met along our travels so just us, HH sunset and beauty.  

High winds are back from the west and we luckily made it into Compass Cay Marina, which is one of a handful of protected harbors.  We spent 3 days waiting out the weather but had fun hiking and exploring, eating some wonderful fresh fish from the local fisherman and swimming with the nurse sharks.  

Joe, Karen and Sue spent one of the windiest days hiking to the far end of the island to see Rachels Bubble Bath.  With westerly winds, the bath wasn't bubbling that much but it was an adventure.  We are surprised by the ruggedness of the islands in the Bahamas.  The water color is the most amazing we've seen anywhere in our travels and the beaches are definitely some of the best.  So far we love the Bahamas!

Traveled from Bimini about 80 miles to Chubb Cay, part of the Berry Islands. We anchored with Mark & Sue at Frazers Hog Cay.

Highbourne Cay is the top of the Exuma Islands and we had another great weather window to travel and anchor at Highbourne.  They have a small marina and grocery so we grabbed a few items to replenish the supply (at a cost...).  The serene anchorage changed in the night as a storm came by and it wasn 't one of our better nights sleep.  Pulled the anchor early and headed south. 

Jan . 9-11th. Relaxed at in Coral Gables during some high wind days.  Errands, naps, pizza, Mexican Train Dominoes night, the Botanical Garden (including the butterfly garden, which was quite cool), then cocktails John and Nancy's, followed by dinner at the Coral Gables Yacht Club. On Sat the 11th, Norman toured the four of us around Miami and Miami Beach before Lees form Ft. Lauderdale.

Sun, Jan 12rth, Norman & Jody joined for the trip to South Miami Marina giving great narrative & history along the way. Later in the afternoon we got bikes and rode around South Beach awhile, then Joe's Stone Crab House and finally Salsa lesson at Mangos.

A 30 mile trip up the ICW to 17th St. Marina where Joe was attending the Association of Marine Industries Conference and Expo. This was his last meeting as Chair of the organization and we enjoyed hanging out with the Windmill crew and other St. Croix River marina people.  

With a very short weather window to cross to the Bahamas, we left on the afternoon of the 16th as soon as Mark & Sue arrived.  Julie Ulrick came to see us off and we arrived in Bimini in time to check into Immigration.  Late dinner at the Big Game Marina Grill.
The next morning the weather turned and the winds remained between 25-35 knots with higher gusts.  

We rented a golf cart and explored the island.  Lunch was traditional Bahamian pizza, which is lobster pizza, at  Edith's, a very local establishment. We watched the local fisherman shelling a large mound of conch shells. Conch salad is the local favorite here and our goal is to taste test and compare the recipes throughout the islands. Karen's birthday dinner at Resort World, the nice Hilton resort on the island.  

The Dolphin House is a local museum that is being built by Ashley Saunders, shown in the pictures and who was toured us through.  He started the project from scratch in 1991 and is using only found materials, including making his own cement from ground up conch shells and sand.  The dolphin theme came from a special connection he had while swimming with dolphins one day long ago.  He collects everything on the island to incorporate into his designs on the house.  He is just starting on the 3rd floor and each area has its own theme. He brings in light and fresh air by adding cut off bottles and installing them as windows. Quite impressive and it was fun to talk with Ashley about each artistic piece.  

Starting back in Naples, we arrived in a pretty good wind and anchored the first night before our extended stay at the Naples Yacht Club.  Our small but mighty dinghy was able to pull us off the shoal we landed on trying to find the way into the anchorage.  Fortunately all turned out well and the anchorage was beautiful and the surrounding homes were Very impressive!  We docked in Naples and flew home.  
Tom McCarthy joined Joe for the trip from Naples to Marathon.    Weather didn't cooperate so they made a dash before the extreme high winds kept them in port.  A bit of a rough ride for them but they got to explore Marathon and Key West.

Wonderful Christmas at home with the immediate and extended family.  Then the whole family plus Emily arrived in Miami around 8:30 pm on Dec. 27th and drove to Marathon.  A late nightcap on the back deck under the beautiful Christmas lit Faro Blanco lighthouse.   The next day we headed out late morning, under the bridge to the Sombrerro lighthouse to snorkel.  Waves got increasinnly larger as we went out and by the time we moored, we had good 4'er's.  A bit challanging to snorkle and/or be on the boat so we headed back into the gulf for a boat ride. We got back in and brought Nora swimming - she loved it!  Happy hour on the back deck and went to the only place we could get in for dinner, Seven Mile Cafe.  A Greek place with no Greek food left (late night rush the night before) and ok food but an interesting experience. Game night (Bang - a family fav).

Kids took the car to Key West as the winds were very high.  Joe & Karen got Nora!  Afternoon dinghy rides and after some rain we all went to Keys Fisheries for dinner, then more games.

December 30th - winds mostly down so we tried for a sandbar on the Atlantic side but still too rough so we cruised and anchored in the Gulf again.  Swimming, paddle boarding and relaxing.  Emily got stung by a jelly fish (but was alright after an hour or so).  HH on boat with some photo shoots followed by a delicious dinner at Keys Lobster & Steak.  ​

December 31st - Jacob and Emily left early and the rest of the crew spend a relaxing day reading, swimming and hanging out.  The early seating for the New Years special dinner at Faro Blanco was at 5 o'clock so afterwards we had plenty of time to people watch, play games and wait for the famous 'Anchor Drop' at Faro Blanco, which was of course right off our back deck.  The music and party were also very close so we just danced on the dock!  
We all made it to midnight, with the lucky exception of Nora, who slept through it all!.  

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Jan. 1, 2020.  One last day with the family here so we did on more day of cruising the Gulf area, site seeing, swimming and paddle boarding.  Weather has been unusually hot for Dec/Jan so we have been very lucky.  Next front arrives tomorrow and will stick around for awhile.  
Jan. 2nd - Sadly said goodbye to the kids and Nora.  A couple days in port to reorganize, work on the equipment and get ready to depart Marathon - now a forever favorite place of ours with so many great memories!

Ray & Michele Lee arrived late on the 4th, just as the weather changed and the wind went a little crazy.  No worries, we went to Key West via car.  Great pizza place at the Southern Most Cafe, then watched the Vikings game - well most of it (it was too stressful for some of us...).  
Another dinner at Keys Lobster and Steak - now Joe's favorite on the island.