ON THE MOVE AGAIN
30 January 2012 | LITTLE FARMERS CAY, EXUMAS, BAHAMAS
Cheryl - Warm
Yesterday we left George Town at 8:00 and arrived here at Little Farmers Cay at 3:30.
We are headed back up the Exumas again. We plan to be here for a week, enjoying the 5F's (First Friday in February at Farmers Festival). Festival has everything from 'C' Class sailboat racing to best buns contest.
Thoughts on George Town - glad we experienced it but 6 weeks was long enough. As with all places, good points and bad points. We would highly recommend stopping at least for a couple days for any one heading south. The two grocery stores are well stocked, of course higher prices than the States. Probably the smallest selection and highest prices are on meat and munchies. If you love chocolate absolutely bring lots with you.
I don't think George Town wanted us to leave; here is the sequence of events:
1) Pulling up the anchor - it was under another boat and Michael on Windsong had to move his boat in order for us to leave. This gives you an idea how close all the current 200+ boat are off Stocking Island. We then anchored overnight off Kidd Cove (a mile away) to do provisioning, water, fuel, etc.
2) Drop our anchor at Kidd Cove - I put the gear in reverse to set the anchor and the cable breaks. I had to kill the engine quickly since we then stuck in reverse.
3) Dinghy motor dies on Bill - on one of the several trips back and forth from the boat to the Exuma Markets Dinghy Dock the outboard dies and Bill gets out the oars and breaks the oar lock. Another cruiser comes by and tows Bill in.
4) Cheryl sitting with $235 in groceries waiting for Bill at the Dingy Dock - another cruiser then tows us back to the boat.
5) Bill fixes gear cable and outboard - contrary to our always first thoughts that it must be something drastic that has happened it was just the bolt that attaches the cable to the transmission came out, so easy quick fix. As far as the outboard think a little water must have gotten into the tank when we put new fuel in it. Another easy fix. Unfortunately, not fixed in time to get me back to town for my 1:00 hair appointment.
6) Beer run - Bill is out of beer and George Town is the best place to buy it. We head in, outboard mother once again working to discover all of the liquor stores are temporarily closed. We then head to the Leslie"Buzzy" Rolle Appreciation Day fest ivies at Regatta Park (in George Town). He is a "C" Class sailboat builder and racer. He seems to be much loved by the Exuma people. So, we leave there to thinking at least one of the liquor stores will be open. They close at 6:00 and it is now 6:03. No beer for Bill. As a side note: Bill is $42.75 per case and cigarettes (cheapest brand) is $22 a carton.
7) Next morning time to prepare to leave George Town - Bill can't get the outboard motor off the dinghy. The dinghy clamp handle breaks in the effort to try and unscrew the clamp. Bill finally was unable unscrew the clamp, the handle is now replaced with a vice grip.
Out luck change on the trip to Farmers Cay. Or I should say Bill's luck did - he caught a mackerel and two yellow fin tuna. I say Bill's luck changed, not mine. He hacked them up in the cockpit, amazing the amount of blood 3 little fish have (gross). Bill was a happy camper though.