The Fisher King

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Entrepreneurial adventures of The Fisher King

When we were in Highborne Cay I thought Hmmm If I only had a bunch of these.

Entrepreneurial adventures of the young often come as lemonade stands. I once sold rocks at our yard sale. Mom says I'm such the "little salesman". Dad just smiles and shakes his head while I work on a deal. With all the fractions, percents, word problems in my boat school math (TT6) one thing leads to another. Before I knew it I had a great idea to offer everyone that reads our blog a chance to be part of the adventure (actually I found a way to make some spending cash for myself. Dad says part goes to resupply boat school). This will also make for a great school project before dad finds one I don't want to do.

The medium and large conch shells

As dad helped me put the shells into buckets of bleach water to clear out any left over smelly stuff we grouped them by size. We decided on 3 sizes just like drinks at McDonalds. Small for $20, Medium for $30 and the Largest ones for $40. Payment can be made to Paypal at hartgeh23@msn.com. Please state your order request and make sure the shipping address is correct (USA only at this price). If you wish you can just send an email and we can send you an invoice from Paypal. Shipment will be once I am in the US again.

Small conchs at $20.00 shipped

Medium conchs at $30.00 shipped

Large conchs at $40 shipped

If you have been entertained by my catching fish & sharks, falling off the dock and other shenanigans this is a better deal than going to the movies.

Or you can think of it like being hit up to buy magazines, flowers or chocolate from the local school. If you buy magazines from the school the school gets x%. The students get rewards based on sales also. Even the Boy Scouts sell popcorn and the Girl Scouts sell cookies. Since I am not pushing candy, popcorn, flowers or magazines I think you can at least buy one Helmet Conch shell to keep you relaxed while at work.

The items on the top of the list are:

School Supplies
Bikes (Since someone stole our bikes!)
Fishing Supplies
Kayak (I need my own dinghy)
Ice cream

I never realized how expensive what dad calls operating costs were. Shipping from one place to another is just too much. Trying to find boxes or buying boxes, packing material and tape are expensive. The time and materials to clean the shells and get them ready was more than I expected. I think I understand why dad just smiled and shook his head at the idea. Even the credit card people want a percentage!

Buy some Conch!
The Fisher King

North Bimini

Bahamas Bank

Morgans Bluff

We left Highborne Cay and skipped Allens Cay. Going straight to Morgans Bluff. Dad and I sailed for seconds before I went below with nothing to do on tho of nothing to do. So I tried to take a nap. I managed it for a minute the the rock of the boat was annoying. Dad made lunch after that I think I put the rods out. So later I watched TV. Dad made dinner and after that the day seemed to pass.

So the next morning I woke up dad was sailing. I was bored! I tried to go back to sleep but that failed. Dad said I can't watch TV because we needed to save power. So I went back inside and got bored, came back out side. Dad said there is something wrong with the auto pilot. Now we have to steer manually. I steered for a bit before I went back inside too take a nap. I came back outside sat in the chair for a while. LAND HO! Morgans Bluff.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Highborne Cay

Highborne Cay Marina

W made it to Highborne Cay. We anchored in the anchorage then rowed to the marina for food and water. We also got drinks and payed for internet. After that we got another soda and walked to the other side of the island but thought it was to far to the beach. By the time we got back to the dinghy it got caught in the surf. We spent the past 20 minutes bailing out the dinghy, finding flippers, gloves and putting everything on the swim platform. Cleaning the dinghy and putting every thing back in and rowing back to shore.

A nice can of relaxing soda

At these prices I could make a fortune, must get more shells

Local cleaning the daily catch

Feeding time

I caught a grouper on a sabiki rig

The next day we went to the internet but the price was bumped up to $10 for 30 minutes. Instead we got drinks and I got a pack of gum. We then walked to the other side of the island. It was not as far as we thought it was. So we walked on the beach and looked around for anything interesting. So we walked back to the end and walked on the rocks. I picked up a shell (West Indian Top Shell) and it was still alive. It's sucking mouth sucked on my finger, it was cool. After that we went back to the dinghy and then we went snorkeling. We saw reef sharks, nurse sharks and grouper. I even saw a giant sting ray. I also found a flame helmet conch. Dad shot a grouper with his sling. Os after that we ate dinner.

Trail to the beach on the windward side

Highborne Cay Beach to the North

Highborne Cay Beach to the South

After dinner Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. We caught a shark Pull! Reel! Pull! Reel! She got under the boat and caught on the keel.There is no way we can get her out now! Pull! Reel! Pull! Reel! We are gaining line! She made another run. She finally let us move. So we moved to the other side of the boat and freed the keel. Pull! Reel! Pull! Reel!. We got her to the top of the water. Se made another run and we did it all over again. I named her Lolli ("lollipop! lollipop! Oh lolli lolli...")

I caught this at the same time as the one below. Two rods two fish.

Pull! Reel! Pull! Zing!

Pull! Reel! Pull! Come on Lolli

Pull! Reel! Pull! Zing! Pull! Reel! Come on Lolli

Hello Lollipop!

I'm the man! I'm the man! I am the Fisher King!

The Fisher King

Normans Cay

(We stayed at Normans Cay two times)

We made it to Normans Cay and anchored for the second time. Dad and I were hungry so we went to McDuff's and had a hamburger and a soda. After we ate we went for a walk to the other side of the island. There are a lot of little shells here. Dad said we will come over here tomorrow and snorkel.

The next day we went over to the side of the island and got a lot of conch. We went over to some little islands in the middle and at one we snorkeled. Dad stayed in the dinghy until we got out of the current. But I was out and it was hard to get through it. We shot a grouper so we got lunch.

After dad got out he said to get out of the water so I did. (onto a shallow rock) He came and got me. He said he got me out of the 8 foot sharks. So we left with all the sharks and barracudas following us.

After all the excitement it was nothing but clouds for days.