It really is the people.
We’ve met more cruisers who have all been really nice and providing lots of advice, tips and tricks along with reinforcement that we’re doing just fine. The women have taken me under their arm and the men have given Kevin advice and reassurance that all boats have problems. Today I went to a ‘convenience store’ to buy a few items (milk, bread, eggs) a few staples easy to find in the states. A fellow cruiser and I walked the short distance and she helped me through the store, told me what was good, what I’d find all over the Bahamas, and most of all to always be nice and friendly the Bahamians. The women are the backbone, the bakers, the restauranteurs, the store managers. They all wear skirts, dresses or long pants (hint on a dress code) and friendly and willing to help. I also found out how to keep the head and drains smelling nice, a home-made/non-toxic solutions for head hoses and how to cook rice without blowing through all our fuel. All things we take for granted in a nice cozy home with a Wal-Mart or Safeway around the corner.
What did I buy? 2% milk (no skim), eggs, fresh baked Bahamian bread, soup, rice (know that I know how), the nice smelly cleaner, salt (for the head mixture). But I walked away with a wealth of information.
Tomorrow we leave Port Lucaya and make another deep water passage to the Berry Islands. Great Stirrup Cay for those looking at a map. Another cruising couple has invited us to make the crossing. They’ve sailed around the world, he teaches sailing, they are both weather gurus and we get to go with them. YEAH! There is the understanding, “You are the captain of your own boat.” Meaning, you’re on you own but we’ll be there if you need us. Either way, it’s nice to have someone along for the ride. We had dinner with them tonight and they gave us the low-down on Georgetown in the Exumas. It’s a HUGE cruising community and can be intimidating. But, they assured us you can be as much a part or as little a part and enjoy the area.
It’s nice to meet people who are so willing to help and be nice and tell you everything they can.
Off to bed, we leave at 6:00AM