3/8/09 - Happy Birthday, Captain Wayne!

Staniel Cay Yacht Club

Saturday we took a slip at Staniel Cay Yacht Club, one of only two sailboats docked here with many power yachts.

We walked around "town," and eventually made our way to Isles General Store, hoping to find ice cream. No one was minding the store, so we waited awhile, then headed back. Just down the road there were men rebuilding a bridge, with more men standing around watching, seemingly oblivious to the fact that we wanted to pass. As we politely started to elbow our way through, one of the bridge workers asked if we wanted something from the store and motioned to us to follow him back there. He unlocked the door to let us and another customer in, then disappeared. We didn't find anything irresistible anyway, so we left.

We knew where we COULD find something irresistible: the "bakery." On our way up we chatted with a couple who had just bought some gorgeous, freshly baked cinnamon rolls. We found the roughly-hewn plywood sign that said "bread" on the corner next to a yellow house and figured this must be it. And indeed it was! We were tempted by the last loaf of coconut bread, but not much. We each walked out with two cinnamon rolls (they were small!), quite happy to have not found ice cream.On our way back to the boat, we stopped and talked with Ray, owner of Staniel Cay Divers. He lives here on his boat with wife, Michele, a 24-year old son, and an 18-month old son. Ray is from Arizona (originally Iowa) and Michele is from California; he's a paramedic and she's a nurse. In 2004 Ray accepted a job in St. Johns, BVI, but they only got as far as the Exumas and have been here ever since. They started the dive operation last summer and have their son and one or two others working for them. We thought about going diving, but at $180 per person, decided to skip it. Ray is a really nice guy, though, all safety-minded with his paramedic training, and he has one of the nicer dive boats we've been on. It's easy to remember their names because mine is Michele Rae.

We went up to the yacht club for happy hour to take advantage of drink specials and complimentary appetizers. They also had live entertainment - Ray and his son are in the band.

Guest cottages

Because today is Wayne's birthday, we made reservations for dinner. They have one seating at 7:00 and you must put your order in by 5:00. Wayne and I shared a cracked conch dinner, served with conch chowder, fresh bread, coleslaw, potatoes, beans, and strawberry cheesecake or apple pie for dessert. $28 for everything, including gratuity. We were glad that we shared it.

We're headed back to anchor at Big Majors when I finish here; this afternoon we will snorkel at Thunderball Grotto, a spectacular skylit underwater cave that was featured in the James Bond movie of the same name.