Cold Fronts and Swimming Pigs?

I am writing this post as we sit out yet another cold front.  This time we are at anchor at Black Point, Great Guana Cay.

This is located just a few miles south of Staniel Cay - home of the swimming pigs.  For our real-time location, please check out:
https://share.garmin.com/Midnightsunii  I think I will out a link to this on the side bar of this page.

This past week of so, we had a lot of fun with our sailing friends Brian and Patrick.  If you have seen any of our video, Patrick is responsible for the "It doesn't get any better than this!" clip, featured in many of my video!  http://www.midnightsunii.com/videos---cruises.html

We picked up Brian and Patrick in Emerald Bay.  Similarly, TraSea picked up Zach.  After sitting out a cold front - yes notice there is a pattern to all of this.......we set off north to see some of the local sights.

Wanting to visit Staniel Cay, we elected to stay on the dock there for a night.  This turned out to be a poor decision.  Although its a great location, the docks are high and pretty exposed to weather, facilities are slim, and the price is high.  And to top it off, the dock hand gave me bad directions as to where to dock resulting in Midnight Sun running aground.  No Boat US or SeaTow...and a falling tide called for some quick action.  Even with full reverse and bow thruster running the wind was holding us in shallow water.  one of the dock hands got in a fast boat and tried to pull us off - no joy; so we asked him to push our bow around.  He wanted to lean us with a halyard, but since we have a wing keel, I know this can just tend to dig us in further.  The push on the bow with revers and thruster worked thankfully and we made it back to the dock.  Anti-grounding rum failed me this time.  I did have one, but just put it down to not having enough!

Anway, we spent the evening at Staniel Cay and were able to get some provisions.  The following day we moved to a mooring ball located right adjacent to Thunderball Grotto - a spectacular cavern inside a rock that you snorkel into.  This was featured in the 007 Movie "Thunderball" - as the name suggests.  Inside, we saw spectacular fish and were able to feed them breadcrumbs and grapes.

Swimming in Thunderball Grotto

Now if I can get some stills from me GoPro, I will add a few here [post edit - photos added].  I got some great footage for the next movie........but that always seems to take a long time to get together.  If these cold fronts keep up, maybe I will get motivated to work on it sooner!

Looking up - Thunderball Grotto

Pig Beach - Big Major's Spot

From Thunderball, we moved the short distance to Big Major's spot.  There is a large anchorage there.  On the south end of this anchorage is the famous "pig beach" - home of the swimming pigs.  A little further north is a quaint little beach with picnic benches and decorations that i think has been built by cruisers.  We anchored fairly close to this as it made a good landing spot for Salty.  Further north is Fowl Cay and a resort are that can be easily accessed by dinghy.  We didn't venture there on this stop - but it looked nice and that likely translates to "expensive".......but i am sure we will check it out while we are in the neighborhood.

Yes - they do swim for food!

So after a few days of play, it was unfortunately time to start making our way back towards Georgetown in time for our guests to depart.  On our return, we elected once again to stop at Little Farmer's Cay.  We wanted to explore Oven Rock, located just north of Little Farmers.  We had stopped and explored tha actual rock on the way up, but were disappointed as we had heard of a cave....but we had not done sufficient research.

We thought this was the entrance to the cave.........but it is not.  The way to the cave involves walking anout 1/4 mile north up the beach, finding a trail that heads inland another 1/4 mile or so (marked by some stone mounds and a white marker)....and then voila!

Oven Rock Entrance

The cave entrance itself is spectacular and fairly well hidden by overgrowth.  But once you find it access is easy and safe.  I understand that you can scuba 700 feet back into the cave.....but not me!  I was happy to explore on foot.  We had taken headlamps so were able to access back probably 150 ft or so and yes, it was well worth the short hike over the gnarly coral path.

Stalegmites?

Rock Pool

Some of the rock formations were quite amazing.......and Salty found a source for a quick drink of fresh water!  Whoever had left that bucket there did it quite some time ago based on the lime formations in it.....but the water was fresh.

Cool looking secluded beach on the Atlantic Side

So after a day of caving - time to head back to Little Farmers.  This time we ate at the Yacht Club....but it was not as good as Ocean Cabin by a long measure.

After dropping off our guests, and another night in Emerald Bay, we headed north seeking shelter for the next cold front.  This time Black Point........and a day at the beach before hunkering down.