The pigs are still swimming

[PELLUCID]

Yes, I know, the pigs are in the Exumas and not the Abacos. But enough cruisers get down here that I thought folks would like to know... the swimming pigs at Big Major's Spot (near Staniel Cay) are fat & healthy. This guy would have climbed into my dinghy, if he could have.

[SamFamAustin]

Man, that 4th picture gets me - he looks so smart.

[Patti Puzo]

Thanks Bob.... they are amazing! Good thing it's salt water... must help with their buoyancy.
Are you glad to be back in the islands?
Patti P.

[GROUPERPAL]

Exuma is one of my top spots that I must get to..Just to see those pigs! Everytime I come close to booking a trip I end up back in Abaco. Abaco may not have pigs but, it wins out every time!

[DrRalph]

In 1965 my Grandfather took our family on a "windjammer" style cruise of the Central Bahamas, which included a stop at Staniel's Cay. (You can read about part of the adventure in Another Bahamian Bedtime Story (http://www.drralph.net/AnotherBedtimeStory.html)). Our sailboat, the catamaran Tropic Rover, had two tenders, and one morning after anchoring near Staniel's, the tenders took about 30 of us to the dock near the settlement.

When it came time to leave, a large pig wandered out onto the dock and sort of sniffed at us. She was a large sow, at least 300 pounds, very friendly, as we shall soon see. My brother, age 10, had just worked up the courage to pet the pig when a dog ambled up, sniffed the sow, and mounted her from behind, to the delight of the locals, and to my mother's horror. She snatched my brother away from the sow just as they were "bonding;" he was very upset. My grandfather, ever at the ready with his cameras, captured the entire scene on his Super 8 movie camera. The last thing I heard my brother say to my mother as he was being whisked away was, "Mom, what was that dog doing to that pig?" Talk about great moments in cinema!

[SamFamAustin]

I may never be able to get some beer and go "bond with the guys" again! :eek:
/sammie

[patw]

Hey Dr. Ralph. Sidney has seen the Tropic Rover and been on the deck of her. He says it was used in the James Bond movie, Thunderball.

[BahamaBec]

There are pigs in the ocean????:confused:

I hope you guys knew I was asking that to be funny - I am not THAT blonde!!!!!

[CR]

They live on land, and swim out to beg for food.

R.

[BahamaBec]

Here I've spent months researching Abaco and have seen hundreds of really cool pics.
Just when you think you've seen it all.....................................

What a hoot - to have a PIG swim up to your boat!

[DrRalph]

Hey Dr. Ralph. Sidney has seen the Tropic Rover and been on the deck of her. He says it was used in the James Bond movie, Thunderball.

Actually, Thunderball had just been filmed a few months before we visited Exuma, and they took us to the cave that was featured in the film. One of the mates swam in first and flushed out a large hammerhead, kinda interesting....

I didn't know the Rover was in the flick, but it was certainly in the neighborhood at the time the movie was being filmed. She was a sailing catamaran, 150' by 35', 325 tons, shallow draft, perfect for the Bahama Banks. There was a tiny room in the port hull that faced amidships, it had a thick glass window so you could look out and see the water between the hulls. When we were pulling into a shallow anchorage, the mate would sit at the window and call out the depth to Captain Syd Hartshorne over a crude intercom. I was 15 at the time, my brother and I used to sit down there and watch the bottom go by as we cruised. Great memories.

[PELLUCID]

Great stories Dr. Ralph. And to Patti, yes I am always happiest when I'm in the islands!

The Staniel Cay Yacht Club has changed little. Still the same tin roof, casual dining, pictures of the Thunderball film crew on the walls.

I arrived in Georgetown today. I needed to get Internet access for some business stuff, so I went to the marina to inquire about wi-fi access. The dockmaster said I had to see Perez, down behind the fuel dock. "You can't miss him, he's a Rasta mon, wears a turbine."

Fortunately, Perez wears a turban. Unfortunately, his wi-fi network hiccups every few minutes, and I have to reset my wireless gateway. I think Internet technology is not quite as advanced here as it is in the Abacos.

[Abacoparrott]

from you Pellucid.......even if you are in the Exumas. Your posts are always interesting.......Ken

[SamFamAustin]

And Pellucid, what is wrong with having a turbine on your head? I used to have a special hat for the hot weather - it had a built-in mister and a small turbine to cool you off. We're not talking propellers here! :p

[GROUPERPAL]

I am curious as to how Exuma/Staniel Cay compares with Exuma. Are there rental homes and boats available? Dive shops with rental gear and air refills? Grocery store? I am spoiled with everything being so convenient in Abaco...but, I'm itchin to see those pigs...:D

[PELLUCID]

There are a few rental houses, and rental boats, available at Staniel. But the Pink Store and the Blue Store will come as a real shock to those accustomed to the well-stocked groceries on any of the cays in the Abacos. I think the yacht club may do tank refills but I am not sure.

The Exumas are definitely more geared towards the self-sufficient! Abaco may not be for sissies, but it has a lot more infrastructure, and a lot more amenities, than any of the other Family Islands. Not to say you shouldn't vacation here... just be prepared for more of a "roughing it" experience.

[edk]

Are these pigs pelagic or demersal when considering the new fishing regulations? It makes a big difference. :D

Ed