Phew! Made it. We dropped anchor on 3^rd January, this fresh decade, just to the east of Thunderball Grotto, Staniel Cay in the Exumas. Our friends flight didn’t arrive until 4.30pm so we had a good five hours to spare to be frivolous and prepare for their arrival. Plenty.

I don’t doubt they were looking at Grace’s previous locations on the US coast and thinking, they’re never going to make it. They undoubtedly mused what are our options for accommodation if these tardy mariners don’t turn up?

The quietly manic push to get to Staniel Cay played out favourably and we came out ahead. Just. Days rolled with early starts and nights at sea. We had a fast boisterous crossing of the Gulf Stream. We squeezed in overnight stops at Manjack in the Abacos and Half Moon Bay on Little San Salvador. The Manjack stop coincided with New Years Eve and a gathering of friends at a bonfire on the beach.

The Half Moon Bay stop was restful and quiet. We did set the alarm for 4am the next day to get us to Sean Connery’s previous haunt in mid morning. All tickety boo.

Patti and Jenness arrived full of vim and vigour. They’d left a chilly New Hampshire and their beloved dogs for a week away in warmer climes. It’s great to have them on board, to share our home in a blue blue place.

Yesterday we snorkelled, meandered the metropolis that is Staniel Cay, watched the nurse sharks being fed dinner as a bunch of fishermen cleaned their catch and learnt a new card game, 3-13.

The plan over the next week is to explore a little of the Exumas. It’s pretty windy just now as a cold front goes over us. Dave was up at 5am checking on stuff and making sure the anchor was solid. I supported him admirably from a horizontal position in bed.