Mid & Lower Abacos
08 May 2010 | Treasure Cay
Warren
Its Saturday morning the 15th and we are off to Treasure Cay. We sailed the whole way, although had to run the motor an hour to charge batteries. Treasure Cay is a resort community that has been here about 50 years. A few of the buildings have the look of "the modern motel of the late 1950's." We looked around and went to the beach. They say they have 3 miles of white sand and that is the truth. There are houses along part of it but I believe they are part of the resort community. We enjoyed a Kalik (beer) on the beach and came back to Serenity.
Friday we motored all of 3 miles to anchor off Tahiti Beach at the end of Elbow Cay. Pretty beach with palms and a large sand flat at low tide. In two hours we picked up more treasures than on the rest of the trip. Spent the rest of the day reading or quilting and trying to figure out what we were going to do. We decided not to do the 15 miles south to Little Harbor since the only reason to go was to do it. Instead we are starting back north to get in position to cross back to Florida at the end of the week. Of course weather is the controlling factor.
If it's Thursday the 13th, it must be Hopetown. If you ever pictured quaint little houses and winding walkways on an island, it is Hopetown. Dominated by the kerosene illuminated lighthouse, this town has everything you need to be a tourist. Fun to walk around, fun to go fishing, snorkeling, and eating. We love it and it has a hotel with a bar/restraraunt above the beach that is classey. The people are so much friendlier than Marsh Harbor.
It is still blowing hard and with the wind and the tides, we probably will modify our trip and not go the 12 miles south to Little Harbor. We can only go there on a half tide or more and that means getting there real early and leaving late or staying a whole day. For a place with only a beach bar and artist gallery, we may pass. Instead we are going to Tahiti Beach and Cracker Ps another beach bar.
Wednesday, tourista day. We walked about 5 miles checking on every souvenier shop in Marsh Harbor and didn't find a thing. Bought some popcorn and a new can opener but nothing said Buy Me. After the second T-Shirt shop and Flip-flop store you get jaded and can't see anything. I hate to say it but most of the Bahamas crafts are not worth buying. And the good carvings and paintings are priced right up there. So we may come home without gifts for the folks who are covering for us. We plan to leave Marsh Harbor tomorrow and go to Hopetown, only about 7 miles away.
It's Tuesday and the wind is stronger this morning. We were concerned that we would go to town and do laundry and then get it all wet coming home. So we did the smart thing and pulled into Mangoes Marina. It has everything put a good WiFi connection! We need to take the computer up to the pool to get reception��"so sad! Did laundry and grocery shopping. Had to defrost the little refrigerator so that the meat would fit in the little freezer compartment. It hold enough for about two weeks worth of dinner meats��"especially if the meat is flat and packs well. Just about time for a shower and a Gombay Rum Punch.
On Monday we spent the morning helping Lee get ready to leave the Owls Nest. Putting away the dinghy, putting up boat equipment, tying things down in case of high water, and cleaning the place up. We dropped him off at the ferry dock and left Man-O-War Cay for Marsh Harbor on Great Abaco Island. Marsh Harbor is the major city of the Abacos and the main distribution point. After anchoring off the public dock, we went ashore to get a few things and had a wet time getting back the 300 yards to the boat. The wind is blowing constantly at 15-20 knots so even in the harbor it is rough for our dinky dinghy. Amazingly enough we have very poor WiFi connections here. All the major sources, marinas, restaurants, and hotels all use a local service that charges $10 for a half day and I haven't given in yet.
What a nice day, Mother's Day. We sailed down to Man-O-War (MOW) Cay to meet Lee Scarbough, the fellow we towed on the 7th. He let us take the mooring meant for his boat while he stayed docked at Owls Nest, one of three cottages owned by his friend. Owls Nest is a rustic gem, half shack, half shed, and half boat. We helped Lee put the boat away for the summer and get everything stowed. We had lunch and dinner together at Owls Nest and will take Lee to the ferry dock tomorrow. We also looked over the other cottages and took a walk into town. It really is fun meeting sailors.
We spent Saturday the 8th on anchor at Fishers Bay off Great Guana Cay. We walked the village, 20 minutes, went to Nippers "the" beach bar for a great lunch, walked the beach, came back to Grabbers, another beach bar, and met Lee, the fellow we towed yesterday.
Ends up he is from Boston and comes down and borrows the boat and sails it around without any auxilary power. As he said, he sailed up to Nunjack Cay in one super sailing day and spent a week trying to get back. He helps run an international boating program for teens. Off to Man-O-Way Cay tomorrow, Marsh Harbor on Monday.