Today I offer you a good news story tinged with some embarrassment.

Liam is here! He was scheduled to arrive at Governor’s Harbour Airport at 1:20, and since Alabaster Bay is right beside the airport, we decided that Donna, Chris, Jim and I would sail up there (just over 5 miles), drop the anchor, walk up the road and meet him. And that we did ... sort of.

It was a beautiful day for a sail, and although we weren’t making very good time, we were enjoying the sun and breeze and sound of the water. Donna spent the trip up on the foredeck where all those things are at their very best, and to top off the experience, we had the pleasure of a dolphin’s company as we pulled into the bay and looked for a good anchoring spot.

Liam had texted his father that the plane was a bit late leaving, and although we saw one fly overhead just as we were pulling in to Alabaster Bay - too early to be his, we hadn’t seen another one after that. We had been chatting the day before with a group of women who told us that if there aren’t a lot of people going to a particular airport, the airline will sometimes drop everybody off at another one and then deliver them by cab to their final destination.

With that thought in mind, Donna, Chris and I ducked through the short stretch of underbrush and started up the road to the airport. (Captain Jim stayed with the boat because it was rolly and we hadn’t been there long enough to be sure we’d stay put). I was worried that he wouldn’t arrive there. Donna was convinced he would. Pretty soon a van came toward us, slowed and the driver said, “Are you looking for the young man for the boat?” My heart sank as we all nodded and exclaimed, “Yes!” “Well, you just look straight ahead and you’ll see him coming over that rise.”

Sure enough, not 2 minutes later we spotted the poor young man with his pack on his back trudging along the dusty road, head down and sweat pouring off his brow. After hugs all round, and profuse apologies from me, we soon got him back to the boat, and with a beer in hand, shoes and socks and long sleeved shirt doffed, he was soon into the mood of sunshine and family and welcome. We were all together and happy, but I could not believe that for the second time in as many Bahamian visits, we had failed to meet his flight. I guess we’ll have some amends to make!!

We sailed back to Governor’s Harbour, and had a much harder time anchoring. We were prime entertainment for the other 3 boats as we tried FOUR times to get settled. The wind was supposed to shift as a mild front passed so we thought we’d move closer to the wharf. Dragged. We moved farther out. Dragged. Moved closer to where we had been before but not as close to shore so that if we swung, we wouldn‘t go aground. Dug in but the guy on the next boat came out waving his arms that we were too close to him. Moved again. Finally moved further along the shoal area, out of everybody’s way and tried it one last time. Dug in. As it turned out, the wind shifted with the passing of the front today (Tuesday) but it was still so minimal that we were fine. Once settled, we went to the Sunset Restaurant for a delicious dinner.

Tuesday was a beach day as we spent the afternoon on French Leave Beach. We took a picnic lunch and thoroughly enjoyed walking, swimming, relaxing. The waves weren’t as rolly as the last time so it wasn’t quite as much fun to play in, but the water was still crystal clear and warm. We found it much more crowded though - there must have been a dozen people scattered over the long crescent of beautiful pinkish sand. :-)

Tonight we are all invited to the home of Chris and Donna’s landlady, Theresa Burrows for a Bahamian family dinner. How about that for hospitality?

And by the way, Superbowl Sunday at Ronnie’s sports bar was a blast! A tiny little bar with a mix of enthusiastic locals and tourists. We left at half time because we needed food with our beer. We’ll definitely go there again though - these are good people on Cupid’s Cay!