Staniel and the Piggies

We left out of Compass this morning and had an amazing sail for about an hour and a half...6.8 knots all about the sails-no motors. Ten times better than a cup of coffee for a morning pick me up!

We decided to anchor on the west side of Big Majors to avoid any current related drama off Staniel. Plus it's a hugely popular anchorage and we have honestly never anchored with so many other boats--ever. But there's good room and we can see the beach and the piggies.

That was our first stop with crackers, apples and carrots at the ready. Ok yep they were cute and two of them are huge! I kept thinking about the white sow in the Outlander novels haha! It was fun and I need to buy more treats and go back before we move on.

We rounded the Cay to Staniel where we discovered Isles General Store was closed. Duh, it's Sunday. So onto the yacht club for lunch and a island beverage ;-) after lunch we walked around a bit to find the other two grocers and see the airport.  Then a dinghy ride past Thunderball Grotto on the way back to the boat. We plan to go back over tomorrow for light provisions and mostly to snorkel at Thunderball.

Keeping fingers crossed for decent weather...winds are supposed to go up the the 20's for the next week and we see some thunderheads to the north.  Such is boat life and we will make it work somehow. 

Did I mention the piggies...cute!

Day Two...

We listened to the weather and went back to bed...wind will pick up tonight so boy am I happy this monohull anchored right next to us in this huge open anchorage.  Anyway we did go back and feed the pigs after breakfast. Well one pig who was actually swimming so I think he earned the waiver blueberry pancakes ;-)

Then we went ashore for provisions...rum, tequila and wine. Oh and fruit and some fresh veg.  Then back to the boat for lunch and relaxing before we head back out to Thunderball Grotto.

OMG!!!! We just got back from Thunderball Grotto.  Since there are no words to truly describe how amazing it was… Here are some photos and even they don't do it justice.  It was mesmerizing, awe-inspiring, joyful, and so many other adjectives that escape me now.  It was absolutely worth staying another day and an absolute "must do" excursion here!!

That splash at the end is Mark jumping in from the opening at the top. We have great video of Jon doing the same and will upload when we can. Poor Mark didn't get video because his girlfriend blew that.

Now we are capping off a beautiful day by barbecuing fresh Mahi Mahi and drinking a lovely French Pinot Noir while we listen to sea birds and INXS and wait to watch the sunset.  Jon told me to say that he protested the music--I mean, Jon protested the music ;-) 

Have I already mentioned how life is a gift?! Thank you Universe!!