A Taste of the Abacos

We left Meek’s Patch anchorage across from Spanish Wells around 6:45am to make our passage to the Abacos.  We had a great sail to the cut but once through it was mostly a downwind sail.  We sailed several hours but then put the motor on for the last few hours anchoring off Lynyard Cay around 5pm.  It was a loooo…ng day!

Lynyard Cay

 After listening to the Abaco Cruiser’s net which tells you all sorts of information we took the dinghy ashore to a pretty beach on Lynyard Cay.  Once again on the ocean side we had great sea glass pickings which was a lot of fun.  Marilyn on Discovery, Sandra and Chuck on Eliora, Mary Lou on Cygnus and myself all came back with a stash of glass.                                                    

 Pete's Pub "Where the elite eat in their barefeet."

Afterward we headed across by dinghy into Little Harbor to lunch at Pete’s Pub and to see the Pete Johnston gallery of sculptures.  Unfortunately, they were not having a pouring at the foundry until Thursday and it was only Monday.  We now understand why people say you have to go to Pete’s Pub because it was a great eating experience!  It was the best fish of the entire trip so far.

The next stop we made was Marsh Harbor after a vigorous sail.  The harbor was very crowded with so many cruisers starting to head back.  We saw at least six or seven boats in the harbor whom we had met along the way or down in Georgetown and it was fun to reconnect with them.  It was a place to get the chores such as laundry and food shopping done.  The food store was a mega store which was a bit overwhelming after all the little stores we had been shopping this winter.  We found an internet cafe which is how we got the last blog out.  Our bullet isn’t working well for us so we are not getting connected out on the boat.  There were a few more shops here to so I got my “shopping fix” somewhat filled. 

Smoky sunset in Marsh Harbor

Unfortunately they were having fires on the island.  They called them forest fires but since they have no forest I would think they were brush fires.  Unless they are threatening homes they do nothing.  So it was a bit smoky and made for an interesting sunset,but not pleasant sleeping.

Freckles praying.

After two days in Marsh Harbor we decided to sail over to Hope Town on Elbow Cay.  There is no anchoring in the harbor and we got one of the last two moorings available.  Now here is a quaint little town!  The streets are barely wide enough for a vehicle and most use golf carts.  The little cottage type homes with the beautiful flowering bushes were just lovely and they had a very nice beach as well.  We met up with Chuck and Sandra from Eliora and they told us about the wonderful coffee shop with great mango sorbet.  It was superb!  And while we ate, their dog, Freckles, entertained us with his tricks.       

Hope Town from the Lighthouse

  The town had the typical gift shops, ice cream store, coffee shop and various restaurants that most tourist towns have but not in excess.  It was a true delight.  Our friends, Bill and Marge on Jubilant were there so we shared another happy hour and the following day we went to dinner together.  Earlier that day we had a front come through with a downpour.  Before I could get all the hatches and ports closed, we had some went bedding and wet computer but luckily all dried out.   It was one of the few rain showers we had so we took advantage and really cleaned the boat of dirt and salt.  When you have not been into a marina since December it is hard to clean the outside.  We climbed all 101 steps of the lovely lighthouse there and had some great views of the harbor and the waters.  I really liked this stop except for the close moorings.

One of the many pretty flowers in Hope Town

Al's Birthday Dinner

We decided to go meet up with Eliora and Discovery back in Marsh Harbor to be able to celebrate Al’s birthday with friends. So we had Marilyn and Carl, and Chuck and Sandra over for dinner and chocolate cake which I made and decorated with peanut butter and chocolate chips.  Another year older and another year wiser!