Well it had to happen eventually and today’s the day. Taua, the boat with Nicole’s friend Claudia on it left the marina. It’s been a sad day aboard Passages as Nicole’s 10 year old friend Claudia left the dock headed for the Exumas. We can’t go with them because our part still hasn’t come in and there is only a small weather window to cross from Abacos to Eleuthera so they decided to get out. I don’t blame them.
From where we are, in Marsh Harbor, you have to go out of the Sea of Abaco to get to the Exumas. In fact you have to go out of the “Little Harbor Cut” which is similar to the Whale. This means that the same weather conditions that impact the passage conditions at the Whale impact the Little Harbor Cut. Everyone has to wait for decent weather and good sea conditions to leave the Sea of Abaco and start off to Eleuthera or the Exumas.
Taua saw a two day weather window with North wind and a good sea state and they decided to go for it. We were all so sad to see them go. Peter and Boyd get along well and talk incessantly about engines, steering and all manner of boat stuff. I enjoy Monica’s company equally as she is such a gentle person, never flustered and very easy going.
After just a night and a morning without having Taua around I was already asking Boyd when we could leave just so we could catch up with Taua. Nicole missed Claudia that much. We started school and I found myself unable to offer the carrot, “As soon as you finish you can go play with Claudia” as I had just the day before. It’s probably the most difficult part of this trip, meeting people that you really like, not just interesting but fascinating people with whom conversation just seems to flows effortlessly and then moving on.
As tough as it is for us it’s harder for the kids as we can have the perspective that we will perhaps meet again, stay in touch, or meet someone else that is just as interesting, compatible or nice in the next anchorage.
Nicole was laboring through her school work as I went up on deck to hang out the laundry (at least the breeze taking Taua to the Exumas could dry some laundry for us). Can you imagine my surprise when I looked off our port rail to see what appeared to be Taua. Not willing to sound the alarm without being entirely sure I was right I put down the laundry and went to the cockpit to get the binoculars. Before I could get them out I became convinced that it was safe to announce the Return of Taua.