A Busy Week

Dave with two large lobsters!

We finally had some calm warm weather so we went snorkeling with Toni and Dave.  Dave speared two lobsters. They were two nice sized ones.   Al could not even see them under the shelves of coral!  Dave said his first year down he never got a lobster.  I wonder if he just said that to make Al feel better.  They showed us how to clean them and have them ready for cooking.  Now all Al has to do is be able to spot one and dive down to get it!  Going out on the sound side of Stocking Island which is much deeper, we got to see an interesting wall of different types of coral with fans, sponges and lots of fish.  The elk horn coral was most interesting.

The next day was chore day.  Al had to get water and rid of garbage.  We have to cross the harbor to do this, a fifteen minute ride in the dinghy.  There is free water in Georgetown which makes it very nice.  Many places charge 50 cents a gallon in the Bahamas. They also permit cruisers to rid of garbage in the town dumpster as well. These two amenities make it appealing to cruisers to stay here all winter.   We had laundry to do and I had to go the internet café and grocery store.  With all the chores done later that day we had an enjoyable Happy Hour on a boat called Reflections with Floyd and Elaine from Tennessee, Sue and Don from Jubilee and Dave and Toni on Sequence.

Flip Flop Spot

Many afternoons we go hiking or take the dinghy and explore a new area.  We usually go with Toni and Dave.  We found this area called “The Flip Flop Spot” that cruisers developed on one of the beaches for parties. It had a pavilion, bar and many decorative touches.

Hiking Stocking Island

Monument at top of Monument Beach

Many times on the trails we take, we end up at the top of a large hill for some great views!  This one is at the Monument which is a large cement pillar used as a navigational aid.  Some people say that in the past they had lit a fire at the base of the monument if there was salt available so that ships would stop to get it otherwise they moved onto the next island.  There are other monuments on some of the other islands too.

On Friday we attended two social functions! The Exuma Tourist Office and the Ministry of Tourism invited visitors to the island to a tea at a local restaurant.  Most of the people there were cruisers.  When someone offers you free food, cruisers come out in strong force.  It was a very nice affair with delightful Bahamian treats.  These included conch fritters, conch salad, Bahamian pastries, bush tea, ginger tea and something called “sky juice.”  I believe it was made with coconut milk and rum.  (Probably makes you feel like you are flying high in the sky if you drink too much!)

Junkanoo Band

  The entertainment included young Bahamian girl dancers and a “Junkanoo” band (Their special music and dance to a strong beat.)
Both were very colorful and fun to watch.  Afterward we zoomed across to a beach party to once again share food, drinks and fellowship with other cruisers.

Bahamian Boat

Youth Band

Our busy week of social activities included a bus trip to the far north end of Great Exuma Island to a settlement called Barraterre.  About 60 cruisers had an hour school bus ride to the fundraiser for the Family Island Regatta held in April.  They had a Bahamian boat race, a youth band playing, Bahamian music and food.  It was a good way to see some of the island since when you are on a boat you only get as far as your legs will take you. (The roads are quite narrow for riding bikes.)

We ended the week with playing Trivial Pursuit with about sixty people at a local resort called St. Francis. The resort is on Stocking Island not far from Volleyball Beach.  The owners are very generous with their facilities for the cruisers.  We were lucky enough to catch the end of the Green Bay Packers and Bears game and the first half of the Steelers and Jets game while there.  Being from Pittsburgh originally I guess you know for whom I was rooting!  Now all we have to do is figure out a way to see the Super Bowl.

St. Francis where we watched the Steelers

This week activities have slowed down so we are hoping for a weather window to perhaps move on to Long Island and maybe the island of Conception for a visit for a few days.