Going Through the Abacos

This past week has been a difficult one dealing with the untimely death of our friend.  I do want to give a big public thank-you to Jenn and Andrew who manage Exuma Land and Sea Park at Warderick Wells.  They could not have been more helpful, from the calls they made to Judy and Tom, managers on Bell Island that got us the boat, helicopter and sea plane to send Pat and Tom to Nassau and to bring Tom back to his boat at Warderick Wells, to helping us communicate with Tom and all the support they gave.  We also want to thank the anonymous owner of Bell Island for the use of all his transportation.

Everyone could not have been more supportive. 

Before we left Warderick Wells while waiting for Tom to return from Nassau, I told Al that we had to go for a hike.  I was afraid if I did not do it right a way, I might be scared to hike again.  As they say, if you fall off a horse, get right back on again, and that is what I wanted to do.  I got this picture which shows you just how beautiful the area is, but also shows the iron rock that we hike many times along the waters edge.  I am glad we went because it is beautiful.

Warderick Wells  view from a peak.

Al and I helped Tom get his boat to Marsh Harbor this week where his son has now flown in to help him get his boat across to Florida so they can then get to Pat’s memorial service on April 6^th.  Unfortunately, the weather isn’t cooperating very well, but we hope to cross possibly this weekend.  We decided to join them in the crossing because we feel the fun has gone out of cruising the Bahamas for this winter.  Time will heal but it has been hard to get back to normalcy for both of us.

On our trip from Rock Sound to Royal Island this week, we got a call on the VHF from Island Spirit with Radeen and Hayden, who are from our marina in Maryland. They were traveling the same way a little ahead of us.  It was a very gentle sailing day and they asked if we would like fresh baked bread.  Just the half an hour earlier I had commented to Al that we were getting low on bread.  They made the bread under sail and after we went through Current Cut

Do you see why they call it Current Cut?

they were anchored on the shore just east of the cut. 

Hayden and Radeen bakery delivery. 

They pulled up in their dinghy to our boat while under sail bringing us not only the fresh baked bread, but double chocolate brownies with cherries and walnuts.  And even four slices of warm bread to eat along the way.  YUM! 

What delicious goodies and even the recipe!

 It was just the comfort food we needed and what service!  We could not thank them enough.

The boat got a good washing this day.

We have been sitting in Marsh Harbor for three days now after stopping in Rock Sound, Royal Island and Little Harbor this past week.  One day we had winds 28-30 knots  and gully washing rains and never left the boat.    

Yesterday we did get out to walk, and found the other side of the island where there is a resort and marina called Abaco Beach Resort and Harbour Marina. 

Abaco Beach Resort

It is a nice resort but did not seem very crowded for being Easter Week and Spring Break.  The marina is huge but not many boats were there.  I guess it is the sign of the economic conditions in the US and other countries.  

Fairly empty marina.

After hearing the weather reports today, we are going to move out through a cut called The Whale and probably to Turtle Cay tomorrow if the conditions permit.  Then on to Great Sail Cay and cross over to Ft. Pierce this weekend.  So you will not be hearing from us for awhile until after recuperating from the crossing and getting back to the American way of life.