Going Home

we had a quiet start to the day on Wednesday until the Navy turned up and boarded us. Had go produce the boats papers and our cruising permit, passports etc while the second person was escorted through the boat. They pulled up beds to look underneath and even wanted the lid of the battery box to check inside. All the nooks and crannies were searched on the boat. The only thing I had to declare was the Spear (Sling) which wasn't prohibited, with our inspection completed we bid them farewell and were just left looking at the big black boot prints on the rear deck to clean off. We moved the boat to another spot in the harbour that was a bit more sheltered and had easier access to the dinghy dock and supermarket and stores. After settling into the new spot we were off for a walk to cable beach on the east end of the harbour. We looked around Fort Montague and walked along to the fresh fish markets and watched the Conch (pronounced Conk) being shelled and prepared. There were massive parrot fish and lobster everywhere. We ate a lunch of Buffalo Wings and a drink we bought from a little van under the shade of tree on the beach and then headed back to the market for supplies. The 5 cruise ships that were docked yesterday were replaced by another 4 today, I have never seen so many in the one spot, they just seem to keep churning them through.
We picked up a tray of chicken wings so it will be bbq wings and leftover curry on the side for dinner.

Thursday, we again looked around the town and went back to a few souvenir shops and picked up stuff we (we being Mezz) had seen. A dinghy ride to Junkanoo Beach fish fry for lunch, Mezz had Conch fritters and I stuck with my favourite of bbq ribs, yep if it was one of those swimming pigs then it qualifies as fish ...... Back to the boat for an afternoon lay down and relax and then we took a trip across to Paradise Island and the Atlantis Resort and Marina. Certainly, a window into how the other 1 percent live. This place had to be seen to be believed. There was an "Atlantis Dig" mock archaeological themed aquarium that went on forever. You could walk around in tunnels under the aquarium and next to it and on top of it. there was even a waterslide tube that went through one section that had sharks in it. The marina attached to it was just as opulent. Walking past Versace stores and Gucci stores, I saw a watch I liked but at 95,000 dollars it was a bit out of our price range.
We are back on the boat now and resting our feet and contemplating dinner. The leftover Wings and Curry seem to be the most likely thing for me but Mezz is up for a banana sandwich so she says.
Tomorrow we are heading away from civilization again, we are going to Chub Cay which is 50 miles or so across another 4000-metre-deep trench. From there it is west across the Bahama Bahama bank to the Bimini Islands so we may not have coverage for a few days. We will use the spot tracker for an update if there is no coverage. Our peace is about to be shattered too as it is forecast to blow 30kts for the next couple of days. It may be an interesting sail....