Penquin and Vulture, Hooper's Bay, Georgetown, Exuma

Seashell with Thunder aka Rocky or Potcake...because he only knows us when he needs us!

It is hard to believe we have been in this house for a year and the next phase of our journey is upon us. Last February, we had an offer from our friend in England to stay at her house, located 3 miles from Georgetown, while Danny was convalescing from surgery, radiation and chemotherapy for colo-rectal cancer. Having had to leave the boat here for quite sometime, we had a lot of repairs and TLC before she would be ready to sail. The offer was a blessing, and although the work that was required to keep up a five-bedroom, three bath house was at first undaunting, it  quickly became the very healing and spiritual environment that we both needed. It has been a lot of hard work, but the rewards have been many. 

Approaching Penquin & Vulture from the Queen's Hwy

Approaching from Hooper's Bay

View from our balcony

From the back patio we watch boats enter and depart the notorious Conch Cay Cut. We watched fourteen boats depart the harbor this morning and another 5 come in this evening.

Hooper's Bay -- The best beach on Exuma!

The beach at Hooper's Bay that has been our gymnasium.What a year we had here!

Our first visitor was only here for a few days, but she arrived from Atlanta only two short days after our arrival and just in time for the Georgetown Family Island Regatta 2011.

Class B racing sloop built by Captain Leslie (Buzzy) Rolle

We spent the next six weeks preparing the house for the arrival of our seven cousins from Pennsylvania for ten days in June. We had the most outrageous time here swimming, sunning, sailing and slamming back a lot of Kalik's, the official beer of the Bahamas, and the drink to choose when you choose not to drink... as proclaimed on Danny's favorite t-shirt from the Same Ole Place in Barratarre (as modeled below).

Seashell and Danny

We were able to cross the harbor and climb the monument on Stocking Island, spend a lovely day at Chat n Chill swimming with the stingrays and swimming in Hooper's Bay with some dolphin's who at first were unfortunately mistaken  for sharks.

One of these dolphins has been in these waters for the 16 years we have been coming here. She is called Nicki because of the nicks on her fins. She now travels with her mate and two pups.

 The highlight of their stay was definitely when 13-year-old Tyler landed a 42 inch barracuda weighing approximately 30 pounds. He is still the reigning champ aboard OPA, but I'm positioning myself to take over that title somewhere on our journey to the U.S.A.

AWESOME CATCH, TY with your proud PAPA!

The climb to the monument. This was once a marker for the U.S. Naval base.

Our next guests arrived from Tampa for a week in July and at that time, both the sailboat engine and dingy motor were out of commission. Fortunately, we had a car and were able to take them to some very beautiful beaches on the island of Exuma. (still waiting on these photos, Jon)

We were here for hurricane Irene in late August which was one of the most exciting things we have been through thus far. OPA, our 41 ft. Morgan Out Island and our home once again,  faired extremely well, although she did have her two anchors ripped out when the eye passed over and switched directions. The wind generator was ripped from the location where it was welded to the mast in the 130 mph winds that we experienced. We were fortunate, as she ended up only a few feet away from the huge window panes of Kevalli house, a beautiful home within the hurricane hole on Stocking Island. The owner called and jokingly informed us that we were double parked. With the exception of some roof damage to the house and mountains of debris to be disposed of, Penquin and Vulture remained pretty much unscathed. The dinghy was pretty brutalized and ended up a few houses down the beach. We did some serious manuevering to get the dinghy far enough up the beach until our return from the states when Danny would rebuild it.

Videos from Hurricane Irene August 24, 2011

This was about 6 hours before the eye passed and nowhere near the 130 we ultimately experienced after that brief period of silence and then the wrath. We were without power for 5 days which was probably the worst thing we had to endure. 

Only half of it's fury...

 We spent the next two months in Tampa, Florida, with our dear friend Debbie, two foreign exchange students, one horse, 3 cats, 2 birds, up to 4 dogs, a short visit with her Aunt and our last days at the ranch with her very sweet mom. We celebrated my birthday and Thanksgiving among friends and family and my baby sister got married. Congrats, Billie Jo and Rob.

We all lived in splendid harmony.

Play from Thailand and Karol from Czech Republic

We returned to Georgetown with Danny's brother Chris.

Having a cold one with the boys.

 We had three wonderful weeks with him and during his stay,  the brother's bonded while rebuilding the dinghy. We were able to find a really sensational deal on a used 8 hp motor which continues to start first time, everytime...a true blessing, as it will virtually become our car.

Our favorite little visitor!

We got the exciting news in February that Lorraine, the owner of the house, would be visiting us for two weeks. She came with her daughter and 2 year old grand-daughter. It was quite the social event as a lot of our friends have remained the same over the last 16 years and we had plenty of themed-dinner parties in a variety of wonderful settings.

Trinnity Brown and Lily 

Seashell, Lorraine and Danny at our favorite spot..."Tino's at the Fish Fry"

New Friends

They have since departed and we are now focusing on giving OPA the TLC that she most certainly deserves. It will definitely be with sadness that we leave this beautiful home that has been the source of many happy memories since we first met Bert and Lorraine back in 1995. It's been a wonderful year, but in the words of Captain Ron...it's time to kick some tires and  light some fires!!!!