Back at Sand Dollar Beach

Yesterday evening, we dinghied over to S/V Cadence to enjoy drinks, food and lively conversation with Rob and Chris as well as Kevin from S/V Kiana, a Amel boat. They are all friends from New Hampshire with many years of cruising experience.

After our social outing, we returned to Mantra to work. I finished cleaning the area exposed by the removed panels and then Peter reattached them, which took us a couple hours. Our bedroom was back to being shipshape.  It was another late bedtime; both of us fell right to sleep in the calm waters of Red Shanks Anchorage.

By this morning, the wind was finally down below 15 knots and we decided to join the crowd back at Sand Dollar Beach. First, however, I cleaned, sorted and reshelved the books in the bookcase, getting rid of a few duplicate and outdated item. Then I continued to clean the saloon and put things back in their proper places. Meanwhile, Peter had to put away tools and clean up the nav table, the forepeak and the engine room where his work had led to disarray. 

Everything back in its proper place

Before leaving Red Shanks, we dinghied over to the beach on the east side of Moss Cay, looking for the sanderlings and snails we had seen a few days ago before the wind and rain kept everyone on their boats for a few days. We got the dinghy up on the plane to go through the cut, and both of our hats blew off. After retreiving them, we hauled the boat up on the beach and tied it to the roots of a casuarina. At first we didn't spy any birds, and I despaired that they were not there at high tide, but we encountered them as we walked south. I had to wade in the waves gently slapping the jagged rocks to find the snails. The chitons were not visible, hidden beneath the water level.

Sanderlings

Sanderlings searching for food

Peter walking on the beach

Colorful snails

Snails firmly attached to the limestone

With our hats safely tucked down low in the dinghy, we returned to Mantra. As Peter got ready to leave, I did more cleaning in the saloon and galley. It took us about an hour to reach our new spot. I made us a quick lunch of penne pasta mixed with sauted red onion, garlic and carrot and tossed with sundried tomatoes. Then, it was back to cleaning! The floors had felt sticky for days and days, and my feet could bear it no longer. I banished Peter to the pilot house and thoroughly cleaned it on my hands and knees, getting into every corner and dusting vents low on locker doors as I worked my way from forward to aft. Then I cleaned the aft cabin and made the bed in preparation for our friends Lori and Germán, who will arrive on Monday. 

Before Russell from S/V Blue Highways and Stephen from S/V Falco arrived at 4 p.m. to chat with Peter about single side band radios, I prepared dip and julienned carrots as well as a bowls of pita chips and green grapes for our guests. I sat around with the three of them for general conversation and then removed myself to the foredeck with a seat and a book when radios became the topic of discussion.

Peter is now busy working on unlocking and programming our single side band radio so he can get wider use from it. I will make a couple grilled cheese sandwiches, and that will be our late dinner. Then it will probably be early (or earlier) to bed. Unlike in Red Shanks, the waves are gently rocking us here in Elizabeth Harbour.