Bahamas Trip Week 2 – 4/30 to 5/5

 

Wednesday – Rainy day.  Tom helped Pete on Once Around with a “head” problem on his boat.  They used all the paper towels he had on board and even one roll we had.  They had a big #1 problem with the #2 business.    The wind was still here and the humid air made it feel like it could storm any minute – but today the storm never came.  The 3 couples got together in the Jib room and played dominos most of the afternoon, even Tom played today.   The Jib room hosted their weekly barb b q buffet.  The food was excellent.  The rib meat just fell off the bone, served with baked beans, potato salad and coleslaw.  We were entertained by one man “rake and scrape” band that played a saw.  Desmond then amazed us with his limbo dancing.  Our ankles and knees don’t bend that way.  He is 42 and we could not limbo like him when we were 22. 

Thursday – We pulled the dinghy up on the dock and Tom worked his magic on it to repair the davit attachment pad.  The glue has to set up for 2 days.  The girls want to shop, so Pete took them into town in his dinghy, with the idea that the guys would meet them for lunch.  We met at Snappas for fish.  Some then returned to the boats by dinghy and the others walked thru town and then a mile around the harbor back to the marina.  The town has a great hardware store and well stocked grocery store with great selection but with Bahamian prices (which means everything is much more expensive.)  Back at the boat we relaxed, read in the evening and basically did nothing.  The sail boaters have a habit of announcing sunset with the blowing of air into a conch shell which then makes a horn like noise.  The sound echoes across the harbor and is answered by other sail boaters.  A nice sound in the islands.

Friday – Beautiful Day.  Sun shining and winds are calm. The birds sing every morning and talk to each other.  If is a wonderful sound to wake up to! Tom changed the spark plugs in the outboards and worked on the rudders. Colletta cleaned the inside of the boat and tended to her chores. We enjoyed short walk, a dip in the pool and then Pete and Tom went snorkeling a on a small reef opposite the harbor.  A new chicken recipe was tried for dinner and the evening was enjoyable on the back deck of the boat. 

Saturday – Got up early to do necessary preparation for departure.  Tom unwrapped the clamps for the dinghy to find the davit attachment appeared to be solid.  Loaded the dingy on the boat and settled bill with marina.   Said good byes to Pete and Beverly on Once Around and departed at 0940. With a short uneventful trip to Man-O-War marina at 1100 we arrived to get the last available slip.  To our pleasure we discovered that Lollygagger was parked next to us – Mary Helen and Harvey from Tarpon Springs.  We explored the island and enjoyed lunch at Hibiscus Café (Chicken in da bag- a Bahamian specialty).  We shopped all of the stores because they are closed on Sundays.  The Albury family is famous for their boat building and has been on the island for generations.   We were also disappointed to discover that Lola, the bread baker, had retired at 80 years old.  No pastries for us.  Watched the Kentucky Derby on Sea Angel.  Cable TV is free in this marina if you borrow a converter box – maybe tomorrow.

An example of the lovely tropical flowers we saw

Sunday – Tom put dinghy in first thing this morning in preparation to go snorkeling.  Motor started right up and seemed to be running good.  We went to an unusual church service – started with good songs   and then the guest minister started “laying on of hands for healing” so we got out quickly.  We took the two dinghies to the north end of Man –of-War cay and anchored and went snorkeling.  This was a place that Peter and Nancy have been to before in which they found a lot of sea biscuits.  We found some this time too.

Sea Biscuits from our snorkeling

 

  A few fish around but mostly sea grass with a few starfish scattered on top.  We continued our adventures by exploring the south anchorage where a lot of boats were anchored.  Back at the boat Tom and I did prep work for dinner.  We serve pork tenderloin cooked on the grill and 2 kinds of potatoes.  Mary Helen from Lollygagger joins us and the five of us enjoy a delicious dinner with lively conversation.

Harvey and Mary Helen's boat Lollygagger. Sorry we missed Harvey

 

  The night cap included Pyrat rum and Tom shares with it with friends.  A wonderful evening.

The local grocery store and bakery.

 

Monday – Tom walked to check for fresh bread but none was available til afternoon so we said our goodbyes and proceeded to Hope Town.  We got in around noon.  We took Sea Angel’s dinghy and went across the harbor into town.  The only way to get to town is with a dinghy cause the marinas are one side of the harbor, town on the other, with a mooring field in-between so there are a lot of dinghies and small boats buzzing around. First thing we did was to walk the beach and stare at the beautiful blue ocean.   Strolled and shopped around the cute little town.  We stopped at Vernon’s grocery and got homemade bread and Nancy bought key Lime pie.  After dinner we went to Sea Angel and taught them how to play Racko.  We didn’t beat them too bad because afterwards they shared their key lime pie with us.  It was yummy with a traditional crust and meringue topping. 

Peter and Nancy from Sea Angel on a explore

Harbor at Hopetown with the lighthouse

Tuesday – The rain wakes us at 0230 with a continuous, hard downpour.  Slowly the wind starts to subside but the rain continues.  In the morning the clouds are gray, it rains in intervals and you can tell it will last all day.  The boats in the mooring field have all shifted and continue to shift around and point different directions throughout the day.  As we look at the striped lighthouse, the adjacent flag on the pole is completely limb due to lack of wind and weight of being wet.  Next time we look, it is waving in a different direction.  We think of going into town or for a walk only to hear the rain start up again.  A few boats come and go but mostly just the public ferries dropping off a few visitors but mostly working people.  Tom has crawled back in bed and is once again napping: its only 1100.  Finally by 1430, Tom gets up and the rain stops again but this time the skies get brighter.  We take our umbrellas and decide to walk over to the resort to look around and stretch our legs.  We explore a little and end up at the outside bar with Peter and Nancy joining us too.   After some conch bites and conch chowder we return to the boat and hope for a better weather day tomorrow. 

The beach at Hopetown