A Week in Georgetown

After saying good bye to First Edition and Sea Biscuit we were on the Georgetown Net and heard that Walter and Donna on Windspell who were in our marina came in yesterday.  They have a section on the net for those boats who want to announce their arrival or departure may do so.  It is great because since there are three major beaches that you can anchor it might take awhile to know that someone is around.  We had happy hour on their boat and got caught up on their trip down and shared our trip with them.  Happy hour actually lasted three hours instead of one!  They said it was good to see some familiar faces since their last trip was twenty-eight years ago so they don't know many cruisers.

Al hiking the cliffs.

Al and I decided to dinghy down to Sand Dollar Beach to see who was there and to go hiking.  Just as we got down there the clouds rolled in and it looked like rain.  Luckily we knew one boat, Runaway with Marty and Matt, who we wanted to talk to, because we kept missing each other at various anchorages.  We went aboard just in time before the squall hit.  We got caught up with one another’s lives and then went ashore to hike the trails at that end of the island.  My treasure on this hike was a small piece of lavender sea glass.  Lavender is quite rare to find.

Even though it was blowing 18 knots, we took the dinghy across to town because we got a call that the air card was in for the computer.  After several hours the local tech guy got it working and so now we have internet on the boat wherever there is a cell tower.  It is rather slow but better than nothing.  Everything is SLOW in the Bahamas!  The one thing that we were surprised to find out, is that with digital televisions you can get the major stations of ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox on the TV from Florida.  Wow, now that is a change since the last trip.

Yoga on Volleyball Beach

A cruiser started yoga on the beach in the morning twice a week, so I decided to give it a try.  I am enjoying it and just love looking up when I am laying down and seeing the trees swaying in the breeze with the beautiful blue sky behind them.  Four men were there  but cannot persuade Al to give it a try.  

The view while on the ground doing yoga.  It is wonderful watching the branches sway in the wind.

Donna & Walter from Windspell

Just a kayak, but often a nude beach.

We went hiking with Walter and Donna at the Hamburger Beach end of the island and came across this wonderful beach.  We are told that often people come here for nude sun bathing.  Needless to say we did NOT give it a try!

It is basket making time.

All ages and shapes play volleyball.

In the afternoon we went to Volleyball Beach where they actually play volleyball and mingled with the cruisers.

 I worked on my basket along with others at the table.  There was also a group of about 25 people who were gathered to hear a cruiser explain traveling further south and what to expect.  Also, there was someone using one of the picnic tables for sail repair.  So you can see, many activities go on at Volleyball Beach.

Working on a small oval basket.

The next day when I pulled out my store bought bread, I could see that it was totally moldy, so I had to throw it out.  So, I made bread and pizza for lunch.  (I haven’t made bread since the last trip!)  In the afternoon I worked on my basket while Al diagnosed a problem with the generator and found it was low in oil.  

We are certainly enjoying the shorts and sandals!

We had a super large anchorage Happy Hour at Queen's dock starting at 4pm.  As soon as the sun went down the mosquitoes came out and we were out of there by 5:30pm.  They were vicious!

We are hoping the 18-25 knot east winds die down next week so we can move on to Long Island.  

Frustrations, Fire and Farewells

Robin and Marilyn reacting to the game.

New Year’s Day we had a lazy morning and then went for a long walk on the beach with First Edition and Sea Biscuit.  On the way back from our walk we decided to have lunch at a local resort called St. Francis.  Later that night we played Catch Phrase, which is a combination of hot potato and password with an electronic device, on First Edition with four couples.  It does get wild at times with women against the men. The women won although the men sent up a protest flag which is still flying!

We took Blue Heaven over to Kidd Cove near Georgetown so we could get water and try to see if we could use our Verizon Hot Spot with a Bahamian sim card to get internet on the boat.  The phone company said it would work and after paying for everything and installing it and loading the data plan, it did not.  A phone call to Verizon and another trip back to the phone company were to no avail.  How frustrating!!!  We are now waiting for a “stick” which we will put the sim card in and plug it into the computer for internet that we will get from cell towers to come in at the local computer guru’s shop.  This better work!

I got a response for my request on the VHF radio for use of a sewing machine to zigzag around the edge of my rug backing so I could start the finishing process.  A nice couple on a catamaran called Sea Spirit let me come to their boat to use the machine.  So I am on my way to do the edging!  The end is in sight!

Al with his ukelele.  He looks good at least!

First Edition and Sea Biscuit decided to move down to Monument Beach since stronger winds were forecasted.  We wanted to go into Volleyball Beach in the afternoon because a fellow cruiser told Al he could give him some help with his ukulele. 
 I went in to enjoy the beach and then got a refresher on how to do a basket.  I have continued to work on my basket but Al hasn’t pulled out his ukulele since then!

Afterward, we too moved to Monument Beach for which I was glad, because it was definitely smoother at the anchorage. 

Hiking to the ocean side.

The next day the trio of boats met on the beach early to walk across to the sound side for beach combing at low tide.  We found some treasures but not a lot. 

What a view!

Al, Peter and Michael enjoying some man talk!

 During lunch on the boat, a dolphin came close to the boat.  A guy from a nearby anchored boat jumped in the water with his snorkel and mask to swim nearby.  The dolphin stayed around playing and when the guy would dive down so would the dolphin.  It was so much fun watching them.  

Our neighborhood friend.

That night after happy hour on First Edition, we went into the beach for a bonfire and sing along.

Al and I hiked to the Monument the following day looking for the palm fronds needed for making baskets.  We found some and we also found some great views of the harbor from the top of the island. 

The view of our anchorage from the monument.

Al enjoying the view.

We had a rather lazy day but a wild game of Mexican Train onboard Blue Heaven that night with First Edition and Sea Biscuit.  Lynn won three out of the five games so she was the Mexican Train Queen!

Since they were calling for 20 knot winds, we planned to attend Beach Church which is a non-denominational church done by volunteer cruisers with choir and all on Volleyball Beach, rather than go across the harbor by dinghy to church.  I made some cherry/ cranberry scones for the social hour afterwards which turned out to be delicious, if I do say so myself.  At church we saw Pat and Tom on Suncat, friends we met two years ago in Georgetown.  

Big D;s

They were going in for a late lunch with some other cruisers at “Big D’s” on Hamburger Beach and invited us, and so we joined them. 

Here is how it started.

After an hour or two of rest we went back in for the dance and bonfire there.  Unfortunately, their generator wire caught fire so the bonfire was the main entertainment. 


 Do you think the Bahamians thought about the wind and where the sparks were going to fly?  Not until after they lit the fire.  

Then the wind started blowing.

 Then they thought they better throw water on the palm roof of the pavilion!  Eventually a cruiser then brought over a small portable generator, so the music started and so did the dancing.  By then unfortunately, “our generators” were running low after a few dances, so we went back to the boat to chill.

Now they think about dumping water on the roof!

The next day we said our farewells to First Edition and Sea Biscuit because they wanted to take this one day weather window to go to Long Island.  We could not blame them because it might be two weeks until the next one is available.  We are waiting for the internet stick from the local shop owner and so could not leave.   We hope to meet up with them in Long Island or the Jumenttos if the weather co-operates.  We certainly hope so.  Looks like we will be doing the Georgetown scene for a while. 

What a beauty!

I had to share Lynn's amaryllis on First Edition.  It has at least four more blooms to go!

New Years Bahamian Style

Leaving Twin Beaches we motored through another smooth cut and out into the sound to sail for a while heading for Georgetown on Great Exuma island.  The closer we got, the more the wind was on our nose, so we ended up motoring into Elizabeth Harbor where Georgetown is located.  It was great to be back in the area we spent so much time the last trip.  We were almost two weeks earlier than last trip and it did not seem like many boats were here.  We don’t know if it was because we were earlier or as mentioned before, if there just are not as many cruisers this year.  

Monument Beach

We went past Hamburger Beach, Monument Beach, Volleyball Beach and over to Kidd Cove so we were close to town.  Carl and Marilyn from Discovery greeted us on our way in and made us feel welcomed. We went in for groceries and got a few (because the store was pretty bare, the boat had come in, but had not been unloaded yet) and internet.

Carl and Marilyn, our greeters!

The next day we went into town to make a few necessary phone calls, to get more groceries now that the store was better stocked, internet and to do laundry, the necessary things in life!  We also got to watch the Bahamians sailing their class C boats practicing for the race on New Year’s day.  You can see how they sit way out on the boards to counter balance the sail.

Bahamian Class C boats

I would not do that!

That night we had another beautiful sunset which set the mood for the local Bahamians Junkanoo celebration.   

Georgetown at sunset.

In Nassau they do this New Year’s Eve from 2-6AM, but thankfully in Georgetown they start at 9:30PM. 

The float that started the parade.

 The streets filled with locals and cruisers waiting for the colorful costumed bands to strut down the street. They had one float which was a doctor and a nurse promoting the new hospital they are building here.  

Children in costumes.

Even the children get involved. It is similar to a small version of the Mummer’s Parade in Philadelphia but with a totally different kind of beat. 

Can you imagine walking in this!

The colorful Junkanoo parader.

  We enjoyed the festivities and were back on the boat by 11:00PM.  That is pretty good considering cruiser’s midnight is 9PM.

The next day a front was supposed to move in, and it did while I was at church.  Luckily it came with no rain, but the wind and the waves picked up dramatically.  After a wet ride back to Blue Heaven we weighed anchor and headed across to the lee shore off Volleyball Beach.  We were one of about 4 boats still in Kidd Cove.  All the rest had already moved.  It was still a very rocky, “rolly,” uncomfortable night.

Peter, Lynn, Marilyn and Carl enjoying New Year's Eve

New Year’s Eve day we got ashore for a walk on the beach although the winds were blowing 18-25 knots.  Then we readied for our celebration on Discovery.  Four boats, First Edition, Sea Biscuit with Michael and Robin, Blue Heaven and of course Discovery came together to bring in the New Year although 5-6 hours earlier than most.  (We missed our friends on Synergy who unfortunately had the flu.) 

Us and Robin and Michael on Sea Biscuit

What a New Years spread.  We eat very well!

We had a wonderful array of hors d’oeuvres and German chocolate cake for dessert.  It was a feast as usual.  We were back on our boat by cruiser’s midnight after enjoying a great evening. (Isn’t it tough getting older?)

The Beauty of Nature

The next day we decided to move on.  We motored down the bank side past Farmer’s Cay through Galliot cut.  There wasn’t a lot of wind and it was near slack tide so it was an easy out.  We actually got to put up both sails and sailed to Adderly Cut and anchored off of Leaf Cay with First Edition.  

He does have pretty coloring!

Arleen feeding the many iguanas.

 We went by dinghy to see the iguanas on the beach.  There were at least 15 – 20 of them waiting for a hand out which was cabbage and crackers.  The waters seem warmer this year so I took a swim off the boat. 

Bahamian Sea Life done except for the edge.

After dinner I finished hooking my “Bahamian Sea Life” rug.  Now all I have to do is find someone with a sewing machine so I can zigzag the edges and turn them under to finish with cording and yarn.  Hopefully, someone on a boat in Georgetown will have a sewing machine. 

One of the steeper spots!

We motored only 3 miles to our next anchorage.  It is probably one of my top five places I liked from the last trip.  It is called “Twin Beaches.”  Our first expedition was to hike to the highest point in the Exumas which gave us some great views. 

Perry's Peak the highest spot in the Exumas.

             

  

Then coming back there was no wind so it made for great underwater looking from the dinghy.  I got pictures of a hermit crab, starfish,  barracuda and the rays from the dinghy.

Hermit crab underwater along the shore line.

Star fish from dinghy in about 7 foot of water.

A ray at about the same depth.

Barracuda, a bit faster to catch a picture

Rays gathered together.

Deep hole- wonder what lives there?

 We never saw rays gather together in one area like we saw.  We don’t know if there was some sort of food there or some mating habit.  When we got back to the boat we noticed this deep dark hole next to our boat.  We have no idea what lived in there, and we were not going to try to find out.

Al getting into it also!

After lunch we walked across to the sound side to find sea glass.  Lynn and I love doing that but even Peter and Al got into it too.  It was a great afternoon with a shared dinner on First Edition to end the day. 

Peter and Lynn capturing the treasured sea glass!

First Edition early morning.

Our view of First Edition midday with no wind.

First Edition at sunset!

       

You can see from the photos I took of First Edition how the day changes from morning, to afternoon with no wind, to evening sunset, all having their own special beauty.