Still in the Turks and Caicos

Well, we never did leave; we’re still here!  On the day we were going to depart, we checked the weather forecast one last time, at 5:30am, and the winds had strengthened to over 15 knots; right on the threshold of ‘do we go?’ or ‘do we stay?’  We elected to stay put and wait, because “when in doubt, don’t go out.”

We also chose to stay at South Side Marina, a splurge for us.  WiFi, real showers, and a bed that doesn’t move with the ocean swells – heaven.  It’s been restful.

We’ve skyped with the kids and my sibs – so great to ‘see’ everyone and catch up. 

South Side Marina hosts a Wednesday BBQ & pot-luck which is open to everyone – cruisers, visitors & locals. Great food and great fun.  ‘Played bochi ball for the first time.

Wednesday's BBQ & potluck was held at Bob's Bar

(he also owns the marina)

those are hotels in the distance

we're hiding in the shade

We’ve done a little sightseeing. The ocean side of this island is lined with resort hotels and condominiums, and their beach umbrellas. There is a ‘snorkel trail’ in Grace Bay, that is accessible from the beach. There are underwater sign posts to identify corals. Neat.

 sign for Snorkel Trail on Bight Reef, right off the beach

....leave only bubbles and footprints....

 cotton grows wild here

 blue cheeked ducks

 I counted 17 kids in the back of this truck -

all going to play soccer!

A weather window for moving eastward appears to  have opened for Saturday-Sunday-Monday. Our revised plan is to take advantage of it to travel to Ocean World in the Dominican Republic. Vitali, captain of Relentless, the 22’ retractable keel sailboat with a 10HP outboard;  our neighbor in the marina, has the same plan. It’s not often that we travel in the company of smaller boats.