Lucky for us,Tara is quite roomy down below since we have been cocooned down there for most of the day. We are still tied up in Orchid Bay Marina as rain squalls keep moving over us. We did get out to a lunch and coffee shop today with our umbrella held tight(everything got wet except our heads). The weather prognosis looks like we might here until Sunday. Then we can be on the move again towards Florida. We probably could leave earlier and have a less than pleasant transit up the chain of islands but why should we? We do not have a firm schedule and can make our progress when the weather is sunny and bright. I was looking forward to some fresh winds to propel us north and west on our course,but they say that once this weather system clears the winds might drop to nothing. Bring it on!! After days of winds in the 20’s a calm wind and calm sea would be Nirvana! We could cut our expenses and be at anchor but the holding around this particular island is fair at best,so we sleep soundly every night despite the expense of slip fees. We have met some wonderful people in the same situation and have become quite a community of cruisers,all waiting for the weather to settle down to proceed to our next destination. I only hope that this is not a portent of tropical systems this coming summer! I’m thankful that the rains are here in the Bahamas.They are as badly needed,as they are(or were) in Florida. Most residents here rely on the rains filling their cisterns to provide their water supply. If their cisterns run dry they have to purchase their water which can exceed $200/month for a family of four. $200 is alot of money for alot of people here. I no longer complain when marinas charge 35 cents a gallon to fill our fresh water tanks,and most of the marinas have their water filtered by a reverse osmosis system.

So, here we are having a great time despite the weather. It’s great to be here on our own vessel  and  to have our health so that we can enjoy this beautiful part of the world. So long for now.