After a couple rolly nights off of Grace Bay we moved further north a few miles. Nice enough spot, but the tour boats are relentless here—dozens upon dozens of them flying past all day long, to take the tourists to an “uninhabited” island. When we have to tell the kids not to swim more than 20 feet away from the boat, there is a problem.
It’s a nice spot early in the morning, though.
As I was getting ready to pull up the back anchor JoJo the dolphin showed up. JoJo is famous here—an Atlantic bottlenose that has been here since the early 80s. In 1989 the Turks and Caicos even declared him a “National Treasure.” He hangs around right off the beaches, and is well known for swimming with people, as well as for hitching a ride in boat wakes.
As I dove down to get the anchor he followed me and stuck his nose right in there to watch me do it.
Unfortunately, he took a hard hit from a prop just a few days earlier. He had three nasty cuts, with this one being the worst.
He swam in our wake as we moved a few miles further north to Pine Cay in an effort to escape some of the hullabaloo of Providenciales. After we dropped anchor he spent the next five hours swimming in circles around the boat.
He seemed to enjoy company in the water, but kept his distance. The one time I gave a few extra kicks to try and keep up with him he turned around and showed me his teeth while making a clicking noise. I took that as my cue to let him have as much space as he wanted.
It was pretty cool to have him with us for so long. Ali was worried about him, as he did seem sort of lethargic, the way he just slowly circled around and under the boat all day long. Have to imagine that—just like it would for us—an injury like he’s got has to sap his energy. We did find a blog post from a couple days earlier discussing his injuries, and mentioning that a vet that had seen pictures thinks he should be okay.
He was with us so long that eventually the novelty even began to wear off. The kids went about their normal play, and I worked on the dinghy engine.
The Pine Cay anchorage—a vast improvement from being out front of town.
19 Comments on “JoJo the Dolphin”
How fun! Great story to add to your adventures. Hopefully Jojo will bounce back from this injury. Fab photos as always. Lowe looks like a mini GQ model 🙂
Thanks, Mcgker. JoJo just had to be watchful of sharks that if knew he was injured would go for him. If he survived that, he would heal up and be just fine. Amazing dolphin to be around that bay for so many years.
And yes about Lowe. What a shot.
Living the jet-set life style, hanging out with the famous on your yacht!
Here’s hoping Jojo recovers fully and soon.
Always. And love the word, yacht. I will start using it more often when telling people about my (jet-set) lifestyle. I usually use the more boring word, boat. 🙂
Dear Pat and Ali,
Thank you for sharing your adventures! I discovered you because of the GB and was intrigued by Pat’s passionate 11 point defense of unschooling, which made me want to understand how you got to that point. I just spent two months reading the whole blog from cover to cover. My favorite comments were those who think you are just unaware that public schools are there for you. (Second fave topic was Pat dealing with police shakedowns!). When the school comments started I had noticed Ouest was already writing her name–the big goal of kindergarten! She and Lowe appear to be reading, writing, counting, and a whole lot more. The imaginations unleashed, the engineering, physical skills, social studies, history, biology, music, and art are all being absorbed constantly. No school could compare to their immersion education. They will be reassured to pass the homeschool tests, which will probably feel really easy, and may reveal a neglected topic along the way. Perfect!
I am an attorney representing our child welfare agency. I can assure you, you are the very best parents. None of us got owner’s manuals for child rearing, but time, attention, reading and doing things together are everything a child needs. Keep it up! I will now learn about investing, follow the blog, and dream of my own travels in 46 months (but who’s counting). Best regards, Beth
“I discovered you because of the GB and was intrigued by Pat’s passionate 11 point defense of unschooling, which made me want to understand how you got to that point.”
Do you mind linking that? I would say I’ve read 90% of this blog (but not many of the comments) and I’ve often wondered what they do. Didn’t feel like it was my place to ask as I’m sure they’ve gotten it hundreds of times, but if it has been posted somewhere already I’d love to read it.
Hi Stephen, We’ve never done a blog post on our schooling style but it was brought up in our comments. Here you go: https://www.bumfuzzle.com/calm-seas/
Hi Beth, Thank you for your comment. The way people come into our lives is something that amazes me.
We believe there is more than one way to do things, and as the comments show, not everyone is as open to doing things differently than what they believe is THE way. Which is good, because if everyone did/believed the same things — it would be very boring talking to anyone.
Pat and I never had a plan for our children – we never said, “we are homeschooling them” or “they are never going to go to public schools” or “that we are going to just travel in crazy homes for their entire lives”. It is just the way it has happened.
Here’s to 46 months!
There’s a book called “Voices in the Ocean” by Susan Casey. It’s all about dolphins, the good and the bad. It’s a great read. Glad you had fun with JoJo. Very special, indeed.
We are very fond of manatees as well.
Hi Franci! Will check it out, thanks for the recommendation. Are you in the Bahamas yourselves? Or was it June?
Poor Jojo. Hope he will recover well. I hate seeing injuries like that. Gorgeous spot, despite the tour boats. That water!
I watched him for hours, swimming in a figure-eight around our boat. You could tell he didn’t feel well, like animals kept in zoos, pacing around. Sad.
I still enjoy following along. Hopefully JoJo recovers well, they are suck social and curious creatures. Also X2 on Beth’s comments. Happy Trails, or sails? ( even though its not a sail boat) and safe travels!
Thanks, Jordan. I think JoJo will be okay and yes they are such lovely creatures. Say NO TO SEAWORLD!
Great photos! What an adventure… time is so so precious and you’ve invested it 100% perfectly. Our 5 daughters would love every bit of what you’ve posted. It reminds me of our (travel hacked) trip to Costa Rica last year. I took that 2 year hiatus from work that you mentioned on RPF podcast with Joshua Sheets. It changed my life, and my family’s…in such a great way. Gotta love the Chase gauntlet! Don’t stop adventuring! We are back in the “swing of things” as I work through another executive job, to save, invest, and prepare for the next adventure. We planned it well with a new baby on the team, 2 months old! Now I drive through traffic, put up with babysitting adults, reports, unnecessary conference calls, budgets that don’t make sense, all while escaping on my commute via podcasts filled with travel hacking, adventure, homeschooling, frugality, investing, saving, rental property development, and all things “lifestyle choicing.” I’m thankful for your time in making these posts. For whatever it’s worth, it’s made a dramatic impact on my life, and therefore my family’s. Thank you. Well wishes. All the best. Vaya con dios!
Wow, thanks, Chris. Your “11-point list” of why we have made the decisions we have – moves me. Glad you have found some escapes from it all, and that you are keeping on, keeping on, is life for so many. Pat and I are celebrating 21 years married today – good life choice right there. 😉
Happy anniversary! Y’all have a great day. Oh, and in answer to your question to Franci, she, Stephen, and I will be in Hopetown next Wednesday!
Hope you are having a great time!
Oh! Happy Anniversary! : )